Space Nuts

#398: Apollo Queries & the Chill of the Cosmos: Unraveling Spacecraft Skips and Absolute Zero

Informações:

Synopsis

Prepare to embark on an interstellar Q&A adventure in this enlightening episode of Space Nuts, where your cosmic guides, Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson, tackle the perplexing questions from the far reaches of our listeners' imaginations. First, we join Ash from Brisbane as he ponders the enigmatic mechanics of spacecraft reentry. Using Apollo 13's nail-biting descent as a springboard, Fred demystifies the concept of 'bouncing off the atmosphere' and reveals the delicate balance between gravitational pull and atmospheric drag. Next, Darryl from South Australia challenges us with the icy extremes of absolute zero. Why does this ultimate chill exist, and is there a corresponding 'absolute hot'? Fred delves into the physics of temperature and the motion of atoms, shedding light on the limits of the thermal universe and the possibility of an 'absolute heavy' or 'absolute light'. Finally, Alex from London, by way of Indiana, brings us face-to-face with the enigma of dark energy. Is this mysterious for