If you are a real geek, then science is cool. And space is the coolest part of science. While you don’t need a degree in astrophysics to be geek, some basic knowledge is not only useful, but can be damn interesting! So here are the top seven ways to learn about space for free, that I think you would enjoy.
I would just like to make one thing clear – I am not trying to imitate Gamesradar in this post, I am simply paying homage to them. Somebody recently asked me the best way(s) for them to learn about space/science, and it just so happened that I named seven such ways. Complete coincidence. So, I thought, what better way to publicise this to my fellow geeks than with a “top seven”?
I would like to add one little note: the order of this top seven is not based on quality, it is based on complexity. The entries get more in depth as the list progresses.
7- Wonders of the Solar System
“Wonders of the Solar System” is a five part BBC Documentary which originally aired early in 2010. It was presented by Dr Brian Cox, a physicist who teaches at Manchester University.
It is a basic glimpse into some of the most fascinating parts of our Solar System. The beauty of the show lies in both how well written it is, and how well Dr Cox presents it. He takes complex subjects and breaks them down, but is great at preserving the sense of wonder and amazement that the universe holds.
6- A Brief History of Time
I’ll level with you – a book written by Steven Hawking scared me at first. As far as I knew, he was so smart his head is in danger of exploding under the sheer knowledge. Despite this fact, the book truly is an excellent introduction into modern scientific theory.
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Dr hawking skilfully lays out some very complex ideas in easy to grasp terms, taking the reader on a voyage from the earliest calculable moments of the universes existence, right up to the present.
5- Apollo 13
Apollo 13 makes this list because it is simply the most accurate science based movie I have ever seen. The attention to detail is unparalleled, largely due to the production crews enthusiasm and passion for space.
Apollo 13 tells the story of the real life 3rd planned manned moon landing mission. Staring Tom Hanks and Kevin Bacon, this serves as both an enthralling drama as well as a fascinating glimpse into what real space travel is like.
4-Universe Today
Universe Today is a space news blog, edited by Fraser Cain. It presents up to the hour space info including space weather, launch updates, interesting special phenomena, political developments, and everything else that’s spacey.
3- The Elegant Universe (CBS)
This is another television series, similar to The Wonders of the Solar System, but it focuses much more on particle physics (as well as universal conundrums) . Elegant Universe is a little more in depth than Wonders of the Solar System, but still easily comprehendible by the lay- person.
The show will give you an insight into the world of particle physics, explaining ideas like quantum mechanics and string theory with easy to understand visual analogies.
2- Astronomy Cast
Presented by Dr Pamela L Gay, and Fraser Cain (publisher of the aforementioned Universe Today), Astronomy Cast is a free podcast available on iTunes. The cast is a weekly half-hour show in which Pamela explains complex scientific issues and topics, and Fraser represents the Layman by asking her follow-up questions. You can find them here.
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They describe themselves as “A weekly fact-based journey through the cosmos in which we try to understand not only what we know, but how we know it”. The show unfailingly does just that each week.
Astronomy Cast is educational, entertaining, and though provoking. The show has an extensive back-catalogue of over 200 episodes.
1 – ASTR 160
Astronomy 160, or “Frontiers and Controversies in Astrophysics” as it is fully named, is a video recording of a Yale University Course, published for free on their website for anyone to view,The course is delivered by professor Charles Bailyn, who does a fantastic job of presenting the material in an entertaining and informative way. But the best thing about this course is the passion with which he delivers it. I really cannot recommend it enough
It is an in depth course covering topics like planetary definition, exoplanet studies, and relativistic physics in space. The great thing about this course is that it also gives you an insight into the math behind the topics.
Yale also does full courses with which you can study online, and I can wholeheartedly recommend those, too.
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