#65 - November 2017

The Discussion: Britain shows that it won’t just roll over and
let America take the lead in intimidating academic freedom and
Jen recounts her gravitational waves research conference in
Brighton in October.


The News: Rounding up the space and astronomy news this month we
have:


Astronomers make the 1st observation of a neutron star
collision

Astronomers discover a missing chunk of the universe

3D videos of aurora that you can see at
http://www.iap.fr/aurora3d/



The Interview: This month Cardiff University’s Professor Mark
Hannam tells us more about the recent observation of colliding
neutron stars and this window into a new realm of astronomy.


Q&A: Listeners’ questions via email, Facebook & Twitter
take us on a journey into the astronomy issues that have always
plagued our understanding or stretched our credulity. This month
we’re tackling a question about the Drake Equation:


“It strikes me that the Drake equation sets the probability of
life at either (1) pretty close to zero - in which case surely
we’d be worth a visit. OR (2) very numerous - in which case
there’s every chance alien life might be driving past on their
annual holiday. Or somewhere in between!


I think I’m saying that, yes overall I agree with the saying
“seeing is believing”, but at the same time I don’t taking not
seeing as proof of non existence. I’ve never seen a Polar Bear
(you don’t in Leeds) but I’m pretty sure they are out there.”


John Levett in Leeds, UK