The Quantum Glow: Decoding the Light of the Universe

Explore how heat transforms into light, from the incandescent soot particles dancing in a candle flame to the ancient thermal radiation of the deep cosmos. This podcast uncovers the secrets of black-body radiation, an idealised state where an object’s temperature alone dictates its unique continuous spectrum of light. We trace how the quest to understand this "glow" eventually toppled classical physics and established the foundations of quantum mechanics. Join us to learn why the hottest fires burn blue and how every object in the universe, including the human body, is constantly radiating energy.