What are the modern constants of nature? Is the universe fine-tuned for life? Does the multiverse or string theory explain the origins of the constants?
Jun 17th: Where Do the Constants of Nature Come From? Part 2
Paul M. Sutter Archive
Jun 3rd: Where Do the Constants of Nature Come From? Part 1
How do fundamental constants appear in physics? Why are they so important? Why do we care where they come from?
May 20th: What’s Going On Inside Neutron Stars?
What’s inside a neutron star? What strange states of matter do we encounter? And what mysteries will we find deep in the core?
May 6th: Is There Any Other Way to Make Black Holes?
How do we explain the giant black holes appearing in the young universe? Is it possible to directly collapse a black hole, skipping the formation of stars? What does ultraviolet radiation have to do with this?
Apr 22nd: What is Stephen Hawking’s Legacy?
How do you measure the impact of a scientist? Does Stephen Hawking compare to Newton or Einstein? What were his contributions to black holes, the big bang, and quantum gravity?
Apr 8th: What Made the Moon?
Why is the moon so special? Why do we think a giant impact created it? Why didn’t the same thing happen to other planets? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!
Mar 18th: What’s the Most Important Wavelength in All Astronomy?
What is 21-cm radiation? What (and who) produces it? What causes it, and what does it tell us about the universe?
Mar 4th: So Is the Warp Drive Legit or Not?
What is an Alcubierre warp drive? What would it take to make it work? Could it propel spacecraft even below the speed of light?
Feb 18th: Are There Invisible Stars in the Universe
What is an axion? How could axions make a star, and what does that have to do with dark matter? What would these stars look like?