The Cosmic Savannah

The Cosmic Savannah
  • 4.6 (29)
  • ASTRONOMY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A podcast showcasing world-class astronomy under African skies.

  1. OCT 8

    Episode 81: One Last Burst - Gamma Rays and Afterglows

    In this episode, Jacinta chats with Dr Simon de Wet about the discoveries he made during his Master's and PhD theses regarding mysterious gamma ray bursts (GRBs). Meanwhile, the team takes a trip back to the Pendulum Room for a final farewell to the old studio.

    41 min

  2. OCT 8

    Episode 81: One Last Burst - Gamma Rays and Afterglows

    In this episode, Jacinta chats with Dr Simon de Wet about the discoveries he made during his Master's and PhD theses regarding mysterious gamma ray bursts (GRBs). Meanwhile, the team takes a trip back to the Pendulum Room for a final farewell to the old studio.

    41 min

  3. SEP 25

    Episode 80: The Mightee MeerKAT’s View of the Universe

    with Prof Matt Jarvis, Dr Imogen Whittam and Dr Anastasia Ponomareva In this episode, Jacinta takes us back to Oxford to catch up with researchers leading one of the biggest astronomy projects with South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope — the MIGHTEE Survey! We hear from Prof. Matt Jarvis, Dr. Imogen Whittam, and Dr. Anastasia Ponomareva at the University of Oxford, who explain how astronomers use MeerKAT to study how galaxies have changed over the history of the Universe – a process called galaxy evolution. MIGHTEE looks at both the raw gas that fuels new stars (neutral hydrogen, or HI) and the powerful black holes at galaxy centres that can regulate star formation with their giant radio jets. The survey also brings together more than a hundred scientists worldwide and provides unique opportunities for South African students to lead exciting discoveries. The team talk us through how they map hydrogen gas in 3D using the famous 21-cm signal, why puzzling results suggest galaxies have kept the same supply of gas even as their star formation has slowed, and how new data challenges the textbook picture of how black holes are fuelled. They also describe the practical challenges of handling thousands of radio sources and how international collaborations of around 100 astronomers make it all possible. This episode follows on from our last, where Jacinta’s RADHIANCE students shared their Oxford adventures — now we dive into the cutting-edge science itself!

    1h 7m

  4. SEP 10

    Episode 79: RADHIANCE research at the University of Oxford

    In this episode, we hear from three postgraduate astronomy students from the University of Cape Town about their worldly adventures during a research trip to the University of Oxford in the UK!

    58 min

  5. AUG 27

    Episode 78: Back Under The Stars – A New Dawn!

    We are back with the second half of season 6! In this episode, we are joined by Kevin Govender, Chair of the National Organising Committee and Director of the Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD). With a background in Nuclear Physics, Kevin first became involved in astronomy in 2006 when he managed the Collateral Benefits Programme at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO). This work ultimately led to his appointment as the inaugural Director of the OAD in 2011.

    1 hr
  6. Episode 77: Troublesome ‘Inkathazo’ and the Age of Giants

    JAN 20

    Episode 77: Troublesome ‘Inkathazo’ and the Age of Giants

    In this "mid-season special" episode, we introduce you to an extraordinary giant radio galaxy nicknamed "Inkathazo", meaning ‘trouble’ in isiXhosa and isiZulu. We speak with Kathleen Charlton, a Master’s student from the University of Cape Town, about the discovery of Inkathazo and her newly published work on the topic. The post Episode 77: Troublesome ‘Inkathazo’ and the Age of Giants appeared first on The Cosmic Savannah.

    33 min
  7. A Heritage Day Special: Pulsars and possibilities – a conversation with Jocelyn Bell-Burnell (rerun)

    09/24/2024

    A Heritage Day Special: Pulsars and possibilities – a conversation with Jocelyn Bell-Burnell (rerun)

    This is a rerun of a previous episode (60) titled Pulsars and possibilities with Prof. Jocelyn Bell-Burnell. Firstly, The Cosmic Savannah is very excited to welcome a new host! We […] The post A Heritage Day Special: Pulsars and possibilities – a conversation with Jocelyn Bell-Burnell (rerun) appeared first on The Cosmic Savannah.

    1 hr
  8. Episode 76: First ever Live Show debut at Astronomy Olympics

    08/29/2024

    Episode 76: First ever Live Show debut at Astronomy Olympics

    This week, join us for a special live episode from the IAU General Assembly in Cape Town, South Africa. Featuring black hole simulations expert Dr. Nicole Thomas and winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize for Physics Prof. Brian Schmidt. The post Episode 76: First ever Live Show debut at Astronomy Olympics appeared first on The Cosmic Savannah.

    1h 4m
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4.6
out of 5
29 Ratings

About

A podcast showcasing world-class astronomy under African skies.

Information

  • Creator
    The Cosmic Savannah
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Cosmic Savannah
  • Show Website
    The Cosmic Savannah

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