Site • RSS • Apple PodcastsDescription (podcaster-provided):
Do you ever feel dizzy when you think about the incomprehensible scale of space? We call that feeling Cosmic Vertigo. Welcome to a head-spinning conversation between two friends about the sparkly -- and not so sparkly -- stuff in the sky.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Astronomy and space exploration chat • Space “sounds” and sonification • Black holes, telescopes, observatories • Apollo 11 Moon landing • Fast radio bursts • Space junk and space policy • Dark energy/cosmology • Indigenous sky stories • STEMM pathways and barriersThis podcast explores astronomy and space science through conversational storytelling, mixing wonder about the scale of the universe with down-to-earth explanations of how scientists learn what’s out there. Across the episodes, the hosts unpack headline-grabbing phenomena—black holes, fast radio bursts, interstellar visitors, and the “dark” components of the cosmos such as vacuum energy—while also examining the tools and infrastructure that make modern astronomy possible, from networks of radio telescopes to national space programs.
A recurring thread is how space is experienced and interpreted: the show draws on cultural sky knowledge, including Indigenous Australian perspectives and stories associated with constellations, and considers what those traditions can contribute to contemporary astronomy. Another theme is the human side of science and space work. The hosts and guests discuss pathways into STEMM, the barriers people face, and the social and ethical questions that can surround research communities and big scientific projects, including tensions that arise around observatories and their locations.
The podcast also pays attention to near-Earth space as an environment shaped by human activity, with discussion of satellites, orbital debris, and “space junk” as both a technical and cultural issue. Interspersed mini-episodes use sonified or recorded “space sounds” as prompts for playful guessing and explanation, linking audio clips to real missions, datasets, and astronomical sources. Longer narrative arcs also revisit major moments in spaceflight history, particularly the Apollo 11 Moon landing, to highlight key decisions, risks, and milestones.
