The Supermassive Podcast

“It’s like the evidence left over after a crime.”   This month Izzie and Dr Becky venture into the outer Solar System to explore a sea of weird rocks, a squashed snowman and ice volcanoes on a demoted planet.    They are joined by Dr Meg Schwamb from Queen’s University Belfast and Alice Bowman, Mission Operations Manager for the New Horizons mission at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland...

"I was tracking down every signal that it picked up, and there was one signal that I couldn't make sense of."

Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell gives Izzie and Dr Becky a neutron star 101 and tells them how she discovered pulsars in the 1960s. Plus, Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and tells us what to look out for in the spring night sky...

This month, Izzie and Dr Becky are shining a light on the first stars in the Universe. When did they form? And could any still exist today? Plus, they explore the life of Cecelia Payne Gaposchkin, the astrophysicist who discovered the structure of stars, and Dr Robert Massey joins them to discuss the latest NASA rover on Mars...

Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst are kicking off the new year with the beginning of everything, the Big Bang. They speak with Professor David Wands who explains how our universe began, and dive into the historical debate behind this model with Professor Thomas Hertog. And, as always, astronomer Dr Robert Massey shares his top tips for stargazing this month. 
Send the team your questions, photos and science book recommendations on social media using #RASSupermassive or email podcast@ras...

This month, Izzie & Becky are taking astronomy to the extremes with gamma ray expert, Professor Paula Chadwick, and Professor Julian Osborne from the SWIFT Observatory.
Plus, Robert Massey shares his top tips for stargazing at home and how best to see the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21st. Send your pictures and questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or tweet @RoyalAstroSoc using #RASSupermassive...

It’s about time we gave optical telescopes a break! This month, Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst explore radio astronomy with Professor Tim O'Brien from the UK's Jodrell Bank Telescope and Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith, former project scientist for the Australian Square Kilometre Array.

Plus, Robert Massey shares his top tips for stargazing at home and choosing the right telescope for you. Send you pictures and questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or tweet @RoyalAstroSoc...

Why do we need astronauts? And where are we hoping to send them in the future? This month, Dr Becky Smethurst and Izzie Clarke explore the role of humans in space exploration and are joined by European Space Agency Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti. 

Plus, the team celebrate 20 years of human presence on the International Space Station and Robert Massey shares his top tips for stargazing in November...

Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst travel through our solar system; where exactly have we sent probes and rovers? Plus, they speak with Professor Jane Greaves, the scientist behind that Venus discovery, and Robert Massey joins to chat about all things stargazing.
With special thanks also to Professor Emma Bunce from the University of Leicester.  
The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham

Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst explore the importance of Earth's core and magnetic field. Plus, the team finds out about the astronomer who sailed the seas in the name of science and Robert Massey joins to chat about all things stargazing.
With special thanks to Dr Rebekah Higgitt from National Museums Scotland. You can see the National Maritime Museum's collections of Halley's charts here: https://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/540213...

Dr Becky Smethurst and Izzie Clarke investigate the cosmic coincidences that formed the Earth and explore whether there are earthquakes and volcanoes on other planets. Plus, astronomer Robert Massey joins them to chat all things #cometNEOWISE and what else to look for in the night sky this month. 

With special thanks to Dr Amy Gilligan from the University of Aberdeen, Professor David Rothery from the Open University, and everyone who shared their images of Neowise...