Physics World Stories Podcast

The latest episode of Physics World Stories takes you inside CUWiP+, the Conference for Undergraduate Women and Non-Binary Physicists, and the role the annual event plays in shaping early experiences of studying physics.

The episode features June McCombie from the University of Nottingham, who discusses what happens at CUWiP+ events and why they are so important for improving the retention of women and non-binary students in STEM. She reflects on how the conferences create space for students to explore career paths, build confidence and see themselves as part of the physics community.

Reflections and tips from CUWiP+ 2025

University of Birmingham students Tanshpreet Kaur and Harriett McCormick share their experiences of attending the 2025 CUWiP+ event at the University of Warwick and explain why they are excited for the next event, set for Birmingham, 19–22 March 2026. They describe standout moments from 2025, including being starstruck at meeting Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who discovered radio pulsars in 1967.

The episode provides practical advice to get the most out of the event. Organizers design the programme to cater for all personalities – whether you thrive in lively, social situations, or prefer time to step back and reflect. Either way, CUWiP+ offers opportunities to be inspired and to make meaningful connections.

Hosted by Andrew Glester, the episode highlights how shared experiences and supportive networks can balance the often-solitary nature of studying physics, especially when you feel excluded from the majority group.

In this episode of Physics World Stories, theoretical physicist, cosmologist and author Paul Davies discusses his latest book, Quantum 2.0: the Past, Present and Future of Quantum Physics. A Regents Professor at Arizona State University, Davies reflects on how the first quantum revolution transformed our understanding of nature – and what the next one might bring.

He explores how emerging quantum technologies are beginning to merge with artificial intelligence, raising new ethical and philosophical questions. Could quantum AI help tackle climate change or tackle issues like hunger? And how far should we go in outsourcing planetary management to machines that may well prioritize their own survival?

Davies also turns his gaze to the arts, imagining a future where quantum ideas inspire music, theatre and performance. From jazz improvized by quantum algorithms to plays whose endings depend on quantum outcomes, creativity itself could enter a new superposition.

Hosted by Andrew Glester, this episode blends cutting-edge science and imagination in trademark Paul Davies style.

This episode of Physics World Stories features an interview with Jessica Esquivel and Emily Esquivel – the creative duo behind Queer Quest. The event created a shared space for 2SLGBTQIA+ Black and Brown people working in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM).

Mental health professionals also joined Queer Quest, which was officially recognized by UNESCO as part of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ). Over two days in Chicago this October, the event brought science, identity and wellbeing into powerful conversation.

Jessica Esquivel, a particle physicist and associate scientist at Fermilab, is part of the Muon g-2 experiment, pushing the limits of the Standard Model. Emily Esquivel is a licensed clinical professional counsellor. Together, they run Oyanova, an organization empowering Black and Brown communities through science and wellness.

Quantum metaphors and resilience through connection

Queer Quest blended keynote talks, with collective conversations, alongside meditation and other wellbeing activities. Panellists drew on quantum metaphors – such as entanglement – to explore identity, community and mental health.

In a wide-ranging conversation with podcast host Andrew Glester, Jessica and Emily speak about the inspiration for the event, and the personal challenges they have faced within academia. They speak about the importance of building resilience through community connections, especially given the social tensions in the US right now.

Hear more from Jessica Esquivel in her 2021 Physics World Stories appearance on the latest developments in muon science.

In this episode of the Physics World Stories podcast, Rosemary Coogan offers a glimpse into life as one of the European Space Agency’s newest astronauts. Selected as part of ESA’s 2022 cohort, she received astronaut certification in 2024, and is now in line to visit the International Space Station within the next five years. One day, she may even walk on the Moon as part of the Artemis programme.

Coogan explains what astronaut training really entails: classroom sessions packed with technical knowledge, zero-gravity parabolic flights, and underwater practice in Houston’s neutral buoyancy pool. Born in Northern Ireland, Coogan reflects on her personal journey. From a child dreaming of space, she went on to study physics and astrophysics at Durham University, then completed a PhD on the evolution of distant galaxies.

When not preparing for lift off, Coogan counts sci-fi among her interests – she loves getting lost in the world of possibilities. She’s also candid about the psychological side of astronaut training, and how she’s learned to savour the learning process itself rather than obsess over launch dates. Hosted by Andrew Glester, this episode captures both the challenge and wonder of preparing for an imminent journey to space.

In the folklore of physics, the origins of quantum mechanics are often told as the story of a handful of brilliant young men, trading ideas in lecture halls and cafes. The German term Knabenphysik – “boys’ physics” – helped cement that image, and its gender bias went largely unchallenged for decades.

The latest Physics World Stories podcast, hosted by Andrew Glester, features Margriet van der Heijden, professor of science communication at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, and Michelle Frank, a 2024–25 Public Scholar with the US National Endowment for the Humanities. Both contributed to Women in the History of Quantum Physics: Beyond Knabenphysik, a new book that brings together the stories of sixteen women whose work, ideas and problem-solving helped shape the field from the very start.

The book challenges the “lone genius” narrative, showing that quantum theory emerged from a much wider network of people – many of whom were women, and many of whom went unrecognized. The discussion also reflects on barriers that remain in physics today.

Van der Heijden and Frank are part of the international working group of Women in the History of Quantum Physics. Visit the group’s website for links to a range of publications and events.