Cosmic Queries: Understanding Black Holes, Galactic Centres, and Mars Days

Cosmic Queries: Understanding Black Holes, Galactic Centres, and Mars Days

August 10, 2026 · 36 min · Episode 650

About this episode

This episode features a Q&A format where hosts Andrew Dunkley and Fred Watson answer listener questions about black holes, Mars, and the galactic centre.

In this engaging Q&A episode of Space Nuts, join host Andrew Dunkley and astronomer Fred Watson Watson as they tackle a variety of fascinating questions from listeners. From the peculiarities of Martian days to the mysteries of black holes and the galactic centre, this episode is filled with enlightening discussions that are sure to spark curiosity about the cosmos. In this episode: - John asks about the implications of Mars' longer day length on human biology and potential adaptations for future colonists. - Dan inquires about the growth of black holes, exploring how quickly they can develop into supermassive entities and what happens when there’s nothing left to consume. - Young Thomas, just 11 years old, poses several intriguing questions about the galactic centre, including whether it can swallow all stars and planets in the galaxy, and the limits of a black hole's gravitational reach. - Paul reflects on historical discoveries in astronomy, specifically how Harlow Shapley determined our Sun's position within the Milky Way, challenging the long-held belief that it was at the centre. Join Andrew and Fred Watson as they explore these thought-provoking questions and more…

People in this episode

Host: Andrew Dunkley

Guest: Fred Watson

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Milky Way, Mars, galactic centre, black holes

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