The Supermassive Podcast

The Royal Astronomical Society
  • 4.7 (185)
  • ASTRONOMY
  • UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY
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 - https://geni.us/jNcrw 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.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    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 Cosmos Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition at Royal Museums Greenwich Telescope SeeStar S50  Image stabilising binoculars Cosmos (book) from DK The Impossible Man by Patchen Barrs.  The Little Book of Cosmic Catastrophes by Sarah Webb The Night Sky Almanac for 2025 by Radmila Topalovic, Storm Dunlop and Wil Tirion Keep 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

    41 min

  2. 19 NOV · 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 Stars The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

    18 min

  3. 6 NOV

    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 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

    48 min

  4. 19 OCT · BONUS

    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.

    32 min

  5. 2 OCT

    Untangling the Cosmic Web

    Izzie and Dr Becky are untangling the cosmic web - the large scale structure of the universe - with help from Dr Chiara Mingarelli from Yale University. What the heck is it? What do we know about it? And can we use gravitational waves to "see" it? Plus, Dr Robert Massey is on hand to answer your questions. Got a question for the team? Contact us on 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.

    44 min

  6. 26 SEPT · BONUS

    BONUS - What distorts time?

    What happens when a black hole and gravitational wave collide? How will the moon's gravity impact tides with rising sea levels? And "the Supermassive Wise Ones" discuss Einstein vs Newton in this bonus episode.  Send your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk.

    16 min

  7. 4 SEPT

    We Made It To Mercury!

    Izzie and Dr Becky complete their tour of the solar system with a trip to Mercury, the space spirograph (copyright: Dr Becky). Join them as they explore what we know about the planet so far and what ESA's current mission, BepiColombo, is hoping to find. Plus, Dr Robert Massey is on hand to answer your questions.  Special thanks to guests Dr David Rothery from the Open University and Dr Simon Lindsay from the University of Leicester.  Don't forget to send your questions to the team via podcast@ras.ac.uk or Instagram @SupermassivePod The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

    35 min

  8. 21 AUG · BONUS

    BONUS - Galaxy Spin and Saving Herstmonceux Observatory

    Does an instantaneous star map exist? Where are the perfect spheres in space? How did Venus get so close to the Sun? It's a bonus episode from The Supermassive team.  Sign the petition and support Herstmonceux Observatory here... https://www.change.org/p/save-the-observatory-science-centre-herstmonceux

    14 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.7
out of 5
185 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 - https://geni.us/jNcrw 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.

Information

  • Creator
    The Royal Astronomical Society
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2024
  • Episodes
    80
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Royal Astronomical Society
  • Show Website
    The Supermassive Podcast

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