Particle physicist Daniel Whiteson joins me for a wide-ranging conversation about CERN, the Large Hadron Collider, the Higgs boson, quantum physics, special relativity, aliens and how much of what we call “physics” may actually reflect the way humans think. Daniel is a professor of physics and astronomy at UC Irvine and a member of the ATLAS collaboration at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider. His book Do Aliens Speak Physics? asks a deceptively simple question: if intelligent extraterrestrial life exists, would they understand the universe using anything resembling our science? We get into the search for unexpected discoveries at the LHC, how the Higgs boson was found, and why some of the most exciting moments in science happen when the universe basically tells us, “You thought A — turns out it’s B.” We also talk about whether aliens could arrive at the same physical truths through a completely different scientific history, the difficulty of ever decoding an extraterrestrial message, and the possibility that we could recognize an alien signal without having any idea what it actually says. And yes — we get into the wilder CERN theories too: alternate timelines, portals, demons and the misinformation Daniel constantly hears about the collider versus what scientists there are actually trying to understand about the universe. Daniel Whiteson: Official WebsiteDo Aliens Speak Physics?: Official Book SiteUC Irvine: Daniel Whiteson Faculty ProfileX: @DanielWhiteson🔗 Stay connected & join the journey:📍 TikTok: @thekiddandfriendspodcast📍 Instagram: @dynamokidd | @thekiddandfriendspodcast📍 X (Twitter): @dynamokidd📍 LinkedIn: Christopher Perry 💥 Support the podcast & explore these awesome resources: AMENTARA — https://www.amentara.com Amentara is an ethnobotanical marketplace and education hub focused on ethical sourcing, transparent info, and helping you make informed choices. Explore botanicals like Blue Lotus, Kanna, Kava, and more. 💥 10% off: use code KIDD10 at checkout. 🎬 World of Literature and Film Festival – Explore groundbreaking films & literature:🔗 Wolf Media Festival 🍄 Cultivating Wisdom – Microdosing & mushroom-inspired apparel (use code Perry for 20% off!):🔗 Shop Now 🎶 MuseFlow – Learn how to sight-read music & play piano (use code Kidd50 for a special discount!):🔗 Start Playing Today 25% OFF All ETHA Kratom ProductsCode: KIDD25Shop: https://www.ethanaturals.com/discount/kidd25 Premium, lab-tested kratom. If you enjoyed this conversation, please Like, Subscribe, Share, and leave a review. It helps us continue bringing you fascinating guests exploring consciousness, health, spirituality, science, and the mysteries of being human. #TheKiddAndFriendsPodcast #DanielWhiteson, #DoAliensSpeakPhysics, #CERN, #LargeHadronCollider, #HiggsBoson, #ParticlePhysics, #Physics, #QuantumPhysics, #SpecialRelativity, #PlanckScale, #DarkMatter, #Antimatter, #Aliens, #ExtraterrestrialLife, #WOWSignal, #ATLASExperiment, #Science, #ScienceCommunication, #Consciousness, #Universe, #Reality, #UC Irvine, #TheKiddAndFriendsPodcast
