Good Heavens! The Human Side of Astronomy

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Good Heavens! The Human Side of Astronomy

Good Heavens! The human side of astronomy with Wayne and Dan.

  1. Black Hole Surprises! Part 2

    DEC 6

    Black Hole Surprises! Part 2

    Black holes continue to amaze and surprise us. Just when it seemed the scientific community was settling in on how black holes form, a string of recent discoveries has begun to call those assumptions into question. How about a triple black hole system? Or how about a black hole that is "feeding" itself many times faster than astrophysicists thought possible. Here on part two Wayne and Dan delve into the mysteries of these entities to the best of their knowledge and ability and they consider how these recent discoveries point us to the glory of God in Christ. Come and see! Mysterious Supermassive Black Hole mentioned on Part One https://phys.org/news/2024-06-black-hole-inexplicable-mass-jwst.html Triple black hole system https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/first-black-hole-in-a-triple-star-system-found Super hungry black hole! https://www.nasa.gov/missions/chandra/astronomers-find-early-fast-feeding-black-hole-using-nasa-telescopes/ Sarah Salviander's video on the history of science's understanding of black holes: https://youtu.be/xi0CwpY5ICg?si=3wZUSmRaQ-9pGyLO Press Conferences mentioned this series. First photograph of a black hole: https://www.youtube.com/live/XlrfBiuMzfE?si=RU3ZM2scyPAZE1wV Gravitational waves discovery: https://www.youtube.com/live/aEPIwEJmZyE?si=tZhq0Gs-WKZfRvOX FREE! Four-page articles from Watchman Fellowship - These articles help you better understand the ideas and ideologies of our time that challenge our Christian faith. Each profile offers a history, critique, and solidly biblical response to the topics. Scientism https://www.watchman.org/scientism/ProfileScientism.pdf Naturalism https://www.watchman.org/Naturalism/ProfileNaturalism.pdf Carl Sagan's Cosmos https://www.watchman.org/files/ProfileCosmos.pdf UFOS/UAPS https://www.watchman.org/ProfileUFOs.pdf Astrology https://www.watchman.org/files/profileastrology2018.pdf If you like the profile articles, be sure to check out Watchman's comprehensive two-volume collection of all of our profile articles, nearly 700 pages. You can get a print or digital edition. Check out our preview video of the notebook at https://www.Watchman.org/Notebook.  Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

    33 min
  2. Black Hole Surprises! Part 1

    NOV 28

    Black Hole Surprises! Part 1

    Black holes remain one of the most enigmatic and wondrous entities in the cosmos. We have only known about them for less than a century. And just when you think you've got a handle on what exactly they are, new discoveries begin to challenge these assumptions. Just in the last decade, astrophysicists have not only photographed a black hole but have detected gravitational waves, the ripples in spacetime fabric created by the merger of two supermassive black holes.  (See a video on this at  https://www.youtube.com/live/aEPIwEJmZyE?si=tZhq0Gs-WKZfRvOX ) Here on part one, Wayne and Dan discuss the wonderful strangeness of black holes and a recent discovery of a black hole in a relatively young part of the universe. This black hole, based on current theories, shouldn't be there, as there were not enough stars or enough time for it to have accreted its mass.  So how did it get there? Astronomers are trying to figure that out. Come and see how the Good Heavens! duo thinks these dark stars point us once more back to the glory of God in Christ. Mysterious Supermassive Black Hole mentioned here on Part One https://phys.org/news/2024-06-black-hole-inexplicable-mass-jwst.html Sarah Salviander's video on the history of science's understanding of black holes: https://youtu.be/xi0CwpY5ICg?si=3wZUSmRaQ-9pGyLO How are Quasars related to Black Holes?https://www.space.com/17262-quasar-definition.html First photograph of a black hole: https://www.youtube.com/live/XlrfBiuMzfE?si=RU3ZM2scyPAZE1wV FREE! Four-page articles from Watchman Fellowship - These articles help you better understand the ideas and ideologies of our time that challenge our Christian faith. Each profile offers a history, critique, and solidly biblical response to the topics. Scientism https://www.watchman.org/scientism/ProfileScientism.pdfNaturalism https://www.watchman.org/Naturalism/ProfileNaturalism.pdfCarl Sagan's Cosmos https://www.watchman.org/files/ProfileCosmos.pdfUFOS/UAPS https://www.watchman.org/ProfileUFOs.pdfAstrology https://www.watchman.org/files/profileastrology2018.pdf If you like the profile articles, be sure to check out Watchman's comprehensive two-volume collection of all of our profile articles, nearly 700 pages. You can get a print or digital edition. Check out our preview video of the notebook at https://www.Watchman.org/Notebook.  Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

    1h 1m
  3. Who's Afraid of the Multiverse? Part 2 With Astrophysicist Dr. Jeff Zweerink

    NOV 12

    Who's Afraid of the Multiverse? Part 2 With Astrophysicist Dr. Jeff Zweerink

    The telescope technology of our time has revealed wonders in the cosmos our ancestors could only dream about. But have these discoveries in any way undermined the biblical account of creation? Our guest again this week, astrophysicist and author at Reasons to Believe, Dr. Jeff Zweerink tells us that we have nothing to fear, not even the multiverse! Many atheists and skeptics have tried to employ the multiverse as a means of explaining away God as the cause of the existence of our universe. Come and hear what Jeff has to say this week about how creation not only is not threatened by modern science, but how it ultimately can encourage and strengthen our faith when we learn more about it. By faith we know that the physical universe and everything it contains, both seen and unseen, are all ultimately declaring the glory of God.  Jeff's Bio Astrophysicist Jeff Zweerink is a senior research scholar for Reasons to Believe (RTB), an organization dedicated to demonstrating the compatibility of science and the Christian faith. Jeff’s work focuses on helping people of all backgrounds bridge the perceived gap between science and the Christian faith. Jeff has also made many media appearances, on television, radio, and in print. He earned a BS in physics and a PhD in astrophysics with a focus on gamma rays from Iowa State University. He taught and ran the planetarium at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, until postdoctoral research in gamma rays led him to the University of California, Riverside. Prior to joining RTB, Jeff spent years working on the STACEE and VERITAS gamma-ray telescopes and was involved in research projects such as the Solar Two project and the Whipple Collaboration. He continues to work as a project scientist at UCLA on GAPS, a balloon experiment seeking to detect dark matter. Jeff is also a coauthor on more than 30 academic papers published in peer-reviewed journals, such as Astrophysical Journal, Astroparticle Physics, and Astrobiology. Jeff's Bio:  https://reasons.org/team/jeff-zweerink BLOG:  https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/author/jeff-zweerink BOOK:  https://support.reasons.org/purchase/whos-afraid-of-the-multiverse Free Resources from Watchman Fellowship Scientism: https://www.watchman.org/scientism/ProfileScientism.pdf Naturalism: https://www.watchman.org/Naturalism/ProfileNaturalism.pdf The Story of the Cosmos: https://www.watchman.org/CosmosBook Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

    35 min
  4. Who's Afraid of the Multiverse? Part 1 With Astrophysicist Dr. Jeff Zweerink

    NOV 7

    Who's Afraid of the Multiverse? Part 1 With Astrophysicist Dr. Jeff Zweerink

    The universe is a fantastically wondrous place. There are more things in heaven and earth than are often dreamt of in our philosophies, to paraphrase Hamlet a little bit. And for the many things we can observe in the physical universe, science sometimes struggles to come up with an explanation as to what is really going on. How much more mysterious are those things which we cannot see? How should Christians think about things that the science of the heavens tells us cannot be seen, such as the idea of the existence of many different universes? That's the question we tackle this week and next on the broadcast with astrophysicist from Reasons to Believe Dr. Jeff Zweerink. We talk about his 2008 book Who's Afraid of the Multiverse? Come and see!  LINKS FOR JEFF   BIO:  https://reasons.org/team/jeff-zweerink. BLOG:  https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/author/jeff-zweerink BOOK: https://support.reasons.org/purchase/whos-afraid-of-the-multiverse   Astrophysicist Jeff Zweerink is a senior research scholar for Reasons to Believe (RTB), an organization dedicated to demonstrating the compatibility of science and the Christian faith. Jeff’s work focuses on helping people of all backgrounds bridge the perceived gap between science and the Christian faith. Jeff has also made many media appearances, on television, radio, and in print. He earned a BS in physics and a PhD in astrophysics with a focus on gamma rays from Iowa State University. He taught and ran the planetarium at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, until postdoctoral research in gamma rays led him to the University of California, Riverside.  Prior to joining RTB, Jeff spent years working on the STACEE and VERITAS gamma-ray telescopes and was involved in research projects such as the Solar Two project and the Whipple Collaboration. He continues to work as a project scientist at UCLA on GAPS, a balloon experiment seeking to detect dark matter. Jeff is also a coauthor on more than 30 academic papers published in peer-reviewed journals, such as Astrophysical Journal, Astroparticle Physics, and Astrobiology.   Free Resources from Watchman Fellowship Scientism:  https://www.watchman.org/scientism/ProfileScientism.pdf Carl Sagan's Cosmos:  https://www.watchman.org/CosmosTV Naturalism:  https://www.watchman.org/Naturalism/ProfileNaturalism.pdf The Story of the Cosmos:     DISCLAIMER The views expressed by Jeff regarding the multiverse or the big bang or the age of the universe do not imply an endorsement one way or the other by Good Heavens! and Watchman Fellowship, Inc. and its board of directors. We seek to present the best scientific information available to the body of Christ on these topics from Christians who are knowledgeable in their field who hold different perspectives. We have featured guests in the past who hold to both a young-earth and an old-earth view.    Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

    55 min
  5. News From Space! A New Segment for Good Heavens!

    OCT 14

    News From Space! A New Segment for Good Heavens!

    Instead of just one topic, Wayne and Dan thought it would be fun to cover some current events in the heavens and call it "News from Space" for lack of a better segment title. On this episode they chat about astronauts stuck in space, some strange exoplanets, what it really means to be an "earth-like" planet, and there's even a black hole that shoots out a Death-Star like jet of plasma that seems to ignite supernovae! And of course, how Wayne and Dan think it all points to the glory of God in Christ.   Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

    1h 16m
  6. Many Worlds, Mormonism, and Multiverses Part Two

    OCT 7

    Many Worlds, Mormonism, and Multiverses Part Two

    Part two with former 4th-generation Latter-day Saint James K. Walker and astrophysicist and Cosmologist Dr. Luke Barnes, plus some bonus surprise guests. Make sure you listen to Part One for fuller context of our conversation! There is a reason the Gospel has often been referred to as "the Greatest Story ever told." Here on part two, we flesh out a little bit more into the ideas of many universes, materialism, Mormonism cosmology, and how they compare to the Christian story and our place within it. Come and see! Free four-page profiles from Watchman Fellowship! Latter-Day Saints https://www.watchman.org/articles/mormonism/ Scientism https://www.watchman.org/scientism/ProfileScientism.pdf Carl Sagan's Cosmos https://www.watchman.org/CosmosTV Naturalism https://www.watchman.org/Naturalism/ProfileNaturalism.pdf Dan's presentation on the Book of Abraham https://youtu.be/GV5elJ_xSck?si=HtMfWVWBj5r675fx Wayne and Dan's book The Story of the Cosmos https://www.watchman.org/CosmosBook Luke A. Barnes is a Senior Lecturer in astronomy and cosmology. With PhD at the University of Cambridge, he has published papers in the field of galaxy formation and on the fine-tuning of the Universe for life. He is the author, with Geraint Lewis, of "A Fortunate Universe: Life in a Finely Tuned Cosmos" and "The Cosmic Revolutionary's Handbook: (Or: How to Beat the Big Bang)", published by Cambridge University Press. Luke, along with Allen Hainline, has also written a contributing chapter to The Story of the Cosmos - How The Heavens Declare the Glory of God (Harvest House).  James Walker, the president of Watchman Fellowship, is a former fourth generation Mormon with over twenty years of ministry experience in the field of Christian counter-cult evangelism, apologetics, and discernment. He has been interviewed as an expert on new religious movements and cults on a variety of network television programs including Nightline, ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, and The News Hour with Jim Lehrer. He has spoken at hundreds of churches, colleges, universities, and seminaries throughout the United States and internationally. Luke's Books https://www.amazon.com/Fortunate-Universe-Finely-Tuned-Cosmos/dp/1107156610/ https://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Revolutionarys-Handbook-Beat-Bang/dp/1108486703   Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

    35 min
  7. Many Worlds, Mormonism, and Multiverses Part One

    SEP 30

    Many Worlds, Mormonism, and Multiverses Part One

    Something a little out of the ordinary for our Good Heavens! family. How about theories in physics and cosmology combined with a discussion about Mormonism and storytelling? Yes! That's a lot to process, but we hope you'll find it mildly interesting and encouraging. This broadcast will also be airing on our sister podcast Apologetics Profile later next month. On this episode and next we'll be featuring our president of Watchman Fellowship, James K. Walker, a former 4th-generation Latter-day Saint in conversation with astrophysicist and cosmologist from Sydney, Australia, Dr. Luke Barnes, discussing many worlds, multiverses and Mormonism. There are also some surprise bonus clips from previous episodes you'll not want to miss! For millennia, man has been telling stories about himself, his origins and the nature of the cosmos. How do they all fit together? What's the right story of the cosmos and how can we know? We think you'll find this episode and next quite fascinating as we dive into these and other topics! Free four-page profiles from Watchman Fellowship! Latter-Day Saints https://www.watchman.org/articles/mormonism/ Scientism https://www.watchman.org/scientism/ProfileScientism.pdf Carl Sagan's Cosmos https://www.watchman.org/CosmosTV Naturalism https://www.watchman.org/Naturalism/ProfileNaturalism.pdf Wayne and Dan's book The Story of the Cosmos https://www.watchman.org/CosmosBook Luke A. Barnes is a Senior Lecturer in astronomy and cosmology. With PhD at the University of Cambridge, he has published papers in the field of galaxy formation and on the fine-tuning of the Universe for life. He is the author, with Geraint Lewis, of "A Fortunate Universe: Life in a Finely Tuned Cosmos" and "The Cosmic Revolutionary's Handbook: (Or: How to Beat the Big Bang)", published by Cambridge University Press. Luke, along with Allen Hainline, has also written a contributing chapter to The Story of the Cosmos - How The Heavens Declare the Glory of God (Harvest House).  James Walker, the president of Watchman Fellowship, is a former fourth generation Mormon with over twenty years of ministry experience in the field of Christian counter-cult evangelism, apologetics, and discernment. He has been interviewed as an expert on new religious movements and cults on a variety of network television programs including Nightline, ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, and The News Hour with Jim Lehrer. He has spoken at hundreds of churches, colleges, universities, and seminaries throughout the United States and internationally. Luke's Books: https://www.amazon.com/Fortunate-Universe-Finely-Tuned-Cosmos/dp/1107156610/ https://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Revolutionarys-Handbook-Beat-Bang/dp/1108486703   Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

    57 min
  8. The Geology of the Genesis Flood - Part Three - with Geologist Dr. Andrew Snelling

    AUG 26

    The Geology of the Genesis Flood - Part Three - with Geologist Dr. Andrew Snelling

    As you certainly know by now, for the month of August, Wayne and I have taken a little break from the heavens for a very special focus on the Earth, specifically some spectacular geological evidence for the biblical flood. Here on part three of our three-part series we are yet again grateful and honored to have as our very special guest one of the top creation geologists in the world Dr. Andrew Snelling of Answers in Genesis. Whether you are a young or old-earth creationist, a skeptic, agnostic, atheist or whether you know next to nothing about geology, we think you'll find our three-part series fascinating and enlightening. Our series with Dr. Snelling has been focused mainly on the many examples Dr. Snelling believes provide solid geological evidence for the flood as described in the Book of Genesis (chapters 6-9). Here on part three we talk about the unusual folds of sedimentary layers in the Grand Canyon and about one of the greatest head-scratchers in all of geology, the great unconformity. Andrew will explain to us to what exactly this strikingly peculiar feature of the earth's rocks is not conforming! We thank Dr. Snelling for his graciously giving us his time for this exciting and informative interview and we hope you our Good Heavens! family have enjoyed it. Links and Resources:  Dr. Andrew Snelling holds a PhD in geology from the University of Sydney, Australia. Dr. Snelling is active in research, writing and also speaking on topics such as the flood, fossils, the Grand Canyon, and the radioactive dating of rocks. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles and papers as well as the author of The Genesis Flood Revisited (2009, 2022 Master Books). The Genesis Flood Revisited: https://www.masterbooks.com/the-genesis-flood-revisited Answers Research Journal: https://answersresearchjournal.org/geology/monument-fold-grand-canyon/ Andrew's Bio: https://answersingenesis.org/bios/andrew-snelling/ Previous Good Heavens! Episodes on Flood Stories from Native North American Tribes https://goodheavens.podbean.com/e/flood-stories-part-1-from-native-people-of-north-south-america/ https://goodheavens.podbean.com/e/flood-stories-part-2-from-native-people-of-north-south-america/ Articles by Dr. Snelling: https://answersingenesis.org/bios/andrew-snelling/articles/   Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

    37 min
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Good Heavens! The human side of astronomy with Wayne and Dan.

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