Tag: astronomy
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Christopher Wrede, Michigan State University – Pre-Solar Grains
Are some of the earliest building blocks of the universe making their way to Earth? Chris Wrede, Assistant Professor of Physics at Michigan State University, discusses how pre-solar grains inside meteorites are giving us a rare up close look into the workings of the solar system. Prof. Wrede in an experimental nuclear astrophysicist who received…
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David Rothery, The Open University – Water on Mars
Scientists have found evidence of liquid water on Mars. David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences at The Open University, explains how this exciting discovery was made. In November 2013 I became Professor of Planetary Geosciences. I was a Senior Lecturer in the Open University Department of Earth Sciences since 1994 (transferring to the Planetary & Space Sciences…
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Jay Pasachoff, Williams College – New Horizons Fly-By of Pluto
We’re about to learn a lot about Pluto. Jay Pasachoff, astronomer at Williams College, details the exciting intergalactic current events. Dr. Jay Pasachoff is Director of Hopkins Observatory, Chair of the Astronomy Department, and Field Memorial Professor of Astronomy at Williams. He earned his Ph.D. at Harvard and was one of the first contributors to…
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Hal Haggard, Bard College – Black Hole Life Cycles
How does a black hole die? Today on The Academic Minute, Hal Haggard, physicist at Bard College, describes the life cycle of black holes. Hal Haggard, a theoretical physicist at Bard College, explores the overlap of quantum mechanics and gravity searching for new understandings of space and time within an atom and throughout the cosmos.…
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Paul Sutter, Ohio State – The End of the Universe
The end of the time is a topic that has gripped philosophers, theologians and everyone in between since the beginning of recorded time. Today on The Academic Minute, frequent contributor Paul Matthew Sutter, astronomer and physicist at Ohio State, details the likely conclusion of our universe. Dr. Paul Matthew Sutter is the INFN Fellow in…
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Heidi Newberg, RPI – The Size of the Galaxy
This universe of ours is pretty big, and it might be bigger than we think. Heidi Newberg, astronomer and physicist at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is studying the size of the galaxy. Dr. Heidi Newberg has worked in many areas of astronomy over the course of her career. She did her Ph.D. with the Berkeley Automated…
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Jay Pasachoff, Williams College – Today’s Total Solar Eclipse
There is a total solar eclipse today and Jay Pasachoff and his team are in direct position to observe this majestic cosmic phenomenon. Dr. Jay Pasachoff is Director of Hopkins Observatory, Chair of the Astronomy Department, and Field Memorial Professor of Astronomy at Williams. He earned his Ph.D. at Harvard and was one of the…
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RPI’s Heidi Newberg records at WAMC
If there are ripples, then it looks like the number of stars in the (presumed flat) disk drops off quickly, and then farther out where the disk ripples back up it looks like a detached ring of stars appears,” Dr. Heidi Newberg, professor of physics, applied physics, and astronomy at Rensselaer Polytechnic University in Troy,…
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Paul Matthew Sutter, Ohio State – Dark Energy
Paul Matthew Sutter is becoming a regular fixture on the WAMC airwaves having previously offered a fascinating piece on cosmological nothingness and talking with Bob Barrett on The Best of Our Knowledge last week. Today on The Academic Minute, Dr. Sutter, astronomer and physicist at Ohio State University, profiles dark energy. Dr. Paul Matthew Sutter…
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Ahmed Farag Ali – Big Bang Singularity
Is it possible that the universe had no beginning? New research from a team of physicists is questioning some Big Bang theories. Ahmed Farag Ali, a professor with many academic affiliations, discusses his findings. Ahmed Farag Ali, got his PhD in 2012 from University of Lethbridge, Canada and got in 2007 the ICTP Diploma from…