Space Babble

In this episode of Space Babble, we explore the Kalām Cosmological Argument as presented by Moreland and Kirk, examining how philosophy, cosmology, and theology intersect around the question of whether the universe had a beginning. We break down the argument’s key claims about causality, time, and the origins of space itself, while considering how modern science is often brought into the discussion. Along the way, we ask what this argument can (and cannot) tell us about the ultimate nature of reality. Thomas and Elle are joined by a special guest, Aedyn Kourakos, to ask questions to further the discussion.

Hello everyone! We apologize for the hiatus - we were busy this summer working and researching in the fields of astrophysics and cosmology. In today's episode, Thomas sheds light on his summer research experience at the University of Chapel Hill, where he worked on dark matter halos in the evolution following the Big Bang.

In this episode, we are joined by computational astrophysicist Dr. Chris Fragile to talk about his work, the astronomy world, and current advancements/problems in astrophysics. Dr. Fragile is a computational astrophysicist studying numerical simulations of hydrodynamic, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD), and radiation MHD effects. He develops and utilizes codes to study black hole accretion and the feedback of black holes on their environments through jets (radiation). Dr. Fragile teaches and researches at the College of Charleston in Charleston SC.

Hello everyone! Sorry for our silence, but we are happily back with a new episode. In today's episode, our classmates, Jack Rubiralta and Luca Bocresion, ask Thomas and Elle questions while the astronomy-babbling duo endeavors to respond to their burning questions. From what is a black hole to why our universe is expanding, tune in today to hear what Elle, Thomas, Jack, and Luca have to say!

This summer, Emerson Bentley ‘25, delved into the fascinating world of astrophysics through an externship at the University of North Georgia’s Physics and Astronomy Department as part of the Advanced Science and Engineering Program (ASEP). Under the mentorship of Dr. Gregory Feiden, Bentley engaged deeply with stellar rotational evolution models, focusing on a specific phenomenon known as the late-stage stalling epoch. She was tasked with her own project, researching and experimenting with stellar rotational evolution models to show how a star's rotation evolves throughout its lifetime. During her four-and-a-half-week internship, Emerson engaged in a myriad of unique experiences, from researching to collaborating with professors across all disciplines of STEM.

Do you ever look up to the night sky and see what appears to be an infinite amount of bright dots staring back at you? Do you ever curiously question how these bright stars came to be in the first place, and what will eventually become of them? Well lucky for you in today's episode we discuss in-depth the life cycle of a star and break down the different phases of a star's evolution process. From nebula to protostar, through the main sequence phase to red giant phase before ending as a white dwarf, neutron star, or a black hole, join us today on our journey through the cosmos to learn more about our stellar neighbors. We apologize for the quality of the audio as we are on Zoom, and promise it will improve soon! Remember we are not experts, however we endeavor to collect all our research and facts from reliable sources or resident experts. All our information in this episode is taken from: https://science.nasa.gov/universe/stars/