Episode 82: Snowing Diamonds with Andray Domise
Posted Nov 1, 2019 by bn
Far far far out, on the edges of our solar system — 30 times farther from the sun than our humble orbit — a freezing blue giant of ice lumbers slowly around the sun. Named after the oceans, and invisible to to the naked eye, Neptune seethes with furious winds and scalding internal heat and pressure.
Neptune and it’s great dark spot, as photographed by the voyager 2 spacecraft
Oh boy, this show is amazing! I was super excited to put it together.
Neptune’s story is one of extremes and mysteries. Only one probe has ever gathered data from it: lonely voyager 2. And yet, from the pittance of information we have, we know enough about it to have discovered all sorts of confusing and wonderful things!
it has winds which swirl around its upper atmosphere faster than the speed of sound. It releases more heat into space than it takes in from the sun, and it’s snowing diamonds far below the layers of clouds. And the mysterious Dark spot: an anticyclone.
This planet of exotic materials and confusing weather demands special experts to break down the mysteries for us: Dr. Sabine Stanley is an expert on the mysterious interior, and Erin Wenckstern is a weather physicist (and canadian royalty) from the Weather network!
Joining us today is Andray Domise: Toronto Journalist and community activist and sometimes podcaster (he was one of the founding hosts of canadaland: commons). His calling out of the canadian media’s tolerance of racism was especially great! You can follow him on twitter.
Physicists: Dr. Sabine Stanley, and Erin Wenckstern
Intro Music: Ted Leo and the Pharmacists –Tell Balgeary Balgury is Dead
Exit Music: Ramona Falls – Russia
