Waves, Signals, and Cosmic Aromas: A Q&A Journey Through Space

Waves, Signals, and Cosmic Aromas: A Q&A Journey Through Space

August 31, 2026 · 38 min · Episode 656

About this episode

Hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Jonti Horner answer listener questions about radio telescopes, gravitational waves, and the sounds and smells of space.

In this intriguing Q&A episode of Space Nuts , hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Jonti Horner tackle a variety of cosmic queries from listeners. Join them as they explore the fascinating world of radio telescopes and how they produce images from radio waves, delve into the complexities of gravitational waves, and ponder the sounds and smells of space. Key topics include: - How photographic images are generated from radio telescopes, despite only receiving radio waves, and the fundamental principles behind this technology. - A deep dive into gravitational waves, their impact on space, and how LIGO detects these minute disturbances in the fabric of spacetime. - An imaginative discussion on what sounds might exist in space and the potential smells one could encounter beyond Earth’s atmosphere, including the curious idea of cosmic fragrances. Join Andrew and Jonty as they demystify these concepts, providing clarity and insights into the wonders of astronomy and space science. 00:00 - Space Nuts aims to answer questions from the audience about astronomy and space science 01:37 - Were the pyramids built by aliens or were they built by humans 04:26 - How is a photographic image…

People in this episode

Host: Andrew Dunkley

Guest: Professor Jonti Horner

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Organizations: Space Nuts

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