# The strange physics of tides

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ultramarine-the-science-of-our-oceans-and-waterways-7618302/the-strange-physics-of-tides
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ultramarine-the-science-of-our-oceans-and-waterways-7618302/the-strange-physics-of-tides.md
Podcast: [Ultramarine: the science of our oceans and waterways](https://stenobird.com/podcast/ultramarine-the-science-of-our-oceans-and-waterways-7618302)
Published: 2026-01-27T05:25:43+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/ultramarine-the-science-of-our-oceans-and-waterways/episodes/the-strange-physics-of-tides
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/693101a3fb6ea8e37846b815/e/6978499a4366b0662d9e7933/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/ultramarine-the-science-of-our-oceans-and-waterways-7618302/episodes/the-strange-physics-of-tides
Duration seconds: 1131

## Resource

David Boldeman is joined by science journalist Ellen Phiddian to explore the strange and often misunderstood physics of tides. The conversation unpacks why most coastlines experience two tides a day, why tidal behaviour varies so dramatically around the world, and what tide charts are actually measuring. Along the way, they examine spring and king tides, the influence of geography and ocean shape, and how tidal forces affect not just the oceans, but the Earth and Moon over deep time including the possibility that tides played a role in the origins of life. For the latest science news and discoveries visit https://connectsci.au/news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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## Transcript

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