I'm Samir Patel, editor-in-chief at Quanta Magazine. Our mission at Quanta is to cover what we call basic or fundamental research in science and math. That means the kind of work that's driven by curiosity and discovery and the search for knowledge. We're interested in how and why everything around us works the way that it does. On our brand new show, the Quanta

podcast, you'll meet the writers and editors behind the magazine, and together we'll explore

the biggest ideas and the tiniest details. Join me for the Quanta podcast, your weekly dispatch

from the frontiers of science and math.

The first strikes were on Iran, but the war almost immediately became a regional conflict. This war has escalated much quicker than a lot of us expected.

Fighting a stretch from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean.

I'm Marco Wurman.

And I'm Carolyn Beeler.

Today the breadth and scope of

who's launching missiles at whom. Also, the wild tale of a Portuguese fisherman who ran the

cod industry like a mob boss. When I arrived in the United States in 1968, I always said to myself,

I am not going to be working for anybody else all my life.

Plus, Russia is giving Africans an alluring offer.

It sounds mouth-watering.

Many people think it's something worth giving a chance.

But fighting in Russia's army comes with huge risks.

And South Korea takes on food waste today on the world.

This is the world. I'm Carolyn Beeler. And I'm Marco Wurman. Thank you for joining us today.

When the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday, it started a war in the Middle East, but it has not stayed just there.

The conflict has now expanded farther into the region and beyond into Asia.

Iranian drones hit an airport in Azerbaijan today.

Yesterday, NATO forces shot down a missile as it headed into Turkish airspace.

...