Planet Crash: Cosmic Collision Caught in Action

About this episode

Astronomers discuss the implications of a massive planetary collision observed in another star system.

Astronomers may have just witnessed the aftermath of a massive planetary collision in another star system—offering a rare glimpse into how worlds are destroyed… and possibly reborn. Join host Dr. Moiya McTier and guest Anastasios Tzanidakis (University of Washington) as they break down new evidence suggesting that two large planetary bodies recently crashed into each other. What does this tell us about how planets form and evolve? How common are these catastrophic events? And could collisions like this help explain the chaotic early history of our own solar system? From cosmic debris clouds to planetary recycling, we'll explore one of the most dramatic processes shaping worlds across the galaxy. Press release: https://www.washington.edu/news/2026/03/11/uw-astronomers-spot-planet-collision-evidence/ Paper: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ae3ddc (Recorded live 2 April 2026.)

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Moiya McTier

Guest: Anastasios Tzanidakis

Topics covered

• planetary collision
• astronomy
• planet formation
• cosmic events
• solar system history

Keywords

• planet collision
• cosmic debris
• planetary recycling
• astronomy
• solar system

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Washington

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