Episode 15: All About Astrophysics

On this episode of the Interactome, we speak with astrophysicist Kenneth Lin about space, physics, astronomy, and more! How does one study space from a lab? And how does the James Webb telescope produce such beautiful pictures of space? Join Joe, Natalie, Sarah, and Kenneth as they talk all about astrophysics.

Note: Kenneth informed us that a teaspoon of neutron star material does not in fact have the same mass as the earth. A more accurate statement is that a teaspoon of material from a neutron star weighs as much as Mount Everest, or that a sphere about 300 meters in diameter made of neutron star material would weigh as much as the earth. The main point is that neutron starts are UNIMAGINABLY dense. 

Audio/Video Editing: Sam Pickell
Artwork: Maia Reyes
Intro/Outro Music: Geovane Bruno - Dancing In The Future

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:36 Meet special guest Kenneth
6:12 How do physicists see the world?
12:20 Discussion on precision vs accuracy
19:00 Kenneth's class Order of Magnitude Physics
23:30 Astrophysics vs Astronomy
26:17 How to think like a physicist
31:45 Joe and Kenneth ask the real questions
36:20 What Kenneth's field is like
47:11 Particle physics
49:55 Discussion on dark matter
56:57 Kenneth's day to day
1:01:07 Where in the world is Kenneth Lin?
1:04:53 Discussion on the James Webb telescope
1:12:30 Conclusion