What makes the Big Bang theory so successful? How were alternatives ruled out? What are the electric universe and steady state theories? Do any other options remain, like conformal cyclic cosmology?
Why are Lagrange points so crucial to astronomy? What makes even simple gravity so difficult? How do you “put” something at a Lagrange point?
What is the fine structure constant? Where does it come from? Why is it so important? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!
Why do we care about loop quantum gravity? Is it a viable path to uniting quantum mechanics and general relativity? What does it mean for spacetime to be discrete?
How are globular clusters so old? Where did they come from, and how are they linked to galaxy formation? What makes them so globular, anyway?
What is the simulation hypothesis? Is it just pseudoscience? How do we grapple with its implications? Find the answer in today’s Ask a Spaceman!
Where did ‘Oumuamua come from? What is it made of, and how did it end up here? Is it really an artifact of an alien civilization?
What missions will come after the James Webb Space Telescope launches? What new discoveries await us? How long will they take to start?
How do giant planets make diamond rain? Does it really, you know, rain? Where does diamond rain exist?
What is a vacuum, and what makes a false one? What happened in the early universe to bring about our current physics? Will it happen again? If so, when?