Astronomy Cast - Ep. 106: The Search for the Theory of Everything

Ep. 106: The Search for the Theory of Everything

Welcome to Astronomy Cast, the most popular astronomy-related podcast. Just look at what listeners have to say about it:

Astronomy Cast is out of this world! It's hard to believe that it's free! This is an absolute must for any amateur astronomer or anyone interested in astronomy or cosmology. The hosts, Pamela and Fraser, are fun to listen to, extremely knowledgeable, and are able to explain difficult subject matter with great analogies. Bravo!

"Very interesting and almost "easy" for amateurs to listen and understand"

To subscribe to the show in iTunes, click here.

Or copy paste the following into your podcatching software: astronomycast.com/podcast.xml

Check out the iTunes review page with hundreds of 5 star reviews.

At the earliest moments of the Universe, there were no separate forces, energy or matter. It was all just the same stuff. And then the different forces froze out, differentiating into electromagnetism, the strong force and the weak force. Today we'll look at the problem that has puzzled physicists for generations: is there a single equation that explains all the forces we see in the Universe. Is there a theory of everything?

Ep. 106: The Search for the Theory of Everything
(more…)

Click here for Shownotes and Transcripts...

Ep. 105: The Strong and Weak Nuclear Forces

After a quick Dragon*Con break, we're back to our tour through the fundamental forces of the Universe. We've covered gravity and electromagnetism, and now we're moving onto the strong and weak nuclear forces. We didn't think they'd really need to be separate episodes, so we're putting them together. And then we'll cap the whole series with the quest for the theory of everything.

Ep. 105: The Strong and Weak Nuclear Forces
(more…)

Click here for Shownotes and Transcripts...

Ep 102: Gravity

$Map of the Earth\'s Gravity. Image credit: NASA$
You seem to like a nice series, so here's a new one we've been thinking about. Over the course of the next 4 weeks, we're going to cover each of the basic forces in the Universe. And this week, we're going to start with gravity; the force you're most familiar with. Gravity happens when masses attract one another, and we can calculate its effect with exquisite precision. But you might be surprised to know that scientists have no idea why gravity happens.

Ep. 102: Gravity
(more…)

Click here for Shownotes and Transcripts...

Ep. 76: Lagrange Points

Gravity is always pulling you down, but there are places in the solar system where gravity balances out. These are called Lagrange points and space agencies use them as stable places to put spacecraft. Nature is on to them and has already been using them for billions of years.

Episode 76: Lagrange Points (13.2MB)
(more…)

Click here for Shownotes and Transcripts...

Ep. 73: Questions Show #8

We've been so crazy following our own whims through the universe that we've neglected your questions. That ends today. It's time to dig deep into our overflowing email box to retrieve the puzzling questions our listeners have sent in.

Episode 73: Questions Show #8 (16.8MB)
(more…)

Click here for Shownotes and Transcripts...

Ep. 48: Tidal Forces Across the Universe

Last week we talked about tidal forces within our solar system. This week we're going to expand our view and encompass the entire universe. Some of the most dramatic events originate from tidal forces caused by gravity: other worlds, galaxies, black holes and even entire clusters of galaxies are under this influence.

Episode 48: Tidal Forces Across the Universe (12.2MB)

(more…)

Click here for Shownotes and Transcripts...

Ep. 47: Tidal Forces

Consider the following: we've got tides here on Earth, the Moon only shows one face to the Earth, we've got volcanoes on Io, and ice geysers on Enceladus. All these phenomena originate from a common cause: the force of gravity stretching across space to tug at another world.

Episode 47: Tidal Forces (13.4MB)

(more…)

Click here for Shownotes and Transcripts...

Ep. 42: Magnetism Everywhere

You probably don't realise it, but magnetic fields are everywhere. We're not talking about the magnets in your speakers, your electronic equipment or on the fridge door. We're talking about the gigantic magnetic fields that surround planets, stars, galaxies and some of the most exotic objects in the Universe.

Episode 42: Magnetism Everywhere (13.5MB)

(more…)

Click here for Shownotes and Transcripts...

Ep. 11: A Universe of Dark Energy

The discovery of dark energy was one of the biggest surprises in astronomy. Instead of a nice, predictable expanding Universe, acted on only by gravity, astronomers turned up a mysterious repulsive force accelerating the expansion of the Universe. Fraser and Pamela explain
the evidence for a dark energy, and a few possible theories for what could be providing this repulsive force.

Download Episode 11: A Universe of Dark Energy (13 MB)
(more…)

Click here for Shownotes and Transcripts...

Subscribe

Blogroll

Ep. 106: The Search for the Theory of Everything

Ep. 105: The Strong and Weak Nuclear Forces

Ep 102: Gravity

Ep. 76: Lagrange Points

Ep. 73: Questions Show #8

Ep. 48: Tidal Forces Across the Universe

Ep. 47: Tidal Forces

Ep. 42: Magnetism Everywhere

Ep. 11: A Universe of Dark Energy