The Supermassive Podcast Podcast By The Royal Astronomical Society cover art

The Supermassive Podcast

The Supermassive Podcast

By: The Royal Astronomical Society
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The UK's #1 space podcast.


Science journalist Izzie Clarke and astrophysicist Dr Becky Smethurst whizz through the universe to explore the latest research with leading experts, dive to history from the society’s archives and take on your weird and wonderful questions about all things space. Can we gravitationally hitch-hike out of the solar system? Do we live in a multiverse? What is time? Plus Dr Robert Massey is on hand with his top star-gazing tips.


Want to support the show? Join The Supermassive Club for exclusive content, star-gazing forums and ad-free listening... supermassive.supportingcast.fm


And keep adding to The Supermassive Mailbox with your pictures and questions for the team. Send them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow them on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.


The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Episodes
  • Black holes in the lab and meeting Ryan Gosling

    Black holes in the lab and meeting Ryan Gosling
    Mar 18 2026

    It’s a massive bonus episode this month with both listener questions and an extended interview with the producer/directors of the new Ryan Gosling film: Project Hail Mary.

    Dr Becky and Dr Robert are joined by editor Richard to tackle questions on creating a black hole in the lab, how long a planet lasts and the size of the biggest black hole. Guest reporter, Sue Nelson, chats to Phil Lord and Chris Miller about Project Hail Mary and Becky reveals what she chatted about with Ryan Gosling.

    Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening, forum access, and extra content from the team. And email your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.

    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show more Show less
    38 mins
  • What is the Hubble Tension?

    What is the Hubble Tension?
    Feb 26 2026

    There's a crisis in cosmology when it comes to understanding a little thing like the acceleration of our universe, aka The Hubble Tension. And in this episode, Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst are digging into what this is and (trying to) explain the science behind it.


    A huge thank you to our guests, (Nobel Prize winning-) Professor Adam Riess from John Hopkins University and Professor Silvia Galli from Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris.


    Join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening, forum access, and extra content from the team. And email your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.


    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 5 mins
  • 2026: The year in space... And at sea?!

    2026: The year in space... And at sea?!
    Feb 11 2026

    What are the biggest space missions of 2026? And what are the best stargazing opportunities this year? The Supermassive Team - Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst, Dr Robert Massey and Richard Hollingham - share their astronomical excitement for the year ahead and ponder if they should charter a boat for the August eclipse.


    Thank you to listeners Anne Edgeworth and Karolina who inspired this episode.


    To support the show, join The Supermassive Club for ad-free listening, forum access, and extra content from the team.


    If you have a question for the team - or have a boat we can borrow! - get in touch via podcast@ras.ac.uk or on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.


    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show more Show less
    26 mins
All stars
Most relevant
Super cool podcast , thanks.
After watching all YouTube videos from drBecky, that’s the place to go

Perfect immersion

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