The Supermassive Podcast

The Royal Astronomical Society
  • 4.7 (52)
  • ASTRONOMY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
The Supermassive Podcast

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. You can send your questions to the team via podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow them on Instagram @SupermassivePod. The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Sample return - 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 podcast@ras.ac.uk 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.

    47 min

  2. FEB 19 · BONUS

    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 podcast@ras.ac.uk 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.

    13 min

  3. FEB 12 · BONUS

    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 podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on instagram @SupermassivePod.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    17 min

  4. JAN 29

    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 podcast@ras.ac.uk 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.ukThe 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.

    55 min

  5. 2024-12-21

    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.cfmIf you have any questions for a future episode, email podcast@ras.ac.uk 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.

    54 min

  6. 2024-12-13 · BONUS

    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 podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on instagram @SupermassivePod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    14 min

  7. 2024-12-05

    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  Astronaut Chris Hadfield’s talk - A Journey into The CosmosAstronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition at Royal Museums GreenwichTelescope SeeStar S50 Image stabilising binocularsCosmos (book) from DKThe Impossible Man by Patchen Barrs. The Little Book of Cosmic Catastrophes by Sarah WebbThe Night Sky Almanac for 2025 by Radmila Topalovic, Storm Dunlop and Wil TirionKeep sending your brilliant questions and photos to podcast@ras.ac.uk 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.

    41 min

  8. 2024-11-19 · BONUS

    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 StarsThe 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.

    18 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.7
out of 5
52 Ratings

About

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. You can send your questions to the team via podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow them on Instagram @SupermassivePod. The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    The Royal Astronomical Society
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    86
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Royal Astronomical Society
  • Show Website
    The Supermassive Podcast

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