In this my first interview I had the honour to chat with Dr. Eva Noyola observational astronomer.
Some of the topics we cover:
How the Universe changes, and how we can get to know of those changes, how light is the magic tool for it.
The expansion of the Universe and its curvature and how we are not in any special part of the universe, there is no centre of the universe.
Knowledge as one of the most fast changing things in human life.
Dark energy, which we have no idea what it is, but we know is the force that is making the universe expand and accelerate.
Dark matter creates a gravitational field that pulls objects together, and the work of Vera Rubin.
The possible fates of the Universe.
Exoplanets and the continuous discovery of more in nearby stars. Until now we know of 4,000 or so and how only a few could be Earth-like.
What an Earth-like exoplanet is and why is this important, rocky, not too far or to close to its star, and how much we still need to understand.
The scale of our solar system and how hard is to comprehend the vastness and emptiness of space.
Space exploration the need for a base on the moon, as well as a cautionary approach to the idea of space "colonization", the ethics of space exploration.
Dyson spheres and the energetic problem of space travel.
The interesting possibility that we might be the most advanced civilisation, at least in our galaxy, and what could it mean for life on Earth.
Planet B and the danger of giving up on Earth.
