Brains Matter ©

You are made of space-time (New Scientist) Why Pluto had to go (Cosmos Magazine) Chimps cheer for attention (Discovery channel) Researchers find what may be a new state of matter (Ars Technica) Waterless planets defy expectations (Discovery channel) Regular naps make hearts healthy (Discovery channel) Spice healer (Scientific American) Pluto’s newest moons named Hydra and […]

You are made of space-time (New Scientist) Why Pluto had to go (Cosmos Magazine) Chimps cheer for attention (Discovery channel) Researchers find what may be a new state of matter (Ars Technica) Waterless planets defy expectations (Discovery channel) Regular naps make hearts healthy (Discovery channel) Spice healer (Scientific American) Pluto’s newest moons named Hydra and […]

Planet hunters spy distant haul (BBC) Astronomers eagerly await potential birth of ‘super’ sun Astronomers have pinpointed two massive stars, orbiting close to each other in space, that could merge to create a “super” sun, 100 times bigger than our own. The massive “binary” star system, located in a galaxy orbiting the Milky Way, has […]

Planet hunters spy distant haul (BBC) Astronomers eagerly await potential birth of ‘super’ sun Astronomers have pinpointed two massive stars, orbiting close to each other in space, that could merge to create a “super” sun, 100 times bigger than our own. The massive “binary” star system, located in a galaxy orbiting the Milky Way, has […]

In this episode, I continue the interview with stellar astrophysicist Professor John Lattanzio from Monash University. Topics include observation vs theory, AGB stars and their shells, nuclear reactions and convection within AGB stars, and globular clusters. The link to Professor Lattanzio’s tutorial on AGB stars that he mentions in this episode can be found here: […]

In this episode, I talk with stellar astrophysicist Professor John Lattanzio from Monash University. Topics include the formation of stars, something you might not know about supernovae, and what would happen if all the hydrogen in the universe was used up. Download MP3 of Ep26 Please vote for this podcast this month at You can […]

Want to know what a sunset on Mars looks like?

Here are some images that show a good comparison of the relative sizes of objects, not just in our solar system, but from a stellar perspective as well. (Note: the images were taken prior to Pluto being reclassified as a Dwarf Planet) Image of the smaller planets and Pluto Comparison of the relative sizes of […]

Climate, a brain teaser, pin of the week, primate evolutionary split, conservapedia, subliminal advertising, Finnish politics, gadgets, a quote from a Stephen Hawking presentation, and some listener feedback. Music on today’s episode comes courtesy of Glen at Modular Recordings. The band is Cut Copy, and you can find their information at http://www.cutcopy.net Featured music includes: […]

Today I interview Professor Duncan Forbes, deputy director of the Swinburne University Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing. He discusses the formation of galaxies, and globular clusters. You can find more information on Professor Forbes at: http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/dforbes Have a look at Swinburne’s distance education astronomy courses: http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/sao Download MP3 of Ep21 Please vote for this podcast […]