Ask a Spaceman! - podcast cover

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! 144: Astro101 Part 6 - What are Galaxies?

It's time for school! The Astro101 series will cover some of the most important questions in astronomy. In today's lesson, we'll have: What is a galaxy? What does our own galaxy look like? What are the different kinds of galaxies, and how did they get that way? 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.pmsutt...

Jan 19, 202143 minEp. 144

AaS! 143: Astro101 Part 5 - What are Neutron Stars, White Dwarfs, and Black Holes?

It's time for school! The Astro101 series will cover some of the most important questions in astronomy. In today's lesson, we'll have: What is a white dwarf? What is a neutron star? What is a black hole? 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, as...

Jan 05, 202138 minEp. 143

AaS! 142: Astro101 Part 4 - What Happens When Stars Die?

It's time for school! The Astro101 series will cover some of the most important questions in astronomy. In today's lesson, we have: What's the difference between a "dwarf" and "giant" star? How are stars born? What happens when stars die? 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...

Dec 15, 202035 minEp. 142

AaS! 141: Astro101 Part 3 - What is a Star?

It's time for school! The Astro101 series will cover some of the most important questions in astronomy. In today's lesson, we'll have: What are the different kinds of stars? Why does classification in astronomy make no sense? How the heck do we define a "star", 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://ww...

Dec 01, 202035 minEp. 141

AaS! 140: Astro101 Part 2 - Who lives in the solar system?

It's time for school! The Astro101 series will cover some of the most important questions in astronomy. In today's lesson, we'll have: How did the solar system form? What is a "planet" and who decided that? Just how much space is in space? 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 thos...

Nov 17, 202035 minEp. 140

AaS! 139: Astro101 Part 1 - Why bother with astronomy?

It's time for school! The Astro101 series will cover some of the most important questions in astronomy. In today's lesson, we'll have: Why did people used to study astronomy? Why do they continue to study astronomy? What's the deal with all this weird jargon? 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...

Nov 03, 202035 minEp. 139

AaS! 138: Could the "emdrive" really work?

What does the "emdrive" claim to do? How does it violate almost all of known physics? What were the problems with the experiments? 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...

Oct 20, 202034 minEp. 138

AaS! 137: What's really at the center of a black hole?

What can possibly replace the singularity? What are Planck stars and Gravastars? What's it like to fall into a rotating black hole? 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 fo...

Oct 06, 202032 minEp. 137

AaS! 136: Can Planets Survive the Death of Their Star?

When stars die, do their planets die too? What can possibly survive after a supernova explosion? How will the death of the sun affect our solar system? Can zombie planets rise from the dead? 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, astr...

Sep 15, 202031 minEp. 136

AaS! 135: Why Aren't There More Black Physicists?

What are the accomplishments of black astronomers and physicists? Why does diversity remain so low in higher education, especially physics? What can we do to prevent bias and discrimination? 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, astr...

Sep 01, 202031 minEp. 135

AaS! 134: Is There a Fifth Force of Nature?

Are there more than four forces of nature? Is dark matter connected to dark energy? What the heck are dark photons? 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 KNOWL...

Aug 18, 202032 minEp. 134

AaS! 133: How Do We Know the Earth Is Curved?

Why do people believe the Earth is flat? How do we know it's curved? Is a debate even worth 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 cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF TIME AND SPA...

Aug 04, 202033 minEp. 133

AaS! 132: What Did Einstein Get Wrong?

Was Einstein ever wrong? How did he miss out on a major prediction for the universe? What was his major beef with quantum mechanics? How did he go from quantum believer to quantum hater? 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...

Jul 21, 202036 minEp. 132

AaS! 131: What's So Cool About the TRAPPIST-1 System?

Why is the TRAPPIST-1 system so fascinating? Is it really habitable? How are we figuring all this out? 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 ...

Jul 07, 202034 minEp. 131

AaS! 130: What's the Most Amazing Thing About the Universe?

What blows me away about the universe? How is it all connected? How does universality give physics the power to explain everything? 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 fo...

Jun 16, 202026 minEp. 130

AaS! 129: Did the Big Bang Make Black Holes?

What kind of crazy physics made primordial black holes? What does that have to do with the LIGO observations of merging black holes? How can we possibly detect them? 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 co...

Jun 02, 202033 minEp. 129

AaS! 128: Why Are We Missing All the Baryons?

What is the "missing baryon problem"? How do we know how many baryons there ought to be? What does the cosmic web have to do with it? What the heck is a baryon, 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...

May 19, 202027 minEp. 128

AaS! 127: What Was Newton's Big Deal?

What was Newton's genius? Why was his work so controversial? Why are his laws of motion so radical? 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...

May 05, 202043 minEp. 127

AaS! 126: What's the Wildest Weather in the Solar System?

What makes the Earth's atmosphere so special? What makes the atmospheres of other planets so special? Why are atmospheres so special 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 #AskASp...

Apr 21, 202033 minEp. 126

AaS! 125: Does Planet Nine Exist?

Why do we think the solar system might have another planet? Why do we think it doesn't? How do test for something that's too far away to see? 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 #AskAS...

Apr 07, 202034 minEp. 125

AaS! 124: Why Is the Speed of Light the Way It Is?

Why is the speed of light so important in physics? Why does the value not matter at all? And why does it have the speed that it does? 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 ...

Mar 17, 202036 minEp. 124

How to Die in Space: Sneak Preview

My next book, How to Die in Space, is coming out June 2020! Here's a special sneak preview reading from the book, and info about how you can get a free autographed copy! Book info: www.pmsutter.com/book Autographed copy: www.patreon.com/pmsutter

Mar 10, 202014 min

AaS! 123: What Powers a Hypernova?

How can a supernova become even more powerful? Why do we have such a hard time studying them, let alone defining them? What happens when you let a giant star unleash its full potential? 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, astrophys...

Mar 03, 202027 minEp. 123

AaS! 122: Is String Theory Worth It? (Part 8: An Armageddon of Strings)

How did String Theory get started? What has made the idea so popular over the decades? Can we ever truly have a theory of quantum gravity? What is supersymmetry, the landscape, and the AdS/CFT Correspondence? What do holograms have to do with this? How many dimensions do we live in? Why does String Theory have such a hard time making predictions? How are we supposed to judge a theory that isn't done yet? It's a non-stop String Theory bonanza as I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a...

Feb 18, 202049 minEp. 122

AaS! 121: Is String Theory Worth It? (Part 7: A Correspondence from a Dear Friend)

How did String Theory get started? What has made the idea so popular over the decades? Can we ever truly have a theory of quantum gravity? What is supersymmetry, the landscape, and the AdS/CFT Correspondence? What do holograms have to do with this? How many dimensions do we live in? Why does String Theory have such a hard time making predictions? How are we supposed to judge a theory that isn't done yet? It's a non-stop String Theory bonanza as I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a...

Feb 04, 202030 minEp. 121

AaS! 120: Is String Theory Worth It? (Part 6: We Should Probably Test This)

How did String Theory get started? What has made the idea so popular over the decades? Can we ever truly have a theory of quantum gravity? What is supersymmetry, the landscape, and the AdS/CFT Correspondence? What do holograms have to do with this? How many dimensions do we live in? Why does String Theory have such a hard time making predictions? How are we supposed to judge a theory that isn't done yet? It's a non-stop String Theory bonanza as I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a...

Jan 21, 202032 minEp. 120

AaS! 119: Is String Theory Worth It? (Part 5: Duality of the Fates)

How did String Theory get started? What has made the idea so popular over the decades? Can we ever truly have a theory of quantum gravity? What is supersymmetry, the landscape, and the AdS/CFT Correspondence? What do holograms have to do with this? How many dimensions do we live in? Why does String Theory have such a hard time making predictions? How are we supposed to judge a theory that isn't done yet? It's a non-stop String Theory bonanza as I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a...

Jan 07, 202036 minEp. 119

AaS! 118: Is String Theory Worth It? (Part 4: What We Need is a Superhero)

How did String Theory get started? What has made the idea so popular over the decades? Can we ever truly have a theory of quantum gravity? What is supersymmetry, the landscape, and the AdS/CFT Correspondence? What do holograms have to do with this? How many dimensions do we live in? Why does String Theory have such a hard time making predictions? How are we supposed to judge a theory that isn't done yet? It's a non-stop String Theory bonanza as I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a...

Dec 17, 201942 minEp. 118

AaS! 117: Is String Theory Worth It? (Part 3: Dimension is Destiny)

How did String Theory get started? What has made the idea so popular over the decades? Can we ever truly have a theory of quantum gravity? What is supersymmetry, the landscape, and the AdS/CFT Correspondence? What do holograms have to do with this? How many dimensions do we live in? Why does String Theory have such a hard time making predictions? How are we supposed to judge a theory that isn't done yet? It's a non-stop String Theory bonanza as I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a...

Dec 03, 201942 minEp. 117

AaS! 116: Is String Theory Worth It? (Part 2: Tuning the Strings)

How did String Theory get started? What has made the idea so popular over the decades? Can we ever truly have a theory of quantum gravity? What is supersymmetry, the landscape, and the AdS/CFT Correspondence? What do holograms have to do with this? How many dimensions do we live in? Why does String Theory have such a hard time making predictions? How are we supposed to judge a theory that isn't done yet? It's a non-stop String Theory bonanza as I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a...

Nov 19, 201948 minEp. 116
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