The hottest Astrophysics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Science Topics

What Big Eyes You Have

Postcards From Barsoom • 4302 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
🔬 Science Astrophysics Engineering Space Exploration Exoplanets Technology
  1. A huge telescope called the 'Monster Telescope' is proposed to help us see and study exoplanets better. It's designed to be one kilometer wide, allowing us to take detailed pictures of other planets in different star systems.
  2. Even though the Monster Telescope has some limitations, like not being able to see very far or clearly, it can help scientists gather data about exoplanets much more effectively than current telescopes.
  3. There's excitement around building advanced telescopes that can operate in space, and ideas like the 'Luciola hypertelescope' suggest we could even create large arrays of flying mirrors to enhance our ability to observe the universe.

2.3% chance an asteroid hits Earth, book blurbs finally die, and the new AI Deep Research can't find me a mattress

The Intrinsic Perspective • 10063 implied HN points • 08 Feb 25
🔬 Science Astrophysics Publishing Artificial Intelligence Research Funding
  1. There’s a small but growing chance that an asteroid could hit Earth, currently about 2.3%. This could lead to serious problems if it hits a populated area.
  2. Book publishers like Simon & Schuster are dropping the requirement for authors to get book blurbs, which is a relief for new writers who struggle with this.
  3. The NIH is reducing the indirect costs that universities take from research grants. This means more money will go directly to scientists rather than the universities.

UFOs are a soft sci-fi genre

The Intrinsic Perspective • 7615 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
🔬 Science Astrophysics Philosophy Sociology Technology Literature
  1. UFOs are often seen as a type of soft sci-fi that mixes imaginative stories with poor evidence. This suggests that many UFO enthusiasts focus more on fantasy than reality.
  2. Real first contact with aliens is more likely to be through indirect evidence over long distances, rather than physical visits. Scientists think we might find signs of alien civilizations from far away.
  3. As science progresses, we might enter a stage of uncertainty about aliens, leading to debates without clear answers for a long time. This means we could be questioning the existence of aliens for hundreds of years.

☄ What asteroid 2024 YR4 teaches about techno-capitalism and risk

Faster, Please! • 182 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🔬 Science Astrophysics Risk Analysis Space Exploration
  1. Having resources and the ability to act is important for future planning. It allows individuals and societies to tackle big challenges like space threats.
  2. The Earth will eventually encounter dangerous asteroids or comets. This highlights the need for effective planetary defense strategies.
  3. We must focus on long-term safety and preparation to ensure a bright future for humanity. This involves addressing risks from space and other global threats.

🚀 Missions to Mars: A Quick Q&A with … space analyst Peter Hague

Faster, Please! • 456 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🔬 Science Space Exploration Astrophysics Robotics Human factors Colonization
  1. Building a base on Mars is the top priority, as it helps reduce reliance on supplies from Earth. Even though it won't be completely self-sustaining at first, a solid base can support more people and activities.
  2. Many challenges of space travel, like cosmic radiation and machinery reliability, can be managed by sending more mass into space. Adding extra weight can often solve significant issues that seem daunting at first.
  3. Having enough supplies and materials is key to making Mars colonization easier. The more resources we have, the better we can tackle various tasks and ensure a successful mission.
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The Stars, Our Destination?

Everything Is Amazing • 1479 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🔬 Science Space Exploration Physics Fiction Technology Astrophysics
  1. Space exploration faces challenges like the vastness of space and technological limitations.
  2. JPL has a track record of extending mission goals for spacecraft, showcasing innovation and efficiency.
  3. Theoretical concepts like FTL drives and warp drives may be intriguing, but the feasibility remains uncertain due to scientific principles and practical challenges.

Telescopes: Discoveries, Places to Visit, Key Facts

Space Ambition • 359 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🔬 Science Astronomy Astrophysics Technology Engineering Research
  1. Telescopes help us discover amazing things in space, like black holes and new planets. They've changed our understanding of the universe since Galileo's time.
  2. There are many types of telescopes, both in space and on Earth. Each one has its own strengths, like observing different wavelengths of light to see invisible objects.
  3. People are really getting into astronomy, and funding for telescopes is growing. It's easier than ever to rent telescopes or visit observatories to explore the night sky.

Last-minute gravitational wave predictions, June 28th 2023, hot damn

The Egg And The Rock • 589 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🔬 Science Astronomy Physics Astrophysics
  1. Tomorrow there will be an announcement about predictions on gravitational waves from the International Pulsar Timing Array.
  2. Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime caused by accelerating masses; they're detected by length changes.
  3. The International Pulsar Timing Array uses pulsars and telescopes to hunt for supermassive black hole mergers, with the potential for groundbreaking discoveries.

Space Ambition 1st Anniversary: We Got a Bit Closer to the Stars

Space Ambition • 279 implied HN points • 15 Sep 23
🔬 Science Space Tech Astrophysics Aerospace Innovation Research
  1. Space Ambition attracted over 8,000 readers and completed more than 50 research projects in its first year. It's great to see such a big community focused on space and technology!
  2. The team believes that space technology can solve many of Earth's problems and aims to make it more understandable and accessible for everyone. They want to connect space with everyday life.
  3. Readers have shared inspiring stories about how the blog has influenced their careers, which shows the positive impact of their work in the space sector. It's awesome to see people motivated to pursue their dreams!

Industry Impact, Predictive Tech, and Financial Prospects of Solar Storms Forecasting

Space Ambition • 199 implied HN points • 10 Nov 23
🔬 Science Astrophysics Technology Engineering Environmental Science
  1. Solar storms can disrupt important systems like GPS, communications, and power grids. Understanding these storms helps us protect our technology and infrastructure.
  2. Predictive technology now allows us to forecast solar storms 20 hours in advance. This gives us time to prepare and possibly avoid some of the negative impacts.
  3. As satellite technology grows, so does the risk from solar storms. We're learning to adjust satellite operations to minimize damage and keep them functioning better in space.

1.3 Wait... That's All There Is To It?

Fields & Energy • 179 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
🔬 Science Physics Electromagnetism Quantum Mechanics Astrophysics Chemistry
  1. To understand how fields guide energy, you need to think deeply about concepts like light and electromagnetic waves. This involves understanding how energy balances between electric and magnetic forms.
  2. There's a new way to look at electromagnetism that contradicts a lot of what we've assumed for over a century. This new view can help explain some confusing aspects of quantum mechanics.
  3. Even though electromagnetism seems fully understood, there’s still room for fresh ideas that could change our understanding. Just like a miner finding new gems in a familiar mine, new insights might be waiting to be discovered.

What will we discover by 2050?

Europe in Space • 98 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🔬 Science Space Exploration Astrophysics Technology Research
  1. ESA's Voyage 2050 missions will focus on exploring habitability potential, understanding exoplanets, and probing the early universe.
  2. The process of selecting missions involves public submissions, evaluation meetings, and expert committees.
  3. New missions like ARRAKIHS, CALICO, and THESEUS are pushing boundaries in deep imaging and studying high-energy events.

Anomalous Radioactive Variations

Remote View • 196 implied HN points • 29 Mar 23
🔬 Science Research Experimentation Data Analysis Astrophysics
  1. Joe Parr conducted experiments with pyramids and radioactive sources, noting cyclical variations in radioactive counts possibly linked to moon phases and solar activity.
  2. Parr's hypothesis of a 'hyperspace bubble' forming around the pyramid passing through magnetic fields is based on anomalous events in the data.
  3. The test setups involved rotating pyramids between magnetic fields, with a sophisticated setup to measure radioactive counts and variations.

Advancing Beyond Short-Term Solar Forecasts [Pt.2]

Space Ambition • 79 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
🔬 Science Astrophysics Forecasting Machine Learning
  1. It's important to understand the solar cycle better and predict solar storms. These storms can cause big financial losses and affect many technologies we rely on.
  2. Currently, we can only accurately predict space weather for about three days ahead. This is because solar events happen quickly, and predicting them is really complicated.
  3. We need more advanced tools and methods, like machine learning, to improve our predictions. Using new technology can help us learn more about the Sun and its effects on Earth.

1517 Does Astronomy & Astrophysics: The Physics of Supernovas

1517 Fund • 121 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🔬 Science Astronomy Astrophysics Physics Technology Energy
  1. Supernovas are powerful explosions from single stars that can outshine entire galaxies, impacting human understanding and progress.
  2. Advancements in astronomy and technology, like robotic telescopes and big data analysis, are revolutionizing our exploration of the universe.
  3. Nature's energy events, like neutron star mergers creating elements, are incredibly powerful and creative, shaping our world and existence.

Objects in the Night Sky

Natural Selections • 6 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🔬 Science Astrophysics Cosmology Observation Astronomy Natural History
  1. On a clear night, the sky can reveal amazing cosmic views, including planets and stars. Sometimes, what we see in the sky can surprise us because it looks different than we expect.
  2. Using binoculars or telescopes can help us learn more about celestial objects. However, we might still make mistakes about what we see, like confusing planets for moons.
  3. Our observations can change with new information. Just because we see something one way doesn't mean it's the only way to understand it; learning the facts can change our view of what's in the sky.