You probably have already seen the fabulous image of the black hole in the center of our Milky Way galaxy, published on May 12th 2022. The Event Horizon telescope team achieved an unbelievable milestone in observational astronomy one again, the first one being the picture of the black hole at the center of galaxy M87.Continue reading “Sagittarius A* Image”
Author Archives: Mateusz Ratman
Cosmological Constant
The cosmological constant went from being called Einstein’s biggest blunder to a fundamental field of research in contemporary physics. Nowadays, we think of it as a form of energy that opposes the pull of gravity and makes the expansion of the universe accelerate. However, the story of how it came to be like this isContinue reading “Cosmological Constant”
The Discovery of Pulsars – Jocelyn Bell Burnell
Pulsars are powerful cosmic lighthouses. They are swiftly rotating magnetized neutron stars that emit high-energy electromagnetic radiation. They are a particularly useful tool for astronomers since they can be used to probe the space between galaxies and even act like precise clocks. Due to their regularity, they are used in maps of the cosmos, henceContinue reading “The Discovery of Pulsars – Jocelyn Bell Burnell”
Helgoland by Carlo Rovelli
In the summer of 1925, Werner Heisenberg outlined the theory of quantum mechanics on the tiny German island of Helgoland. In his newest book, Carlo Rovelli poetically intertwines the story of the origin of quantum theory with its interpretation and philosophical consequences. It is his best work yet and includes a very lucid presentation ofContinue reading “Helgoland by Carlo Rovelli”
Analog Computers and Tides
In the 19th century, scientists were keen to solve the problem of predicting tides. Ships needed to know when to go to the port without running aground, and fishermen wanted to know when to catch fish. Variations in water level were measured using a mechanical device that plotted the height of the sea on graphContinue reading “Analog Computers and Tides”
The James Webb Space Telescope
The replacement to the Hubble space telescope is planned to launch on December 18th. With production beginning all the way back in 2004, it cost a staggering $9.66 billion dollars to manufacture, including operational costs. It is an infrared telescope, which will allow us to see galaxies 100 million years after the Big Bang orContinue reading “The James Webb Space Telescope”
Telescopes
Telescopes have been the most significant observational tool in astronomy since its invention by the Dutchman Hans Lippershey in 1608. It played a significant role in Galileo’s observation of the phases of Venus, Jupiter’s moons and craters on the Moon. Nowadays, we have the Hubble Space Telescope, and later in 2021 we will send theContinue reading “Telescopes”
Solaris – Book and Movie Review
Solaris is a science fiction book, written by Polish author Stanisław Lem in 1961. It’s a scary and powerful depiction of the limits of human rationality. While, I don’t usually review fictional texts here, this book is fantastic and I just have to share it. In a way it is like Frank Herbert’s Dune, asContinue reading “Solaris – Book and Movie Review”
The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli
Time is more than just an emotionless variable. It gives rise to the fear of death, memory and the flow of the universe. Carlo Rovelli depicts time from this human perspective in his 2017 book. We commonly view time as something absolute and uniform across the universe. The author shows that time is much moreContinue reading “The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli”
Private Space Exploration
The emergence of private space companies began in the early 2000s: Space X was established in 2002 and Blue Origin in 2000. Currently, the three major players are Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and Space X. Their goals are to make space more accessible for people not formally trained as astronauts. Space X is making otherContinue reading “Private Space Exploration”