The Supermassive Podcast

The Royal Astronomical Society

This is The Supermassive Podcast from the Royal Astronomical Society. Every month, science journalist Izzie Clarke and astrophysicist Dr Becky Smethurst take you through the universe with the latest research, history from the society’s archives and astronomy you can do from your own home. Support the team by buying their book, The Year in Space - https://geni.us/jNcrw You can send your questions to the team via [email protected] or follow them on Instagram @SupermassivePod. The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

  • 12 minutes 3 seconds
    BONUS - Can A Star Orbit Another Star?

    If black holes are so dense, how can gamma rays jet shoot out from it? At what point in space does our sun become invisible to the naked eye? And a question about CubeSats, black holes and detecting alien civilisations... It time for Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey to take on your questions!


    Got a question to add to The Supermassive Mailbox? Email it to [email protected] or message us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod. There's no such thing as a silly question. In fact, the sillier, the better!


    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.

    12 March 2025, 1:00 am
  • 46 minutes 40 seconds
    Sample Return Missions - What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

    This time Dr Becky Smethurst and Izzie Clarke discover why it’s touch and go when it comes to returning asteroid samples to Earth and hear how we’ve been exchanging spit with Mars since the dawn of the Solar System.

     

    The team is joined by Dr Sara Russell, a meteorite researcher at the Natural History Museum in London, and Dr Albert Haldemann, Mars Chief Engineer for the European Space Agency.

     

    As ever, Dr Robert Massey is with us to answer your questions and look ahead to the next month in the night sky.

     

    Keep you questions coming…you can email [email protected] or find us on 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.

    28 February 2025, 12:00 am
  • 13 minutes 9 seconds
    EMERGENCY BONUS - Asteroid 2024 YR4

    Scientists have detected an asteroid that has a small chance of hitting Earth. Resident expert Dr Robert Massey tells Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham why we shouldn't be worried.


    Want to suggest a topic to the team? Contact [email protected] or find us on 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.

    19 February 2025, 2:00 am
  • 16 minutes 34 seconds
    BONUS - Could we capture a primordial black hole?
    What are the implications on space exploration with a change of president? Did cosmic inflation come before the Big Bang? Are there sonic booms in space? Izzie, Becky and Robert take on your questions! 

    Keep sending your questions to [email protected] or find us on instagram @SupermassivePod. 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    12 February 2025, 2:00 am
  • 55 minutes 21 seconds
    The Search for Space Aliens
    Hosts Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst are starting 2025 with a biggie. The scientific search for extraterrestrial life: 

    Where are scientists looking? How do they search for potential signals? And what the heck is the plan if they find one?! The Supermassive team hears from Seth Shostak from the SETI Institute about the search for life beyond Earth, and Dr John Elliot from the University of St Andrews explains what would happen if we were to detect them. 

    Thanks for all of your brilliant questions - keep them coming! You can email [email protected] or find us on instagram, @SupermassivePod.

    And, as promised, here's more information on National Astronomy Week 2025, running from 1st-9th February: https://astronomyweek.org.uk

    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.

    29 January 2025, 2:00 am
  • 53 minutes 30 seconds
    Q&A - Space Potatoes and Christmas Stars
    Our final episode of 2024 is a SUPERMASSIVE Q&A. 

    Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey make their way through your questions.  What’s the farthest star we can see with the naked eye? Why do black holes expand and shrink? And what would happen if we accelerated an uncompressed medium sized potato to 99% the speed of light? 

    And remember, do not confuse the ISS with Santa's Sleigh in the run up to Christmas. To avoid any confusion, find out when the ISS is flying over your home using https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/home.cfm

    If you have any questions for a future episode, email [email protected] or find us on instagram @SupermassivePod. And thank you to anyone who has listened or reviewed the podcast this year, we really appreciate it. 

    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.

    21 December 2024, 2:00 am
  • 14 minutes 11 seconds
    BONUS - Why can't anything go faster than the speed of light?
    From planetary alignment through the galaxy to spacetime expansion, The Supermassive Team answer your questions.

    Keep sending us your questions, email us on [email protected] or find us on instagram @SupermassivePod

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    13 December 2024, 2:00 am
  • 40 minutes 41 seconds
    The Mystery of Fast Radio Bursts
    The Supermassive Team are investigating strange blasts of energy in space called Fast Radio Bursts. What are they and where do they come from? Dr Stuart Ryder from Macquarie University in Australia joins Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert to help explain. 

    Christmas Present Ideas 
    5 December 2024, 2:00 am
  • 17 minutes 42 seconds
    BONUS - Nuclear Pasta & G-Astronomy
    ... Potentially the silliest bonus episode we've ever recorded. 

    The Supermassive Team takes on your questions; What are Brown Dwarfs? How can photons have different energies? Do frozen stars exist? And they get extremely distracted by the concept of nuclear pasta. Even Producer Richard gets involved. 

    Here's the paper mentioned by listener Hanna, Thermodynamics of Frozen Stars

    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.

    19 November 2024, 3:00 am
  • 48 minutes 10 seconds
    Strange Stars and Bizarre Binaries
    From pulsating stars to those with diamond cores, Izzie and Dr Becky are exploring weird and wonderful stars. What are the different types of stars in our universe? And what are the oddballs? Plus Dr Robert Massey is here for your top stargazing tips.

    With thanks to Professor Andrew Norton from the Open University for joining the team this episode.

    Keep sending your brilliant questions and photos to [email protected] or on Instagram @SupermassivePod. 

    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.

    6 November 2024, 2:00 am
  • 31 minutes 38 seconds
    BONUS - A Bumper Edition
    Auroras, and comets, and launches... Oh my! Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst, and Dr Robert Massey run through a MEGA month for the astronomy community. Plus, there's just enough time to squeeze in a few listener questions. 

    Here's our recommendations on news or journals sites to keep up with all things space and science: 

    space.com
    Universe Today
    Astronomy Now
    Sky at Night
    Sky and Telescope
    NASA
    ESA
    ESO
    The RAS Website and Journals
    Dr Becky's YouTube channel
    Astrobites.org
    TheConversation.com 

    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.

    19 October 2024, 1:00 am
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