meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Ask a Spaceman!

AaS! 62: Why do some stars blow up?

Ask a Spaceman!

Paul M. Sutter

Astrophysics, Science, Cosmos, Holes, Black, Astronomy, Natural Sciences, Universe, Cosmology, Space, Physics

4.8853 Ratings

🗓️ 15 August 2017

⏱️ 28 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What’s the balancing act happening inside stars? Why is iron the fusion limit? How long does it take for a star to blow? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!

Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter
All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com

Follow on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/PaulMattSutter
Like on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PaulMattSutter
Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter

Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF TIME AND SPACE!

Big thanks to my top Patreon supporters this month: Justin G., Michael Z., Kevin O., Justin R., Chris C., Helge B., Tim R., Michael C., Lars H., Ray S., John F., James L., Mark R., Alan M., David B., Silvan W., Edward H., and Alex P.!

Music by Jason Grady and Nick Bain. Thanks to WCBE Radio for hosting the recording session, Greg Mobius for producing, and Cathy Rinella for editing.

Hosted by Paul M. Sutter, astrophysicist at The Ohio State University, Chief Scientist at COSI Science Center, and the one and only Agent to the Stars (http://www.pmsutter.com).

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

You know what time it is.

0:09.2

It's time for Ask a Space Man.

0:11.0

I'm your host, Paul Sutter.

0:11.9

You've got questions and I've got answers.

0:14.3

You know how this show works, but let's blow it up one more time.

0:17.8

You go online to Twitter, Facebook, use the hashtag Ask a Spaceman. I'll pick those

0:21.8

questions out and I'll blast an answer right back to you or six months later or two years later,

0:26.8

but eventually an answer will get back to you. You can also follow me directly on Twitter and

0:31.9

Facebook. My name is at Paul Matt Sutter. You can also go to the website. Ask aspaceman.com.

0:37.1

Leave some comments on the episodes. You can have a conversation there. It's allutter. You can also go to the website. Ask usspaceman.com. Leave some comments on the episodes.

0:38.7

You can have a conversation there. It's all good. You can also go to YouTube.com slash Paul M. Sutter.

0:44.3

We have one simple goal with this show. Complete knowledge of time and space. And on the road to complete knowledge of time and space, we have today's questions from at

0:54.8

Ianut Brenaya asking, why do supernova happen? I don't understand what triggers the explosion.

1:01.5

And also, why is iron the limit when fusion stops inside a star? And also at Thomas Padden

1:08.4

1, also on Twitter, Supernova, coolest or hottest thing ever.

1:14.1

Great questions. And today I'm going to give you a simple recipe that you can follow at home

1:19.2

to make your own supernova. You need a load of hydrogen. Around 10 to the 31 kilograms or

1:26.9

two times another 31 pounds, don't worry if you're

1:29.5

a little bit off. This measurement doesn't have to be exact. You need a dash of carbon, nitrogen,

1:35.6

and oxygen. Set your oven to 10 million Kelvin and set your timer to around 10 million years. And

1:43.2

all you need to do is wait and eventually you'll get the big boom.

1:48.1

A supernova explosion, it is just that easy.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Paul M. Sutter, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Paul M. Sutter and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.