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Aug 18
24m 9s

Q&A: Cosmic Mapping, Light Speed Anomali...

Professor Fred Watson and Andrew Dunkley
About this episode
This episode of Space Nuts is brought to you with the support of Incogni. Protecting your online privacy and data To check out our special listener offer, visit www.incogni.com/spacenuts and help support the show.

Cosmic Queries: Time, Light, and the Universe
In this engaging episode of Space Nuts, hosts Heidi Campo and Professor Fred Watson dive into a captivating Q&A session, tackling listener questions that span the intricacies of time dilation, the speed of light, and the structure of the universe. With a mix of scientific insight and relatable explanations, this episode promises to enlighten and entertain.
Episode Highlights:
3D Mapping the Universe: A listener named Sam poses a thought-provoking question about the complexities of 3D mapping galaxies based on light emitted millions of years ago. Fred explains how astronomers interpret these vast distances and the challenges involved in visualizing the universe's structure over time.
The Speed of Light in Different Mediums: Mark from Quebec asks about the behavior of light traveling through various materials, like diamonds. Fred clarifies how light slows down in denser media and seamlessly resumes its speed in a vacuum, drawing parallels to wave motion for a clearer understanding.
Understanding the Heliopause: Regular contributor Rennie Traub inquires about the heliosphere's dimensions and whether all solar systems possess one. Fred discusses the heliosphere's size and its significance in relation to solar and stellar magnetism.
Time Dilation and the Kelly Twins: Dean from Queensland dives deep into the concept of time dilation, examining the age difference between the Kelly twins and the effects of gravity and speed on time perception. Fred navigates through the complexities of relativity, shedding light on how these factors interplay in the universe.
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Stay curious, keep looking up, and join us next time for more stellar insights and cosmic wonders. Until then, clear skies and happy stargazing.
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