Dr Chris North is the Ogden Science Lecturer in Cardiff University's School of Physics and Astronomy. He also holds an STFC Public Engagement Fellowship entitled "The Dawn of Gravitational Wave Astronomy". Chris is also an astronomy researcher by training, focusing most recently on the Herschel Space Observatory.
In these unprecedented times, it’s hard to argue that much of space science and astronomy is key infrastructure, or its staff key workers. And while that’s true, like many organisations work cannot simply stop altogether. The European Space Agency runs a multitude of missions, from space observatories to interplanetary explorers, and from solar probes to Read more
Betelgeuse is still misbehaving, though we’re starting to get more information in from new observations by some of the largest telescope. Astronomers are narrowing in on the possible explanations. Chris, Edward and Claudia discuss what the implications might be. While the dimming of Betelgeuse isn’t anything to do with aliens, the SETI programme is still Read more
Apply Now! An opportunity has arisen in the School of Physics and Astronomy to join a well-established outreach team as the Ogden Outreach Officer. This position is funded collaboratively by the Ogden Trust, Compound Semiconductor (CS) Hub and the School of Physics and Astronomy. The Ogden Trust aims to increase the uptake of physics for Read more
The astronomy world has been a-buzz with news of Betelgeuse, the bright red star in Orion, which appears to be dimming. Chris North, Edward Gomez and Claudia Antolini discuss how unusual this is, and what it means for the star’s future. Further afield, there’s a newly identified wave in our Galactic neighbourhood, changing our understanding Read more
The final episode of 2019 includes a look back at a few things that have happened this year, and a look forward to the future. Chris North & Edward Gomez discuss the developments in exoplanet discoveries, and what future missions (such as CHEOPS, Plato and Ariel) may be able to tell us about the wide Read more
This month saw the announcement of two follow-up discoveries of two explosive events. Firstly observations of one of the highest energy gamma ray burst ever seen, detected back in January, have identified where it originated. Meanwhile, colleagues in Cardiff University have been searching for signs of a remnant neutron star at the heart of Supernova Read more
October 2019 saw the first all-female spacewalk, and the discover of 20 new moons of Saturn. There were also more observations of interstellar comet Borisov, and evidence for the Milky Way’s black hole having sent out a violent flare several million years ago. Chris North and Edward Gomez discuss these latest stories. October also saw Read more
On 18th October we welcomed Professor Kip Thorne to Cardiff. He opened our new Gravitational Physics laboratory, and get a public lecture to 450 people, including 100 school students. You can watch Kip’s talk, entitled “My Romance with the Warped Side of the Universe” below. Read more
The space news cycle was dominated for a while this month with the discovery of water vapour in the atmosphere of planet K2-18b. The planet is in the habitable zone of its star, but is somewhat larger than the Earth – what does that mean for its habitability? Meanwhile, radio astronomers have discovered the most Read more
This is a free event dedicated for schools, which includes a public lecture by Professor Kip Thorne. The event is aimed at Key Stages 4 and 5. For tickets to the the free public talk only, please click here. Please note that schools should book as one group, rather than individually. The event includes: 1600 Read more
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