Podcast Summary
Mapping the Cosmos: A Yardstick for Understanding the Universe: Simplifying complex concepts and having the right tools can lead to significant advancements in various fields, from business to astronomy
Simplifying complex concepts and having the right tools can lead to significant advancements and transformative business operations, as well as groundbreaking discoveries in various fields. Mercury's financial solutions provide simplicity and control for businesses, while Apple Card offers daily cashback and savings opportunities for individuals. Looking further ahead, astronomers in the late 1800s faced the challenge of mapping the cosmos based on star brightness alone. They eventually developed a yardstick, the Parallax Method, to measure star distances, leading to a better understanding of the universe's layout and structure. This episode will delve into this fascinating story and its implications. To apply for Mercury's financial services, visit mercury.com, and for Apple Card, check eligibility and calculator at apple.co/cardcalculator.
Discovering the Pulsation of Cepheid Variable Stars: Women at Harvard Observatory in the late 1800s made a groundbreaking discovery by observing and recording the pulsation of Cepheid variable stars, which led to a new way of measuring star distances and paved the way for modern astrophysics.
The meticulous observation and measurement of stars by Harvard University in the late 1800s, using glass photographic plates and human "computers," led to a major breakthrough in astronomy. These women, who were tasked with observing and recording the brightness changes of Cepheid variable stars, discovered that these stars pulsed at regular intervals. This discovery revolutionized the way astronomers understood the universe, as it provided a way to measure the distance to stars using their pulsation periods. Despite their crucial role in this scientific advancement, these women were not recognized for their insights and discoveries. Instead, they were relegated to the role of data collectors and number crunchers. The process of observing, measuring, and recording star data was tedious and labor-intensive, involving the transportation of glass plates from Peru to Boston and the meticulous observation of the plates by women working in Harvard Observatory. This discovery paved the way for the development of astrophysics and our current understanding of the cosmos.
Henrietta Leavitt's discovery of 'Henrietta's Law': Henrietta Leavitt's observation of Cepheid variable stars' pulsing speed and brightness relationship led to a new method for measuring star distances, revolutionizing astronomy and paving the way for the discovery of the expanding universe.
Henrietta Leavitt, a dedicated astronomer, made a groundbreaking discovery while studying Cepheid variable stars. She noticed that the brighter stars in a cluster pulsed more slowly than their dimmer counterparts. This relationship between pulsing speed and brightness provided astronomers with a new tool to determine the true brightness of stars, regardless of their distance from Earth. This discovery, known as "Henrietta's Law," revolutionized astronomy by providing a way to measure the distance to various star clusters, which is still used as the basis for the cosmological yardstick today. Henrietta's work paved the way for further advancements in astronomy, including the discovery of the expanding universe by Edwin Hubble. Despite facing challenges and being overlooked during her time, Henrietta's contribution to science has had a lasting impact on our understanding of the universe.
Astronomer Henrietta Leavitt's discovery of a relationship between star brightness and distance revolutionized our understanding of the universe: Henrietta Leavitt's discovery of the relationship between star brightness and distance led to the measurement of cosmic distances, rewriting textbooks and paving the way for discoveries of the expanding universe and dark energy.
Henrietta Leavitt, a little-known 19th century astronomer, made a groundbreaking discovery that transformed our understanding of the universe. She discovered a relationship between the brightness and distance of stars, which allowed scientists to measure cosmic distances and rewrite textbooks. Despite her significant contributions, Leavitt remains a mystery herself, as very little is known about her personal life. Her discovery of this cosmic yardstick helped scientists rethink the universe, leading to the discovery of the expanding universe and the concept of dark energy. Despite her lack of recognition during her lifetime, her work continues to shape modern astronomy.
Henrietta Leavitt's discovery of Cepheid variable stars as a cosmic yardstick: Henrietta Leavitt's discovery of the relationship between Cepheid variable stars' brightness and period led to measuring cosmic distances, revealing other galaxies and a moving universe.
Henrietta Leavitt's discovery of the relationship between the brightness and period of Cepheid variable stars provided scientists with a crucial tool to measure cosmic distances. This "yardstick" led to groundbreaking discoveries, starting with the realization that other galaxies exist beyond our own. Edwin Hubble's observation of Cepheid variable stars in the Andromeda galaxy in the 1920s was a turning point, as it demonstrated that Andromeda was indeed another galaxy, not just a nearby nebula. Moreover, Hubble's subsequent measurements of various galaxies revealed that they were all moving away from us, challenging the previously held belief of a static universe. These discoveries significantly expanded our understanding of the universe's size and structure.
Discovering the Expanding Universe: The universe is expanding, leading to the discovery of other galaxies and the theory of the Big Bang. Recent findings suggest the expansion is speeding up, introducing the concept of dark energy.
The universe is not static as once believed, but is expanding and constantly changing. This expansion was discovered through the measurement of the rate of brightness of stars, leading to the realization that our Milky Way is not the entire universe, and that other galaxies exist. The universe's expansion also implies that it had a beginning, leading to the theory of the Big Bang. More recently, scientists discovered that the expansion is not slowing down as expected, but is actually speeding up, a phenomenon attributed to a mysterious force called dark energy. Despite our advancements in understanding the universe, there are still many unanswered questions, such as the nature of dark energy and the ultimate fate of the universe.
The fate of the universe: heat death or Big Rip?: Two popular theories suggest the universe will either expand indefinitely and become empty, cold, and dark (heat death), or tear apart (Big Rip), ultimately leading to its end.
While we have some understanding of dark matter and its role in the universe, dark energy remains a mystery. What we do know is that it is contributing to the expansion of the universe at an accelerating rate, and its effects could ultimately lead to the end of the universe. Two popular theories suggest the heat death or the Big Rip as possible outcomes. In the heat death scenario, the universe continues expanding, eventually becoming empty, cold, and dark, leading to a state where nothing can interact or be revived. In contrast, the Big Rip theory suggests that dark energy will cause the universe to tear apart, starting with galaxies and clusters, and eventually leading to the disintegration of all matter. These theories paint a stark picture of the universe's eventual fate, leaving us with much to ponder and explore in the realm of cosmology.
The future of the universe: Heat Death or Big Rip?: Scientists debate between two potential fates for the universe: Heat Death, where it gradually drifts apart, and Big Rip, where dark energy causes an accelerating expansion. Ongoing research is crucial to understanding the true nature of dark energy and the universe's ultimate fate.
The future of the universe is uncertain, with two potential scenarios: the heat death, where stars and galaxies gradually drift apart, and the Big Rip, where dark energy causes the universe to expand at an accelerating rate, eventually tearing apart atoms and even space itself. The consensus among scientists seems to lean towards the heat death scenario, but the true nature of dark energy is still a mystery, and ongoing measurements and research are crucial to understanding the fate of the universe. Ultimately, the power of measurement and observation has led us to profound discoveries about the cosmos, from the distance and brightness of stars to the expansion history of the universe. Simple questions can lead to extraordinary answers, taking us from the beginning of the universe to its potential end. This episode of Unexplainable was produced by Brian Reznick and Bird Pinkerton, with contributions from Meredith Hodnot, Noam Hassenfeld, Christian Ayala, and Manding Wen. For more information, check out Katie Mac's book "The End of Everything, Astrophysically Speaking" and George Johnson's book "Miss Leavitt Stars."
Empowering Women to Prove Themselves Wrong: Join the Every Woman's Marathon to celebrate women's strength, determination, and resilience, and prove to yourself that you're capable of great things.
Empowerment comes from within and pushing ourselves beyond our perceived limits. Team Milk embodies this concept by supporting women in their marathon journeys and encouraging them to prove themselves wrong. By signing up for the Every Woman's Marathon, taking place in Savannah, Georgia on November 16th, 2024, women have the opportunity to join a community that fuels their performance and helps them reach their goals. This event is more than just a race; it's a celebration of women's strength, determination, and resilience. So, whether you're a seasoned marathoner or just starting your running journey, the Every Woman's Marathon is a chance to take back your power and prove to yourself that you're capable of achieving great things. To learn more and register, visit everywomensmarathon.com.
