Galaxy Forensics: Decoding Galaxy Evolution with Dr. Elisabete da Cunha (Astrophiz 230)

Galaxy Forensics: Decoding Galaxy Evolution with Dr. Elisabete da Cunha (Astrophiz 230)

From Astronomy Astrophiz Podcast by Brendan O'Brien: Astronomers, Astrophysicists & Space Scientists

August 3, 2026 · 50 min

About this episode

Dr. Elisabete da Cunha discusses galaxy evolution and the tools used to study it with host Brendan O’Brien.

How do we "autopsy" a galaxy from billions of light-years away? Join world-renowned astrophysicist Dr. Elisabete da Cunha as she sits down with Astrophiz host Brendan O’Brien to explore the life, evolution, and eventual "death" of the most massive structures in the universe. From her early inspirations under the stars of Portugal to her groundbreaking work in Extragalactic Astronomy, Elisabete shares her personal journey and the high-tech tools used to decode Starlight, Cosmic Dust, and Spectral Energy Distributions (SEDs). In this episode, we dive into: Galaxy Evolution: How star systems grow and transform over billions of years. Radio Astronomy: Using invisible light to peer into the deep universe. Stellar Populations: What the chemistry of stars tells us about the history of space. Cosmology & Dark Matter: The invisible forces shaping our galactic neighborhood. Whether you are a student of astrophysics or a casual stargazer, this conversation offers a unique, charming, and deeply insightful window into the forensic evidence of our universe. Read the full transcript and see the show notes at…

People in this episode

Host: Brendan O’Brien

Guest: Dr. Elisabete da Cunha

Topics covered

  • Galaxy Evolution
  • Radio Astronomy
  • Stellar Populations
  • Cosmology
  • Dark Matter

Keywords

  • galaxy forensics
  • astrophysics
  • extragalactic astronomy
  • starlight
  • cosmic dust
  • spectral energy distributions
  • dark matter

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Astrophiz

Places: Portugal

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