Mindscape 261 | Sanjana Curtis on the Origins of the Elements

Patreon: / seanmcarroll
Blog post with audio player, show notes, and transcript: www.preposterousuniverse.com/...
In mid-20th-century cosmology, there was a debate over the origin of the chemical elements. Some thought that they could be produced in the Big Bang, while others argued that they were made inside stars. The truth turns out to be a combination of both, with additional complications layered in. Some of the elements of the periodic table come all the way from the Big Bang, but others are made inside stars or in stellar explosions. But still others are made by cosmic rays or when neutron stars and black holes merge together. We talk to nuclear astrophysicist Sanjana Curtis about all the different ways that the universe is cleverly able to produce various elements.
Sanjana Curtis received her Ph.D. in physics from North Carolina State University. She is currently a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research involves nuclear astrophysics, especially the production of heavier elements in supernova explosions and neutron-star/black-hole collisions. She is also active in science communication, including at her TikTok channel.
Mindscape Podcast playlist: • Mindscape Podcast
Sean Carroll channel: / seancarroll
#podcast #ideas #science #philosophy #culture

[@MeissnerEffect]

Thank you dear Sean and Happy New Year. I’m nearly 52 now and for the last 2 decades at least you and your contemporaries showed me how mind-blowingly incredible our Universe is. I’ll always be most grateful ✨🦋

[@StayPrimal]

Who would have thought that Covid was going to create this wonderful channel. When you first started posting I really thought you would get back to your normal life right after pandemic, or even before the pandemic ends. But here we are, years later. You worked hard and rarely missed a week. Your channel contain so much information now its incredible. It will be useful for a lot of people. I really like you because you think exactly like me on everything in life. But you are less emotional and come up with great reflections which often calm my anger of the world we live in right now. Cheers

[@HonkletonDonkleton]

Was defo around pre covid

[@Amethyst_Friend]

@@HonkletonDonkletonIt was

[@cloudpoint0]

Mindscape started in 2018. Covid came along in 2020.

[@michaelberg7201]

Thank you for this episode. A bit of a niche field but listening to Dr. Curtis you begin to appreciate the actual scope of nuclear synthesis. It was a pleasure to listen in on your conversation. I'm full of respect and admiration for Dr Curtis and her work, a great addition to the Mindscape guest list for sure.

[@jonathanbyrdmusic]

OMG this makes me so happy. I have followed Sanjana for a while and I’m excited to listen.

[@elvynjones2489]

It's a good show when Sean learns him some physics.

[@carmengodoy984]

And here we are, some of the hundred of millions of followers witnessing that ;)

[@steliosp1770]

Somehow this topic isnt as prevalent in the public domain as perhaps particle physics or quantum mechanics or the standard model, black holes etc even though it's so fundamental! Thank you both so very much Sean and Sanjana, you are both so talented at science communication and such charming people to listen to as well. I actually learned a lot and got to fill in some gaps in the overall big picture of cosmology and astrophysics. Neither of you both ever dare to be anything other than yourselves, because we need you! Thank you so much again and happy 2024!

[@robertcaruolojr4162]

Ms. Curtis is an awesome teacher. 🎉

[@brightstar9870]

This was a very nice episode, for which I thank you both for

[@aerolitos0]

Keywords include: Asymptotic giant branch, s-process, r-process, Neutron star merger.

[@sarveshpadav2881]

(11:56) From what I have seen in the documentries, red on web and watched on other youtube videos, the first atom(of hydrogen) was formed around 380,000 years after the big-bang in the process known as recombination.

[@stephenarmiger8343]

Always learning!

[@helicalactual]

incredibly informative! thankyou dr curtis! im so grateful :)

[@user-zh3cc8mh7j]

Wow, super episode. Very informative, thanks!

[@allanperdomo9337]

The question I ask my self when thinking about the elements is, when do they form the structure of a human beings? Is it before the sperm fertilizes the egg? Or is it in the process Embryogenesis? Because it’s not just oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium. There’s even 0.2 mg of gold in our body.

[@mgenthbjpafa6413]

⚛ Happy new year. Nobody says Herzsprung Russel Diagram anymore... Maybe some branches. Nucleosynthesis, beyond classes... Generations of stars? 🤔 Some of us are old... 🙏 ✨ 53:20 😅

[@johngrundowski3632]

Great program ,connects alot of new discoveries. THANKS

[@warrengibson7898]

What would it mean for photons to bump into each other (20:40)? My understanding is that photons have no size and no sense of time.

[@cwcarson]

An electron/positron pair can annihilate each other creating two photons. Equally the reverse interaction can occur where two photons come together to create an electron/positron pair.

[@HonkletonDonkleton]

Good question 🤔

[@Amethyst_Friend]

Photons have energy and are the force carriers for electromagnetism. Therefore, they can interact. Remember energy and mass are equivalent, so it doesn’t matter that photons are massless.)

[@warrengibson7898]

@@cwcarson OK but what does “come together” mean? Surely they don’t physically touch like billiard balls. Do they come within some critical distance?

[@warrengibson7898]

@@cwcarson OK but what does “come together” mean? Surely they don’t physically touch like billiard balls. Do they come within some critical distance?

[@johnjoseph9823]

Thank you both. brilliant episode

[@gtziavelis]

delightfully interesting and educational episode. thank you both.

[@jkj420]

This was maybe the most frustrating episode of the podcast! The topic is absolutely fascinating! There were multiple thoughts throughout that weren't fleshed out. I would have liked a little more explanation on basically everything that was said. I am sure she was just nervous, but it seemed like every explanation had to be forced out of her be Sean. Multiple time he explained what she said. I am sure she knows her stuff, but I am doubtful of her abilities as a science communicator. She was also hard to understand at multiple points, because she wasn't pronouncing things clearly. This topic has so much potential. I hope Sean gets a guest who is in this field too but is more willing to explain the intricacies. I would love to hear that.

[@darkomarsanic8749]

I totally agree with you. Something was definitely wrong.

[@rjScubaSki]

People have to start somewhere. Nothing wrong with constructive feedback, but you can’t have fully formed perfect performers in every instance. This kind of reminds me of people refusing to be seen by medical students/junior doctors… not sustainable long term.

[@jkj420]

I agree. I still listened to it. Almost enjoyed it :-) In all seriousness, I would have really loved more information on this topic. It is really fascinating!@@rjScubaSki

[@majorpentatonic2310]

What a wonderful episode.👏

[@user-gj7vp6wk3e]

PHYSICS IS CORRECT. IMMATERIAL STUFF DOES NOT EXIST.❤❤

[@JKanoid]

Loved this episode! I’ve had a real interest in post-Big Bang nucleosynthesis for several years now, much of I knew about in disjointed bits. Your & Dr. Curtis’ discussion really filled in a lot of gaps.

[@rachel_rexxx]

Indiana Picard, Galactic Archaeologist

[@JoeHynes284]

wow...i see what you did

[@KMKPhysics3]

My mind went supernova listening to this due to all the amazing facts I learned!

[@HughBlackstone-tm6bw]

Sean we need to lock lips

[@harsheh]

horny on main or something

[@Amethyst_Friend]

He’s straight and married, so not gonna happen sorry.

[@MarcusLager]

Why do scientists get to say "dwarf" as in "white dwarf"? They should have to say "white little person" like the rest of us.

[@HonkletonDonkleton]

Caucasian little person thank you very much

[@Amethyst_Friend]

Because the broader meaning of “dwarf” is “something very small”. It’s only non-PC when applied to a person. Do you get it?

[@LiamHenrick]

Pretty ironic to ask "do you get it" when you're the one not getting that it's a joke.@@Amethyst_Friend

[@Amethyst_Friend]

I know, no worries@@LiamHenrick

[@sciencetimes6181]

Hi.. Carroll I am Albert Einstein..., WhatsApp.....,When will it take humans to reach a defferent galaxy?

[@Amethyst_Friend]

2.5-3 million years at the earliest.