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Basement: Daniel Whiteson | Dark Matter, Dark Aliens, Dark Physics

2026-04-20 Entertainment
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The Why Files
The Why Files
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Description

The Why Files releases video episodes on Spotify every Monday and Friday. And when you become a Spotify Premium subscriber, you get fewer ads – that means more story, less interruption. Daniel Whiteson is a particle physicist at UC Irvine and an active researcher at CERN's Large Hadron Collider — the largest machine ever built — where 5,000 scientists are using high-energy collisions to read the universe's secret menu. He co-hosts the show Daniel and Kelly's Extraordinary Universe, co-created an award-winning science show for preschoolers, and recently wrote a book asking whether aliens would even recognize our physics at all. His work sits at the collision point of experimental science, philosophy, and the biggest unanswered questions in physics — what everything is made of, why gravity is so weak, and whether the universe has a bottom. #ParticlePhysics #DarkMatter #CERN #AJGentile #DanielWhiteson 00:26:25 — Introduction & Origin Story 00:36:07 — How the Large Hadron Collider Works 00:38:34 — The Planck Scale & The Big Bang 00:50:05 — Neutrinos, Pulsars & Gravitational Waves 00:58:51 — Life at CERN 01:10:21 — The Hierarchy Problem & The Higgs Boson 01:43:25 — Dark Matter & Dark Aliens 01:55:01 — Physics, Philosophy & Math 02:25:39 — Science Funding & Gatekeeping 02:33:25 — Your Phone Is a Cosmic Ray Detector 02:51:46 — Simulation Theory & Communicating with Aliens 03:13:54 — The Extended Drake Equation 03:36:35 — Warp Drives & One Question for the Aliens 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 Executive Producers: Jennifer Gentile Gino Gentile AJ Gentile Patreon Members Editors: Joe Stone Drew Sullivan Brandon Snyder Ryan Fitzgerald Producers: Victoria Young Haley Burke Research: Haley Burke AJ Gentile Gino Gentile Jen Gentile Victoria Young Written/Hosted by: AJ Gentile Hecklefish J. Moriarty Thank You Mods: The Hybrid Paul Rohrbaugh Mischief SnowCrash BeezySmeezy TrashPanda MaryJaneMcweed AC Sanzel Abbaton SpookyMadison Original Jim With Music on Repeat by Victor Lundberg The Why Files lyrics by Straightjacket Spaceman 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 DANIEL LINKS sites.uci.edu/daniel X - @DanielWhiteson Podcast - Daniel and Kelly's Extraordinary Universe 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 🎧 The Why Files: OPERATION PODCAST 🎧 🎧 https://thewhyfiles.com/podcast 🎧 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 🙏 SUPPORT THE WHY FILES (Fun, Free Perks!) 🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thewhyfiles 🙏 YT Members: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIFk2uvCNcEmZ77g0ESKLcQ/join 👽 BUY WHY FILES MERCH 👽 👽 https://shop.thewhyfiles.com (Code: LIZZIDPEEPLE for 10% off first order) 👽 💬 CHAT WITH US ON DISCORD 💬 💬 https://thewhyfiles.com/discord 💬 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 🌐 OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://thebasementpodcast.com/ https://thewhyfiles.com 📸 BE A WHY FILES MODEL (and get free stuff!) 📸 Send a photo of you/family/friends watching TWF, 📸 wearing TWF gear, using TWF merchandise: 📸 https://thewhyfiles.com/wild 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 ▪TWF ON THE WEBS ▪https://www.reddit.com/r/TheWhyFiles/ ▪https://twitter.com/OMGTheWhyFiles ▪https://www.instagram.com/OMGTheWhyFiles ▪https://www.rumble.com/thewhyfiles ▪https://thewhyfiles.locals.com ▪https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhyfiles ▪https://www.facebook.com/OMGTheWhyFiles 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 🐠 BETTER CHANNELS TO WATCH: 🐠 https://www.youtube.com/c/HecklefishMoriarty 🤓 https://www.youtube.com/c/TheWhyFilesBackstage 🎧 https://www.youtube.com/c/TheWhyFilesPodcast

Top Comments (10)

@StellaRandel 2026-04-20

I am 83 yrs old and absolutely love “The Basement” episodes. At my age it’s difficult to find people to talk about the subjects you explore in depth. When I bring up any of this stuff people look at me as some old demented crazy lady. It’s maddening. Thanks for all you do.

1.9k 216 replies
@BulletproofGOAT 2026-04-20

Don't stop numbering the episodes!

619 18 replies
@bopaintsminis 2026-04-20

"Nothing developed at CERN can be used as a weapon." US govt.: "Hold my beer."

394 92 replies
@DavesRabbitHole 2026-04-20

The basement is my new happy place. Thanks AJ

301 8 replies
@steener76 2026-04-20

These podcasts make the commute so much easier, man. Thanks.

190 10 replies
@jakomot 2026-04-21

WhyFiles is the best channel ever.

171 2 replies
@pragmatism8147 2026-04-21

Really glad AJ is doing what HE wants. It's great.

135 2 replies
@Darenwrld 2026-04-20

This channel has changed how I see the world in a big way. Not only is the content important but it feels truly fun and open. It has been getting me through some hard times and gives me a lot of hope - excited to listen to this podcast. I have listened to each of these podcasts multiple times. They are so fun and interesting. Thanks to you and your team!!

103 3 replies
@adnmoh1 2026-04-21

Art bell would be proud to hear this post.

60 1 replies
@brosettastone7520 2026-04-21

FINALLY a podcast where the host is actually INTELLIGENT. I’m so sick of seeing these complicated topics on channels like Danny jones and Julian Dorey and these bandwagoneers who have not a clue about this topic and look like a deer in headlights when explaining to them.

39 11 replies

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