• Subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine
  • Previous Issues
  • Podcast
  • Q&A
    No result
    • News
    • Future tech
    • Nature
    • Space
    • Human body
    • Everyday science
    • Planet Earth
    • Newsletters
    • Subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine
    • Previous Issues
    • Podcast
    • Q&A
    1. Home
    2. Dr Alastair Gunn
    Alastair Gunn

    Dr Alastair Gunn

    Social networks

    Alastair is a radio astronomer at the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester.

    Recent articles by Dr Alastair Gunn

    The starship Enterprise NCC 1701-D investigates a Dyson sphere then gets stuck inside
    Space

    Dyson spheres: How humans (and aliens) could capture a star’s energy

    If the moon were bigger, at what point would it be deemed a planet and the Earth and ‘Moon’ a ‘binary planet’ system? © Getty Images
    Space

    What is a binary planet system?

    The Pillars of Creation as taken by the JWST
    Space

    How is colour added to the JWST images? An astronomer explains

    Advertisement
    If I travelled at light speed, would far away objects disappear? © NASA/ESA/CSA/James Webb Space Telescope
    Space

    What would happen to our view of far-off galaxies, if we travelled at (or near) light-speed towards them?

    How do solar flares affect the Earth? © Getty Images
    Planet Earth

    How do solar flares affect the Earth?

    The Sun: Everything you wanted to know © Getty Images
    Space

    The Sun: Everything you need to know

    Conceptual image representing the process of nuclear fusion, specifically the creation of helium from hydrogen. Four protons (hydrogen nuclei) are combining on the left, releasing in the process two protons and two neutrons (a helium nucleus). The sum of the masses of the neutron and protons is less than that of the original four protons. The 'missing mass' is converted to energy, which we see in the form of electromagnetic radiation. This is the power behind the Sun's brilliant glow. In practice, the conversion of hydrogen into helium is more complicated than this, and undergoes several stages between the two shown here.
    Future Technology

    How does nuclear fusion work?

    Have we discovered anything in space that we now use in everyday life? © Dan Bright
    Everyday science

    Have we discovered anything in space that we now use in everyday life?

    How do we know the shape of the Universe? © Science Photo Library
    Space

    What shape is the Universe?

    Advertisement
    What is Hawking radiation? © Getty Images
    Space

    What is Hawking radiation?

    Could you protect astronauts from cosmic radiation by creating a magnetic field around their spaceship? © Alamy
    Space

    Could a magnetic field protect a spacecraft?

    Why do we think there are black holes in galaxy centres and not supermassive suns? creating a magnetic field around their spaceship? © Alamy
    Space

    Why do we think black holes are in the centre of galaxies?

    Would Earth be any different if it spun the other way? © Getty Images
    Planet Earth

    Would Earth be any different if it spun the other way?

    Why doesn’t Earth have rings? © Science Photo Library
    Space

    Why doesn’t Earth have rings?

    What is a wormhole? © Science Photo Library
    Space

    What is a wormhole?

    • You're currently on page 1
    • Page 2
    • Page 3
    • Page 4
    • Page 12
    • Next
    BBC Science Focus Magazine subscription offer
    Special U.S.A. offer!

    Subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine and try 3 issues for just $9.95

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    special-editions
    BBC Science Focus Special Editions

    Discover our latest special editions covering a range of fascinating topics from the latest scientific discoveries to the big ideas explained.

    ORDER NOW
    podcast-FOOTER-3
    Science Focus Podcast

    Listen to some of the brightest names in science and technology talk about the ideas and breakthroughs shaping our world.

    LISTEN

    Get our daily LUNCHTIME GENIUS newsletter

    Our daily newsletter arrives just in time for lunch, offering up the day's biggest science news, our latest features, amazing Q&As and insightful interviews. PLUS a free mini-magazine for you to download and keep.

    Thanks! Look out for your Lunchtime Genius newsletter in your inbox soon.

    Already have an account with us? Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences

    Sign in
    Register

    By clicking “sign up” you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how to do this, and how Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company) holds your personal information, please see our privacy policy.

    • Visit us on Facebook
    • Visit us on Twitter
    • Visit us on Instagram
    • Visit us on Pinterest
    • Visit us on Youtube
    • Visit us on Rss
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Code of conduct
    • Licensing
    • Magazine subscriptions
    • Contact Us
    • Manage Privacy Settings
    null Logo
    This website is published by Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company) under licence from BBC Studios Distribution.© Immediate Media Company Ltd. 2023