The Supermassive Podcast

Our Artemis II Debrief

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:00:00 GMT

What. A. Mission. The Supermassive Team are in AWE of the Artemis II Crew and the people that helped them to loop around the Moon. From scientific aims to societal impact, Izzie Clarke, Richard Hollingham and Dr Robert Massey reflect on this latest step to returning to the Moon and their experiences of watching it unfold. Richard was at the launch, Robert is pen pals with Reid Wiseman, and Izzie... is extremely jealous of them both!

Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening, forum access, and extra content from the team. And email your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

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When Space Goes Rogue....

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 01:00:00 GMT

The Supermassive Team are going rogue (more so that usual!) This time, it’s all about the non-conforming objects in space. Black holes, planets and the other rogue objects Izzie and Dr Becky can think of... Plus, Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and shares his stargazing tips for April.

A big thank you to Gavin Coleman from Queen Mary's University, and Astronomy Now magazine editor and owner, Stuart Clark. For more accessible astronomy, the recommend you read their brilliant articles on astronomynow.com.

Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening, forum access, and extra content from the team. And email your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Black holes in the lab and meeting Ryan Gosling

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

It’s a massive bonus episode this month with both listener questions and an extended interview with the producer/directors of the new Ryan Gosling film: Project Hail Mary.

Dr Becky and Dr Robert are joined by editor Richard to tackle questions on creating a black hole in the lab, how long a planet lasts and the size of the biggest black hole. Guest reporter, Sue Nelson, chats to Phil Lord and Chris Miller about Project Hail Mary and Becky reveals what she chatted about with Ryan Gosling.

Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening, forum access, and extra content from the team. And email your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the Hubble Tension?

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 02:00:00 GMT

There's a crisis in cosmology when it comes to understanding a little thing like the acceleration of our universe, aka The Hubble Tension. And in this episode, Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst are digging into what this is and (trying to) explain the science behind it.

A huge thank you to our guests, (Nobel Prize winning-) Professor Adam Riess from John Hopkins University and Professor Silvia Galli from Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris.

Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening, forum access, and extra content from the team. And email your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2026: The year in space... And at sea?!

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 02:00:00 GMT

What are the biggest space missions of 2026? And what are the best stargazing opportunities this year? The Supermassive Team - Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst, Dr Robert Massey and Richard Hollingham - share their astronomical excitement for the year ahead and ponder if they should charter a boat for the August eclipse.

Thank you to listeners Anne Edgeworth and Karolina who inspired this episode.

To support the show, join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening, forum access, and extra content from the team.

If you have a question for the team - or have a boat we can borrow! - get in touch via podcast@ras.ac.uk or on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Q&A: Meteors, Artemis II, and Space Bathtubs

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 02:00:00 GMT

The Supermassive Podcast is back for 2026, and we've got a MEGA Q&A.

What happens when two nebulae collide? Where did Neptune and Uranus form? What’s the procedure for a medical emergency on the ISS? And more. Plus, Izzie, Dr Becky, Robert and Richard cover everything you need to know ahead of the launch of Artemis II.

And here are the links to things we promised you in this episode...

Our episode "How to Time Travel"
Our episode "Do We Live in a Multiverse?"
Richard's brilliant Space Boffins podcast

Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening, forum access, and extra content from the team. And email your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Time Travel

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 02:00:00 GMT

Fire up your flux capacitor and dematerialise your Tardis because The Supermassive Podcast is traveling in time. Is it possible? How does it work? And, crucially, which films got the physics right (or wrong!)?

Thank you to Dr Emma Osborne from the University of York, and Dr Alfredo Carpinetti from IFLScience for their help on this episode. Alfredo's upcoming book, Invisible Rainbows, will be available for pre-order soon.

Here's the Time Travel in Fiction Rundown from Minute Physics

Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening, forum access, and extra content from the team. And email your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Slingshots, Christmas Presents & Alien Communication

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 02:00:00 GMT

What would it be like to feel gravitational waves? How are satellites protected from extreme solar storms? How do gravity slingshots work? Are aliens potentially communicating outside of the electromagnetic spectrum? Plus Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert share their annual Christmas present recommendations.

Keep sending your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk, Instagram @SupermassivePod or members can post on The Supermassive Club's forum.

Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening, forum access, and extra content from the team.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

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Protecting Our Dark Skies

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 02:00:00 GMT

What are the threats to our dark night skies? And what needs to be done to protect them? Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert explore this important topic and head outside (...and the weather was not on their side!)

Thank you to Dr Samantha Lawler at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan and Andy Lawrence, the Regis professor of astronomy at the University of Edinburgh.

Don't forget to join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening, forum access, and extra content from the team.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Supermassive Gone Rogue

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 02:00:00 GMT

Can JWST detect exomoons? How can black holes keep absorbing more mass? How big is our cosmic neighbourhood? And what is a rogue black hole?! Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert answer YOUR questions.

You can add to The Supermassive Mailbox by emailing podcast@ras.ac.uk or messaging us on instagram @SupermassivePod.

To support the show join The Supermassive Club and access ad-free listening, forum discussions, and member's only content.

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A Watery History of Mars

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 02:00:00 GMT

Grab your space swimsuit, Izzie and Dr Becky explore Mars' wet past. When did the red planet have water? Where did it go? And were there canals on Mars?

Thank you to Joe McNeil from the Natural History Museum and Sian Prosser from the Royal Astronomical Society.

If you like this topic, you might want to check out the NHM's new exhibition Space: Could life exist beyond Earth?

Don't forget to join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening, forum access, and behind the scenes from the team.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Mercury, Gemini and Pringles

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 23:00:00 GMT

It’s space book club time, featuring the latest book by author and photography expert Andy Saunders: Gemini and Mercury Remastered. Producer Richard enthuses about these mid-60s missions and we talk to the author. Meanwhile, Dr Becky, Izzie and Dr Robert also discuss Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir and A City on Mars by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith. With questions on the size of space and why the centres of galaxies are brighter, it really is quite the bonus episode.

You can hear a longer version of the interview with Andy Saunders in the latest Space Boffins Podcast.

Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening and share your questions, images and more. Or email reach us at podcast@ras.ac.uk or on Instagram @SupermassivePod (particularly if you discover a comet).

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don't Panic…but a solar storm could be a disaster

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 23:00:00 GMT

It's been 166 years since scientists recorded the world's most powerful solar explosion. Izzie, Dr Becky and Dr Robert Massey are big fans of anniversaries, so they investigate how the Carrington Event affected the Earth - and why something similar today could be devastating.

Thanks to Kate Bond from the Royal Astronomical Society and Matthew West from ESA's Vigil for joining us on this episode.

Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening and to share you questions, images and more. Or email them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or on Instagram @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Are we Living in a Black Hole?

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 23:00:00 GMT

What would happen if the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy disappeared? Dr Becky is back to tackle your toughest of black hole questions. Alongside science journalist Izzie Clarke and Dr Robert Massey, the team also discuss what the night sky would look like in an elliptical galaxy…and are we living inside a black hole?

Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening and share your questions, images and more. Or email them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or on Instagram @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Supermassive Q and A...Live!

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 23:00:00 GMT

We are live at the National Astronomy Meeting in Durham with questions on everything from white holes and fuzzy stars, to solar storms and time travel. Science journalist Izzie Clarke is joined by Dr Ziri Younsi – part of the team that took the first picture of a black hole. Also on the panel, Jim Wild, Professor of Space Physics at Lancaster University and president-elect of the Royal Astronomical Society…and the one and only Dr Robert Massey, Deputy Director of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening and share your questions, images and more. Or email them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or on Instagram @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - What Shape is Space?

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Izzie Clarke is joined by Dr Robert Massey to tackle your questions on the shape of space, measuring gravitational waves and planet spotting. We also have another - another! - astronaut: Producer Richard chats to British ESA astronaut Rosemary Coogan about her background as an astrophysicist.

Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening and share your questions, images and more. Or email them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or on Instagram @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Astronauts. Do we need them?

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 23:00:00 GMT

It’s a brave question to put to three astronauts live on stage but it’s a risk we are prepared to take. Recorded in front of a live audience at the UK Space Conference in Manchester, European Space Agency astronauts Tim Peake, Meganne Christian and John McFall discuss the future of human space exploration. Could robots or AI take their place? Will a trip to the Moon be as common as flying across the Atlantic? And can humans be trusted to not mess with Mars?

Host Izzie Clarke asks the big questions, producer Richard Hollingham threatens the audience, and (soft sceptic) Dr Robert Massey is prepared to be unpopular as they contemplate the role of astronauts in the 21st century.

Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening and share your questions, images and more. Or email them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or on Instagram @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Where are Earth's rings?

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 01:00:00 GMT

What would happen if asteroid Bennu impacted Earth? Can we timelapse Saturn's rings developing? Where are Earth's rings? Plus the solar wind on Mars... The Supermassive team answer YOUR questions.

Keep sending questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk, on Instagram @SupermassivePod or join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening and to support the show.

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Why isn't Pluto a planet?

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 01:00:00 GMT

Izzie and Dr Becky decided that little ol’ Pluto doesn’t get much attention anymore. So we’re giving the dwarf planet some time in the spotlight. Why isn't Pluto a planet? How small is it? And what makes it so unique?

Thank you to Prof Alan Fitzsimmons from Queens University of Belfast joining us episode.

Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening and share you questions, images and more. Or email them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or on Instagram @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Why aren’t stars closer together?

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 01:00:00 GMT

What would happen if planets collided at a snail's pace? How much of Avengers Endgame regarding time is scientifically acceptable? Why aren't stars closer together? And the team discuss a listener's theory to terra-form Mars.

Want to support the show? Join The Supermassive Club for exclusive content, star-gazing forums and ad-free listening... supermassive.supportingcast.fm

And keep adding to The Supermassive Mailbox with your pictures and questions for the team. Send them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow them on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Time Real?

Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Start your stopwatches, set your timers, turn back your clocks because Izzie and Dr Becky are talking time. What is it? How, and why, do we measure it? And is time real or a human construct?!

Izzie speaks with Anne Curtis at the National Physical Laboratory who works on one of the world’s most accurate clocks, and editor Richard has been to the very heart of time itself in Greenwich with Finn Burridge at the Royal Observatory.

The Supermassive Club is finally here. Join to support the show and for ad-free listening: https://supermassive.supportingcast.fm/

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Mole People on Mars

Tue, 13 May 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Should astronauts live underground on the Moon or Mars? Black hole jets, rogue planets, the big crunch (or freeze) and the Ontario question. Dr Becky, Izzie and Dr Robert Massey tackle your correspondence from the Supermassive mailbox and producer Richard makes a pronunciation intervention.

The book Becky mentions is Red Rising by Pierce Brown.

Keep sending in your wonderful ponderings. Email them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or via Instagram @Supermassivepod

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is Gravity?

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 01:00:00 GMT

This episode is a weighty one. Some might say massive. It’s all about gravity. What is it? Why does it matter? Izzie and Dr Becky explore Einstein and Newton’s different ideas on the subject, plus Izzie visits the Royal Society to see Isaac Newton's original manuscript for his works on gravity and the laws of motion.

Special thank you to listener Hanna_m_e for suggesting this episode topic and to Professor Tessa Baker, at the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation at the University of Portsmouth, and to Keith Moore, head of collections at the Royal Society for appearing on the show.

See THAT coffee table here: https://youtu.be/5XlTkGEO564?si=9Z8KwTqOPk-Sf0xM

If you have a question for the team, or an episode suggestion, send them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production in partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Can we gravitationally "hitch hike" out of the Solar System?

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 08:33:18 GMT

What the bloomin’ hell is a Gravastar? Are fast radio bursts like solar flares on steroids? Plus an interesting question on multiverses that can't be summed up in a short sentence. Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey dive into The Supermassive Mailbox and take on your questions.

Keep sending in your wonderful ponderings. Email them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or via Instagram @Supermassivepod

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Returning to the Moon - with ESA Astronaut Matthias Maurer

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 01:00:22 GMT

Climb aboard The Supermassive Rocket, Izzie and Becky are (talking about) sending humans back to the moon. Joining them on their trip is European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer and Jacki Mahaffey, the Chief Training Officer for NASA’s Artemis II mission. Plus, Dr Robert Massey, the Deputy Director of the Royal Astronomical Society, is there as well to answer your questions and share his top stargazing tips.

For more supermassive astronaut episodes, here's our episode with Samantha Cristoforetti and another with Gene Cernan.

Keep sending your questions to The Supermassive Podcast at podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on Instagram, @Supermassive Pod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Can A Star Orbit Another Star?

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 01:00:51 GMT

If black holes are so dense, how can gamma rays jet shoot out from it? At what point in space does our sun become invisible to the naked eye? And a question about CubeSats, black holes and detecting alien civilisations... It time for Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey to take on your questions!

Got a question to add to The Supermassive Mailbox? Email it to podcast@ras.ac.uk or message us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod. There's no such thing as a silly question. In fact, the sillier, the better!

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sample Return Missions - What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

This time Dr Becky Smethurst and Izzie Clarke discover why it’s touch and go when it comes to returning asteroid samples to Earth and hear how we’ve been exchanging spit with Mars since the dawn of the Solar System.

The team is joined by Dr Sara Russell, a meteorite researcher at the Natural History Museum in London, and Dr Albert Haldemann, Mars Chief Engineer for the European Space Agency.

As ever, Dr Robert Massey is with us to answer your questions and look ahead to the next month in the night sky.

Keep you questions coming…you can email 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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EMERGENCY BONUS - Asteroid 2024 YR4

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 02:00:00 GMT

Scientists have detected an asteroid that has a small chance of hitting Earth. Resident expert Dr Robert Massey tells Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham why we shouldn't be worried.

Want to suggest a topic to the team? Contact 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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Could we capture a primordial black hole?

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 02:00:00 GMT

What are the implications on space exploration with a change of president? Did cosmic inflation come before the Big Bang? Are there sonic booms in space? Izzie, Becky and Robert take on your questions!

Keep sending your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on instagram @SupermassivePod.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Search for Space Aliens

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 02:00:00 GMT

Hosts Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst are starting 2025 with a biggie. The scientific search for extraterrestrial life:

Where are scientists looking? How do they search for potential signals? And what the heck is the plan if they find one?! The Supermassive team hears from Seth Shostak from the SETI Institute about the search for life beyond Earth, and Dr John Elliot from the University of St Andrews explains what would happen if we were to detect them.

Thanks for all of your brilliant questions - keep them coming! You can email podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on instagram, @SupermassivePod.

And, as promised, here's more information on National Astronomy Week 2025, running from 1st-9th February: https://astronomyweek.org.uk

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Q&A - Space Potatoes and Christmas Stars

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 02:00:00 GMT

Our final episode of 2024 is a SUPERMASSIVE Q&A.

Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey make their way through your questions. What’s the farthest star we can see with the naked eye? Why do black holes expand and shrink? And what would happen if we accelerated an uncompressed medium sized potato to 99% the speed of light?

And remember, do not confuse the ISS with Santa's Sleigh in the run up to Christmas. To avoid any confusion, find out when the ISS is flying over your home using https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/home.cfm

If you have any questions for a future episode, email podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on instagram @SupermassivePod. And thank you to anyone who has listened or reviewed the podcast this year, we really appreciate it.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Why can't anything go faster than the speed of light?

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 02:00:00 GMT

From planetary alignment through the galaxy to spacetime expansion, The Supermassive Team answer your questions.

Keep sending us your questions, email us on podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on instagram @SupermassivePod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Mystery of Fast Radio Bursts

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 02:00:00 GMT

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Nuclear Pasta & G-Astronomy

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 03:00:00 GMT

... 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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Strange Stars and Bizarre Binaries

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 02:00:00 GMT

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - A Bumper Edition

Sat, 19 Oct 2024 01:00:00 GMT

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Untangling the Cosmic Web

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 01:00:00 GMT

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - What distorts time?

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 01:00:00 GMT

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We Made It To Mercury!

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 01:00:00 GMT

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Galaxy Spin and Saving Herstmonceux Observatory

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 01:00:00 GMT

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Venus aka "Earth's Evil Twin"

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 01:00:00 GMT

This is Venus’ moment in the supermassive spotlight. What do we know about this hellish planet? And what missions are going there in the near future?

Izzie and Dr Becky speak with Dr Phillipa Mason from Imperial College London about EnVision, an upcoming mission to Venus, as well as RAS librarian Sian Prosser to explore the archive. Plus Dr Robert Massey is here to take on your questions.

The paper about the sounds on Venus can be found here.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Overmassive Galaxies

Sat, 20 Jul 2024 01:00:00 GMT

The ~~Supermassive~~ Overmassive Podcast has a special bonus episode. Join Izzie, Dr Becky, Dr Robert and Richard as they discuss the last two years of JWST and share their recommendations for Space Book Club.

Recommendations:

Unseen Universe: New Secrets of the Cosmos Revealed by the James Webb Space Telescope by Dr Caroline Harper
The Possibility of Life by Jaime Green
When Galaxies Were Born - Richard Ellis
Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space By Adam Higginbotham

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Q&A - Black Hole Special

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 10:37:00 GMT

Have black holes existed since the beginning of the Universe? Could we produce a black hole in the lab? Could we use gravitational waves to probe beyond the event horizon?

It's a black hole Q&A as Izzie put your questions to Becky and Robert. Plus, author and broadcaster, Marcus Chown, runs through a potted history of discovering black holes. His latest book on the same topic, A Crack In Everything, is out now: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/crack-in-everything-9781804544303/

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Lumpy Space Potatoes

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 23:01:00 GMT

In this month's bonus episode Izzie, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey tackle questions on pulsars, woo woo sounds from black holes, imperfect spheres and alien aurorae. Send your questions to: podcast@ras.ac.uk, and we’re also on instagram @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive podcast is produced by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham and is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Major Lunar Standstill

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 01:00:00 GMT

Every 18.6 years, our moon reaches its farthest northern and southern point, known as a major lunar standstill. This month, Izzie and Dr Becky are exploring why this might be significant to Stonehenge in the UK and another historical site in the US called Chimney Rock. With special thanks to Dr Heather Sebire, Dr Amanda Chadburn and Dr Erica Ellingson.

The southernmost Moonrise at Stonehenge will be livestreamed, allowing viewers to witness this celestial spectacle firsthand. Plus, there'll be events throughout the standstill season which include talks, a pop-up planetarium, stargazing sessions, storytelling, and a new exhibition display at the Stonehenge visitor centre in October. To find out more, visit...
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/things-to-do/major-lunar-standstill/#:~:text=Stonehenge%20is%20famous%20for%20its,'major%20lunar%20standstill'%20occurs.

Or have a look at Chimney Rock in Colorado:
https://www.chimneyrockco.org/puebloan-resources/lunar-standstill/

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Why does the Aurora Borealis look better on my phone?

Thu, 23 May 2024 07:31:54 GMT

The UK witnessed the most amazing Northern Lights in years.... And Izzie missed it.

In this bonus episode, Dr Becky Smethurst, Dr Robert Massey and Izzie Clarke talk about those Northern Lights and answer your questions. What is Jupiter's giant blue dot? If the sun is losing mass (by giving out energy) will that affect the gravity and orbit of the solar system? And how do you date a rock?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Voyager: Where no-one has gone before...

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 23:01:00 GMT

Two of the most remarkable spacecraft ever launched are the stars of this month’s episode: Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. Izzie and Dr Becky talk to Dr Jamie Rankin, the mission’s current Deputy project scientist, and editor Richard gets to chat to Ann Druyan, the original Creative Director of the Golden Record project, who worked alongside her husband Carl Sagan.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Wobbly Planets and Baby Names

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 01:00:00 GMT

Can wobbly planets have more than two solstices? Are we earthlings receding from the sun and the other planets? What is dark flow and why is it controversial? When stars die, is their energy lost forever?

Send your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on Instagram @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Into The Interstellar

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 02:00:00 GMT

Izzie and Dr Becky are venturing into interstellar space. What is it? Where is it? And what do we know about it?

With special thanks to Professor Martin Barstow from University of Leicester and Professor Chris Lintott from the University of Oxford. Chris' new book "Our Accidental Universe" is out now.

Check out the RAS's video on Pons Brooks here: https://ras.ac.uk/news-and-press/news/12ppons-brooks-how-and-when-see-devil-comet

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Dust, stars and alien streetlights

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 00:01:00 GMT

What is cosmic dust? Could we reignite a dying Sun with a nuclear weapon? How do we know what galaxies stars are in, and can the JWST see streetlights on alien worlds?

If you have a question for the Supermassive team, send them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quakes in Space

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 02:00:00 GMT

Izzie and Dr Becky are exploring shaky ground, whether that’s on Earth, other planets and even on our neighbour the Moon. This month is all about quakes.

With special thanks to Mark Panning, the project scientist for NASA's InSight mission, and Dr Jess Johnson from the University of East Anglia.

Join Izzie and the UK Space Education Office for Mars Day on Tuesday 5th March, sign up to the virtual event here.

Explore the North Tyneside Solar Trail and discover models representing planets from our solar system, 16 & 17 March 2024

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Double Yolker Galaxies

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 02:00:00 GMT

Do we see black hole mergers as a result of galaxy mergers? What did the night sky look like to the dinosaurs? Is a gas giant just a rocky planet with a huge and dense atmosphere? Do all orbits eventually end up in resonance?

The Supermassive Team is back with the first bonus episode for 2024! Send in your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The End of the World

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 02:00:00 GMT

The Supermassive Podcast is back for 2024 and putting the "happy" in Happy New Year! What could be a cheerier start to the year than an episode about the End of the World… Astronomically speaking!?

From supernova explosions, to super volcanoes, Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey are running through the checklist of big bad things that put our planet at risk. Special thanks goes to Professor Chris Impey from the University of Arizona and author of How It Ends, and Dr Mike Cassidy from the University of Birmingham.

Things we promised we'd put in the show notes:
NASA worksheet - https://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/earth/10Page5.pdf
Recent Betelgeuse paper - Saio et al. (2023; Betelgeuse in carbon fusion stage) - https://arxiv.org/pdf/2306.00287.pdf

Don't forget to leave us a review, send in your questions ,or share your astrophotography using podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on Instagram @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for The Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do We Live In A Multiverse?

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 02:00:00 GMT

Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst are rounding off 2023 with a biggie. Arguably the biggest of them all. This episode is ALL about the Multiverse. What is it? What does it mean? Does it even exist?

A big thank you to Andrew Pontzen from UCL and author of "Universe in a Box" for explaining the basics, Katie Mack from The Perimeter Institute for going from physicist to film reviewer, and to listener Wendy Entwistle who suggested the Supermassive team cover this topic.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Could Space Junk Block JWST's View?

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 11:44:00 GMT

From barbie dolls, to birds baths, what will happen to all the stuff we have made between now and the end of time? Could a large black hole spaghettify a small black hole? Could more satellites block JWST's view? And what came first, the Big Bang or Inflation?

It's time for another deep dive into The Supermassive Mailbox with Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neptune... At Last!

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 02:00:00 GMT

They've done it. It has taken them all year but Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst have reached the final planet in our solar system; Neptune.

Dr Leigh Fletcher from the University of Leicester is back to cover the basics of the planet and Carolyn Kennett, Chair of the Society for the History of Astronomy, tells Izzie about its controversial discovery. Plus, Dr Robert Massey is on hand for some winter stargazing.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham for the Royal Astronomical Society.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS - Space News Bulletin

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 02:00:00 GMT

Bizarre free-floating planets in space, the retrieval mission from a 4.6 billion year old asteroid, and the first images from our dark universe. Join Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst, and Dr Robert Massey as they take you through the latest space news.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Follow or subscribe for free so you never miss an episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

46: Q&A - Spice Girls, Black Holes, and Ice-Cream in Space

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 01:00:00 GMT

It's been a while, so Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert dive into The Supermassive Mailbox for a Q&A Special. How is the mass of a star determined? Does JWST have fuel to come back? And is it possible for Voyager 1 or 2 to switch their cameras back on?

Here's the link for space-related jobs that Becky mentioned: https://jobregister.aas.org/

Got a question for the team? Email it to podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

45: BONUS - Have you heard of "Ploonets"?

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 01:00:00 GMT

What is the furthest distance away we’ve ever observed? Why hasn't Venus lost its atmosphere from solar winds? Is Mercury a Ploonet? And how stable is the moon's orbit? It's another bonus episode with Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey.

See Micheal Brill's brilliant photos from Antarctica here.

Read listener Andrew Street's article of Cassini's final moments:

Tracing Cassini's fiery death was like seeing a heart monitor flatline

Send in your questions to The Supermassive Mailbox by emailing podcast@ras.ac.uk, tweet @RoyalAstroSoc or find us on Instagram @SupermassivePod.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

45: Uranus the Oddball

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 01:00:00 GMT

Izzie and Dr Becky have done episodes on Mars, gas giants, Saturn and Jupiter individually, so it’s about time that Uranus gets its own episode. And just so we're clear, it's UranUs, not UrAnus.

Professor Leigh Fletcher from the University of Leicester takes the team through the basics. Plus, Izzie pays a visit to the Royal Astronomical Society’s archive to see the Herschels' notebooks from when the planet was discovered.

Recommends
Late Prom 15: Moon and Stars https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/en8fbp

Public Service Broadcasting - The Race for Space - https://open.spotify.com/album/4ZaAM16hw3xpp680FJahJJ?autoplay=true

Our next main episode is a Q&A, so please send your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk, tweet @RoyalAstroSoc or message us on Insta @SupermassivePod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

44: BONUS - Team Enceladus or Team Europa?

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 01:00:00 GMT

What does Saturn look like? Why is Venus hotter than Mercury? Can the solar wind generate electricity on the Moon? Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert dive into The Supermassive Mailbox and answer your questions.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

44: Here Comes the Sun...with NASA's Head of Science

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 23:01:00 GMT

This month, Izzie and Dr Becky are off to the Sun…Partly because the UK summer has been rubbish but mostly because there are a lot of things we still don’t know about our local star.

Joining them on their voyage is the Head of Science at NASA, Dr Nicola Fox, to explain the latest efforts to study the sun, the Project Scientist for Solar Orbiter, Dr Daniel Mueller, and Dr Robert Massey is on hand to answer your questions.

Watch ESA's Solar Orbiter video, featuring the Supermassive's editor Richard Hollingham. https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2022/05/Solar_Orbiter_s_first_close_encounter

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

43: BONUS - Aimless telescopes & beyond the Milky Way

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 01:00:00 GMT

Could we detect exoplanets outside of the Milky Way? Could the Euclid Telescope disprove what we know about dark energy and matter? Are we just pointing telescopes aimlessly at patches of space? And is it possible for two black holes to merge and separate into two branches? Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey tackle your burning questions.

Still, have an unanswered question? Send it to podcast@ras.ac.uk, tweet @RoyalAstroSoc, or find us on Instagram @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast from the Royal Astronomical Society is a Boffin Media Production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

43: Most of the Universe is missing...

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 01:00:00 GMT

The Supermassive Team have spent the last three years attempting to talk about ALL the stuff in space. But that only makes up 5% of our universe. Where the heck is the rest?

This month, Izzie and Dr Becky dive into the topic of Dark Matter and Dark Energy... The stuff that makes up that missing 95% of the universe. With special thanks to Dr Alex Hall from the University of Edinburgh for covering the basics, and to Dr Stephen Wilkins from the University of Sussex for explaining how ESA's new space telescope Euclid will give us new insights to the field.

If you enjoy The Supermassive Podcast, please rate, review and follow us. Even better, why not vote for us at The British Podcast Awards?! https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

42: BONUS – White holes, astrology and why is Venus so hot?

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 23:01:00 GMT

What’s a white hole and could one appear above the Earth tomorrow? Do different cultures sort stars into similar patterns? Why is Venus so hot and how do the Supermassive team cope when someone calls them an astrologer?

Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey take on your questions from the Supermassive mailbox.

Send your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk, tweet @RoyalAstroSoc, or find us on Instagram @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast from the Royal Astronomical Society is a Boffin Media Production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

42: A (brief) History of Astronomy

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 23:01:00 GMT

Dr Becky and Izzie dust-down the Supermassive Tardis to explore the history of astronomy. From fossilised baboon bones and baby lamas to Einstein and black holes, the Supermassive team discovers how we came to understand the Universe the way we do today. Editor Richard talks to astronomer and science writer, Dr Stuart Clark, who reveals where the phrase ‘the dog days of summer’ comes from. And Izzie chats to President of the Royal Astronomical Society, Professor Mike Edmunds, about the amazing Antikythera astronomical calculator. As usual, Dr Robert Massey is on hand to take on your questions.

Stuart’s latest book is Beneath the Night:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beneath-Night-Stuart-Clark/dp/1783351535

Send your questions or astrophotography to podcast@ras.ac.uk, tweet @RoyalAstroSoc, or find us on Instagram @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for The Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

41: BONUS - Why do Gas Giants exist?

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 01:00:00 GMT

Can JWST see galaxies at different life stages? What is a "former" constellation? And why do we see Jupiter in monochrome? This month, Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey take on your questions from The Supermassive Mailbox.

Want to support The Supermassive Podcast? Why not buy our book The Year In Space - https://geni.us/jNcrw

The Supermassive Podcast from the Royal Astronomical Society is a Boffin Media Production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

41: BIG Observatories

Sat, 27 May 2023 01:00:00 GMT

We love stargazing on The Supermassive Podcast, so we thought it was about time we had an episode on the future of ground-based telescopes. From the brilliant named Extremely Large Telescope to the Square Kilometre Array Observatory, Dr Aprajita Verma from Oxford University and science journalist, Sarah Wild, tell Izzie and Dr Becky about the observatories that will transform our understanding of the universe.

Searching African Skies by Sarah Wild - https://www.waterstones.com/book/searching-african-skies/sarah-wild/9781431404728

Send your questions or astrophotography to podcast@ras.ac.uk, tweet @RoyalAstroSoc, or find us on Instagram @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for The Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

40: BONUS - Are Lunar Poles Arbitrary?

Sat, 13 May 2023 01:00:00 GMT

What's the most efficient way of space travel? How does longitude change your night sky view? Why does M87* look different? This month, Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey take on your questions in The Supermassive Mailbox.

Want to support The Supermassive Podcast? Why not buy our book The Year In Space - https://geni.us/jNcrw

The Supermassive Podcast from the Royal Astronomical Society is a Boffin Media Production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

40: Becky Loves Saturn

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 01:00:00 GMT

It's FINALLY happening. Izzie is letting Dr Becky have an entire episode about her favourite planet, Saturn.

Professor Geraint Jones from UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory tells the Supermassive Team about the Saturnian system. Plus, Professor John Zarnecki shares his experiences of being involved with the Cassini-Huygens mission. And, as always, Dr Robert Massey is on hand to take on listener questions and share his stargazing tips for the month.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for The Royal Astronomical Society by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

39: BONUS - Do black holes stop time?

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 01:00:00 GMT

Are gravitational waves destructive? Will the universe ever expand faster than the speed of light? Should we only send robots to space? This month, Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey take on the BIG questions in The Supermassive Mailbox.

Want to support The Supermassive Podcast? Why not buy our book The Year In Space - https://geni.us/jNcrw

The Supermassive Podcast from the Royal Astronomical Society is a Boffin Media Production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

39: Jupiter The Monster

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 02:00:00 GMT

Izzie and Dr Becky explore the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter. What do we know about this big ol’ planet? And what are the missions that will find out even more? The team is joined by Scott Boulton, Principal Investigator of NASA's Juno mission, and Professor Emma Bunce from the University of Leicester, also involved with ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (aka JUICE). Plus Robert Massey shares his top stargazing tips for spring.

Everyday STEM Science - Space! by Izzie Clarke
https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/izzie-clarke/everyday-stem-science-space/9780753447963

The Year in Space by The Supermassive Podcast
https://geni.us/jNcrw

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

38: BONUS - More Comets, Less Asteroids

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 02:00:00 GMT

Is there a Cosmological Horizon? Can we change a comet's orbit to see more of them? What's the most distant human-made object in space? Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert dive into The Supermassive Mailbox to answer your questions.

Want to support The Supermassive Podcast? Why not buy our book The Year In Space - https://geni.us/jNcrw

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

38: Gettin' Gravitational Wave-y

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 02:00:00 GMT

The Supermassive team take on their toughest challenge (and most tenuous title) yet…Gravitational Waves. Izzie and Dr Becky explore what they are and ask how the heck to detect something so small? With special thanks to Prof. Mark Hannam from Cardiff University and Prof Sheila Rowan, Director of the Institute for Gravitational Research at the University of Glasgow. Plus Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and shares his stargazing tips for spring.

Get your copy of our book, The Year in Space, here: https://geni.us/jNcrw

To add to the Supermassive Mailbox, email questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk, tweet @RoyalAstroSoc or slide into the DMs on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham for the Royal Astronomical Society.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

37: BONUS - The Supermassive Mailbox

Sat, 11 Feb 2023 02:00:00 GMT

You spoke. We listened. We're releasing more episodes! Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert answer your questions in this first bonus episode of The Supermassive Podcast.

How hard is life for an astronomer that's a morning person? How do we know if a star is really red or just red-shifted? And more.

To add your questions, photos, messages to The Supermassive Mailbox then email podcast@ras.ac.uk, tweet @RoyalAstroSoc or find us on Instagram @SupermassivePod.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

37: Q&A - Black Hole Burps and Space Station Pacman

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 02:00:00 GMT

Can a black hole eat a black hole, whole? Is there a Universal now? Which household appliances wouldn't work on the International Space Station? Izzie Clarke puts your questions to Dr Becky Smethurst, Dr Robert Massey and Richard Hollingham.

Here are the websites to help find Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)
https://theskylive.com/
https://in-the-sky.org/

If you have a burning question for the team email it to podcast@ras.ac.uk, tweet @RoyalAstrocSoc or finds us on Instagram @SupermassivePod

This is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

36: Stargazing with Team Supermassive

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 02:00:00 GMT

Find out what happened when Izzie Clarke and Dr Robert Massey used a 12 tonne telescope at an observatory in Herstmonceux, Sussex. Plus, Dr Becky Smethurst explains the benefit of using space telescopes and takes on your questions.

With special to Dr Sandra Voss at The Observatory Science Centre in Hertsmonceux: https://www.the-observatory.org/

Get The Year In Space for a month-by-month guide to the night sky: https://geni.us/jNcrw

If you have a question for the team, email podcast@ras.ac.uk or tweet @RoyalAstroSoc.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Double Astronaut Special: Returning to the Moon

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 02:36:00 GMT

The Astronaut Alarm is in overdrive... Izzie, Dr Becky, and his excellency Richard Hollingham have not one but TWO astronauts on this month's episode.

From the archive, Richard speaks to NASA astronaut Gene Cernan about Apollo 17 and being the last man on the Moon. ESA Astronaut Matthias Maurer talks about the upcoming Artemis missions which will see humans (hopefully, Matthias himself) return to our rocky neighbour. Plus, Robert Massey is on hand to answer your questions and share his stargazing tips for the month.

Read the full interview with the Last Man on the Moon, Gene Cernan, and find out more about Artemis in our book, The Year In Space.

Order here (it's an excellent Christmas present): https://geni.us/jNcrw

What cheese is the Moon made of? Email podcast@ras.ac.uk or tweet @RoyalAstroSoc with your thoughts on the debate.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

34: How to Deflect an Asteroid

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 23:01:00 GMT

Terrified that an asteroid could wipe out the planet? Don’t panic…the Supermassive team are here to help. Izzie and Dr Becky talk to Professor Alan Fitzsimmons about the results of the DART asteroid deflection mission and Samuel L Jackson (who knew he’s studying for a Phd at the Open University?) tells us how scientists plan to track and tackle threatening space rocks. Plus why the Deep Impact movie terrifies both Izzie and Dr Becky, but for very different reasons, and Dr Robert Massey takes us through the November night sky.

The Year in Space from the Supermassive Podcast is out now: https://geni.us/jNcrw

Send in your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham for the Royal Astronomical Society.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

33: Q&A - The Year in Space

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 01:00:00 GMT

It's been an exciting time for space exploration, so Izzie and Dr Becky celebrate the year in space.... co-incidentally the title of The Supermassive Podcast's book which is out in October. How do plants grow in the ISS? Has JWST changed ideas about cosmology? And when will we get a home gravitational wave detector? The honourable Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst, Dr Robert Massey, and (his excellency) space and science journalist Richard Hollingham take on your questions.

Pre-order our upcoming book The Year In Space for a run down of the most exciting space news and a look to the year ahead: https://geni.us/jNcrw

Listen to Space Boffins: https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/astronomy-podcasts/space-boffins/apollo-remastered

Listen to Gardeners of the Galaxy: https://gardenersofthegalaxy.podbean.com/

Bookclub:
The Year in Space - The Supermassive Podcast (that's us!)
Apollo Remastered - Andy Saunders
Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning - Richard Hinckley Allen
A Responsibility to Awe - Rebecca Elson
A Brief History of Black Holes - Dr Becky Smethurst

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32: JWST First Images... FINALLY!

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 01:00:00 GMT

Izzie and Dr Becky freak out over the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope. From seeing the deep (not so deep) field with Steve Wilkins from the University of Sussex, to exploring exoplanet atmospheres with Dr Hannah Wakeford from the University of Bristol. Plus, Dr Robert Massey takes the team through the September night sky.

Pre-order The Year in Space, out October 27th 2022
https://geni.us/jNcrw

Send in your questions for next month's Year in Space Q&A to podcast@ras.ac.uk

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham for the Royal Astronomical Society.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

31: Life on Mars - LIVE from Standon Calling

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 01:00:00 GMT

The Supermassive team dust off their wellies and peg down their tents for Standon Calling. And to celebrate 10 years of NASA's Curiosity rover landing on Mars, Izzie and Dr Becky are asking the question everyone at the festival wants answered... Is there life on Mars?

With special thanks to Dr Robert Massey, David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences at the Open University, and Alice Armstrong from Agile Rabbit.

Pre-order our book, The Year In Space, out October 2022:
https://geni.us/jNcrw

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production, by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

30: Rocky Planets Rock

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 01:00:00 GMT

Izzie and Dr Becky are flying closer to home to look at the Rocky Planets; Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. How are they different? How are they similar? And can understanding their past tell us anything about Earth’s future? Plus, Dr Robert Massey has his stargazing tips for summer.

With special thanks to Dr Suzie Imber from the University of Leicester, and Sian Prosser from the Royal Astronomical Society.

Thank you to Brilliant for sponsoring this episode. Head to brilliant.org/supermassive to start free courses in maths, science, and computer science. The first 200 subscribers will get 20% off.

Our book, The Year In Space 2023, will be out in Oct 2022. Pre-order here: https://geni.us/jNcrw

We'll be LIVE at Standon Calling, Friday 22nd July 2022 at 2pm. Find out more: https://standon-calling.com/

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

29: Gas Giants are Weird

Tue, 31 May 2022 01:00:00 GMT

From hexagonal shaped storms to spinning sideways, Izzie and Dr Becky are exploring our weird and wonderful Gas Giants. Joining them are Dr Tom Stallard from the University of Leicester and Dr Robert Massey, Deputy Director of the Royal Astronomical Society. Plus editor, Richard Hollingham, takes a trip to the Royal Astronomical Society’s library to see Galileo’s first observations of Saturn’s rings and William Herschel’s notebook from when he discovered Uranus.

See Jupiter's fast rotation (thanks to Dr James O'Donoghue) https://twitter.com/physicsJ/status/1519023430053818368

Thank you to Brilliant for sponsoring this episode. Head to brilliant.org/supermassive to start free courses in maths, science, and computer science. The first 200 subscribers will get 20% off.

The Year In Space 2023 by The Supermassive Team will be out on Oct 2022. Pre-order here: https://geni.us/jNcrw

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Edited by Sarah Moore.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

28: How to Kill a Galaxy

Sat, 30 Apr 2022 01:00:00 GMT

How does a galaxy evolve and die? Izzie and Dr Becky find out with help from Tim Davis at Cardiff University. Plus, Dr Robert Massey from the Royal Astronomical Society answers your questions and explains how to spot galaxies in the night sky.

Thank you to Brilliant for sponsoring this episode. Head to brilliant.org/supermassive to start free courses in maths, science, and computer science. The first 200 subscribers will get 20% off.

The link below has more information on the RAS Public Talk with Astronomer Royal Martin Rees, Space exploration and the search for extraterrestrial life - with humans and with robots.
https://ras.ac.uk/events-and-meetings/ras-public-lectures-and-events/space-exploration-and-search-extraterrestrial

A Year In Space by The Supermassive Team will be out on Oct 13th 2022. Pre-order here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Year-Space-Supermassive-Podcast-Astronomical/dp/1472299507/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1O3PS3QUCPP2A&keywords=the+year+in+space&qid=1650904438&s=books&sprefix=the+year+in+space%2Cstripbooks%2C94&sr=1-3

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

27: How to Build a Galaxy

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 03:00:00 GMT

Izzie and Dr Becky are attempting to tackle the massive subject of building a galaxy.

Professor Mike Merrifield from The University of Nottingham explains how galaxies form and our very own galaxy expert, Dr Becky, tells us why they come in different shapes and sizes. Plus, Dr Robert Massey has his top tips for stargazing in spring.

Thank you to Brilliant for sponsoring this episode. Head to brilliant.org/supermassive to start free courses in maths, science, and computer science. The first 200 subscribers will get 20% off.

Explore the Galaxy Zoo here:
https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/zookeeper/galaxy-zoo/

Space Book Club recommendations...
Back to Earth - Nicole Stott
The End of Astronauts - Donald Goldsmith & Martin Rees

The Disordered Cosmos - Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
"A Year In Space" by The Supermassive Team will be out on Oct 13th 2022. Pre-order here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Year-Space-Supermassive-Podcast-Astronomical/dp/1472299507/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1O3PS3QUCPP2A&keywords=the+year+in+space&qid=1650904438&s=books&sprefix=the+year+in+space%2Cstripbooks%2C94&sr=1-3

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Editing this month is by Sarah Moore.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

26: The Marvellous Moon

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 02:00:00 GMT

Who doesn’t love looking up at the moon?! Joining Izzie and Dr Becky, Professor Katherine Joy from the University of Manchester explains what past and future lunar missions can tell us, and Dr Megan Barford from Royal Museums Greenwich gives us a tour of two stunning moon maps from the 17th century. Plus, Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and shares his top tips for moon-gazing.

See the moon maps here...
By Riccioli & Grimaldi, 1651: https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/1179815/view

By Cassini, 1679: https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/1093522/view

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

25: A Supermassive Q&A!

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 02:00:00 GMT

The Supermassive team is finally doing something about all the questions that have been sent in. It’s Q&A time! From "fluffy" planets, to cake on the moon, join Izzie Clarke as she puts your questions to Dr Becky Smethurst, Dr Robert Massey and science and space journalist Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24: Eclipses & Expeditions

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 02:00:00 GMT

Join Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey as they explore eclipses; what are they and how have they been studied throughout history? Plus Izzie Clarke visits the Royal Astronomical Society Library to discover what the society has in the archives, and astronaut Nicole Stott and her husband, Fellow of the RAS, Chris Stott send us their eclipse audio diary from Antarctica.

The RAS Bicentenary Timeline can be found here: https://ras.ac.uk/timeline

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

23: The End of the Universe

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 02:00:00 GMT

What will the end of days actually look like? And how will it happen? This month, Izzie and Dr Becky explore the end of the Universe with cosmologist Dr Katie Mack - author of The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking). They also chat to astronomy journalist and author of The Unknown Universe, Dr Stuart Clark, who explains the role of dark energy. Plus, Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and shares when it is best to see Jupiter, Saturn and Venus in December.

Send your astronomy questions for January's Q&A to podcast[@]ras.ac.uk or tweet @RoyalAstroSoc.

Book Club recommendations:

The Red Planet - Simon Morden
Apollo’s Muse - Mia Fineman and Beth Saunders
Fire and Ice - Natalie Starkey
The Invisible Universe - Matt Bothwell
The Mysteries of the Universe - Will Gater

The Supermassive podcast is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

22: JWST - Seeing the First Stars

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 01:00:00 GMT

Finally, Izzie and Dr Becky are talking about the James Webb Space Telescope but why is this telescope so impressive? NASA’s Keith Parrish, the observatory manager for Webb, covers the basics and Professor Gillian Wright, the principal investigator for the mid-infrared instrument (MIRI), explains how it will help us see stars and planets born from clouds of dust. Plus Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and shares his top stargazing tips for the month.

Thank you to the UK Space Agency for sponsoring this episode.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Editing by Phil Sansom.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

21: Icy Worlds

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 01:00:00 GMT

Wrap up warm, because this month Izzie and Dr Becky are exploring the icy worlds in the solar system. To help, they're joined by Caroline Harper, Head of Space Science at the UK Space Agency, to discuss the new mission heading to explore Jupiter’s icy moons. And they hear from Professor Michele Dougherty from Imperial College London, who sent Cassini to investigate Saturn’s moon Enceladus. Plus Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and shares his latest stargazing tips for autumn.

Join the Royal Astronomical Society's livestream of Uranus, 8th-10th October 2021: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-weird-and-wonderful-world-of-uranus-world-space-week-tickets-183281298297

Thank you to the UK Space Agency for sponsoring this episode.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

20: Firey Worlds

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 01:00:00 GMT

Izzie and Dr Becky are turning up the heat and exploring the fiery worlds in our solar system. From planets close to the Sun to a distant world of volcanoes and lava.

Joining them are planetary scientist Professor David Rothery from the Open University and Professor Alfred McEwen from the University of Arizona, who wants to send a mission to Jupiter’s moon Io. Plus Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and has his monthly guide to stargazing.

This is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19: Radiation Belts and Billionaires

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 02:00:00 GMT

This month it’s all about the trapped charged particles around our planet - the Van Allen radiation belts. Izzie and Dr Becky find out all about them with the help of Dr Maria Theresia Walach from Lancaster University, and Dr David Devorkin from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum explains how Explorer 1 discovered the belts in 1958. Plus, Dr Robert Massey joins to take on your questions and shares his top stargazing tips for July.

The podcast is looking for sponsorship to keep the series running. It'll help fund the recording, editing and time needed to bring you the latest from space. If you have a business that would be interested in supporting the series - or just a single episode - then email podcast@ras.ac.uk with the subject “sponsorship” for more information.

This is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18: A Hunk of Space Junk

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 02:00:00 GMT

Grab your dustpan and brush… This month, Izzie and Dr Becky get to grips with the leftovers from space activity, it's all about space junk. Joining them are engineer Dr Hugh Lewis from the University of Southampton, who models how the debris builds up over time, and space archaeologist Dr Alice Gorman explains its historical significance. Plus, Robert Massey joins in to take on your questions and shares his top stargazing tips.

The podcast is looking for sponsorship to keep the series running. It'll help fund the recording, editing and time needed to bring you the latest from space. If you have a business that would be interested in supporting the series - or just a single episode - then email podcast@ras.ac.uk with the subject “sponsorship” for more information.

This is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17: Hunting for Planet 9

Fri, 28 May 2021 02:00:00 GMT

Is it a planet? Is it a black hole? Is it even real? This month, Izzie and Dr Becky try and get to the bottom of the mysterious planet nine - an enigmatic - and so far invisible - ninth planet in our solar system. Helping them are the scientists that have made headlines trying to solve this puzzle, Mike Brown from the California Institute of Technology, and Jakub Scholtz from the University of Turin. Plus, Robert Massey joins in to take on your questions and explains how to see the upcoming eclipse.

The Supermassive podcast reached 100k listens this month - thank you to everyone who has listened so far. If you’re interested in sponsoring the series (or an episode or two) then please email podcast@ras.ac.uk with the subject “sponsorship”.

This is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

16: Mysteries of the Kuiper Belt

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 02:00:00 GMT

“It’s like the evidence left over after a crime.”

This month Izzie and Dr Becky venture into the outer Solar System to explore a sea of weird rocks, a squashed snowman and ice volcanoes on a demoted planet.

They are joined by Dr Meg Schwamb from Queen’s University Belfast and Alice Bowman, Mission Operations Manager for the New Horizons mission at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland.

Becky also explains the science behind a possible ‘fifth force of nature’ and Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and tells us what to look out for in the spring night sky.

You can send your questions or space book club recommendations to podcast@ras.ac.uk or tweet @RoyalAstroSoc using #RASSupermassive.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

15: Neutron Stars - with Jocelyn Bell Burnell

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 03:00:00 GMT

"I was tracking down every signal that it picked up, and there was one signal that I couldn't make sense of."

Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell gives Izzie and Dr Becky a neutron star 101 and tells them how she discovered pulsars in the 1960s. Plus, Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and tells us what to look out for in the spring night sky.

Book Club Recommendations

Forgotten Women: The Scientists - Zing Tsjeng
Six Impossible Things - John Gribbin
The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking) - Katie Mack
Vera Rubin: A Life - Jacqueline and Simon Mitton
Cosmos - Carl Sagan
The Book Nobody Read - Owen Gingerich

Don't forget to send your questions or space book club recommendations to podcast@ras.ac.uk or tweet @RoyalAstroSoc using #RASSupermassive.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

14: A Star Is Born

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 03:00:00 GMT

This month, Izzie and Dr Becky are shining a light on the first stars in the Universe. When did they form? And could any still exist today? Plus, they explore the life of Cecelia Payne Gaposchkin, the astrophysicist who discovered the structure of stars, and Dr Robert Massey joins them to discuss the latest NASA rover on Mars.

With special thanks to Dr Emma Chapman from Imperial College London, author of First Light, and Donovan Moore, author of What Stars Are Made Of: The Life of Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

13: New Year, New Universe

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst are kicking off the new year with the beginning of everything, the Big Bang. They speak with Professor David Wands who explains how our universe began, and dive into the historical debate behind this model with Professor Thomas Hertog. And, as always, astronomer Dr Robert Massey shares his top tips for stargazing this month.

Send the team your questions, photos and science book recommendations on social media using #RASSupermassive or email podcast@ras.ac.uk

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12: Gamma Rays & Christmas Stars

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT

This month, Izzie & Becky are taking astronomy to the extremes with gamma ray expert, Professor Paula Chadwick, and Professor Julian Osborne from the SWIFT Observatory.

Plus, Robert Massey shares his top tips for stargazing at home and how best to see the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21st. Send your pictures and questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or tweet @RoyalAstroSoc using #RASSupermassive.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

11: Radio Skies & Strange Signals

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 04:00:00 GMT

It’s about time we gave optical telescopes a break! This month, Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst explore radio astronomy with Professor Tim O'Brien from the UK's Jodrell Bank Telescope and Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith, former project scientist for the Australian Square Kilometre Array.

Plus, Robert Massey shares his top tips for stargazing at home and choosing the right telescope for you. Send you pictures and questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or tweet @RoyalAstroSoc.

Space Book Club Recommendations:

When Galaxies Collide - Lisa Harvey-Smith
Space: 10 Things You Should Know - Becky Smethurst
Moon: Art, Science, Culture - Robert Massey & Alex Loske
No Shadow of a Doubt - Daniel Kennefick
How To Be An Astronaut and Other Space Jobs - Sheila Kanani
The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking) - Katie Mack

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Humans In Space - with Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 05:00:00 GMT

Why do we need astronauts? And where are we hoping to send them in the future? This month, Dr Becky Smethurst and Izzie Clarke explore the role of humans in space exploration and are joined by European Space Agency Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.

Plus, the team celebrate 20 years of human presence on the International Space Station and Robert Massey shares his top tips for stargazing in November.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Power of Space Probes

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst travel through our solar system; where exactly have we sent probes and rovers? Plus, they speak with Professor Jane Greaves, the scientist behind that Venus discovery, and Robert Massey joins to chat about all things stargazing.

With special thanks also to Professor Emma Bunce from the University of Leicester.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journey to the Centre of the Earth

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst explore the importance of Earth's core and magnetic field. Plus, the team finds out about the astronomer who sailed the seas in the name of science and Robert Massey joins to chat about all things stargazing.

With special thanks to Dr Rebekah Higgitt from National Museums Scotland. You can see the National Maritime Museum's collections of Halley's charts here: https://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/540213.html

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Down To Earth

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Dr Becky Smethurst and Izzie Clarke investigate the cosmic coincidences that formed the Earth and explore whether there are earthquakes and volcanoes on other planets. Plus, astronomer Robert Massey joins them to chat all things #cometNEOWISE and what else to look for in the night sky this month.

With special thanks to Dr Amy Gilligan from the University of Aberdeen, Professor David Rothery from the Open University, and everyone who shared their images of Neowise.

Keep sending your questions and stargazing photos to the team via podcast@ras.ac.uk or tweet @RoyalAstroSoc.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking for Alien Life

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT

The search for alien life continues. Dr Becky Smethurst and Izzie Clarke explore the world of astrobiology and astronomer Robert Massey joins them to take on your extraterrestrial questions. Plus, they discuss the "broken pipeline" for black and minority ethnic physicists with Dr Sheila Kanani, and what to look for in the night sky this month.

With special thanks to Professor Jane Greaves from Cardiff University.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exploring Exoplanets

Thu, 21 May 2020 10:00:19 GMT

The worlds outside our solar system; exoplanets. This month, Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst take on listener questions about exoplanets, celebrate 30 years of the Hubble Space Telescope with Robert Massey, and amateur astronomer Steve Brown shares his beginner’s guide to astrophotography.

With special thanks also to Dr Hannah Wakeford from the University of Bristol.

Join the Royal Astronomical Society for an online series of talks exploring their collection.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/livestream-overlapping-collections-across-the-atlantic-tickets-105821880092

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Under the Space Weather

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 03:00:00 GMT

Brits love talking about the weather, so Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst are taking it up a notch. This month, the Supermassive team explore the solar wind, auroras on other planets and the European Space Agency Satellite that's on its way to the sun, Solar Orbiter.

With special thanks to UCL's Professor Andrew Coates and Lee Macdonald from Oxford's History of Science Museum.

Share your astrophotography and lockdown creations with the team via podcast@ras.ac.uk or tweet @RoyalAstroSoc.

For the next Royal Astronomical Society's "sew-cial" visit:
https://ras.ac.uk/news-and-press/news/ras-bicentennial-quilt

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham..

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Our Neighbourhood Star

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 09:27:39 GMT

This month, Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst explore the star in our neighbourhood, the annoying habits you would banish there and the extreme stars further afield. Plus the Royal Astronomical Society trusts them with a very special book from their archives: Caroline Herschel's star atlas.

What annoying habits would you banish to the sun? Or have you tried some Astrophotography at home? Share with the team via podcast@ras.ac.uk or tweet @RoyalAstroSoc.

With special thanks to Professor Lucie Green from University College London and Royal Astronomical Society librarian, Sian Prosser.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society.

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It's All Relativity...

Thu, 20 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT

This month, Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst explore relativity, gravitational waves and the photographs that made Albert Einstein a household name. Astronomer Robert Massey joins us to talk through SpaceX's Starlink and what we can see in the night sky. Plus we have a special gift from poet laureate Simon Armitage.

With special thanks to Professor Toby Wiseman from Imperial College London and Royal Astronomical Society librarian, Sian Prosser.

You can send your questions to the team via podcast@ras.ac.uk or tweet @RoyalAstroSoc.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seeing The Invisible Universe

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 11:43:48 GMT

From black holes to dark matter, this first episode of the Royal Astronomical Society's new podcast explores the odd things in space we can't see. Plus, hosts astrophysicist Dr Becky Smethurst and science journalist Izzie Clarke are trusted with a book from 1566 and Robert Massey, the Deputy Executive Director of the RAS, shares his top tips for stargazing at home.

With special thanks to Dr Rebekah Higgitt from the University of Kent, Professor Hiranya Peiris and Professor Andrew Pontzen from University College London.

And yes, we've had to change the name of our podcast. All shall be revealed in episode two...

You can send your questions to the team via podcast@ras.ac.uk or tweet @RoyalAstroSoc.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.