Paul Dirac | What if Antimatter Was Cheap

Paul Dirac | What if Antimatter Was Cheap

From Things I Learned Last Night by Jaron Myers and Tim Stone

May 12, 2026 · 53 min · Episode 325

About this episode

This episode explores the fascinating world of antimatter and its implications for the future of clean energy and space travel.

Ever wondered if an 'anti-world' really exists? Discover the mind-bending reality of antimatter and how it could hold the key to our planet's future. In this episode, we tackle the complex and fascinating world of antimatter. Ever feel like the universe has an 'upside down'? We break down the revolutionary physics of Paul Dirac, whose work unified Einstein’s theory of relativity with Schrodinger’s quantum mechanics, leading to the discovery of antimatter. We explore how particles pair up, why there's a mysterious imbalance of matter in the universe, and the groundbreaking science happening right now at CERN. From the revolutionary potential of using antimatter as a clean, hyper-efficient fuel for space travel to its practical life-saving applications in modern PET scans, we cover it all. Whether you're a science enthusiast or just curious about why the universe hasn't annihilated itself yet, this episode offers a deep dive into the building blocks of matter. Is it dangerous? Could it power our cities? We cut through the confusion to explain the physics, the breakthroughs in transporting these volatile particles, and what it implies for the future of clean energy and interstellar…

People in this episode

Hosts: Jaron Myers, Tim Stone

Topics covered

  • antimatter
  • physics
  • space travel
  • clean energy
  • quantum mechanics
  • universe

Keywords

  • antimatter
  • Paul Dirac
  • CERN
  • clean energy
  • space travel
  • quantum mechanics
  • physics

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CERN

Books & works: Einstein’s theory of relativity, Schrodinger’s quantum mechanics

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