#360: Collaboration vs. Competition: Advancing Space Exploration Together & Other Space Questions

Discover the unexpected twist that ignited our curiosity, the twist that pushed the boundaries of our understanding of the cosmos. Rusty from Donnybrook and Russ from Stylebridge brought forth questions that transformed our podcast into an intergalactic journey, delving into the mysteries of the Milky Way's metallicity profile and the mind-bending concept of our universe residing within a black hole. As we explored these audacious ideas, we found ourselves diving deeper into the enigma of space, forging a bond with our listeners who share our passion for astrobiology. But little did we know, these questions were just the beginning - a beginning that would unravel even more captivating mysteries. Stay tuned to uncover the next twist in this cosmic tale. In this episode, you will be able to: · Get the lowdown on how Metallicity is intertwined with the presence of complex life across our galaxy. · Journey through the awe-inspiring, enigmatic universe of black holes, detailing their size and properties. · Walk through the cosmic annals as you perceive past events due to the speed of light. · Examine the Big Bang, divulging the key contribution of population three stars during this pivotal cosmic event. · Get to grips with the perplexing concepts of Redshift, time dilation, and the paths of space objects. Time Travel in Astronomy: How the Universe Reveals Its Past I think he's actually right...I think he's on the right track, because whilst the formal definition of a black hole...is a point in space with infinite density...that suggests that if its density is infinite, that its dimensions are zero...But I'm thinking that physicists know that 'physics'...never works that way. You can't have something with no volume and no dimensions and yet still exert a gravitational force The resources mentioned in this episode are: · Check out the integrated metallicity profile of the Milky Way published in Nature Astronomy. · Learn more about the metallicity of stars and its importance in the search for life on other planets. · Explore the concept of living inside a giant black hole and the theories surrounding it. · Find out if the entire universe could be a quantum object and what that means for our understanding of reality. · Discover the different sizes of black holes, including supermassive and intermediate black holes. · Learn about the formal definition of a black hole and its dimensions. · Watch the video on YouTube for a visual explanation of black holes. · Consider the implications of black holes on our understanding of physics and the laws of the universe. · Dive deeper into the topic of black holes by reading scientific articles and books on the subject. · Stay tuned for future episodes of the show for more fascinating discussions and questions. The Size of Black Holes Alright, time for a real brain-boggler: Do black holes have a size? Now, this might sound like a straightforward question, but in reality, it's anything but. The nature and properties of black holes are one of the greatest mysteries of our universe. In technical terms, black holes are described as a "singularity," which implies zero dimensions. But could there be more to it than that? Black holes became an engaging topic when Andrew and Fred touched upon how their "size" led to several theories and ideas. Both agreed that the definition and understanding of black holes are fluid, leaving a lot of room for scientific debate. Fred even hinted at the possibility of revisiting the no hair theorem, which describes the limited number of detectable attributes of a black hole. So, despite the name, black holes are anything but an empty subject! Apogee and Earth's Climate Now, let's talk about something a touch closer to home - the Earth's climate. You might have heard the term "apeelian," which refers to when our blue planet is furthest from the Sun. It's a regular, annual occurrence, but does it have a significant effect on our climate? From a layman's perspective, it might seem like it should. But hold onto your hats - the reality is quite different! In engaging conversation with Andrew, Fred clarified a common misconception about the apogee and its impact on our climate. As it turns out, the difference in distance doesn't have much effect at all! The tilt of Earth's axis and seasonal changes have a lot more to do with our climate than our planet's solar proximity. It's one of those delightful bits of information that make you appreciate just how complex and finely balanced our planet's systems are. The Size of Black Holes Alright, time for a real brain-boggler: Do black holes have a size? Now, this might sound like a straightforward question, but in reality, it's anything but. The nature and properties of black holes are one of the greatest mysteries of our universe. In technical terms, black holes are described as a "singularity," which implies zero dimensions. But could there be more to it than that? Black holes became an engaging topic when Andrew ...