Total Eclipse and Other Wonders

As the sun was coming out of the total eclipse in 2017. Natural colors. Nikon D300 with 300mm lens. Taken in South Carolina. The white dot in upper left is the star Rigel. Joseph Corl (CC0)

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Original Air Date: 
August 19, 2017

From our narrow vantage point on Earth, how can we see what's out there, beyond our skies? We look to how scientists and scholars have studied eclipses, dark matter, deep-space transmissions from intelligent life and more, all in the hopes of painting a clearer picture of a vast and invisible universe.

How Eclipse Chasing Inspires Generations of Scientists

Articles

Speaking in 2017, Journalist David Baron describes how witnessing a total solar eclipse set him on a path to examine how eclipses have propelled many inquisitive minds deeper into the sciences to see more deeply into the universe.

Length: 
10:14

How Do We Investigate The Invisible Parts of the Universe?

The first image of a black hole.
Articles

Steve spoke with Yale astrophysicist Priya Natarajan about the search for invisible parts of the universe, dark matter, and the mind-boggling nature of black holes.

Length: 
10:35

Search For Life In All The Wrong Places

Searching the stars
Audio

For more than 30 years, the scientists at the SETI Institute have been looking and listening for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence. And recently, some of them decided to get a bit more proactive. To find out how, Doug Gordon tracked down SETI’s senior astronomer, Seth Shostak.  

Length: 
10:05

What Can You Hear In Space?

Interactive

Physicist Don Gurnett has recorded what you might hear from inside a spacecraft, and it isn't just the sound of desolate silence.

Length: 
4:30

The Universe Is Under No Obligation To Make Sense To Us

Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Audio

Neil deGrasse Tyson makes the case for why constantly searching for answers doesn't have to dispel our sense of awe and wonder faced with the seemingly unknowable universe.

Length: 
12:57
Extras

Show Details 📻
Airdates
August 19, 2017
April 06, 2024
Links: 
NASA: 2024 Eclipse Explorer
Guests: 

David Baron

Science Journalist
american-eclipse.com
amazon.com
Priya

Priya Natarajan

Theoretical Astrophysicist
campuspress.yale.edu
physics.yale.edu

Seth Shostak

Astronomer and Podcast Host
seti.org
bigpicturescience.org

Don Gurnett

Plasma Physicist
physics.uiowa.edu
now.uiowa.edu
Neil deGrasse Tyson

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Astrophysicist
neildegrassetyson.com
Categories: 
Science
Last modified: 
April 09, 2024