Just to let you know a new edition of the podcast is now up: www.fqxi.org/community/podcast. It's a bit longer than usual because we've given some time over to discussing the essay contest launch. Those planning to "question the foundations" can pick up some tips on what the judges do and don't want to see. (Mainly the latter.)
In this edition, cosmologist Alex Vilenkin asks whether the universe could have existed forever into the past -- without a beginning. In his extended interview (scroll down and click on the individual item) he also looks into whether, if it did have a beginning, there may be some way we could pick up evidence of *where* it happened.
There's a bit of a "quantum theory applied in unexpected places" theme too. If you enjoyed Sophie Hebden's profile of FQXi grant winner and "quantum linguist" Bob Coecke, you can listen to her interview with him. Quantum perfumer Luca Turin also talks about his controversial theory of smell.
And finally, string theorist Joe Polchinski and Nobel laureate particle physicist Frank Wilczek take questions on extra dimensions and underwater sound, from listeners.
I'm going to experiment and blog this as well as posting in the automatically-generated podcast discussion thread -- sorry for the double post!
Let me know what you think.