logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2024
26m 16s

#410: Stellar Puzzles & Galactic Gold: S...

Professor Fred Watson and Andrew Dunkley
About this episode
Journey through the cosmic conundrums and celestial curiosities in this riveting Q&A edition of Space Nuts. Join host Andrew Dunkley and the ever-enlightening Professor Fred Watson as they tackle a smorgasbord of listener questions that will leave you contemplating the vastness of the universe.
First on the docket, Jose from California stirs the space-time pot with a heady question about the nature of black holes and their role in birthing universes. Could the Big Bang have been a supernova from another realm? Is our universe expanding within the event horizon of a colossal black hole? Fred weighs in on these tantalizing theories, sharing insights that may just expand your mind faster than the universe itself.
Next, Alan probes the cosmic forge, wondering how the chaos of supernovae could lead to the concentrated caches of gold and other heavy metals we find on Earth. Fred demystifies the process, explaining how gravity and planet formation turn stellar detritus into the precious lodes we treasure.
Then, Justin from Brisbane ponders the uniqueness of Earth amidst the ever-growing catalog of exoplanets. As we discover more worlds, each more bizarre than the last, could it be that our pale blue dot is truly one of a kind? The discussion delves into the Fermi Paradox and the rarity of life's complex leap from single cells to sentient beings.
Lastly, James presents a duo of hypotheticals that challenge the limits of science fiction and science fact. Can we reverse gravity by reversing time? And could we engineer a magnetosphere on an asteroid like Psyche? Fred's responses to these queries are sure to electrify your imagination.
From the theoretical to the astronomical, this episode of Space Nuts is a cosmic buffet of brain food. Remember to send your own stargazing stumpers and interstellar inquiries via the Space Nuts website, and keep your ears tuned for more galactic greatness. Until next time, let the universe inspire wonder, and keep looking up!
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts--2631155/support.
This episode is brought to you with the support of NordPass...the password manger that will uncomplicate part of your life. Check out our special deal at www.bitesz.com/nordpass 
Up next
Jul 7
Stellar Questions: Gravitational Waves, Time Travel & the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
In this thought-provoking Q&A episode of Space Nuts, hosts Heidi Campo and Professor Fred Watson tackle a variety of intriguing listener questions that delve into the realms of astrophysics and the possibilities of life beyond Earth. From the complexities of time dilation to the ... Show More
29m 55s
Jul 4
Stellar Snapshots: The Vera C. Rubin Telescope & Mars' Mysterious Landscapes
Exploring the Cosmos: New Telescopes, Busy Space Stations, and Martian MysteriesIn this captivating episode of Space Nuts, hosts Heidi Campo and Professor Fred Watson take listeners on a journey through the latest astronomical discoveries and ongoing missions. From the stunning a ... Show More
30m 55s
Jun 30
Celestial Curiosities: Pulsars, Gravitational Waves & the Secrets of the Universe
Cosmic Curiosities: Exploring Neutron Stars and Gravitational WavesIn this engaging episode of Space Nuts, hosts Heidi Campo and Professor Fred Watson embark on a fascinating journey through listener questions that probe the depths of astrophysics and cosmology. From the nature o ... Show More
25m 58s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2024
S27E33: Star Shredded by Black Hole: A Cosmic Feast Observed
For your special NORDVPN discount and risk free 30 Day Money back guarantee, visit www.nordvpn.com/stuartgary and use the code STUARTGARY at checkout. Get your online privacy under control with the best in the business. The Space, Astronomy & Science Podcast. SpaceTime Series 27 ... Show More
31m 48s
Apr 2024
S27E48: Cosmic Cartography: Charting Dark Energy's Role in the Universe's Fate
Embark on an astronomical odyssey with SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 48, as we unveil the most detailed view of the expanding universe to date. The first-year data from DESI, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument survey, is in, and it's changing the cosmic game. This groundbreak ... Show More
31m 44s
Dec 2024
EVSN - Searching for Dark Energy in Black Holes
From December 11, 2024. From baby planets to ancient black holes, let's look at the week's space news, including the discovery of a planet around a still-forming star, our Sun's massive outbursts as measured by tree rings, a new catalog of white dwarfs in binary systems, and a de ... Show More
27m 44s
Jan 2024
Are Parallel Universes and Extra Dimensions Real?
Our books, our movies—our imaginations—are obsessed with extra dimensions, alternate timelines, and the sense that all we see might not be all there is. In short, we can’t stop thinking about the multiverse. As it turns out, physicists are similarly captivated. In The Allure of t ... Show More
1h 15m
Dec 2023
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
Subscribe to the weekly newsletter to receive a detailed summary https://3minbooks.substack.com/ In this episode, we dive into the captivating world of 'Astrophysics for People in a Hurry' by renowned Neil deGrasse Tyson. We'll simplify the vast cosmos, decode the laws of nature, ... Show More
3m 6s
Dec 2017
Cosmology (THE UNIVERSE) with Katie Mack, Part I
Stars. Black holes. THE GAWDANG UNIVERSE. Astrophysicist and cosmologist Katie Mack (@astrokatie) joins to tell us her most embarrassing moments as a cosmologist, to debunk some physicist myths and give the nuts + bolts of everything form particle physics to gravitational waves a ... Show More
1h 31m
Apr 11
Cosmic Queries – Dark Matter, Aliens, End of the Universe
Could it be that another universe’s gravity is bleeding into our universe? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice answer grab bag questions ranging from dark matter to the end of the universe. (Originally Aired February 8, 2021)NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episod ... Show More
46m 30s
Oct 2024
Galactic Giants, Ancient Microbes, and Vulcan's Triumphant Flight
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 124 *Galaxies: Bigger Than We Ever Imagined Recent findings suggest that galaxies are far larger than previously thought, with gaseous halos extending much further into intergalactic space. This study, published in Nature Astronomy, focuses on the circ ... Show More
29m 50s