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Ask a Spaceman!

Paul M. Sutterwww.askaspaceman.com
You've got questions and astrophysicist Paul M. Sutter has answers - every episode you will come closer to complete knowledge of time and space!
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Episodes

AaS! 86: Why Do We Need Cosmic Inflation? (Part 2)

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 Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASp...

Aug 21, 201834 minEp. 86

AaS! 85: Why Do We Need Cosmic Inflation? (Part 1)

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 Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology com...

Aug 07, 201835 minEp. 85

AaS! 84: How Does Dark Energy Accelerate the Universe?

What is the cosmological constant? How is the expansion of the universe related to quantum fields? How does a vacuum energy produce accelerated expansion? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology com...

Jul 17, 201843 minEp. 84

AaS! 83: Can Entangled Particles Communicate Faster Than Light?

What is a quantum state? How can two particles share the same state? What is entanglement, and does it really allow for faster-than-light communication? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology comin...

Jul 03, 201833 minEp. 83

AaS! 82: What Awoke the Cosmic Dawn?

Were the dark ages really dark? What is a perturbation, and how did they grow in the early universe? When the first stars awoke, what happened? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #Ask...

Jun 19, 201836 minEp. 82

AaS! 81: How Do You Build a Rocket-Ship?

What does momentum have to do with rockets? Why are nozzles so dang important? What is a "potent mixture", anyway? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for COMPLETE KNOWLE...

Jun 05, 201832 minEp. 81

AaS! 80: What Made the "OMG Particle" So Special?

What is the so-called "OMG Particle"? Where could it possibly come from, and how are magnetic fields involved? How can we detect these cosmic rays? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to ...

May 15, 201839 minEp. 80

AaS! 79: Seriously, What Is Gravity? (Part 3)

Part 3! How did Einstein develop General Relativity? What does it mean for different kinds of masses to be equivalent? How does gravity do what it does? Why is curvature so important in understanding gravity? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, scienc...

May 01, 201842 minEp. 79

AaS! 78: Seriously, What Is Gravity? (Part 2)

Part 2! How did Einstein develop General Relativity? What does it mean for different kinds of masses to be equivalent? How does gravity do what it does? Why is curvature so important in understanding gravity? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, scienc...

Apr 17, 201835 minEp. 78

AaS! 77: Seriously, What is Gravity? (Part 1)

Part 1! How did Einstein develop General Relativity? What does it mean for different kinds of masses to be equivalent? How does gravity do what it does? Why is curvature so important in understanding gravity? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, scienc...

Apr 03, 201839 minEp. 77

AaS! 76: Iceland Question Bonanza!

Where did all the monopoles go? Do other planets have auroras? Can binary stars host planets? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! A very special edition recorded in Vik, Iceland, where I answered questions from the AstroTourists who joined me for the excursion. Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions ab...

Mar 20, 201831 minEp. 76

AaS! 75: Why Is Iceland So Warm?

What makes Iceland so warm despite its high latitude? What powers everything from glaciers to geysers? How are the aurora connected to volcanoes? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! A very special edition recorded in Vik, Iceland, where I gave a special talk on the forces fighting for balance underneath and above the island. Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Re...

Mar 06, 201832 minEp. 75

AaS! 74: Why Are Small Stars Such a Big Deal?

Why are small stars red? Why are small stars so common? Why are small stars so interesting for the hunt for life? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for COMPLETE KNOWLED...

Feb 20, 201827 minEp. 74

AaS! 73: Why Should We Believe The Big Bang?

What did Hubble really discover? Why does redshift imply an expanding universe? Why is the night sky dark? Why is there so much hydrogen, and how is that connected to the Big Bang? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, ...

Feb 06, 201831 minEp. 73

AaS! 72: How Does Gravity Make a Lens?

How does gravity bend the path of light? Does it seriously act like a lens or is that just a metaphor? What does it take, and how do we know? What can we learn from this strange physics? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophy...

Jan 16, 201835 minEp. 72

AaS! 71: Who Lives in the Particle Zoo?

What strange creatures inhabit the so-called "particle zoo"? Why is it a zoo instead of something simpler? Is there anything that connects the forces and particles of our universe? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, ...

Jan 02, 201833 minEp. 71

AaS! 70: Can We Have Some Quark Stars, Please?

How does degeneracy pressure work? What kinds of particles exist below the level of neutrons? Can they hold up a star against gravity? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman...

Dec 19, 201739 minEp. 70

AstroTour: Atacama Dark Sky Retreat

Join me for an all new AstroTour adventure, one that I'm personally very excited about: a trip to the Atacama Desert of Chile to spend a week at an all-inclusive stargazing resort! The trip is perfectly timed to hit the Geminid meteor shower, explore the ALMA telescope facility, and enjoy some of the darkest, clearest skies in the world. More info: www.astrotours.co/atacama

Dec 08, 201710 min

AaS! 69: What Makes a Blazar Blaze So Brightly?

What powers a quasar? Just how strong is a blazar? What's the connection to giant black holes? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF TIME AND SPAC...

Dec 05, 201730 minEp. 69

AaS! 68: Do We Live in a Hologram?

What's the idea behind the holographic principle? What does it have to do with black holes and the early universe? Does this…mean something? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASp...

Nov 21, 201727 minEp. 68

AaS! 67: Why Can't I Be an Astrophysicist?

Why is it tough to become a scientific researcher? What are some of the barriers in the field? Are there any other options? I have a PhD - now what? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to...

Nov 07, 201733 minEp. 67

AaS! 66: What in the World Is Metallic Hydrogen?

What in the world is metallic hydrogen? What does it even mean? Where does it exist in nature, and can we make it in the lab? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for COMP...

Oct 17, 201731 minEp. 66

AaS! 65: How Does One Become an Astrophysicist?

How does one become an astrophysicist? What are the challenges and rewards of that kind of career? Are there even any jobs? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for COMPLE...

Oct 03, 201739 minEp. 65

All about the "Sea and the Stars" AstroTour

Fraser Cain and I are leading another starry-eyed adventure, this time to the beautiful caribbean on a 7-day cruise, featuring tours of the Kennedy Space Center, star viewing every night, at-sea talks and show recordings, and explorations of Mayan ruins! Visit www.astrotouring.com for more info!

Sep 26, 201711 min

AaS! 64: What Fate Awaits the Voyagers?

Why were the Voyager missions so important? Where are they now, and where are they going? What is their ultimate fate? And that Golden Record…good idea or bad idea? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cos...

Sep 19, 201730 min

AaS! 63: How Are We to Understand Quantum Spin?

What does it mean for an electron to spin? Why do we have such a hard time measuring it? And why doesn't Paul Dirac get any attention anymore, anyway? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming ...

Sep 05, 201734 minEp. 63

AaS! 62: Why Do Some Stars Blow Up?

What's the balancing act happening inside stars? Why is iron the fusion limit? How long does it take for a star to blow? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for COMPLETE ...

Aug 15, 201728 min

Update and Space Radio Preview

A quick update on Patreon, Astrotours, and a preview of the new Space Radio show! Space Radio: http://www.SpaceRadioShow.com Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Follow on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/PaulMattSutter Like on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PaulMattSutter Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/c/PaulMattSutter Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpace...

Aug 08, 201727 min

AaS! 61: Where Do Giant Magnetic Fields Come From?

How does the universe generate giant magnetic fields? Is it astrophysical or primordial? How do we find them anyway? Why am I not talking about Maxwell? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology comin...

Aug 01, 201730 min

AaS! 60: What's the Deal With Time Crystals?

What's the deal with time crystals? Do they break physics as we know it? Or are they merely…neat? What do symmetries and the conservation of energy have to do with it? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and ...

Jul 18, 201734 min
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