About Us
Ethan Siegel
Ethan has lived his life fascinated with one simple fact: we have the capacity to figure out definitive, scientific answers to even the deepest questions we can conceive about our physical reality. We do that by asking the right questions about the Universe, and then putting the Universe itself to the test. From where everything comes from to the Universe’s ultimate fate and all that lies between, he’s committed to not just figuring it out, but to sharing the answers — what we know and how we know it — with anyone curious enough to listen.
A theoretical astrophysicist by training, Ethan left a promising research career in cosmology and a job as a physics and astronomy professor to focus on science communication full-time. He revels in telling scientifically accurate, beautifully illustrated stories about the Universe with the widest audience possible. He believes this Universe is the one thing we all have in common, and knowing our shared cosmic story should be for absolutely everyone, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, nationality, sexuality, educational and economic background, or any other trait.
Through stories told in a variety of formats — articles, books, podcasts, videos, interactive discussions, as well as in-person talks — he’s committed to ensuring that the best scientific knowledge we have about the Universe is available to all. You’re invited to join us on the journey.
Our mission: to answer, scientifically, the biggest questions of all.
What is our Universe made of?
How did it become the way it is today?
Where did everything come from?
What is the ultimate fate of the cosmos?
For countless generations, these were questions without resolutions.
Now, for the first time in history, we have scientific answers.
Let us bring these stories — of what we know and how we know it — directly to you.
Starts With A Bang!
History: 2008-present
Starts With A Bang! was founded by Ethan Siegel in 2008, when he was a Postdoctoral researcher in theoretical astrophysics. He had previously obtained his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Florida in 2006, with experience teaching at both the secondary and college level. Starts With A Bang! was a way to combine passions for natural science, teaching, and outreach, and has grown into a science communication paradise, with ~4,000 articles, multiple books and magazine articles, an ongoing podcast, and much, much more.
After moving to the Pacific Northwest, Ethan first became a physics professor at the University of Portland and later at Lewis & Clark College, where he taught until 2015. Simultaneously, Starts With A Bang! grew in popularity, moving to Scienceblogs in 2009, to Medium in 2013 (which remains active), and to Forbes in 2015. We continue to put out 5 new stories a week, every week.
The Starts With A Bang! Patreon started around the same time, enabling readers and listeners to support Starts With A Bang! and eventually allowing Ethan to work on its projects full-time. Today, we put on events, create podcasts, and tell science stories, with the eventual dream of creating TV series and films, bringing the story of the Universe — including what we know and how we know it — to everyone in the entire world.
The journey continues today, and you’re invited to join us for the ride.