Jul 14, 2012
Our guest today is Professor Marten Van Kerkwijk who joins The
Star Spot to discuss the physics of astronomy. With host Justin
Trottier, the two focus on the intersection of astronomy and
physics, how astronomical discoveries inform our understanding of
physics, and how physical theories help explain and direct
astronomical research. Within this topic, Dr. Kerkwijk shares his
unique insights into a whole host of objects like transients, white
dwarfs, magnetars, neutron stars, supernovae and even a bit on dark
matter.
In Current in Space we cover the ongoing travels of Voyager, the
first human-made object poised to cross into interstellar space. We
describe the Geoflow series, designed to use experiments aboard the
International Space Station to study events far of in the core of
the Earth. Finally in our new Entertainment section, host Justin
Trottier provides his review of Ridley Scott's science fiction
summer blockbuster Prometheus.
About our guest: Dr. Marten Van Kerkwijk obtained his Masters and
PhD from the University of Amsterdam. He worked as a Hubble Fellow
at Caltech, then a postdoctoral research associate at the
University of Cambridge, before joining the faculty of the
University of Toronto in 2003. He was part of a team that
discovered a solar system consisting of the smallest body to orbit
a star at the furthest distance. He’s been interviewed by several
Canadian TV networks on a broad array of astronomy topics.
The Star Spot invites listeners to send in their thoughts on any of
the news and variety pieces we cover, as well as our interviews, or
send in ideas for topics we should cover. Email
starspotpodcast@gmail.com
For full information please visit the official website of The Star
Spot at www.starspotpodcast.com