BONUS - A Bumper Edition

BONUS - A Bumper Edition

Author: The Royal Astronomical Society October 19, 2024 Duration: 31:38
Auroras, and comets, and launches... Oh my! Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst, and Dr Robert Massey run through a MEGA month for the astronomy community. Plus, there's just enough time to squeeze in a few listener questions. 

Here's our recommendations on news or journals sites to keep up with all things space and science: 

space.com
Universe Today
Astronomy Now
Sky at Night
Sky and Telescope
NASA
ESA
ESO
The RAS Website and Journals
Dr Becky's YouTube channel
Astrobites.org
TheConversation.com 

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


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.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 111

The Supermassive Podcast
Podcast Episodes
BONUS - Mole People on Mars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:06
Should astronauts live underground on the Moon or Mars? Black hole jets, rogue planets, the big crunch (or freeze) and the Ontario question. Dr Becky, Izzie and Dr Robert Massey tackle your correspondence from the Superm…
What is Gravity? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:54
This episode is a weighty one. Some might say massive. It’s all about gravity. What is it? Why does it matter? Izzie and Dr Becky explore Einstein and Newton’s different ideas on the subject, plus Izzie visits the Royal…
BONUS - Can we gravitationally "hitch hike" out of the Solar System? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:01
What the bloomin’ hell is a Gravastar? Are fast radio bursts like solar flares on steroids? Plus an interesting question on multiverses that can't be summed up in a short sentence. Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr…
Returning to the Moon - with ESA Astronaut Matthias Maurer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:08
Climb aboard The Supermassive Rocket, Izzie and Becky are (talking about) sending humans back to the moon. Joining them on their trip is European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer and Jacki Mahaffey, the Chief Train…
BONUS - Can A Star Orbit Another Star? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:03
If black holes are so dense, how can gamma rays jet shoot out from it? At what point in space does our sun become invisible to the naked eye? And a question about CubeSats, black holes and detecting alien civilisations..…
Sample Return Missions - What Could Possibly Go Wrong? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:40
This time Dr Becky Smethurst and Izzie Clarke discover why it’s touch and go when it comes to returning asteroid samples to Earth and hear how we’ve been exchanging spit with Mars since the dawn of the Solar System. The…
EMERGENCY BONUS - Asteroid 2024 YR4 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:09
Scientists have detected an asteroid that has a small chance of hitting Earth. Resident expert Dr Robert Massey tells Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham why we shouldn't be worried.Want to suggest a topic to the team? C…
BONUS - Could we capture a primordial black hole? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:34
What are the implications on space exploration with a change of president? Did cosmic inflation come before the Big Bang? Are there sonic booms in space? Izzie, Becky and Robert take on your questions! Keep sending your…
The Search for Space Aliens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:21
Hosts Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst are starting 2025 with a biggie. The scientific search for extraterrestrial life: Where are scientists looking? How do they search for potential signals? And what the heck is the…
Q&A - Space Potatoes and Christmas Stars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:30
Our final episode of 2024 is a SUPERMASSIVE Q&A. Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey make their way through your questions. What’s the farthest star we can see with the naked eye? Why do black holes exp…