A day in the life of an Astrophysicist at Oxford University

Dr. Becky
27 Nov 201918:34
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe transcript offers a glimpse into the daily life of an astrophysicist, highlighting the diverse activities that keep her engaged and contributing to the field. From analyzing star formation in galaxies and predicting hydrogen gas content to attending seminars, engaging with colleagues, and participating in public outreach through radio, the astrophysicist's day is a blend of research, collaboration, and communication. The narrative also touches on the importance of coding skills in modern scientific research and the excitement surrounding the Event Horizon Telescope project, emphasizing the global impact of scientific achievements.

Takeaways
  • 🌟 The speaker is an astrophysicist who aims to answer questions that no one knows the answer to, emphasizing the challenging and mysterious nature of their field.
  • 💻 The day starts with checking the code that runs overnight to ensure it hasn't crashed, highlighting the importance of computational work in astrophysics research.
  • 🌌 The speaker uses a code named 'snitch' to find the best model of star formation history in galaxies, based on the light observed from them.
  • 📋 A to-do list in a bullet journal helps the speaker stay organized, demonstrating the value of planning and time management in a research career.
  • 📧 Regular emails from collaborators and the archive preprint server keep the speaker updated on the latest research and discussions in the field.
  • 🔬 The speaker's research involves comparing star formation histories in rotating and non-rotating galaxies, and they made a prediction about hydrogen gas content that they are now testing with new data.
  • 🍽 Lunch breaks and social interactions are important for taking a break from the mental demands of scientific work and maintaining a balanced lifestyle.
  • 🎤 The speaker participates in a BBC radio show to communicate astronomical findings to the public, emphasizing the importance of science communication.
  • 🌠 The speaker's day includes a seminar on supermassive black holes and their growth, showcasing the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of scientific research.
  • 📊 Data analysis is a significant part of the job, with the speaker using Python and Jupyter notebooks for their research, highlighting the necessity of coding skills in modern science.
  • 🌙 The day ends with a public talk and dinner in an Oxford college, reflecting the social and community aspects of being an academic.
Q & A

  • What is the primary task of the astrophysicist described in the transcript?

    -The astrophysicist's main task is to answer complex questions in astrophysics that no one knows the answers to, using computational models and data analysis to understand the mysteries of the universe, specifically focusing on star formation history and the effects of supermassive black holes on galaxies.

  • What does the code 'snitch' do in the astrophysicist's research?

    -The code 'snitch' is designed to find the best model of the star formation history in a galaxy based on the light observed from it, essentially seeking the optimal representation of how stars have formed over time within a given galaxy.

  • How does the astrophysicist maintain organization in her work?

    -The astrophysicist uses a bullet journal to maintain organization, writing a to-do list every morning to keep track of her tasks and stay on top of her work.

  • What is the significance of the hot squash drink the astrophysicist prefers?

    -The hot squash drink is significant as it provides a warm beverage alternative to tea or coffee, which the astrophysicist does not enjoy. It is a concentrated fruit juice that can be consumed hot or cold, offering comfort and variety in her daily routine.

  • How does the astrophysicist engage with the scientific community?

    -The astrophysicist engages with the scientific community through various means, including reading and discussing journal articles, participating in journal clubs, attending seminars, and collaborating with other scientists on research projects.

  • What was the astrophysicist's prediction in her previous journal article?

    -In her previous journal article, the astrophysicist predicted that galaxies that rotate should contain more hydrogen gas than those that do not rotate, based on the history of star formation in these galaxies.

  • How does the astrophysicist handle data from a new survey on hydrogen gas in galaxies?

    -The astrophysicist matched the data from the new survey on hydrogen gas in galaxies with her old data, specifically the sample of 200 galaxies she had previously studied. She then analyzed the distribution of hydrogen gas in the galaxies, comparing rotating and non-rotating ones to test her prediction.

  • What was the main topic of Heino Falca's seminar?

    -Heino Falca's seminar focused on his group's efforts to understand the growth of supermassive black holes, which are millions to billions of times more massive than the sun and are found in the centers of galaxies.

  • How does the astrophysicist contribute to public outreach and communication?

    -The astrophysicist contributes to public outreach by participating in a monthly radio show on BBC Oxford, discussing various space-related topics and recent findings in astronomy with the host, Lily Mitchell.

  • What was the astrophysicist's reaction to the seminar on space interferometry?

    -The astrophysicist was very excited about the concept of space interferometry, particularly the idea of placing a telescope in space or on the moon to increase the effective diameter of the telescope for better observations.

  • How does the astrophysicist describe her job?

    -The astrophysicist describes her job as her dream job, involving a variety of activities such as research, data analysis, engaging with the scientific community, participating in public outreach, and continuous learning through seminars and discussions.

Outlines
00:00
🌟 Astrophysicist's Daily Routine and Research

The paragraph introduces an astrophysicist's typical day, starting with checking the code for any issues overnight. The code, named 'snitch', is designed to find the best model of star formation history in galaxies based on observed light. The astrophysicist then proceeds to make a hot squash, maintains a bullet journal for organization, and goes through emails from subscribers and collaborators. The day also involves reading astronomy journal articles from the archive preprint server and attending a journal club to discuss the latest findings.

05:02
🚀 Understanding Supermassive Black Holes

This section delves into the astrophysicist's attendance of a seminar by Heino Falca, a member of the Event Horizon team, who shared insights on supermassive black holes. The discussion focused on the inflow of material around the event horizon and how these models could be compared to images captured by the Event Horizon team. The astrophysicist also mentions the challenges of obtaining an image of the Sagittarius A star, akin to the famous M87 black hole image.

10:02
🥗 Lunchtime Discussions and Networking

The astrophysicist talks about having lunch with colleagues at Taylor's deli and the importance of taking a break from the usual scientific discussions. The conversation shifts to a casual chat about a colleague's recent successful PhD defense. The paragraph highlights the importance of social interactions and networking within the scientific community, as well as the necessity of communicating scientific findings back to the public.

15:02
🌌 Public Outreach and Evening Engagement

The astrophysicist concludes the day by attending a public talk by Heino Falca, which focuses on making the complex subject of radio astronomy and black holes accessible to a general audience. The paragraph emphasizes the impact of sharing scientific knowledge with the public and the excitement around the potential advancements in space interferometry. The day ends with a dinner in one of Oxford's historic colleges, reflecting on the importance of community and historical context in academic life.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Astrophysicist
An astrophysicist is a scientist who studies the physical properties and behaviors of celestial objects such as stars, galaxies, and the universe as a whole. In the video, the speaker is an astrophysicist who discusses her daily tasks and research, such as analyzing star formation history and supermassive black holes, which are central to the video's theme of exploring the work and interests of an astrophysicist.
💡Star Formation History
Star formation history refers to the timeline and processes of how stars are formed within a galaxy. The speaker mentions her research on comparing the star formation history of galaxies that rotate versus those that do not, which is a key concept in understanding the evolution of galaxies and their composition.
💡Python and Jupyter Notebooks
Python is a popular programming language used for scientific computing, data analysis, and machine learning. Jupyter Notebooks is an open-source web application that allows you to create and share documents that contain live code, equations, visualizations, and narrative text. The speaker uses Python and Jupyter Notebooks for data analysis, which is essential for handling large datasets in her research, as illustrated when she works on her sample of galaxies.
💡Black Holes
Black holes are regions in space where the gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from them. The video discusses the speaker's interest in supermassive black holes found at the centers of galaxies and the Event Horizon Telescope team's efforts to capture an image of a black hole, which is a significant achievement in the field of astrophysics.
💡Event Horizon Telescope (EHT)
The Event Horizon Telescope is a global network of linked radio antennas used to observe celestial objects with high resolution. The EHT is notable for capturing the first image of a black hole's event horizon, specifically at the center of galaxy M87. In the video, the speaker attends a talk by a member of the EHT team, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts in advancing astronomical research.
💡Journal Club
A journal club is a gathering of researchers where they discuss and critique recent scientific publications. In the video, the speaker participates in a journal club, emphasizing the value of collaborative discussions in enhancing understanding and generating new ideas within the scientific community.
💡Radio Astronomy
Radio astronomy is a subfield of astronomy that studies celestial objects at radio frequencies. The speaker attends a talk on radio astronomy, which is crucial for understanding the behavior of supermassive black holes and other cosmic phenomena that emit radio waves.
💡Data Analysis
Data analysis involves systematically processing data to extract useful information, draw conclusions, and support decision-making. The speaker's work involves analyzing data from various astronomical surveys and studies, such as the distribution of hydrogen gas in galaxies, which is a fundamental part of her research on star formation and galaxy evolution.
💡Astronomy Outreach
Astronomy outreach refers to the communication of astronomical knowledge to the public. The speaker engages in this by participating in a public talk and a radio show, highlighting the importance of sharing scientific findings with the wider community and fostering interest in astronomy.
💡Academic Community
The academic community consists of scholars, researchers, and students who are engaged in the pursuit of knowledge and higher education. The video showcases the speaker's interactions with her colleagues and participation in academic events, illustrating the collaborative and supportive nature of the academic community.
💡Research and Collaboration
Research and collaboration are fundamental aspects of scientific progress. The speaker's day involves various collaborative activities, such as discussing research findings with colleagues, attending seminars, and participating in journal clubs, which are essential for the advancement of knowledge and innovation in the field of astrophysics.
Highlights

Astrophysicist's daily routine involves addressing unknown questions about the universe.

The use of code to model star formation history in galaxies is a key aspect of the astrophysicist's research.

A pun-derived code name 'snitch' is utilized to find the best model for star formation.

Maintaining a bullet journal is essential for staying organized in the field of astrophysics.

Astrophysicists engage with a variety of communications, including emails, journal articles, and preprints.

The archive preprint server provides free access to astronomy journal articles before publication.

A significant prediction was made regarding rotating versus non-rotating galaxies and their hydrogen gas content.

Data from a large survey is used to test previous predictions about galaxy properties.

The importance of coding skills in modern data science and research was emphasized.

Astrophysicists participate in journal clubs to discuss and analyze the latest research findings.

Seminars and discussions with experts like Heino Falcão provide insights into supermassive black holes.

The Event Horizon Telescope team's efforts and the famous black hole image are discussed.

Public outreach and communication of scientific findings to taxpayers is considered crucial.

The process of conducting research, observing, and publishing in astronomy is collaborative and cyclical.

The significance of the M87 black hole image viewed by 4.5 billion people worldwide is highlighted.

The potential for space interferometry to advance astronomical observations was discussed.

The social and historical aspects of being part of an Oxford college are cherished by the astrophysicist.

Transcripts

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