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October 2016 Extra: Descent into the Maelstrom

October 2016 Extra

In the show this time, Prof. Tetsuo Hatsuda talks to us about quarks and neutron stars, Dr. Mitch Mickaliger describes his efforts to search for fast radio transients and your astronomical questions are answered by Dr Iain McDonald in Ask an Astronomer.

Jodbite with Dr. Mitch Mickaliger

Dr. Mitch Mickaliger is a postdoctoral researcher and SKA engineer working with the pulsar group at JBCA. As part of his job he is involved with designing software which will be used to search for (and hopefully find) up to 25,000 new pulsars when the SKA is completed. In the meantime he is heavily involved with analysing data taken by the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory, and so is intimately familiar with the difficulties and pitfalls connected to searching for weak astronomical signals in an ever-expanding sea of radio frequency interference (RFI) from modern appliances from mobile phones to microwaves. He discusses how vigilant radio astronomers must be in order to keep their data as free from RFI as possible, with a few amusing examples! He also gives us a brief run-down on Fast Radio Burst astronomy, and mentions some of the challenges involved with building the world's largest radio telescope: the SKA.

Interview with Prof. Tetsuo Hatsuda

Prof. Tetsuo Hatsuda from the RIKEN Nishina Centre for Accelerator-Based Science, Japan, talks to Max Potter and new Jodcaster Luke Hart about the exciting and exotic physics happening inside neutron stars. We talk about the structure of neutron stars and the mysteries of their internal physics. The problem of quark confinement is discussed and how efforts to understand it are pushing the boundaries of mathematics, computing and experimental physics. Hyperons, exotic forms of matter involving high energy quarks, and the problems they pose to the understanding of neutron stars are touched upon. We finish off by discussing the interdisciplinary collaboration going on at RIKEN, with Prof. Hatsuda detailing his recent work on a longstanding problem in biology.

Ask an Astronomer

Dr Iain McDonald answers your astronomical questions: Metals in stars, the problem with information and Life on Mars

Odds and Ends

Show Credits

Interview:Dr Mitch Mickaliger with Charlie Walker
Interview:Prof. Tetsuo Hatsuda with Max Potter and Luke Hart
Ask An Astronomer:Dr Iain McDonald with Alex Clarke
Presenters:Charlie Walker, Minnie Mao and Max Potter
Editor:Charlie Walker, George Bendo, Luke Hart and Monique Henson
Segment Voice:Kerry Hebden
Website:Benjamin Shaw and Stuart Lowe
Producer:Benjamin Shaw
Cover art:A starry vortex CREDIT: https://www.goodfreephotos.com

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