The Supermassive Podcast

By: The Royal Astronomical Society
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  • Summary

  • The UK's #1 space podcast.


    Every month, science journalist Izzie Clarke and astrophysicist Dr Becky Smethurst whizz through the universe to explore the latest research with leading experts, dive to history from the society’s archives and take on your weird and wonderful questions about all things space. Can we gravitationally hitch-hike out of the solar system? Do we live in a multiverse? What is time? Plus Dr Robert Massey is on hand with his top star-gazing tips.


    Keep adding to The Supermassive Mailbox with your pictures and questions for the team. Send them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow them on Instagram @SupermassivePod.


    You can also support the team by buying their book, The Year in Space.


    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    The Royal Astronomical Society
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Astronomy Astronomy & Space Science Physics Science World
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Episodes
  • What is Gravity?

    What is Gravity?
    Apr 24 2025

    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 Society to see Isaac Newton's original manuscript for his works on gravity and the laws of motion.


    Special thank you to listener Hanna_m_e for suggesting this episode topic and to Professor Tessa Baker, at the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation at the University of Portsmouth, and to Keith Moore, head of collections at the Royal Society for appearing on the show.


    See THAT coffee table here: https://youtu.be/5XlTkGEO564?si=9Z8KwTqOPk-Sf0xM


    If you have a question for the team, or an episode suggestion, send them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.


    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production in partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    54 mins
  • BONUS - Can we gravitationally "hitch hike" out of the Solar System?

    BONUS - Can we gravitationally "hitch hike" out of the Solar System?
    Apr 11 2025

    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 Robert Massey dive into The Supermassive Mailbox and take on your questions.


    Keep sending in your wonderful ponderings. Email them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or via Instagram @Supermassivepod


    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.
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    15 mins
  • Returning to the Moon - with ESA Astronaut Matthias Maurer

    Returning to the Moon - with ESA Astronaut Matthias Maurer
    Mar 31 2025

    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 Training Officer for NASA’s Artemis II mission. Plus, Dr Robert Massey, the Deputy Director of the Royal Astronomical Society, is there as well to answer your questions and share his top stargazing tips.


    For more supermassive astronaut episodes, here's our episode with Samantha Cristoforetti and another with Gene Cernan.


    Keep sending your questions to The Supermassive Podcast at podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on Instagram, @Supermassive Pod.


    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.
    Show more Show less
    52 mins
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Perfect immersion

Super cool podcast , thanks.
After watching all YouTube videos from drBecky, that’s the place to go

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