How do magnetic fields split energy levels?
#AskEthan
The Zeeman effect can split normal atomic energy levels into several separate ones.
But a look into how it happens reveals more about the Universe than even Zeeman ever imagined.
Hawking radiation isn’t just for black holes, study shows
In 1974, Hawking showed that black holes evaporate. Now, in 2023, we're realizing that this might apply to all objects, not just black holes!
What all scientific experts wish non-experts knew
And yes, I'm also talking to you: every single expert who moves out of their specific field of expertise.
Does mass increase when nearing the speed of light?
The nearer the speed of light you move, the more energy it takes to increase your speed further.
Does that mean you're getting more massive? Or is there a better way to make sense of things?
Remembering the fallen heroes of spaceflight
This Memorial Day, take a tiny slice of time to remember the fallen NASA astronauts who died while performing their duties.
It's atop their shoulders that our modern dreams take flight.
What is the Universe expanding into?
#AskEthan
This is one of the most common questions that cosmologists get.
"If the Universe is expanding, what's it expanding into?"
Here's a great chance to expand... your mind!
I was lucky enough to be invited to speak with Tarik Guenersel of Earthmates, where we talked about Science, Life, and I venture to say, a little bit more, too.
I made a video!
Earlier this month, I gave a public talk to the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh, and they were kind enough to send me the video and to give me permission to post and share it, and to include the Q&A afterwards. I hope you enjoy it!
5 "what ifs" that would have changed cosmic history
What if there were no dark matter?
What if the Universe was a little more uniform?
What if the expansion rate was just a little bit different?
The effects these tiny changes would have are profound!
Surprise: the Moon outshines the Sun at the highest energies
The Sun is our brightest thing in the sky at all wavelengths... except gamma-rays.
Much brighter than the gamma-ray Sun, surprisingly, is the humble Moon.
Why?
It's not just reflected light!
Why Einstein’s E = mc² is only half of the equation
Einstein's most famous equation, E = mc², is truly profound in its implications.
But it's only half of the story, and half of the equation, that describes what's really going on.
Fomalhaut’s “great dust cloud” isn’t real
First it was a planetary candidate.
Then it was an expanding, fading dust cloud.
Then it reappeared again.
Turns out it's probably just a background galaxy behind a dusty, fast-moving system.
Will a comet storm soon threaten the Earth?
#AskEthan
When stars pass through the Oort cloud, they can lead to storms of comets, with a little delay.
One came through just 70,000 years ago, and a very dangerous one is coming 1.3 million years from now.
Nope, the Universe wasn’t born “ready for life”
If you think the Universe was created with us in mind, you should read this.
It took many steps, at both early and late times, for our existence to even become a possibility.
What color is the Sun? An astrophysicist answers
Oh boy, the zombie claim that "the Sun is green" has returned.
No, it's not; sunlight is white.
Here's how you can tell for yourself, and what missteps those claiming otherwise are making.
We can’t avoid a singularity inside every black hole
Not even a quantum theory of gravity can save a black hole from requiring a central singularity.
You might not like living with the idea, but singularities are really hard to avoid.
Is Betelgeuse getting ready to explode?
3 years ago, Betelgeuse dimmed mightily with a giant, dusty outburst. It recovered.
Since April, it's brightened, and is now the 7th brightest star in the sky.
C'mon, just explode already!
Could a black hole eventually swallow Earth?
#AskEthan
It's a wild idea, but one we have to take seriously. There are probably many, many more black holes out there than just the one's we've found so far.
The odds are slim, but there's still time!
Is there any evidence that the “aether” exists?
We can never disprove the existence of an aether.
But we sure can demonstrate that there's absolutely no need for its existence for all of physics to work just fine.
10 planetary facts that extend beyond our Solar System
A lot of these were enormous surprises to me when I first learned them.
And some of them still blow my mind. I bet they'll blow your minds, too.
