Janna Levin | Quanta Magazine

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https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/JannaLevin_1000-50x50.jpg 50w, https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/JannaLevin_1000-64x64.jpg 64w, https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/JannaLevin_1000-96x96.jpg 96w, https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/JannaLevin_1000-128x128.jpg 128w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /> </div> </div> </div> <div class='author__info flex-auto'> <h1 class='mt075 mb0 noe'> Janna Levin </h1> <p class='h5 gray4 o8 mv025'> <em> Contributing Columnist </em> </p> <div class='author__social flex flex-items-center mt1'> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <h2 class='screen-reader-text'>Latest Articles</h2> <section class='outer mv2 outer--content'> <div class='mha container--m'> <section class='cws flex flex-wrap scale0 fill-h archive__content pv2'> <div class='cws__content fill-h mha'> <div> <div class='card clearfix mv05 pv1 '> <div class='card__image mr1 mb1' data-toggle-hover='card'> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/what-can-birdsong-teach-us-about-human-language-20241121/' class='relative'> <span class='screen-reader-text'>What Can Birdsong Teach Us About Human Language?</span> <div class='image mx0 relative image--standard'> <div class='image__inner absolute fit-x is-loaded'> <img width="520" height="292" src="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/JOW-322-Bird-song-and-Speech_crPeterGreenwood-Default.webp" class="absolute fit-x fill-h fill-v mxa" alt="Singing bird in front of many chat bubbles" decoding="async" /> </div> </div> </a> </div> <div class='card__content '> <div class='mb1 pb025 mt0 h6t card__kicker'> <a class="kicker theme__accent theme__text-hover uppercase" href="/tag/the-joy-of-why/">The Joy of Why</a> </div> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/what-can-birdsong-teach-us-about-human-language-20241121/' data-toggle-hover='card'> <h3 class='card__title noe mv0 theme__accent-hover transition--color h2t'> What Can Birdsong Teach Us About Human Language? </h3> </a> <div class='card__meta mb0 mt025 flex flex-items-center flex-wrap'> <div class='byline relative flex flex-items-start merriweather mv025 mr1 gray3 h6t theme__text-hover'> <em class='byline__by gray4 mr075'>By </em> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/jannalevin/'> <span class='byline__author uppercase kern light small'>Janna Levin</span> </a> </div> <span class='o-divider o-divider--vertical mr1 relative h6'></span> <div class='card-date h6 flex flex-items-center mv05'> <div class='uppercase mr1 kern small gray3'>November 21, 2024</div> <span class='o-divider o-divider--vertical mr1 relative'></span> </div> <div class='card__actions h6 flex flex-items-center mv05'> <div class='comments-button mr05 flex flex-items-center theme__accent-hover ' data-name='comment-bubble' > <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/what-can-birdsong-teach-us-about-human-language-20241121/#comments' class='flex flex-items-center pangram'> <svg viewbox='0 0 50 50' enable-background='new 0 0 50 50' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' class='o2'><title>Comment</title><path fill='currentColor' d='M9.4 4.2h31.2c8.6 0 9.4 7 9.4 15.6s-.7 15.6-9.4 15.6h-2.2l-.9 9.4-18.8-9.4H9.4c-8.6 0-9.4-7-9.4-15.6S.7 4.2 9.4 4.2z'></path></svg> <div> <span class='comments-button__count ml075 small mbold disqus-comment-count' data-disqus-identifier='144303 https://www.quantamagazine.org/?p=144303'></span> </div> </a> </div> <span class='o-divider mh075 relative'></span> <div class='relative'> <button class='bookmark-button mh05 flex flex-items-center theme__accent-hover ' data-toggle-hover='tooltip' data-id='144303' data-active-class='' aria-expanded='false'> <svg class="icon" viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Save Article</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M2.1 0h45.8v50L25.5 37.5 2.1 50V0z"></path></svg> </button> <div class='q-tooltip hidden force-mobile-placement w-32 ml-n16 -top-10'> <div class='q-tooltip-content'> <div class='q-tooltip-arrow -bottom-3'></div> <div class='q-tooltip-inner py-1 pl-1' role='tooltip'> <div class='h6t relative z1 uppercase kern--w mx025'> <span class='small no-wrap'>Read Later</span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class='card__excerpt h5 pangram o6 mb4 mt025'> <p>We often consider spoken language to be a feature that distinguishes humans from other forms of animal life. Brain research, however, suggests that other creatures — including certain birds — share some of our neural circuitry related to language. In this episode, co-host Janna Levin explores the origins and underlying mechanisms of human speech and birdsong with neurobiologist and geneticist Erich Jarvis. </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class='card clearfix mv05 pv1 '> <div class='card__image mr1 mb1' data-toggle-hover='card'> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/why-is-it-so-hard-to-define-a-species-20241024/' class='relative'> <span class='screen-reader-text'>Why Is It So Hard to Define a Species?</span> <div class='image mx0 relative image--standard'> <div class='image__inner absolute fit-x is-loaded'> <img width="520" height="292" src="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Default.webp" class="absolute fit-x fill-h fill-v mxa" alt="Finches lined up and surrounded by DNA" decoding="async" /> </div> </div> </a> </div> <div class='card__content '> <div class='mb1 pb025 mt0 h6t card__kicker'> <a class="kicker theme__accent theme__text-hover uppercase" href="/tag/the-joy-of-why/">The Joy of Why</a> </div> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/why-is-it-so-hard-to-define-a-species-20241024/' data-toggle-hover='card'> <h3 class='card__title noe mv0 theme__accent-hover transition--color h2t'> Why Is It So Hard to Define a Species? </h3> </a> <div class='card__meta mb0 mt025 flex flex-items-center flex-wrap'> <div class='byline relative flex flex-items-start merriweather mv025 mr1 gray3 h6t theme__text-hover'> <em class='byline__by gray4 mr075'>By </em> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/jannalevin/'> <span class='byline__author uppercase kern light small'>Janna Levin</span> </a> </div> <span class='o-divider o-divider--vertical mr1 relative h6'></span> <div class='card-date h6 flex flex-items-center mv05'> <div class='uppercase mr1 kern small gray3'>October 24, 2024</div> <span class='o-divider o-divider--vertical mr1 relative'></span> </div> <div class='card__actions h6 flex flex-items-center mv05'> <div class='comments-button mr05 flex flex-items-center theme__accent-hover ' data-name='comment-bubble' > <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/why-is-it-so-hard-to-define-a-species-20241024/#comments' class='flex flex-items-center pangram'> <svg viewbox='0 0 50 50' enable-background='new 0 0 50 50' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' class='o2'><title>Comment</title><path fill='currentColor' d='M9.4 4.2h31.2c8.6 0 9.4 7 9.4 15.6s-.7 15.6-9.4 15.6h-2.2l-.9 9.4-18.8-9.4H9.4c-8.6 0-9.4-7-9.4-15.6S.7 4.2 9.4 4.2z'></path></svg> <div> <span class='comments-button__count ml075 small mbold disqus-comment-count' data-disqus-identifier='142725 https://www.quantamagazine.org/?p=142725'></span> </div> </a> </div> <span class='o-divider mh075 relative'></span> <div class='relative'> <button class='bookmark-button mh05 flex flex-items-center theme__accent-hover ' data-toggle-hover='tooltip' data-id='142725' data-active-class='' aria-expanded='false'> <svg class="icon" viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Save Article</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M2.1 0h45.8v50L25.5 37.5 2.1 50V0z"></path></svg> </button> <div class='q-tooltip hidden force-mobile-placement w-32 ml-n16 -top-10'> <div class='q-tooltip-content'> <div class='q-tooltip-arrow -bottom-3'></div> <div class='q-tooltip-inner py-1 pl-1' role='tooltip'> <div class='h6t relative z1 uppercase kern--w mx025'> <span class='small no-wrap'>Read Later</span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class='card__excerpt h5 pangram o6 mb4 mt025'> <p>The idea of a species is fundamental to the way that many people understand the structure of life on Earth. But ask 10 specialists how they define the concept and you might get 10 answers. In this episode, co-host Janna Levin speaks with evolutionary biologist Kevin de Queiroz about what makes defining and delineating species such a slippery process, and why it matters to our understanding of both evolution and conservation. </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class='card clearfix mv05 pv1 '> <div class='card__image mr1 mb1' data-toggle-hover='card'> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/what-can-cave-life-tell-us-about-alien-ecosystems-20240926/' class='relative'> <span class='screen-reader-text'>What Can Cave Life Tell Us About Alien Ecosystems?</span> <div class='image mx0 relative image--standard'> <div class='image__inner absolute fit-x is-loaded'> <img width="520" height="292" src="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/JOW_Extremophiles-crPeterGreenwood-Default-NO-LOGO.jpg" class="absolute fit-x fill-h fill-v mxa" alt="A cave on another planet with a view of an alien solar system" decoding="async" /> </div> </div> </a> </div> <div class='card__content '> <div class='mb1 pb025 mt0 h6t card__kicker'> <a class="kicker theme__accent theme__text-hover uppercase" href="/tag/the-joy-of-why/">The Joy of Why</a> </div> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/what-can-cave-life-tell-us-about-alien-ecosystems-20240926/' data-toggle-hover='card'> <h3 class='card__title noe mv0 theme__accent-hover transition--color h2t'> What Can Cave Life Tell Us About Alien Ecosystems? </h3> </a> <div class='card__meta mb0 mt025 flex flex-items-center flex-wrap'> <div class='byline relative flex flex-items-start merriweather mv025 mr1 gray3 h6t theme__text-hover'> <em class='byline__by gray4 mr075'>By </em> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/jannalevin/'> <span class='byline__author uppercase kern light small'>Janna Levin</span> </a> </div> <span class='o-divider o-divider--vertical mr1 relative h6'></span> <div class='card-date h6 flex flex-items-center mv05'> <div class='uppercase mr1 kern small gray3'>September 26, 2024</div> <span class='o-divider o-divider--vertical mr1 relative'></span> </div> <div class='card__actions h6 flex flex-items-center mv05'> <div class='comments-button mr05 flex flex-items-center theme__accent-hover ' data-name='comment-bubble' > <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/what-can-cave-life-tell-us-about-alien-ecosystems-20240926/#comments' class='flex flex-items-center pangram'> <svg viewbox='0 0 50 50' enable-background='new 0 0 50 50' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' class='o2'><title>Comment</title><path fill='currentColor' d='M9.4 4.2h31.2c8.6 0 9.4 7 9.4 15.6s-.7 15.6-9.4 15.6h-2.2l-.9 9.4-18.8-9.4H9.4c-8.6 0-9.4-7-9.4-15.6S.7 4.2 9.4 4.2z'></path></svg> <div> <span class='comments-button__count ml075 small mbold disqus-comment-count' data-disqus-identifier='141727 https://www.quantamagazine.org/?p=141727'></span> </div> </a> </div> <span class='o-divider mh075 relative'></span> <div class='relative'> <button class='bookmark-button mh05 flex flex-items-center theme__accent-hover ' data-toggle-hover='tooltip' data-id='141727' data-active-class='' aria-expanded='false'> <svg class="icon" viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Save Article</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M2.1 0h45.8v50L25.5 37.5 2.1 50V0z"></path></svg> </button> <div class='q-tooltip hidden force-mobile-placement w-32 ml-n16 -top-10'> <div class='q-tooltip-content'> <div class='q-tooltip-arrow -bottom-3'></div> <div class='q-tooltip-inner py-1 pl-1' role='tooltip'> <div class='h6t relative z1 uppercase kern--w mx025'> <span class='small no-wrap'>Read Later</span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class='card__excerpt h5 pangram o6 mb4 mt025'> <p>Extremophiles, or microbes that live in the most seemingly hostile environments, are the darlings of astrobiologists, who study the potential for life beyond Earth. In this episode, co-host Janna Levin speaks with astrobiologist and cave explorer Penelope Boston about how life finds a way — and whether it might have found a way elsewhere in our solar system or around a distant star. </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class='card clearfix mv05 pv1 '> <div class='card__image mr1 mb1' data-toggle-hover='card'> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/do-we-need-a-new-theory-of-gravity-20240829/' class='relative'> <span class='screen-reader-text'>Do We Need a New Theory of Gravity?</span> <div class='image mx0 relative image--standard'> <div class='image__inner absolute fit-x is-loaded'> <img width="520" height="292" src="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MassiveGravity-cr.PeterGreenwood-Default.webp" class="absolute fit-x fill-h fill-v mxa" alt="" decoding="async" /> </div> </div> </a> </div> <div class='card__content '> <div class='mb1 pb025 mt0 h6t card__kicker'> <a class="kicker theme__accent theme__text-hover uppercase" href="/tag/the-joy-of-why/">The Joy of Why</a> </div> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/do-we-need-a-new-theory-of-gravity-20240829/' data-toggle-hover='card'> <h3 class='card__title noe mv0 theme__accent-hover transition--color h2t'> Do We Need a New Theory of Gravity? </h3> </a> <div class='card__meta mb0 mt025 flex flex-items-center flex-wrap'> <div class='byline relative flex flex-items-start merriweather mv025 mr1 gray3 h6t theme__text-hover'> <em class='byline__by gray4 mr075'>By </em> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/jannalevin/'> <span class='byline__author uppercase kern light small'>Janna Levin</span> </a> </div> <span class='o-divider o-divider--vertical mr1 relative h6'></span> <div class='card-date h6 flex flex-items-center mv05'> <div class='uppercase mr1 kern small gray3'>August 29, 2024</div> <span class='o-divider o-divider--vertical mr1 relative'></span> </div> <div class='card__actions h6 flex flex-items-center mv05'> <div class='comments-button mr05 flex flex-items-center theme__accent-hover ' data-name='comment-bubble' > <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/do-we-need-a-new-theory-of-gravity-20240829/#comments' class='flex flex-items-center pangram'> <svg viewbox='0 0 50 50' enable-background='new 0 0 50 50' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' class='o2'><title>Comment</title><path fill='currentColor' d='M9.4 4.2h31.2c8.6 0 9.4 7 9.4 15.6s-.7 15.6-9.4 15.6h-2.2l-.9 9.4-18.8-9.4H9.4c-8.6 0-9.4-7-9.4-15.6S.7 4.2 9.4 4.2z'></path></svg> <div> <span class='comments-button__count ml075 small mbold disqus-comment-count' data-disqus-identifier='140166 https://www.quantamagazine.org/?p=140166'></span> </div> </a> </div> <span class='o-divider mh075 relative'></span> <div class='relative'> <button class='bookmark-button mh05 flex flex-items-center theme__accent-hover ' data-toggle-hover='tooltip' data-id='140166' data-active-class='' aria-expanded='false'> <svg class="icon" viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Save Article</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M2.1 0h45.8v50L25.5 37.5 2.1 50V0z"></path></svg> </button> <div class='q-tooltip hidden force-mobile-placement w-32 ml-n16 -top-10'> <div class='q-tooltip-content'> <div class='q-tooltip-arrow -bottom-3'></div> <div class='q-tooltip-inner py-1 pl-1' role='tooltip'> <div class='h6t relative z1 uppercase kern--w mx025'> <span class='small no-wrap'>Read Later</span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class='card__excerpt h5 pangram o6 mb4 mt025'> <p>Since Newton had his initial revelation about gravity, our understanding of this fundamental concept has evolved in unexpected ways. In this week’s episode, theoretical physicist Claudia de Rham and co-host Janna Levin discuss the ways our current understanding of gravity needs to continue to evolve.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class='card clearfix mv05 pv1 '> <div class='card__image mr1 mb1' data-toggle-hover='card'> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-does-math-keep-secrets-20240801/' class='relative'> <span class='screen-reader-text'>How Does Math Keep Secrets?</span> <div class='image mx0 relative image--standard'> <div class='image__inner absolute fit-x is-loaded'> <img width="521" height="293" src="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/0801_JOW-E14-Cryptography-crPeterGreenwood-Default.webp" class="absolute fit-x fill-h fill-v mxa" alt="" decoding="async" /> </div> </div> </a> </div> <div class='card__content '> <div class='mb1 pb025 mt0 h6t card__kicker'> <a class="kicker theme__accent theme__text-hover uppercase" href="/tag/the-joy-of-why/">The Joy of Why</a> </div> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-does-math-keep-secrets-20240801/' data-toggle-hover='card'> <h3 class='card__title noe mv0 theme__accent-hover transition--color h2t'> How Does Math Keep Secrets? </h3> </a> <div class='card__meta mb0 mt025 flex flex-items-center flex-wrap'> <div class='byline relative flex flex-items-start merriweather mv025 mr1 gray3 h6t theme__text-hover'> <em class='byline__by gray4 mr075'>By </em> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/jannalevin/'> <span class='byline__author uppercase kern light small'>Janna Levin</span> </a> </div> <span class='o-divider o-divider--vertical mr1 relative h6'></span> <div class='card-date h6 flex flex-items-center mv05'> <div class='uppercase mr1 kern small gray3'>August 1, 2024</div> <span class='o-divider o-divider--vertical mr1 relative'></span> </div> <div class='card__actions h6 flex flex-items-center mv05'> <div class='comments-button mr05 flex flex-items-center theme__accent-hover ' data-name='comment-bubble' > <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-does-math-keep-secrets-20240801/#comments' class='flex flex-items-center pangram'> <svg viewbox='0 0 50 50' enable-background='new 0 0 50 50' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' class='o2'><title>Comment</title><path fill='currentColor' d='M9.4 4.2h31.2c8.6 0 9.4 7 9.4 15.6s-.7 15.6-9.4 15.6h-2.2l-.9 9.4-18.8-9.4H9.4c-8.6 0-9.4-7-9.4-15.6S.7 4.2 9.4 4.2z'></path></svg> <div> <span class='comments-button__count ml075 small mbold disqus-comment-count' data-disqus-identifier='139467 https://www.quantamagazine.org/?p=139467'></span> </div> </a> </div> <span class='o-divider mh075 relative'></span> <div class='relative'> <button class='bookmark-button mh05 flex flex-items-center theme__accent-hover ' data-toggle-hover='tooltip' data-id='139467' data-active-class='' aria-expanded='false'> <svg class="icon" viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Save Article</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M2.1 0h45.8v50L25.5 37.5 2.1 50V0z"></path></svg> </button> <div class='q-tooltip hidden force-mobile-placement w-32 ml-n16 -top-10'> <div class='q-tooltip-content'> <div class='q-tooltip-arrow -bottom-3'></div> <div class='q-tooltip-inner py-1 pl-1' role='tooltip'> <div class='h6t relative z1 uppercase kern--w mx025'> <span class='small no-wrap'>Read Later</span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class='card__excerpt h5 pangram o6 mb4 mt025'> <p>Cryptography is the thread that connects Julius Caesar, World War II and quantum computing, and it now lies under nearly every part of modern life. In this week’s episode, computer scientist Boaz Barak and co-host Janna Levin discuss the past and future of secrecy.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class='card clearfix mv05 pv1 '> <div class='card__image mr1 mb1' data-toggle-hover='card'> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/what-can-tiling-patterns-teach-us-20240703/' class='relative'> <span class='screen-reader-text'>What Can Tiling Patterns Teach Us?</span> <div class='image mx0 relative image--standard'> <div class='image__inner absolute fit-x is-loaded'> <img width="521" height="293" src="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/JoY-S3E12-Tiling-crPeterGreenwood-Default.webp" class="absolute fit-x fill-h fill-v mxa" alt="" decoding="async" /> </div> </div> </a> </div> <div class='card__content '> <div class='mb1 pb025 mt0 h6t card__kicker'> <a class="kicker theme__accent theme__text-hover uppercase" href="/tag/the-joy-of-why/">The Joy of Why</a> </div> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/what-can-tiling-patterns-teach-us-20240703/' data-toggle-hover='card'> <h3 class='card__title noe mv0 theme__accent-hover transition--color h2t'> What Can Tiling Patterns Teach Us? </h3> </a> <div class='card__meta mb0 mt025 flex flex-items-center flex-wrap'> <div class='byline relative flex flex-items-start merriweather mv025 mr1 gray3 h6t theme__text-hover'> <em class='byline__by gray4 mr075'>By </em> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/jannalevin/'> <span class='byline__author uppercase kern light small'>Janna Levin</span> </a> </div> <span class='o-divider o-divider--vertical mr1 relative h6'></span> <div class='card-date h6 flex flex-items-center mv05'> <div class='uppercase mr1 kern small gray3'>July 3, 2024</div> <span class='o-divider o-divider--vertical mr1 relative'></span> </div> <div class='card__actions h6 flex flex-items-center mv05'> <div class='comments-button mr05 flex flex-items-center theme__accent-hover ' data-name='comment-bubble' > <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/what-can-tiling-patterns-teach-us-20240703/#comments' class='flex flex-items-center pangram'> <svg viewbox='0 0 50 50' enable-background='new 0 0 50 50' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' class='o2'><title>Comment</title><path fill='currentColor' d='M9.4 4.2h31.2c8.6 0 9.4 7 9.4 15.6s-.7 15.6-9.4 15.6h-2.2l-.9 9.4-18.8-9.4H9.4c-8.6 0-9.4-7-9.4-15.6S.7 4.2 9.4 4.2z'></path></svg> <div> <span class='comments-button__count ml075 small mbold disqus-comment-count' data-disqus-identifier='138915 https://www.quantamagazine.org/?p=138915'></span> </div> </a> </div> <span class='o-divider mh075 relative'></span> <div class='relative'> <button class='bookmark-button mh05 flex flex-items-center theme__accent-hover ' data-toggle-hover='tooltip' data-id='138915' data-active-class='' aria-expanded='false'> <svg class="icon" viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Save Article</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M2.1 0h45.8v50L25.5 37.5 2.1 50V0z"></path></svg> </button> <div class='q-tooltip hidden force-mobile-placement w-32 ml-n16 -top-10'> <div class='q-tooltip-content'> <div class='q-tooltip-arrow -bottom-3'></div> <div class='q-tooltip-inner py-1 pl-1' role='tooltip'> <div class='h6t relative z1 uppercase kern--w mx025'> <span class='small no-wrap'>Read Later</span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class='card__excerpt h5 pangram o6 mb4 mt025'> <p>If you cover a surface with tiles, repetitive patterns always emerge — or do they? 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In this episode, the physicist Siddharth Shanker Saxena tells co-host Janna Levin about what makes this hunt so difficult and consequential.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class='card clearfix mv05 pv1 '> <div class='card__image mr1 mb1' data-toggle-hover='card'> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/can-information-escape-a-black-hole-20240411/' class='relative'> <span class='screen-reader-text'>Can Information Escape a Black Hole?</span> <div class='image mx0 relative image--standard'> <div class='image__inner absolute fit-x is-loaded'> <img width="520" height="292" src="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/JoY-S3E6-BlackHoleParadox-byPeterGreenwood-Default.webp" class="absolute fit-x fill-h fill-v mxa" alt="" decoding="async" /> </div> </div> </a> </div> <div class='card__content '> <div class='mb1 pb025 mt0 h6t card__kicker'> <a class="kicker theme__accent theme__text-hover uppercase" href="/tag/the-joy-of-why/">The Joy of Why</a> </div> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/can-information-escape-a-black-hole-20240411/' data-toggle-hover='card'> <h3 class='card__title noe mv0 theme__accent-hover transition--color h2t'> Can Information Escape a Black Hole? </h3> </a> <div class='card__meta mb0 mt025 flex flex-items-center flex-wrap'> <div class='byline relative flex flex-items-start merriweather mv025 mr1 gray3 h6t theme__text-hover'> <em class='byline__by gray4 mr075'>By </em> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/jannalevin/'> <span class='byline__author uppercase kern light small'>Janna Levin</span> </a> </div> <span class='o-divider o-divider--vertical mr1 relative h6'></span> <div class='card-date h6 flex flex-items-center mv05'> <div class='uppercase mr1 kern small gray3'>April 11, 2024</div> <span class='o-divider o-divider--vertical mr1 relative'></span> </div> <div class='card__actions h6 flex flex-items-center mv05'> <div class='comments-button mr05 flex flex-items-center theme__accent-hover ' data-name='comment-bubble' > <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/can-information-escape-a-black-hole-20240411/#comments' class='flex flex-items-center pangram'> <svg viewbox='0 0 50 50' enable-background='new 0 0 50 50' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' class='o2'><title>Comment</title><path fill='currentColor' d='M9.4 4.2h31.2c8.6 0 9.4 7 9.4 15.6s-.7 15.6-9.4 15.6h-2.2l-.9 9.4-18.8-9.4H9.4c-8.6 0-9.4-7-9.4-15.6S.7 4.2 9.4 4.2z'></path></svg> <div> <span class='comments-button__count ml075 small mbold disqus-comment-count' data-disqus-identifier='137012 https://www.quantamagazine.org/?p=137012'></span> </div> </a> </div> <span class='o-divider mh075 relative'></span> <div class='relative'> <button class='bookmark-button mh05 flex flex-items-center theme__accent-hover ' data-toggle-hover='tooltip' data-id='137012' data-active-class='' aria-expanded='false'> <svg class="icon" viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Save Article</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M2.1 0h45.8v50L25.5 37.5 2.1 50V0z"></path></svg> </button> <div class='q-tooltip hidden force-mobile-placement w-32 ml-n16 -top-10'> <div class='q-tooltip-content'> <div class='q-tooltip-arrow -bottom-3'></div> <div class='q-tooltip-inner py-1 pl-1' role='tooltip'> <div class='h6t relative z1 uppercase kern--w mx025'> <span class='small no-wrap'>Read Later</span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class='card__excerpt h5 pangram o6 mb4 mt025'> <p>Black holes are inescapable traps for most of what falls into them — but there can be exceptions. The theoretical physicist Leonard Susskind speaks with co-host Janna Levin about the black hole information paradox and how it has propelled modern physics.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <nav role='navigation' aria-label='pagination' class='pagination pt2 mt1 pb1 h6 pangram black uppercase kern bold'> <hr class='gray1 mb2' /> <div class='flex flex-items-center fill-h pt1'> <div class='flex-auto'> <span class='gray3'> <svg class="icon-s invert" x="0px" y="0px" viewBox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xml:space="preserve"><path fill="currentColor" d="M14.7,48.4l-2.2-2.2c-1.1-1.1-1.1-2.8,0-3.9L29.7,25L12.5,7.7c-1.1-1.1-1.1-2.8,0-3.9l2.2-2.2 c1.1-1.1,2.8-1.1,3.9,0L40,23c1.1,1.1,1.1,2.8,0,3.9L18.6,48.4C17.5,49.5,15.7,49.5,14.7,48.4z"></path></svg> <span class='ml05'>Previous</span> </span> </div> <ul class='pagination__pages hide'> <li class='inline-block active'> <a class='inline-block mh1 pv05 theme__accent link--underline is-active' aria-label='Page 1' href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/jannalevin' aria-current="page" > 1 </a> </li> <li class='inline-block '> <a class='inline-block mh1 pv05 ' aria-label='Page 2' href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/jannalevin/page/2' > 2 </a> </li> </ul> <div class='flex-auto align-r'> <a class='inline-block pv05' href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/jannalevin/page/2/'> <span class='mr05'>Next</span> <svg class="icon-s theme__accent" x="0px" y="0px" viewBox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xml:space="preserve"><path fill="currentColor" d="M14.7,48.4l-2.2-2.2c-1.1-1.1-1.1-2.8,0-3.9L29.7,25L12.5,7.7c-1.1-1.1-1.1-2.8,0-3.9l2.2-2.2 c1.1-1.1,2.8-1.1,3.9,0L40,23c1.1,1.1,1.1,2.8,0,3.9L18.6,48.4C17.5,49.5,15.7,49.5,14.7,48.4z"></path></svg> </a> </div> </div> </nav> </div> <div class='cws__divider'></div> <aside class='cws__sidebar fill-h mha'> <div class='mb2'> <h2 class='mt0'>About the author</h2> <small class='wysiwyg gray5 theme__anchors--underline'> <a href="http://jannalevin.com/">Janna Levin</a> is the director of sciences and chair of the Science Studios at <a href="http://www.pioneerworks.org/">Pioneer Works</a>. She is also the Claire Tow Professor of physics and astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University. A Guggenheim Fellow, Janna has contributed to an understanding of black holes, the cosmology of extra dimensions, and gravitational waves in the shape of spacetime. She is the presenter of the <em>NOVA</em> feature <em>Black Hole Apocalypse</em>, aired on PBS. Her books include <em>How the Universe Got Its Spots</em>, <em>A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines</em>, which won the PEN/Bingham Prize, and <em>Black Hole Blues and Other Songs from Outer Space</em>. </small> </div> <div class='cws__social mv1'> <span class='mb05 bold h2t block'>Follow Quanta</span> <div class='social-links flex flex-justify-between flex-items-center social-links--sidebar'> <a href='https://www.facebook.com/QuantaNews' target="_blank" class='social-links__link flex flex-items-center relative facebook mh05 theme__accent theme__text-hover transition--color'> <div class='icon-button inline-block relative pointer '> <div class='absolute fit-x mxa o2 theme__text theme__accent-hover hover--opaque'> </div> <svg class="absolute fit-x mxa " viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Facebook</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M13 16.5h5.1v-5c-.2-2.7.3-5.4 1.7-7.7 1.8-2.5 4.9-4 8-3.8 3.1-.1 6.2.2 9.2 1l-1.3 7.7C34.4 8.3 33 8 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