Episodes

  • 54: BONUS - Overmassive Galaxies

    54: BONUS - Overmassive Galaxies
    Jul 20 2024
    The Supermassive Overmassive Podcast has a special bonus episode. Join Izzie, Dr Becky, Dr Robert and Richard as they discuss the last two years of JWST and share their recommendations for Space Book Club.

    Recommendations:
    • Unseen Universe: New Secrets of the Cosmos Revealed by the James Webb Space Telescope by Dr Caroline Harper
    • The Possibility of Life by Jaime Green
    • When Galaxies Were Born - Richard Ellis
    • Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space By Adam Higginbotham
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    23 mins
  • 54: Q&A - Black Hole Special

    54: Q&A - Black Hole Special
    Jul 3 2024
    Have black holes existed since the beginning of the Universe? Could we produce a black hole in the lab? Could we use gravitational waves to probe beyond the event horizon?

    It's a black hole Q&A as Izzie put your questions to Becky and Robert. Plus, author and broadcaster, Marcus Chown, runs through a potted history of discovering black holes. His latest book on the same topic, A Crack In Everything, is out now: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/crack-in-everything-9781804544303/

    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.
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    50 mins
  • 53: BONUS - Lumpy Space Potatoes

    53: BONUS - Lumpy Space Potatoes
    Jun 21 2024
    In this month's bonus episode Izzie, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey tackle questions on pulsars, woo woo sounds from black holes, imperfect spheres and alien aurorae. Send your questions to: podcast@ras.ac.uk, and we’re also on instagram @SupermassivePod.

    The Supermassive podcast is produced by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham and is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society.

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    14 mins
  • 53: The Major Lunar Standstill

    53: The Major Lunar Standstill
    Jun 4 2024
    Every 18.6 years, our moon reaches its farthest northern and southern point, known as a major lunar standstill. This month, Izzie and Dr Becky are exploring why this might be significant to Stonehenge in the UK and another historical site in the US called Chimney Rock. With special thanks to Dr Heather Sebire, Dr Amanda Chadburn and Dr Erica Ellingson.

    The southernmost Moonrise at Stonehenge will be livestreamed, allowing viewers to witness this celestial spectacle firsthand. Plus, there'll be events throughout the standstill season which include talks, a pop-up planetarium, stargazing sessions, storytelling, and a new exhibition display at the Stonehenge visitor centre in October. To find out more, visit...
    https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/things-to-do/major-lunar-standstill/#:~:text=Stonehenge%20is%20famous%20for%20its,'major%20lunar%20standstill'%20occurs.

    Or have a look at Chimney Rock in Colorado:
    https://www.chimneyrockco.org/puebloan-resources/lunar-standstill/

    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.
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    48 mins
  • 52: BONUS - Why does the Aurora Borealis look better on my phone?

    52: BONUS - Why does the Aurora Borealis look better on my phone?
    May 23 2024
    The UK witnessed the most amazing Northern Lights in years.... And Izzie missed it.

    In this bonus episode, Dr Becky Smethurst, Dr Robert Massey and Izzie Clarke talk about those Northern Lights and answer your questions. What is Jupiter's giant blue dot? If the sun is losing mass (by giving out energy) will that affect the gravity and orbit of the solar system? And how do you date a rock?
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    20 mins
  • 52: Voyager: Where no-one has gone before...

    52: Voyager: Where no-one has gone before...
    Apr 29 2024
    Two of the most remarkable spacecraft ever launched are the stars of this month’s episode: Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. Izzie and Dr Becky talk to Dr Jamie Rankin, the mission’s current Deputy project scientist, and editor Richard gets to chat to Ann Druyan, the original Creative Director of the Golden Record project, who worked alongside her husband Carl Sagan.

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

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    48 mins
  • 51: BONUS - Wobbly Planets and Baby Names

    51: BONUS - Wobbly Planets and Baby Names
    Apr 10 2024
    Can wobbly planets have more than two solstices? Are we earthlings receding from the sun and the other planets? What is dark flow and why is it controversial? When stars die, is their energy lost forever?

    Send your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on Instagram @SupermassivePod.

    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.
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    14 mins
  • 51: Into The Interstellar

    51: Into The Interstellar
    Mar 26 2024
    Izzie and Dr Becky are venturing into interstellar space. What is it? Where is it? And what do we know about it?

    With special thanks to Professor Martin Barstow from University of Leicester and Professor Chris Lintott from the University of Oxford. Chris' new book "Our Accidental Universe" is out now.

    Check out the RAS's video on Pons Brooks here: https://ras.ac.uk/news-and-press/news/12ppons-brooks-how-and-when-see-devil-comet

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


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    46 mins