Best Hadron Podcasts (2026)

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The Science of New Year Resolutions 15:19

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1h ago15:19

15:19

Every January, millions of us promise that this will be the year we finally change our habits. We’ll sleep more, stress less, move our bodies, eat better, learn something new, or finally tackle the clutter that’s been quietly judging us from the corner of the room. But by spring, most of those resolutions are long forgotten. On this week’s podcast,…

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Principles of Karma Yoga 20:41

1d ago20:41

20:41

In this episode, we delve into the principles of Karma Yoga, a fundamental aspect of Vedanta teachings. Of all the spiritual paths described in the scriptures, Karma Yoga is particularly notable for its role in fostering inner peace and mental clarity. It acknowledges the inevitability of action in our lives and recognizes that the results of our a…

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Connecting Quantum Physics and Vedanta 20:15

5d ago20:15

20:15

At first glance, quantum physics and Vedanta may seem to occupy entirely separate realms. Quantum physics is firmly rooted in the scientific tradition, while Vedanta is often viewed as a spiritual philosophy. On the surface, these disciplines appear to deal with very different subjects. However, today we will explore how quantum physics and Vedanta…

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The Science of Kissing 16:52

14d ago16:52

16:52

For his Christmas podcast, Professor Luke dives into one of the oldest, strangest and most delightful human behaviours: kissing. And yes, there really are scientists who study it. Kissologists? Why not. Someone has to keep the flame of enquiry burning under the mistletoe. Kissing isn’t new. In fact, our primate ancestors may have been at it 21 mill…

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Awareness—The Infinite Energy Source 15:13

15d ago15:13

15:13

Energy is essential for the universe to be created, to expand and to function. The universe itself is unimaginably vast, containing billions of galaxies, each filled with billions of stars. The sheer amount of energy required to sustain and manage all of this is truly beyond our comprehension. This leads to a fascinating question: where does all th…

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Liberal Socialism with Matt McManus 1:09:56

13d ago1:09:56

1:09:56

My guest this week is Matt McManus, an assistant professor in Political Science at Spelman College, and author of The Political Theory of Liberal Socialism. We discuss his new book and why both liberalism and socialism are essential to move towards a flourishing society. The Political Theory of Liberal Socialism: https://www.routledge.com/The-Polit…

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The Science of the Hangover 14:55

15d ago14:55

14:55

It’s that time of year when the big nights out collide with the biological reality of the morning after… and Professor Luke is here to explain exactly what’s going on in your head, your liver and your rattled nervous system. Hangovers are ancient — literally. Chimps get tipsy on fermented fruit, so our ancestors were drinking alcohol millions of ye…

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Understanding Self-Awareness 18:19

16d ago18:19

18:19

In this episode, we embark on an exploration of Self-Awareness. At its essence, Self-Awareness is the core of who we are. This Awareness is the most potent force in existence, forming the foundation of reality itself, embracing everything—living or non-living—within the universe. It is the substratum of everything in the universe. By deeply underst…

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Understanding Ignorance– As Taught by Vedanta 19:52

21d ago19:52

19:52

In this episode, we will explore the concept of Ignorance as explained in Vedanta. In Sanskrit, the term for ignorance is “avidya.” Here, “vidya” means knowledge, so “avidya” signifies the lack of knowledge, or ignorance. Of all the topics addressed in Vedanta, ignorance holds special importance because it is seen as the fundamental cause of all su…

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The Science of Haemochromatosis 17:05

30d ago17:05

17:05

This week, Professor Luke dives into a condition that affects Ireland more than almost anywhere else on Earth: haemochromatosis, the iron-overload disorder sometimes dubbed “the Celtic disease”. And we owe this one to two listeners, Kayden and Kari, who emailed Luke asking him to shine a light on it. Here’s the remarkable thing: 1 in 83 Irish peopl…

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Understanding Motion: Unraveling Nature’s Greatest Illusion 16:02

28d ago16:02

16:02

In this episode, we’ll explore the fundamental concepts behind motion and movement. Motion is part of our daily experiences—everywhere we look, something is moving. But what actually causes things to move? And how does motion occur? The answers might surprise you, as they challenge our conventional beliefs. Every day, nature presents us with optica…

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The Science of Cancer and the Immune System 13:51

1M ago13:51

13:51

This week, Professor Luke digs into one of the biggest questions in cancer research: how to train the immune system to hunt tumours. Immunotherapy already works in cancers like melanoma and lung cancer — but only 20–30% of patients respond. A major new study in Nature Medicine may shift that. It tracked more than a thousand patients and found that …

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Physical Body You See Has No Mind! 14:59

1M ago14:59

14:59

Have you ever wondered whether a physical body could exist without a mind? At first glance, this might seem impossible, but this question opens a fascinating area of exploration. In this episode, we will delve into this intriguing topic and unravel the subtle relationship between physical bodies and our minds. Our physical bodies clearly exist in d…

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The Science of the Large Hadron Collider 12:21

1M ago12:21

12:21

Ireland has finally joined CERN as an associate member, opening the doors of the world’s biggest scientific instrument to Irish researchers for the first time. And what a machine to step into. This week, Professor Luke takes us deep inside the Large Hadron Collider — the 27-kilometre, super-cooled, magnet-driven particle racetrack buried under the …

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Did the Science Wars Take Place? with William Gillis 1:10:31

1M ago1:10:31

1:10:31

My guest this week is anarchist activist William Gillis, author of the book Did the Science Wars Take Place? The Political and Ethical Stakes of Radical Realism. We cover the many flavors of anti-realism Gillis lays out in his book, and which ones seem harmfully prevalent on the left. Enjoy! Did the Science Wars Take Place? https://theanarchistlibr…

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7: A Final Moment for the Muon 35:10

1M ago35:10

35:10

Guests Fred Gray , Professor of Physics at Regis University, Muon g-2 Experiment Claudia Cornella, CERN Theory Research Fellow Simon Kuberski, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Theory Research Fellow at CERN Contributors Host: Steven Goldfarb Editor & Producer: Melanie Arnold Executive Producer: Jacques Fichet Ron Suykerbuyk: Technical Lead Sound Engineering:…

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Understanding the Pancha (Five) Koshas (Sheaths) as Taught by Vedanta 23:50

2M ago23:50

23:50

In this episode, we’ll explore the concept of the five koshas as presented in Vedanta. If you have some background in Vedanta, you may already know that every living being is made up of five layers, referred to as the pancha (meaning "five") koshas. The word "kosha" comes from Sanskrit and means "sheath" or "layer." Each kosha signifies a unique fa…

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The Science of Seasonal Affective Disorder 12:50

2M ago12:50

12:50

Why do so many of us feel the gloom set in when the clocks go back and the days get short? In this week’s podcast, Luke O’Neill delves into the biology of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, a form of depression that appears in winter and lifts again when the light returns. First identified about fifty years ago in northern Europe, SAD affects aro…

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The Large Hadron Collider and the Vedantic Perspective 21:35

2M ago21:35

21:35

In this episode, we’ll take a closer look at the progress made by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), as well as its limitations. The LHC has led to the observation of numerous new particles, sometimes referred to as the “particle zoo.” Despite these exciting discoveries, however, the LHC has yet to achieve its ultimate objective: identifying the fund…

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The Science of Cellulitis 15:21

2M ago15:21

15:21

This week, Professor Luke O’Neill turns his microscope to a condition he knows all too well — cellulitis. It’s one of the most common bacterial infections there is, affecting about one in every 500 people each year. The skin turns red, swollen, and sore, and you might even feel flu-ish as your immune system fights back. Left untreated, it can spira…

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Doctrine of Karma 24:56

2M ago24:56

24:56

In this episode, we offer an in-depth exploration of the Doctrine of Karma as taught by Vedanta. While it is true that the doctrine of Karma functions as a belief system, it is supported by reasoning and provides insight into many of the mysteries we encounter in our everyday lives. One of the most persistent questions people face is why misfortune…

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The Science of Hallowe’en 18:20

2M ago18:20

18:20

This week, Show Me The Science gets a little darker — and a little stranger. Professor Luke O’Neill dives into the science of Hallowe’en, tracing its roots back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, the ancient Irish celebration marking the start of winter — that “dead time” when the veil between worlds was said to thin. It’s not about ghosts and ghou…

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40k Philosophy with Liam Kofi Bright 1:17:22

2M ago1:17:22

1:17:22

My returning guest this week is the most pleasant of bureaucrats ever to serve the the blood god, associate professor of philosophy at the London school of economics and political science Liam Kofi Bright. Folks might not know this, but when Liam isn’t verifying verification or whatever epistemologists do, he writes some hilarious fanfic about phil…

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Mathematical Proof for Hubble Constant 18:10

2M ago18:10

18:10

In this episode, we aim to provide mathematical proof for the Hubble Constant, shedding light on the correct structure of space. In 1929, astronomer Edwin Hubble observed that distant galaxies appeared to be moving away from Earth, a discovery he made by analyzing their light through telescopes. This observation led to the formulation of what is no…

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The Science of Regulatory T Cells 14:16

2M ago14:16

14:16

Ever wondered what keeps your immune system in check when it starts misbehaving? On this week’s podcast, Professor Luke O’Neill explains the world of regulatory T cells—the immune system’s very own “military police.” These tiny guardians stop other cells from attacking the body, helping prevent autoimmune diseases and keeping us healthy. Luke takes…

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The Power and Essence of Knowing 12:04

3M ago12:04

12:04

In this episode, we will explore the Power and Essence of Knowing. Yes, Knowing holds a supreme position—it is truly the master. While it may seem simple to say that Knowing is simply “to know,” there is a much deeper dimension to this concept. For students of Veydaantaa, Knowing is synonymous with Consciousness. It is regarded as one of the most p…

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The Science of Performance Enhancing Drugs 15:09

3M ago15:09

15:09

An Irish Olympian has decided to take a bold and controversial leap. Swimmer Shane Ryan has retired from conventional competition to join the Enhanced Games, a new event where athletes will be allowed to use performance-enhancing drugs. In this week’s podcast, Professor Luke O’Neill looks at the science and the ethics behind this radical sporting e…

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Connecting Dark Energy with Space 17:53

3M ago17:53

17:53

In this episode, we will explore the connection between dark energy and space. Scientific research suggests that dark energy constitutes about 79% of the total energy present in the universe. It is referred to as "dark" because it cannot be directly detected, yet its presence is undeniable. Without dark energy, the universe would not be able to sus…

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The Science of Accents 15:19

3M ago15:19

15:19

Taylor Swift has changed her accent over the years – and science can prove it. A quirky new study from the University of Minnesota analysed hours of Swift interviews to show how her voice shifted depending on what era she was in. For Professor Luke O’Neill, it’s the perfect excuse to dive into one of his favourite subjects: accents and dialects. Fr…

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Three Forms of Reality or Awareness 18:16

3M ago18:16

18:16

In this episode, we will explore the concept that Awareness is the fundamental Reality underlying all existence. It serves as the foundation for everything in the universe. This Reality expresses itself in three distinct forms: 1. Self-Awareness 2. Reflected Awareness 3. Refracted Awareness. These correspond to SatChitAnanda, Ishvara, and Guru, res…

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Autism and Humanism with Alastair Lichten 58:10

3M ago58:10

58:10

My guest this week is Alastair Lichten (@humanistdad.bsky.social), a humanist organizer who is particularly interested in the intersection of neurodivergence and secularism. We discuss the theory that being autistic or neurodivergent makes one more likely to be non-religious. Alastair's website: https://humanistdad.uk/2025/09/09/professional_update…

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The Science of Phage 15:35

3M ago15:35

15:35

They look like alien spacecrafts under a microscope, but bacteriophages — viruses that infect and kill bacteria — could hold the key to one of the biggest medical challenges of our time: antibiotic resistance. First described more than a century ago, phages became a hot topic of research in the mid-20th century, especially in the Soviet Union, befo…

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Perception Process Taught By Science Is Incorrect 14:39

3M ago14:39

14:39

This episode centers on a provocative idea: the perception process as traditionally explained by science is fundamentally flawed. While this may seem like a daring claim, it is one we believe is justified. The scientific explanation of perception is riddled with limitations, inaccuracies, and unresolved questions. In this episode, we will examine s…

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The Science of Extinction 15:24

3M ago15:24

15:24

Earth has always been a planet of comebacks. Life has thrived, collapsed, and reinvented itself in astonishing ways. Scientists call the five great wipe-outs of the past the “Big Five” – huge mass extinctions that reset the clock on life. Without them, we wouldn’t even be here to talk about it. This week, Luke O’Neill dives into what these extincti…

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SatChitAnanda, Brahman Vs, Self-Awareness 18:37

3M ago18:37

18:37

In this episode, we will explore the meanings of SatChitAnanda, Brahman, and Self-Awareness. For students of Vedanta, SatChitAnanda and Brahman are commonly referenced concepts. Vedanta teaches that these two terms are ultimately identical. However, upon closer examination, differences between them can emerge, causing confusion and making it harder…

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The Science of Breast Milk 14:50

4M ago14:50

14:50

Breast milk is often called “nature’s first vaccine” and, in this week's podcast, Luke O’Neill explains why. From the moment a baby is born, its immune system is still immature and wide open to infection. Breast milk steps in as the baby’s first line of defence, passing on antibodies, immune cells and even the benefits of vaccines the mother has re…

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Secular Student Alliance with Kevin Bolling 59:24

4M ago59:24

59:24

My guest this week is Kevin Bolling, executive director of the Secular Student Alliance, the largest organization in the country representing secular and nonreligious students. We discuss how things are going on the youth secular organizing front, including community moderation and coping with the resurgence of White Christian Nationalism. Enjoy! S…

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Understanding the Universe of Waveforms 18:42

4M ago18:42

18:42

In this episode, we delve into an intriguing notion that there is a fully functional universe composed of waveforms. While this concept might initially seem strange, we present it as the core reality of existence. We’ll explore how a fully operational universe of waves exists and functions within our minds. Every event happens first in the mind bef…

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The Science of Type-1 Diabetes 17:22

4M ago17:22

17:22

Professor Luke O’Neill dives into the science behind Type-1 Diabetes for this week's podcast, answering a question from listener Sarah. Luke explains the key differences between Type-1 and other forms of diabetes, guiding us through the early symptoms—intense thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, vision issues, and nausea—an…

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Quantum Physics - Overview 17:00

4M ago17:00

17:00

In this episode, we present a non-technical introduction to the intriguing world of quantum physics. Grasping its fundamental concepts is essential, for in many respects, quantum physics and Vedanta share and speak the same language. The focus of this episode is to highlight the essential and key aspects of quantum physics. Do contact us if you hav…

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The Science of Speech-making 14:55

4M ago14:55

14:55

Why do some speeches stick in your mind while others fade before the applause ends? In this unusual episode of Show Me The Science, Professor Luke O’Neill swaps the lab for the lectern to reveal the science of captivating public speaking. Drawing on decades of experience addressing audiences from classrooms to conferences, Luke shares his top tips …

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Who Am I? 14:25

4M ago14:25

14:25

Today’s episode promises intrigue and reflection as we delve into the profound question, “Who Am I?” Though it may appear straightforward, this inquiry reveals layers far deeper than first glance. Together, we’ll unravel the misconceptions about our identity—examining what we are not—before turning our gaze to who and what we truly are. We look for…

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The Science of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 18:17

4M ago18:17

18:17

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) - has long baffled doctors and patients alike. It leaves people with crushing fatigue, brain fog, pain, sleep disturbance and a body that just won’t bounce back after even mild exertion. For too many sufferers, it’s meant years of being dismissed, neglected, or told it was all …

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My Spiritual Journey 13:12

4M ago13:12

13:12

In this episode, I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself and share the story of my spiritual path. My journey began in 2004, when I first attended Vedanta classes at the Arsha Bodha Center in Somerset, New Jersey—a traditional ashram established by Swami Tadatmananda, dedicated to imparting the timeless wisdom of ancient Indian sages. It was …

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The Science of Stem Cells 20:09

4M ago20:09

20:09

This week, Luke rolls up his sleeves to tackle a listener request from Danny and Caroline. Caroline’s living with osteoarthritis, so stem cells seemed like just the ticket for discussion. We start with the basics: stem cells are the body’s precursors, the young all-rounders that can grow into brain neurons, cartilage-makers, or insulin-producing pa…