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The Supermassive Podcast

The Supermassive Podcast

By: The Royal Astronomical Society
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About this listen

The UK's #1 space podcast.


Science journalist Izzie Clarke and astrophysicist Dr Becky Smethurst whizz through the universe to explore the latest research with leading experts, dive to history from the society’s archives and take on your weird and wonderful questions about all things space. Can we gravitationally hitch-hike out of the solar system? Do we live in a multiverse? What is time? Plus Dr Robert Massey is on hand with his top star-gazing tips.


Want to support the show? Join The Supermassive Club for exclusive content, star-gazing forums and ad-free listening... supermassive.supportingcast.fm


And keep adding to The Supermassive Mailbox with your pictures and questions for the team. Send them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow them on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.


The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Royal Astronomical Society
Astronomy Astronomy & Space Science Physics Science World
Episodes
  • Why isn't Pluto a planet?
    Jun 30 2025

    Izzie and Dr Becky decided that little ol’ Pluto doesn’t get much attention anymore. So we’re giving the dwarf planet some time in the spotlight. Why isn't Pluto a planet? How small is it? And what makes it so unique?


    Thank you to Prof Alan Fitzsimmons from Queens University of Belfast joining us episode.


    Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening and share you questions, images and more. Or email them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or on Instagram @SupermassivePod.


    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
  • BONUS - Why aren’t stars closer together?
    Jun 11 2025

    What would happen if planets collided at a snail's pace? How much of Avengers Endgame regarding time is scientifically acceptable? Why aren't stars closer together? And the team discuss a listener's theory to terra-form Mars.


    Want to support the show? Join The Supermassive Club for exclusive content, star-gazing forums and ad-free listening... supermassive.supportingcast.fm


    And keep adding to The Supermassive Mailbox with your pictures and questions for the team. Send them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow them on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.


    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • Is Time Real?
    May 28 2025

    Start your stopwatches, set your timers, turn back your clocks because Izzie and Dr Becky are talking time. What is it? How, and why, do we measure it? And is time real or a human construct?!


    Izzie speaks with Anne Curtis at the National Physical Laboratory who works on one of the world’s most accurate clocks, and editor Richard has been to the very heart of time itself in Greenwich with Finn Burridge at the Royal Observatory.


    The Supermassive Club is finally here. Join to support the show and for ad-free listening: https://supermassive.supportingcast.fm/


    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
All stars
Most relevant  
Excellent episode, An absorbing listen, no mater what your current level of knowledge. Relaxing and informative at the same time!

Fascinating

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