Who Smarted? – "Can a Telescope See Backwards in Time?" (Sept 15, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this lively and funny episode, the Who Smarted? team explores the fascinating world of telescopes—from their humble beginnings to today’s space-age marvels. Through a combination of time travel, character-driven storytelling, and interactive trivia, the show answers the big question: Can a telescope really "see backward in time"? Along the way, listeners discover how telescopes have shaped our understanding of the universe and just how far the James Webb Space Telescope can peer into the cosmic past.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Visiting an Observatory

• The show opens with the trusty narrator at a space observatory at night, about to meet Skye, an astronomer.
• Engages listeners with a guessing game: Where is the narrator? An observatory!
• Quote (A, 00:21): “I’m about to look into an incredible instrument that will allow me to peer far out into space and see things way up close.”

2. What Is an Astronomer? Role and Introduction to Telescopes

• Kids are asked to guess Skye’s job title—astronomer!
• Teases amazing recent advances in telescopes, especially the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
• Quote (B, 01:41): “So much has been happening in the study of space lately, thanks to the new James Webb Space Telescope.”

3. The Invention of the Telescope: A Time-Travel History Lesson

• The hosts use a time machine app to take listeners back to 1608 in the Netherlands for the origin of the telescope.
• Hans Lippershey is introduced as the inventor:
  • His “Dutch perspective glasses” could magnify objects three times.
  • Quote (C, 05:22): “Hello. My name is Hans Lippisse… I built a device that can magnify objects three times, and I found a way to reduce the amount of light entering the scope in order to make my images clearer.”
• Many tried to patent similar devices, but Hans is often credited as the first.

4. Key Innovators: Galileo, Kepler, and Newton

• Time jumps to 1609: Galileo improves telescope design, offering up to 9x magnification.
  • Galileo’s discoveries: Phases of Venus, Jupiter’s moons; supports heliocentric theory (planets orbit the Sun).
  • Quote (D, 07:14): “Ah, indeed I have [improved the telescope].”
• Johannes Kepler advances telescope power and discovers planets move in ellipses.
• Sir Isaac Newton invents the reflecting telescope using mirrors, allowing even sharper images.

5. The Hubble Space Telescope: Modern Marvel

• Fast-forward to 1990: The launch of the “Large Space Telescope,” soon renamed Hubble, honoring Edwin Hubble.
  • Hubble’s impact: Measuring galaxy movement, pinpointing universe’s age (~13.8 billion years), discovering new moons of Pluto, and bringing iconic images like the Pillars of Creation.
  • Quote (B, 09:45): “The Hubble also helped pin down the age of the universe to be 13.8 billion years. That’s about three times older than the Earth.”
• Hubble is stationed 360 miles above Earth.

6. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST): Seeing the Invisible Past

• JWST’s first images are described as “remarkable.”
• Listeners are quizzed: How far from Earth is JWST? Answer: 1 million miles.
  • Quote (B, 14:21): “The telescope is in sync with the Earth's elliptical orbit around the sun and is taking photos that are opposite the Earth and Sun, basically pointing out into space rather than facing us.”
• JWST sits at the “second Lagrange point” (L2), providing a perfect spot to study faint, distant cosmic objects.
  • Unique abilities:
    • Observes in infrared: detects things invisible to human eyes.
    • Can see through clouds of cosmic dust and gas, which previously blocked our view.
    • Uses 18 gold-plated hexagonal mirrors (like a honeycomb).
    • First images include the Carina Nebula: A star 150x the mass of the Sun and 4 million times brighter.
    • Quote (B, 15:32): “Imagine holding up a single grain of sand at arm's length, and within that single grain of sand are thousands of galaxies.”
  • Aims to spot the first stars and potentially life-friendly exoplanets.

7. The Big Question: Can We Look Back in Time? (Main Theme)

• JWST can see 13.6 billion light years away—almost back to the Big Bang.
• Quote (B, 16:47): “Believe it or not, this telescope can see 13.6 billion light years in distance. Which means it can see just before…”
• Fun fact: Observing distant objects means we see their light as it was long ago—so, yes, telescopes let us “see back in time.”
• The story playfully ends with time-travel hijinks as historic astronomers appear in the present via the narrator's time machine.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Narrator sets the scene:
  • “I’m about to look into an incredible instrument…” (A, 00:21)
• Introducing Hans Lippershey:
  • “Hello. My name is Hans Lippisse. I built a device that can magnify objects three times…” (C, 05:22)
• Galileo on his innovation:
  • “Ah, indeed I have [improved the telescope].” (D, 07:14)
• On JWST’s capabilities:
  • “Imagine holding up a single grain of sand at arm’s length, and within that single grain of sand are thousands of galaxies.” (B, 15:32)
• On seeing the dawn of time:
  • “Believe it or not, this telescope can see 13.6 billion light years in distance.” (B, 16:47)

Important Timestamps by Segment

• 00:02–01:29 – Arriving at the observatory; introducing Skye and the day’s topic.
• 03:13–06:26 – Time travel to 1608; meeting Hans Lippershey and early telescope inventors.
• 06:36–08:28 – Galileo, Kepler, and Newton’s contributions.
• 09:09–10:52 – Hubble’s launch and legacy.
• 13:47–14:54 – Introduction to JWST and its special position in space.
• 14:54–16:25 – JWST’s technology and what it can see (infrared, structure, first images).
• 16:39–17:15 – Answering how far back in time telescopes can look.

Tone & Engagement

• Lively and interactive: The hosts invite listeners to guess answers to trivia questions.
• Humorous and playful: Jokes about "the lavatory," SPF for the Carina Nebula, and time-traveling astronomers add levity.
• Accessible language: Complex scientific concepts are broken down into simple analogies (e.g., "a grain of sand at arm's length equals thousands of galaxies").
• Direct appeals to "smarty pants" listeners keep kids engaged and involved.

Summary Takeaways

• Telescopes have revolutionized humanity’s understanding of the universe.
• Advances in technology—culminating in the James Webb Space Telescope—allow us to see deeper into space (and thus further back in time) than ever before.
• Through fun storytelling, the episode explains both the history and the “time machine” nature of telescopes—what we see in space is a snapshot of the past.

Perfect for curious kids, classroom listening, or fun family exploration of science, this episode is a stellar (pun intended) mix of learning and laughter!