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.
This month, we go on a field trip to the LIGO Hanford Observatory, one of a number of detectors that are searching for gravitational waves. In part one of this trip, we hear from a number of people working at the detector. Dr Mike Landry, Head of the LIGO Hanford Observatory, explains how – and Read more
Amateur astronomers regularly make important contributions to astronomy research. That can be through observations of meteor showers, or images of solar system objects. But it’s not always about pretty pictures, and some amateurs also make measurements that feed into our understanding of a broad range of astronomical phenomena, providing a network of telescopes that far Read more
In the 65 years since Sputnik 1 was launched in 1957, the number of artificial satellites in orbit has been increasing. In the last two years, the number of satellites has doubled, largely thanks to the huge “constellations” launched by companies such as SpaceX. The number of satellites has a detrimental impact on astronomical observations, Read more
It’s not often that a new astronomical phenomenon is named, but this month we have a new one. The name might not be that original, but there have been the first observations of something known as a “micronova”. Lasting just a few hours, a micronova is much fainter than a typical “nova”, making them much Read more
Calling all secondary school teachers! Do your secondary school pupils want to take part in a new and exciting interactive exercise that aims to bring science to a wider and more diverse audience? Science and technology dominate our everyday lives – from the alarms we use to wake ourselves up in the morning to how Read more
With the invasion of Ukraine casting a shadow over the world, Chris North and Edward Gomez (returning from a long hiatus!) look at the impact of the war on astronomy and space science, mindful that these pale in importance when compared with the death and destruction taking place on the ground. From the international collaboration Read more
Back in September 2020, the new broke that an unexpected gas, phosphine had been discovered in the atmosphere of Venus. While plans for making further measurements are progressing, the theoreticians have been hard at work modelling the atmosphere, and trying to explain how life could possibly exist in such a harsh environment Dr William Bains, Read more
The space and aeronautical industries are bigger than most people ever imagine. Whether your students want to know more about exploring galaxies, launching satellites or how to make sure the next generation of aircraft are safer and greener, this lively session captures all the excitement and challenges. We’ll cover some of the history of space Read more
Organised by Techniquest and Cardiff University, this secondary STEM half day online workshop will cover many aspects of KS3 science, with resources based on topics including material science (spacesuits), astronomy and space science (ESERO-UK, JWST) and studies of the solar system (astrobiology; using robotic telescopes; classroom and online simulations). It will include an overview of Read more
Space is for everyone, a whole universe of wonders and possibilities. However, for many pupils the way these topics are taught can make these subjects seem out of their reach and daunting. Teaching these out of this world concepts can be difficult, even for seasoned educators. Experiments and demonstrations are usually abstract representations of what Read more
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