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The Supermassive Podcast

Podcasts · Science

The Supermassive Podcast

100 episodes · 15 with AI analysis

The UK's #1 space podcast. Science journalist Izzie Clarke and astrophysicist Dr Becky Smethurst whizz through the universe to explore the latest research with leading experts, dive to history from the society’s archives and take on your weird and wonderful questions about all things space. Can we gravitationally hitch-hike out of the solar system? Do we live in a multiverse? What is time? Plus Dr Robert Massey is on hand with his top star-gazing tips. Want to support the show? Join The Supermassive Club for exclusive content, star-gazing forums and ad-free listening... supermassive.supportingcast.fm And keep adding to The Supermassive Mailbox with your pictures and questions for the team. Send them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow them on Instagram, @SupermassivePod . The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI Intelligence · across all analyzed episodes

Topics · top 10

Black hole event horizons and Schwarzschild radius calculationsStellar core collapse and neutron star formation thresholdsHubble tension and cosmological expansion rate measurementsVariable gravity hypothesis and fundamental physical constantsInternational Space Station decommissioning and orbital debris managementCircular space economy and in-orbit material recyclingMercury's sodium tail and planetary exospheresVenus's ionized tail and SOHO observationsDinosaur extinction mechanisms and impact crater hypothesisExoplanet naming conventions and IAU nomenclature standards

Analyzed Episodes

May 13, 2026

Did Gravity Wipe Out The Dinosaurs?

Black hole event horizons and Schwarzschild radius calculationsStellar core collapse and neutron star formation thresholdsHubble tension and cosmological expansion rate measurements
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Aug 26, 2025

Supermassive Q and A...Live!

Event Horizon Telescope and black hole imagingGeneral relativity and spacetime at event horizonsRadio interferometry and aperture synthesis
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Apr 30, 2026

Into the Space Debris Swamp

Space Debris Definition and ClassificationLow Earth Orbit (LEO) Congestion and Mega-ConstellationsKessler Syndrome and Cascade Collision Risk
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Sep 9, 2025

BONUS - Are we Living in a Black Hole?

Supermassive black hole mass ratios in galaxiesSelf-gravity and stellar formation mechanismsGalaxy merger dynamics and Milky Way-Andromeda collision
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Sep 24, 2025

Don't Panic…but a solar storm could be a disaster

Carrington Event of 1859Solar flares and coronal mass ejectionsGeomagnetic storms and Earth's magnetosphere
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Oct 16, 2025

BONUS - Mercury, Gemini and Pringles

Mercury and Gemini space programs historySpace photography and imaging technologyDigital restoration of historical film and imagery
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Nov 1, 2025

A Watery History of Mars

Mars Atmospheric Loss MechanismsEarly Mars Hydrological CyclesSubsurface Ice Deposits and Permafrost
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Nov 14, 2025

BONUS - Supermassive Gone Rogue

Rogue Black HolesBlack Hole Density and Mass RelationshipsExoplanet Detection Methods
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Dec 1, 2025

Protecting Our Dark Skies

Light Pollution and LED Street LightingSatellite Mega-Constellations (Starlink, OneWeb, Amazon Kuiper)Dark Sky Reserves and Protected Areas
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Apr 1, 2026

When Space Goes Rogue....

Rogue planets and free-floating planetary objectsGravitational lensing and microlensing detection methodsPlanetary formation mechanisms and ejection dynamics
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Apr 15, 2026

Our Artemis II Debrief

Artemis II Mission Success and ObjectivesSLS Rocket and Orion Spacecraft PerformanceLunar Flyby Science and Observations
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Dec 15, 2025

BONUS - Slingshots, Christmas Presents & Alien Communication

Christmas gift recommendations for astronomy enthusiastsGravitational wave detection and human perception thresholdsCarrington event solar flare risks and satellite protection
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Dec 23, 2025

How to Time Travel

Time Dilation and RelativityBlack Hole Physics and Event HorizonsWormhole Theory and Stability
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Jan 29, 2026

Q&A: Meteors, Artemis II, and Space Bathtubs

Exoplanet Ring Systems DetectionInternational Space Station Medical EmergenciesArtemis II Crewed Lunar Mission
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Feb 11, 2026

2026: The year in space... And at sea?!

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launch and capabilitiesPLATO mission for exoplanet discoveryTotal solar eclipse August 12 2026 across Europe
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