Short Wave - ‘Interstellar’: Time Dilation And Wormholes Explained

Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar was a phenomenon in 2014. Set in the future, Earth has been struck by a global crop blight. Former NASA pilot Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) is pulled into a NASA mission to transport the human race to a new planet, via wormhole. Back on Earth, Cooper’s daughter, Murph (Jessica Chastain), attempts to complete an equation that will allow this mass-transport of humanity from Earth. 


Many scientists praised the film, particularly for its depiction of black holes. In this episode co-hosts Regina G. Barber and Emily Kwong talk about Interstellar with Star Trek scientific advisor and astrophysicist Erin Macdonald. They walk through wormholes, black holes and all the ways space-time stretches in the film. 


Interested in more on the science behind science fiction? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org – we may feature it in an upcoming episode!


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The Stack Overflow Podcast - We built stackoverflow.ai with the community and for the community

Ryan is joined by our very own Ash Zade, Product Manager, and Alex Warren, Staff Software Engineer, to discuss our newly released stackoverflow.ai, how it’s enhancing user experience by combining human-validated answers with AI, and our future plans for deeper personalization and community integration. 

Episode notes: 

stackoverflow.ai is helping you get the technical answers you need with less friction, all powered by our 16 years of community knowledge.

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Connect with Alex on LinkedIn.

This week we’re shouting out user Ketan Ramani for winning a Populist badge for their answer to How to go about formatting 1200 to 1.2k in Android studio.

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Read Me a Poem - “Dear Possible” by Laura Riding

Amanda Holmes reads Laura Riding’s “Dear Possible.” Have a suggestion for a poem by a (dead) writer? Email us: podcast@theamericanscholar.org. If we select your entry, you’ll win a copy of a poetry collection edited by David Lehman.

 

This episode was produced by Stephanie Bastek and features the song “Canvasback” by Chad Crouch.


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It Could Happen Here - Abundance, Or How To Sell Tech Fascism To Liberals

Mia talks about the new Abundance movement, its ideas and how it operates as a Trojan horse for its funders Peter Thiel and the Koch Brothers.

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Global News Podcast - France in fresh political crisis after MPs oust PM

France has been plunged into a new political crisis with the defeat of Prime Minister François Bayrou at a confidence vote in the National Assembly. The defeat means that Mr Bayrou will on Tuesday present his government's resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, who must now decide how to replace him. Also: Democrats in Congress release alleged Trump birthday note to Epstein, and new Banksy mural appears at Royal Courts of Justice in London.

The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Chapo Trap House - 967 – Whitehat feat. Derek Davison (9/8/25)

Chapo Senior Foreign Policy correspondent Derek Davison is back once again to talk about the escalating possibility of war in Venezuela. We discuss the recent strike on a Venezuelan boat by Trump and his newly-Christened Department of War, a botched raid into North Korea, our collapsing relationship with India, China’s SCO summit with Russia, and conflict on the Thai-Cambodia border. Plus: a Matt Christman prediction comes true… Find all of Derek’s foreign policy coverage at: www.foreignexchanges.news www.americanprestigepod.com

CBS News Roundup - 09/08/2025 | World News Roundup Late Edition

Congressional Democrats release letter allegedly written by President Trump to Jeffrey Epstein. President Trump escalates threats of an immigration crackdown in Chicago. Two rulings from Supreme Court justices in the president's favor.

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