The Supermassive Podcast

The Supermassive Podcast

Author: The Royal Astronomical Society Language: English Episodes: 111
Hosted by science journalist Izzie Clarke and astrophysicist Dr. Becky Smethurst, The Supermassive Podcast is a journey through the cosmos produced by The Royal Astronomical Society. Each episode blends cutting-edge science with historical context, creating a rich narrative that connects past discoveries to present-day mysteries. You’ll hear conversations with leading researchers breaking down complex ideas, from gravitational slingshots to the nature of time itself, alongside deep dives into archival material that reveals how our understanding of the universe has evolved. The tone is both curious and conversational, making even the most profound concepts in physics and astronomy feel accessible and exciting. Regular contributions from Dr. Robert Massey offer practical guidance for observing the night sky, grounding the theoretical in the tangible. This isn't just a series of interviews; it's an exploration driven by listener questions, which range from the wonderfully weird to the fundamentally profound, ensuring every topic has a direct link to shared human curiosity. Tuning into this podcast feels like having a front-row seat to the latest scientific discussions while being reminded of the long, fascinating history that got us here. It’s where the biggest questions about black holes, multiverses, and our place in the cosmos are met with genuine enthusiasm and expert insight, all delivered with a distinctly engaging energy.
Episodes
44: Here Comes the Sun...with NASA's Head of Science [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:21
This month, Izzie and Dr Becky are off to the Sun…Partly because the UK summer has been rubbish but mostly because there are a lot of things we still don’t know about our local star. Joining them on their voyage is the H…
43: BONUS - Aimless telescopes & beyond the Milky Way [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:10
Could we detect exoplanets outside of the Milky Way? Could the Euclid Telescope disprove what we know about dark energy and matter? Are we just pointing telescopes aimlessly at patches of space? And is it possible for tw…
43: Most of the Universe is missing... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:09
The Supermassive Team have spent the last three years attempting to talk about ALL the stuff in space. But that only makes up 5% of our universe. Where the heck is the rest? This month, Izzie and Dr Becky dive into the t…
42: BONUS – White holes, astrology and why is Venus so hot? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:34
What’s a white hole and could one appear above the Earth tomorrow? Do different cultures sort stars into similar patterns? Why is Venus so hot and how do the Supermassive team cope when someone calls them an astrologer?D…
42: A (brief) History of Astronomy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:41
Dr Becky and Izzie dust-down the Supermassive Tardis to explore the history of astronomy. From fossilised baboon bones and baby lamas to Einstein and black holes, the Supermassive team discovers how we came to understand…
41: BONUS - Why do Gas Giants exist? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:50
Can JWST see galaxies at different life stages? What is a "former" constellation? And why do we see Jupiter in monochrome? This month, Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey take on your questions from The…
41: BIG Observatories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:47
We love stargazing on The Supermassive Podcast, so we thought it was about time we had an episode on the future of ground-based telescopes. From the brilliant named Extremely Large Telescope to the Square Kilometre Array…
40:  BONUS - Are Lunar Poles Arbitrary? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:32
What's the most efficient way of space travel? How does longitude change your night sky view? Why does M87* look different? This month, Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey take on your questions in The…
40: Becky Loves Saturn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:19
It's FINALLY happening. Izzie is letting Dr Becky have an entire episode about her favourite planet, Saturn. Professor Geraint Jones from UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory tells the Supermassive Team about the Satur…
39: BONUS - Do black holes stop time? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:55
Are gravitational waves destructive? Will the universe ever expand faster than the speed of light? Should we only send robots to space? This month, Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey take on the BIG qu…