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The Supermassive Podcast

The Supermassive Podcast

By: The Royal Astronomical Society
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About this listen

The UK's #1 space podcast.


Science journalist Izzie Clarke and astrophysicist Dr Becky Smethurst whizz through the universe to explore the latest research with leading experts, dive to history from the society’s archives and take on your weird and wonderful questions about all things space. Can we gravitationally hitch-hike out of the solar system? Do we live in a multiverse? What is time? Plus Dr Robert Massey is on hand with his top star-gazing tips.


Want to support the show? Join The Supermassive Club for exclusive content, star-gazing forums and ad-free listening... supermassive.supportingcast.fm


And keep adding to The Supermassive Mailbox with your pictures and questions for the team. Send them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow them on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.


The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Episodes
  • Q&A: Meteors, Artemis II, and Space Bathtubs

    Q&A: Meteors, Artemis II, and Space Bathtubs
    Jan 29 2026

    The Supermassive Podcast is back for 2026, and we've got a MEGA Q&A.


    What happens when two nebulae collide? Where did Neptune and Uranus form? What’s the procedure for a medical emergency on the ISS? And more. Plus, Izzie, Dr Becky, Robert and Richard cover everything you need to know ahead of the launch of Artemis II.


    And here are the links to things we promised you in this episode...

    • Our episode "How to Time Travel"
    • Our episode "Do We Live in a Multiverse?"
    • Richard's brilliant Space Boffins podcast


    Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening, forum access, and extra content from the team. And email your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.


    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • How to Time Travel

    How to Time Travel
    Dec 23 2025

    Fire up your flux capacitor and dematerialise your Tardis because The Supermassive Podcast is traveling in time. Is it possible? How does it work? And, crucially, which films got the physics right (or wrong!)?


    Thank you to Dr Emma Osborne from the University of York, and Dr Alfredo Carpinetti from IFLScience for their help on this episode. Alfredo's upcoming book, Invisible Rainbows, will be available for pre-order soon.


    Here's the Time Travel in Fiction Rundown from Minute Physics


    Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening, forum access, and extra content from the team. And email your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.


    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
  • BONUS - Slingshots, Christmas Presents & Alien Communication

    BONUS - Slingshots, Christmas Presents & Alien Communication
    Dec 15 2025

    What would it be like to feel gravitational waves? How are satellites protected from extreme solar storms? How do gravity slingshots work? Are aliens potentially communicating outside of the electromagnetic spectrum? Plus Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert share their annual Christmas present recommendations.


    Keep sending your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk, Instagram @SupermassivePod or members can post on The Supermassive Club's forum.


    Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening, forum access, and extra content from the team.


    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.






    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
All stars
Most relevant
Excellent episode, An absorbing listen, no mater what your current level of knowledge. Relaxing and informative at the same time!

Fascinating

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