astro[sound]bites

In this episode, we move away from point particles to talk about fields. Shashank, Cole and Cormac start with a discussion of different kinds of fields in astrophysics. Then, Cole describes Lagrange points and why they can be useful for satellites and asteroids seeking a safe place to camp out (or lay siege). Cormac dives into the atmospheres of hot Jupiter exoplanets, where we get a glimpse of temperature and wind velocity fields on other planets. By the end, you’ll certainly have a lot more field experience! 

 

What’s the (Lagrange) point?

https://astrobites.org/2026/01/29/whats-the-lagrange-point/

 

The Fires Within: Investigating the Atmospheres of Inflated Hot Jupiters

https://astrobites.org/2023/01/03/hot_interior_exoplanets/

 

Space sound: 

https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/Swarm/The_scary_sound_of_Earth_s_magnetic_field

In our valentines’ day special, Shashank, Cole, and Cormac explore the dating lives of stars and other compact objects by looking at the romantic couples of astrophysics: binary systems. Immediately ruining this theme, Shashank covers some particularly messy breakups (though these lovers are able to rebound and move on) while Cormac shows us how even stars’ healthy relationships involve some give and take.

 

Astrobites:

 

What are Partial Tidal Disruption Events, and How Do We Find Them?

https://astrobites.org/2025/08/04/partial-tdes-galactic-center/

 

Sharing is caring: how do binary stars actually transfer mass?

https://astrobites.org/2025/07/14/binary-mass-transfer/

 

Space Sound:

https://www.nasa.gov/missions/chandra/nasa-telescopes-tune-into-a-black-hole-prelude-fugue/

Apply to join us as a co-host! https://astrosoundbites.com/recruiting-2025

In today’s extra-special seasonal episode, Cormac, Lucia and Shashank share some of their highly curated metrics inspired by Spotify wrapped to end our a[s]b year. Much like ourselves, this episode is a mixed bag - we hope you enjoy it! This also marks the start of our long-awaited Winter (or Summer, depending on your hemisphere) break - see you in a few weeks!

Space sound:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmsOmqf7Hso

Bonus festive EWOCS JWST image released after we recorded:

https://esawebb.org/images/potm2512a/

Apply to join us as a co-host! https://astrosoundbites.com/recruiting-2025

 

This week, Shashank, Cole, and Cormac dive into the many disks of the universe, from planet-forming disks to AGN and galactic structures. Cole explores a misbehaving protoplanetary disk that hints at chaotic early planet formation. Cormac follows by showing how external radiation can erode disks and hinder the birth of giant planets. We then zoom out to compare these turbulent young systems to the massive disks around galaxies and supermassive black holes, tying together why disks form across so many cosmic environments and the methods we use to explore them.

 

Astrobites:

https://astrobites.org/2025/09/18/forming-misaligned-discs/

https://astrobites.org/2025/11/01/planet_formation_vs_stellar_uv_radiation/

 

ALMA images: https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/press-releases/alma-campaign-provides-unprecedented-views-of-the-birth-of-planets/attachment/20181212-andrews-et-al-all-disks/

Space Sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8__1mSFS7vQ

Episode 113: Black Holes? Here? It’s more likely than you think.

 

In today’s episode, Cole, Cormac, and Shashank celebrate our glorious return from hiatus by tackling an astronomical favorite: black holes. These guys are important to astronomers for a wide range of reasons, but what happens when you find a black hole somewhere weird? Like in another black hole’s accretion disk? Or in your model of dark energy? Or in a Hot dog? Shashank covers a lot of similar-sounding acronyms for when we find black holes living inside (the accretion disks) of other black holes, while Cormac does his second ever Astrobite with a type of sausage in the title, establishing a worrying precedent.
If you’re interested in Science Communication, make sure you apply to Astrobites:
https://astrobites.org/2025/10/31/apply-to-write-for-astrobites-2025/

And to cohost our show!

https://astrosoundbites.com/recruiting-2025/

 

Questions? 

[email protected]

 

Astrobites:

https://astrobites.org/2025/10/28/the-black-hole-meet-up-emris-and-imris-in-the-same-agn-disk/

https://astrobites.org/2025/10/23/hide-hot-dog/

 

Space Sound:

https://www.nasa.gov/universe/new-nasa-black-hole-sonifications-with-a-remix/