All Of It: A Space Science Roundup With Brian Cox

Hosted by Alison Stewart | Released on February 11, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of All Of It, hosted by Alison Stewart, the conversation delves into the vast expanse of outer space, celebrating significant anniversaries in space exploration and highlighting upcoming celestial events. Alison welcomes renowned physicist Brian Cox, a particle physicist from CERN in Switzerland, to discuss recent advancements in space science, his upcoming live show, and to answer listener questions about the universe.

Centennial Celebrations and Solar Missions

Alison Stewart opens the discussion by marking February as a pivotal month for space enthusiasts. This year commemorates the 100th anniversary of Edwin Hubble's groundbreaking discovery that our universe harbors countless galaxies beyond our own. Additionally, February celebrates two milestones in solar research:

1. February 5, 2002: NASA launched the HESI mission to study solar flares.
2. February 10, 2020: NASA initiated the Solar Orbiter mission, aimed at understanding the Sun's behavior more intricately.

These missions have significantly enhanced our comprehension of solar phenomena and their impact on Earth.

Alison Stewart [00:38]:
"February is a big month for space happenings... it was time for a space roundup."

Understanding Earth's Axial Tilt and Seasons

Brian Cox begins by explaining the Earth's axial tilt and its influence on seasonal changes. He emphasizes the 23-degree tilt of the Earth's axis, which results in varying exposure to the Sun throughout the year, thereby creating distinct seasons.

Brian Cox [01:56]:
"The Earth's axis is tilted about 23 degrees or so. And that means that at some points of the year, if we're in the northern hemisphere, the northern hemisphere is pointing towards the sun and at other times is pointing away from the sun."

He attributes this tilt to a massive collision with another celestial body early in Earth's history, approximately four and a half billion years ago, which set the planet on its current rotational path.

Solar Research: Past, Present, and Future

Delving deeper into solar research, Brian highlights its relatively recent advancement—about a century old. Initially puzzled by the Sun's energy output before understanding nuclear fusion, today's missions like HESI and Solar Orbiter aim to unravel the complexities of solar flares and the Sun's magnetic field.

Brian Cox [04:19]:
"Solar research itself is only about 100 years old, but it's now we're interested in questions about how stars work in detail."

He underscores the practical implications of this research, noting that solar flares can disrupt communication satellites and other technologies essential to modern life.

Brian Cox [04:19]:
"Solar flares... can affect communication satellites. If such an eruption happened today... it would be tremendously disruptive."

Brian Cox's Upcoming Live Show: Horizons A 21st Century Space Odyssey

Brian Cox introduces his upcoming live show, Horizons: A 21st Century Space Odyssey, set to tour the United States in the spring. The show promises an immersive experience, utilizing extensive LED screens to transport audiences through the universe, addressing profound questions about existence, the origin of life, and the structure of the cosmos.

Brian Cox [12:41]:
"When you consider cosmology, you think, what does it mean to live a finite, fragile life in an infinite, eternal universe?"

He reflects on the evolution of the universe from its inception 13.8 billion years ago, highlighting the transition from simple hydrogen and helium atoms to the complex structures that support life today.

Listener Questions and Philosophical Explorations

The episode features an interactive segment where listeners pose intriguing questions to Brian Cox:

1. Are We Living in a Simulation?

   Caller Tierney from Putnam Valley [16:20]:
   "Do you think that there's a chance that we are living in a simulation?"

   Brian responds thoughtfully, acknowledging the speculative nature of the hypothesis and emphasizing the lack of empirical evidence either supporting or refuting the idea.

   Brian Cox [16:30]:
   "I can see nothing in the laws of physics that that would rule that out, but I also see nothing that would rule it in."

2. The Mystery of Quasars

   Caller Ed from Clifton [17:22]:
   "They talked about quasars, and they didn't understand how a quasar could exist because they were too bright to be at the distance that the redshift indicated they should be at."

   Brian clarifies the nature of quasars as exceptionally bright sources powered by supermassive black holes at the centers of distant galaxies. He notes that advancements in astrophysics have since elucidated their mechanisms, linking them to the immense gravitational forces of black holes.

   Brian Cox [18:00]:
   "Supermassive black holes... are tremendous sources of energy."

3. The Great Planetary Alignment

   Alison Stewart [19:44]:
   "Explain to us the significance of the planetary parade."

   Brian explains that the Great Planetary Alignment, occurring on February 28th, is primarily an aesthetic event where multiple planets appear in close proximity in the sky. While it holds no scientific impact, it offers a spectacular opportunity for stargazing and appreciating the celestial choreography of our solar system.

   Brian Cox [19:50]:
   "It's very beautiful... it's just a... we're just looking out into the solar system and it's moved into this arrangement."

4. Understanding the Planck Length

   Caller Mark [23:31]:
   "What is the Planck length and can objects be infinitely small?"

   Brian elucidates the concept of the Planck length—the smallest measurable length in physics, approximately 1.616×10^-35 meters. He explains its fundamental role in understanding space, time, and information, particularly in the context of black holes.

   Brian Cox [23:50]:
   "The Planck length is the smallest thing we can conceive of and that has any meaning in physics. 10 to the minus 35 meters."

Philosophical Insights and the Nature of the Universe

Throughout the conversation, Brian Cox intertwines scientific inquiry with philosophical contemplation. He reflects on humanity's quest to understand our place in the cosmos, the emergence of life, and the intricate balance that permits conscious beings to ponder such grand questions.

Brian Cox [12:41]:
"What properties of the universe allowed that to happen?"

He draws inspiration from thinkers like Richard Feynman and Carl Sagan, emphasizing the importance of "simple questions" as gateways to profound scientific discoveries.

Brian Cox [08:59]:
"It's the way that it precedes one of my great heroes, Richard Feynman... he used to say that you ask very simple questions."

Conclusion

Alison Stewart wraps up the episode by reiterating the highlights of the conversation and promoting Brian Cox's upcoming show. Listeners are encouraged to engage with the content further by attending Horizons: A 21st Century Space Odyssey and participating in future discussions.

Alison Stewart [25:05]:
"My guest has been Brian Cox. Thank you for your time, Brian. His show is called Horizons, a 21st Century Space Odyssey. It'll be coming to the US in spring."

Key Takeaways

• Edwin Hubble's Centennial: Celebrating a century since the revelation of multiple galaxies beyond the Milky Way.
• Solar Missions: Reflecting on the contributions of HESI and Solar Orbiter to our understanding of the Sun.
• Great Planetary Alignment: A rare celestial event offering a stunning visual display.
• Brian Cox's Horizons: An upcoming live show exploring the universe's mysteries.
• Listener Engagement: Addressing profound questions about simulations, quasars, planetary alignments, and the Planck length.
• Philosophical Reflections: Contemplating humanity's role and existence within the vast universe.

Notable Quotes

• Brian Cox [03:20]:
  "It's a history going back four and a half billion years... it's a story of big lumps of rock orbiting around the nuclear fusion reactor."

• Brian Cox [08:59]:
  "It's the way that it precedes one of my great heroes, Richard Feynman... you ask very simple questions."

• Brian Cox [12:41]:
  "What does it mean to live a finite, fragile life in an infinite, eternal universe?"

For more insightful discussions on culture and science, tune into future episodes of All Of It on WNYC.