Dr Alastair Gunn
Alastair is a radio astronomer at the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester.
Recent articles by Dr Alastair Gunn
The most likely explanation for haunted houses, according to science
Are there really ghosts in your house, or is there a much simpler explanation going on?
Does gravity distort space, move things through it, or both?
More than 100 years on from the conception of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, it's still a challenge to wrap your head around.
Is it true we collect space dust in our hair when we’re outside?
Space dust keeps fallin' on my head.
Could we be living in a black hole?
Here's one to get your head spinning.
Here's how our Universe will (probably) end
A supercollider may one day help us predict the fate of the Universe. Scientists will use it to find a hidden instability built into the fabric of existence… one that could destroy everything.
Would a planet need a Moon for life to evolve?
The Moon is a lot more than just our neighbour.
Could a black hole ever die?
Looks like they're not going anywhere anytime soon...
Is the Moon radioactive?
Turns out the Moon is pretty inhospitable. Who knew?
Do electrons live forever?
They live for a very, very, very long time.
Why does Jupiter spin so fast?
It's our Solar System's largest planet, and also the dizziest.
Is the Moon shrinking?
A receding Moon will (eventually) have severe consequences for Earth.
What are odd radio circles?
They could be the throats of wormholes.
What is a wandering star?
Nope, they haven’t been booted out of for bad behaviour.
How many black holes are there in the Milky Way?
Let’s hope for all our sakes we don’t stumble across any…
What is Ashen light?
Trick of the light or naturally occurring phenomenon?
How can we still talk to Voyager 2, even though it’s billions of miles away?
In 2018, Voyager 2 became only the second human-made object to enter the space between the stars.
Doughnut plasma and 100 million°C cores: How scientists could soon make nuclear fusion a reality
What are the problems facing nuclear scientists in their quest for the ultimate clean energy source? A physicist explains.
Here's what would happen if you lit a firework in space
Without additional oxygen provided by Earth's atmosphere, fireworks wouldn't behave the same way as they do on Earth.
What is the doppler effect?
This fundamental concept in physics is why the Moon sometimes looks red, and can help doctors analyse blood flow in tissues.
Could an asteroid impact ever change Earth’s orbit?
The impact an asteroid could have on Earth depends on many things including velocity, angle and geology.
What is a dormant black hole?
Technically Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way, is dormant.
How do the rocks stay on the surface of Dimorphos?
Dimorphos is a small moon that orbits the asteroid Didymos, and the target of NASA's DART mission in September 2022.
What is the closest planet to Earth, really?
There has recently been some confusion over which of the planets of the Solar System is closest to Earth.
A mysterious force keeps destroying the Universe’s lithium. And scientists don’t know why
Lithium is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal used in the manufacture of aircraft and batteries, but it's surprisingly rare.