#395-396 Premium: Cosmic Conundrums: Black Holes Leading the Cosmic Dance or Galaxies?

Prepare to be captivated by cosmic revelations and interstellar inquiries on this episode of Space Nuts! Join your host Andrew Dunkley and the illustrious Professor Fred Watson as they unravel the mysteries of the cosmos, starting with a paradigm-shifting puzzle: which came first, the black hole or the galaxy? The James Webb Space Telescope has provided data that could flip our understanding of cosmic evolution on its head, suggesting that supermassive black holes may have been the harbingers of star formation in the early universe. The conversation then rockets to SpaceX's latest endeavors with their behemoth Starship, a craft that's not just eyeing the stars but also piquing the interest of the military for rapid terrestrial deployment. What could this mean for the future of global logistics and space travel? And as geopolitical rivalries extend to the heavens, with China advancing its space capabilities, the stakes are higher than ever. Finally, the Space Nuts tackle your cosmic curiosities, diving into the enigmatic expansion of space, the seismic secrets revealed by the Insight mission on Mars, and the gravitational waves unleashed by supernovae. Are these cosmic ripples detectable by LIGO? Let's find out. With a blend of humor, expertise, and the occasional dad joke, this episode is a must-listen for anyone eager to probe the depths of space and time. So, join us on this astronomical journey, and remember to send in your own questions for a chance to be featured in future cosmic discussions. For more out-of-this-world content, subscribe to Space Nuts on your preferred podcast platform, and follow us on YouTube for even more galactic goodness. Until next time, keep your telescopes trained and your curiosity insatiable! 📋 Episode Chapters (00:00) Astronomer Fred Watson joins us on Space nuts to discuss SpaceX rockets (01:23) Fred says he thought he had spotty fever from a tick bite (03:21) James Webb space telescope is looking into the early universe (13:38) Andrew Dunkley: I was going to ask how you feel about this theory (14:40) Spacex working with NASA on spaceship to send astronauts back to moon (17:17) News item suggests US military wants to use starship for cargo transfer (24:54) Andrew Dunkley: China is moving in the same direction as the US (27:29) If space is expanding, what is it expanding into (34:28) Lee Stevenson has sent us a question about Mars exploration (35:14) Lee: How do you know when a meteorite is hitting Mars (39:30) What kind of gravitational wave is generated by a supernova (45:26) If you have questions for us, send them through via our website (46:23) Professor Fred Watson, astronomer at large, getting over his tick bites