Not the next Carl Sagan; the first Ethan Siegel.
#AskEthan
We all know that the fact that the Universe exists has made a lot of people angry since the dawn of people.
But how did our Universe come to have "something" instead of nothing?
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #quantum #physics #reality
With quantum mechanics, we can keep the idea that an objective reality exists, Independent of observers, but there's a whole lot we have to give up if we do.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#physics #quantum #particle
With quantum mechanics, we can keep the idea that an objective reality exists, Independent of observers, but there's a whole lot we have to give up if we do.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#physics #quantum #particle
Most animals slip on the ice, but put a pair of skates on, and you can control your motion on the ice like it's child's play.
The unusual physics of ice is at fault.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#physics #science #ice #water
Most animals slip on the ice, but put a pair of skates on, and you can control your motion on the ice like it's child's play.
The unusual physics of ice is at fault.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#physics #science #ice #water
The highest-energy cosmic rays are too high in energy.... for bare protons.
But if they're actually heavier ions instead, the simplest explanation is just plain iron-ic.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #cosmicrays #astro #physics
The highest-energy cosmic rays are too high in energy.... for bare protons.
But if they're actually heavier ions instead, the simplest explanation is just plain iron-ic.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #cosmicrays #astro #physics
The Universe has been around for 13.8 billion years.
But it's really only over the most recent millennia, centuries, and decades that humanity has understood it at all.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #universe #cosmos #astro
The Universe has been around for 13.8 billion years.
But it's really only over the most recent millennia, centuries, and decades that humanity has understood it at all.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #universe #cosmos #astro
KAINE: I think that's premature
#AskEthan
The Universe, since the Big Bang, expands, cools, and gets less dense.
How is it possible for gravity to form stars in such a dilute environment?
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astronomy #stars #cosmology
#AskEthan
The Universe, since the Big Bang, expands, cools, and gets less dense.
How is it possible for gravity to form stars in such a dilute environment?
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astronomy #stars #cosmology
"If you live at a higher latitude than the 43rd parallel, the Sun is lower during your winter solstice than it is at the opposite hemisphere’s pole."
Weird but true; come see all 10!
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astronomy #solstice
"If you live at a higher latitude than the 43rd parallel, the Sun is lower during your winter solstice than it is at the opposite hemisphere’s pole."
Weird but true; come see all 10!
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astronomy #solstice
The USA just announced the "Genesis Mission," an AI/quantum computing platform for all 17 national laboratories.
Will it accelerate scientific discovery, or end it completely?
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astronomy #physics #genesis
The USA just announced the "Genesis Mission," an AI/quantum computing platform for all 17 national laboratories.
Will it accelerate scientific discovery, or end it completely?
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astronomy #physics #genesis
Here in 2025, many challenges have arisen to both Standard Models: particle physics and cosmology.
As the year end, there's barely a crack in either.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astro #physics
Here in 2025, many challenges have arisen to both Standard Models: particle physics and cosmology.
As the year end, there's barely a crack in either.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astro #physics
Astronomers found our first gravitationally lensed superluminous supernova.
With the Vera C. Rubin Observatory now operational, hundreds, maybe thousands more should be coming.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #supernova
Astronomers found our first gravitationally lensed superluminous supernova.
With the Vera C. Rubin Observatory now operational, hundreds, maybe thousands more should be coming.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #supernova
Everyone gets excited about astrobiology, but we've never found "biology" beyond Earth.
Chemistry abounds, however, and that's why astrochemistry is so fascinating. Listen for yourself!
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #chemistry #astro
Everyone gets excited about astrobiology, but we've never found "biology" beyond Earth.
Chemistry abounds, however, and that's why astrochemistry is so fascinating. Listen for yourself!
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #chemistry #astro
#AskEthan
Across all educational levels, students are outsourcing their assignments to LLMs like ChatGPT.
Except for the ones who care about growing their own minds, they're unlikely to stop.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#astro #physics #ed
#AskEthan
Across all educational levels, students are outsourcing their assignments to LLMs like ChatGPT.
Except for the ones who care about growing their own minds, they're unlikely to stop.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#astro #physics #ed
There may indeed be an "absolute truth" to the nature of reality, but if so, science isn't capable of finding it.
That's okay; understanding how science truly works is far more important.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #science #physics
There may indeed be an "absolute truth" to the nature of reality, but if so, science isn't capable of finding it.
That's okay; understanding how science truly works is far more important.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #science #physics
People often claim that:
-lensed supernovae,
-lensed quasars,
-or standard sirens
can measure the expanding Universe independently of the cosmic distance ladder.
Don't believe it.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astro
People often claim that:
-lensed supernovae,
-lensed quasars,
-or standard sirens
can measure the expanding Universe independently of the cosmic distance ladder.
Don't believe it.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astro
Scientific truths exist independently of public opinion.
But when we disbelieve them, we embrace misinformation instead, and that harms more than most of us realize.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #science #physics #misinformation
Scientific truths exist independently of public opinion.
But when we disbelieve them, we embrace misinformation instead, and that harms more than most of us realize.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #science #physics #misinformation
Scientific truths exist independently of public opinion.
But when we disbelieve them, we embrace misinformation instead, and that harms more than most of us realize.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #science #physics #misinformation
One key ingredient, needed to make more matter than antimatter, is CP-violation.
From 1964-2025, it had only ever been observed in mesons.
Well, meet our first CP-violating baryons!
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#physics #matter #2025
One key ingredient, needed to make more matter than antimatter, is CP-violation.
From 1964-2025, it had only ever been observed in mesons.
Well, meet our first CP-violating baryons!
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#physics #matter #2025
#AskEthan
As far as we experimentally know, the proton is a truly stable particle.
But theoretically, there are many motivations to search for proton decay.
Will we ever observe one in action?
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#physics #astro #particle #matter
Yes, astronomers are preparing to directly image Earth-sized worlds around Sun-like stars for the first time.
Here's how the biggest "missing piece" for getting there just fell into place.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astro #exoplanets
Yes, astronomers are preparing to directly image Earth-sized worlds around Sun-like stars for the first time.
Here's how the biggest "missing piece" for getting there just fell into place.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astro #exoplanets
August's Perseids were good this year, like every year, but they're no longer Earth's most prolific meteor shower.
The Geminids have taken over the top spot, and they peak just days from now.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astro
August's Perseids were good this year, like every year, but they're no longer Earth's most prolific meteor shower.
The Geminids have taken over the top spot, and they peak just days from now.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astro
We have a long-term story, based on our consensus cosmology, of how our Universe will end.
But if dark matter interacts, the proton decays, or dark energy evolves, all bets are off.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astro #physics #future
We have a long-term story, based on our consensus cosmology, of how our Universe will end.
But if dark matter interacts, the proton decays, or dark energy evolves, all bets are off.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astro #physics #future
No matter how well we understand the Universe, and the cosmic story that created us, there will always be gaps for us to further study.
These 9 are the biggest ones we're facing right now.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astro #science
No matter how well we understand the Universe, and the cosmic story that created us, there will always be gaps for us to further study.
These 9 are the biggest ones we're facing right now.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astro #science
#AskEthan
With so much going on in the world and so many problems to solve, why should we be investing in exploring the Universe?
We must always remember.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astro #physics
#AskEthan
With so much going on in the world and so many problems to solve, why should we be investing in exploring the Universe?
We must always remember.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astro #physics
Today marks American Thanksgiving, but here on Earth and in this Universe, we have so much to be thankful for (for enabling our existence) every day.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astro #darkmatter
Today marks American Thanksgiving, but here on Earth and in this Universe, we have so much to be thankful for (for enabling our existence) every day.
bigthink.com/starts-with-...
#space #astro #darkmatter