Ask a Spaceman!

How much energy is needed to blow up the sun? How is this connected to the idea of binding energy? Where is all the energy in the universe? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman...

6 Marras 201830min

What do brown dwarfs teach us about stars? What do they teach us about planets? What keeps them warm, and how long do they live? And are they really brown? I discuss these questions and more in today'...

16 Loka 201833min

What are the many sources of light in the universe? Why is a spectrum so important? What's the difference between synchrotron and Cherenkov radiation? What's the best word ever in physics? I discuss t...

2 Loka 201826min

Today I'm reading a sample from my new book, Your Place in the Universe! I'm also sharing details about how you can a) buy the book, b) contribute to my Patreon to get an autographed copy, c) get my b...

25 Syys 201823min

What does the Drake Equation teach us about extraterrestrial civilizations? What does it NOT teach us? What complexities does it hide? Is it even science? I discuss these questions and more in today's...

18 Syys 201833min

What's the connection between motion and magnetism? How can something like a black hole have a magnetic field? What's the connection to quantum mechanics? How did Einstein use magnetism to develop spe...

4 Syys 201831min

Part 2! What was going in the very early universe? How does inflation provide the seeds of larger structures? How can we possibly test this? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spacema...

21 Elo 201833min

Part 1! What are some weaknesses with the standard Big Bang model? What are the horizon and flatness problems? How does accelerated expansion solve these? I discuss these questions and more in today's...

7 Elo 201834min