The Supermassive Podcast
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.
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The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.
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- Update frequency
- every 21 days
- Average duration
- 36 minutes
- Episodes
- 98
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2025
Strange Stars and Bizarre Binaries
From pulsating stars to those with diamond cores, Izzie and Dr Becky are exploring weird and wonderful stars. What are the different types of stars in our universe? And what are the oddballs? Plus Dr…
00:48:10 |
Wed 06 Nov 2024
BONUS - A Bumper Edition
Auroras, and comets, and launches... Oh my! Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst, and Dr Robert Massey run through a MEGA month for the astronomy community. Plus, there's just enough time to squeeze in a…
00:31:38 |
Sat 19 Oct 2024
Untangling the Cosmic Web
Izzie and Dr Becky are untangling the cosmic web - the large scale structure of the universe - with help from Dr Chiara Mingarelli from Yale University. What the heck is it? What do we know about it?…
00:43:57 |
Wed 02 Oct 2024
BONUS - What distorts time?
What happens when a black hole and gravitational wave collide? How will the moon's gravity impact tides with rising sea levels? And "the Supermassive Wise Ones" discuss Einstein vs Newton in this bon…
00:15:53 |
Thu 26 Sep 2024
We Made It To Mercury!
Izzie and Dr Becky complete their tour of the solar system with a trip to Mercury, the space spirograph (copyright: Dr Becky). Join them as they explore what we know about the planet so far and what …
00:35:26 |
Wed 04 Sep 2024
BONUS - Galaxy Spin and Saving Herstmonceux Observatory
Does an instantaneous star map exist? Where are the perfect spheres in space? How did Venus get so close to the Sun? It's a bonus episode from The Supermassive team.
Sign the petition and support Her…
Sign the petition and support Her…
00:13:41 |
Wed 21 Aug 2024
Venus aka "Earth's Evil Twin"
This is Venus’ moment in the supermassive spotlight. What do we know about this hellish planet? And what missions are going there in the near future?
Izzie and Dr Becky speak with Dr Phillipa Mason …
Izzie and Dr Becky speak with Dr Phillipa Mason …
00:42:49 |
Thu 01 Aug 2024
BONUS - Overmassive Galaxies
The Supermassive Overmassive Podcast has a special bonus episode. Join Izzie, Dr Becky, Dr Robert and Richard as they discuss the last two years of JWST and share their recommendations for Space Book…
00:22:39 |
Sat 20 Jul 2024
Q&A - Black Hole Special
Have black holes existed since the beginning of the Universe? Could we produce a black hole in the lab? Could we use gravitational waves to probe beyond the event horizon?
It's a black hole Q&A as Iz…
It's a black hole Q&A as Iz…
00:50:18 |
Wed 03 Jul 2024
BONUS - Lumpy Space Potatoes
In this month's bonus episode Izzie, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey tackle questions on pulsars, woo woo sounds from black holes, imperfect spheres and alien aurorae. Send your questions to:…
00:14:04 |
Fri 21 Jun 2024
The Major Lunar Standstill
Every 18.6 years, our moon reaches its farthest northern and southern point, known as a major lunar standstill. This month, Izzie and Dr Becky are exploring why this might be significant to Stoneheng…
00:47:52 |
Tue 04 Jun 2024
BONUS - Why does the Aurora Borealis look better on my phone?
The UK witnessed the most amazing Northern Lights in years.... And Izzie missed it.
In this bonus episode, Dr Becky Smethurst, Dr Robert Massey and Izzie Clarke talk about those Northern Lights and a…
In this bonus episode, Dr Becky Smethurst, Dr Robert Massey and Izzie Clarke talk about those Northern Lights and a…
00:19:50 |
Thu 23 May 2024
Voyager: Where no-one has gone before...
Two of the most remarkable spacecraft ever launched are the stars of this month’s episode: Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. Izzie and Dr Becky talk to Dr Jamie Rankin, the mission’s current Deputy project sc…
00:47:58 |
Mon 29 Apr 2024
BONUS - Wobbly Planets and Baby Names
Can wobbly planets have more than two solstices? Are we earthlings receding from the sun and the other planets? What is dark flow and why is it controversial? When stars die, is their energy lost for…
00:13:50 |
Wed 10 Apr 2024
Into The Interstellar
Izzie and Dr Becky are venturing into interstellar space. What is it? Where is it? And what do we know about it?
With special thanks to Professor Martin Barstow from University of Leicester and Profe…
With special thanks to Professor Martin Barstow from University of Leicester and Profe…
00:45:45 |
Tue 26 Mar 2024
BONUS - Dust, stars and alien streetlights
What is cosmic dust? Could we reignite a dying Sun with a nuclear weapon? How do we know what galaxies stars are in, and can the JWST see streetlights on alien worlds?
If you have a question for the …
If you have a question for the …
00:12:17 |
Wed 13 Mar 2024
Quakes in Space
Izzie and Dr Becky are exploring shaky ground, whether that’s on Earth, other planets and even on our neighbour the Moon. This month is all about quakes.
With special thanks to Mark Panning, the pro…
With special thanks to Mark Panning, the pro…
00:53:40 |
Wed 28 Feb 2024
BONUS - Double Yolker Galaxies
Do we see black hole mergers as a result of galaxy mergers? What did the night sky look like to the dinosaurs? Is a gas giant just a rocky planet with a huge and dense atmosphere? Do all orbits event…
00:13:19 |
Mon 12 Feb 2024
The End of the World
The Supermassive Podcast is back for 2024 and putting the "happy" in Happy New Year! What could be a cheerier start to the year than an episode about the End of the World… Astronomically speaking!?
Fr…
Fr…
00:47:52 |
Tue 30 Jan 2024
Do We Live In A Multiverse?
Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst are rounding off 2023 with a biggie. Arguably the biggest of them all. This episode is ALL about the Multiverse. What is it? What does it mean? Does it even exist?…
00:48:04 |
Fri 22 Dec 2023
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