Episode 114: A World of Disc-overy

About this episode

The hosts discuss various types of cosmic disks and their formation processes in the universe.

Apply to join us as a co-host! https://astrosoundbites.com/recruiting-2025 This week, Shashank, Cole, and Cormac dive into the many disks of the universe, from planet-forming disks to AGN and galactic structures. Cole explores a misbehaving protoplanetary disk that hints at chaotic early planet formation. Cormac follows by showing how external radiation can erode disks and hinder the birth of giant planets. We then zoom out to compare these turbulent young systems to the massive disks around galaxies and supermassive black holes, tying together why disks form across so many cosmic environments and the methods we use to explore them. Astrobites: https://astrobites.org/2025/09/18/forming-misaligned-discs/ https://astrobites.org/2025/11/01/planet_formation_vs_stellar_uv_radiation/ ALMA images: https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/press-releases/alma-campaign-provides-unprecedented-views-of-the-birth-of-planets/attachment/20181212-andrews-et-al-all-disks/ Space Sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8__1mSFS7vQ

People in this episode

Hosts: Shashank, Cole, Cormac

Topics covered

• planet-forming disks
• AGN
• galactic structures
• chaotic planet formation
• external radiation
• supermassive black holes

Keywords

• disks
• planet formation
• AGN
• galaxies
• black holes
• radiation
• chaos

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Astrobites, ALMA, YouTube

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