Astronomy Cast
Astronomy Cast Ep. 394: The Standard Model – Bosons
All fundamental particles are either fermions or bosons. Last week we talked about quarks, which are fermions. This week we'll…
Astronomy Cast Ep. 393: The Standard Model – Leptons & Quarks
Physicists are getting a handle on the structure of the Universe, how everything is made of something else. Molecules are…
Astronomy Cast Ep. 392: The Standard Model – Intro
Humans, cars and planets are made of molecules. And molecules are made of atoms. Atoms are made of protons, neutrons…
Astronomy Cast Ep. 391: Entropy
Have you ever been doing thermodynamics in a closed system and noticed that there’s a finite number of ways that…
Astronomy Cast Ep. 389: Roundtable with Paul M. Sutter
While Pamela and Fraser were at Ohio State University for a symposium in October, they caught up with Paul M.…
Astronomy Cast Ep. 390: Occam’s Razor and the Problem with Probabilities
I’m not saying it’s aliens, but it’s aliens. Actually, it’s almost certainly not aliens, or a wormhole, or a multiverse.…
Astronomy Cast Ep. 388: Megastructures
This week astronomers announced an unusual transit signal from another star. Although it’s most likely a natural phenomenon, one remote…
Astronomy Cast Ep. 387: Water on Mars… Again
Have you heard the big news? NASA has reported that Mark Whatney is alive and well on the surface of…
Astronomy Cast Ep. 386: Orbiting Observers
The atmosphere keeps us alive and breathing, but it really sucks for astronomy. Fortunately, humanity has built and launched space…
Astronomy Cast Ep. 385: Rovers on the Run
Taking pictures of distant worlds is great and all, but the best science happens with boots on the ground. Or…