Dr Alastair Gunn
Alastair is a radio astronomer at the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester.
Recent articles by Dr Alastair Gunn
How is antimatter stored?
Engineers at CERN are planning to store and transport antiprotons in a very-high vacuum enclosure
End of the Universe: 4 ways our cosmic apocalypse could unfold
A supercollider may one day help us predict the fate of the Universe. Scientists will use it to find a hidden instability built into the fabric of existence… one that could destroy everything.
When will the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies collide?
Every hour, it gets 432,000km closer
How old is Jupiter's Great Red Spot, really?
How old is Jupiter's Great Red Spot? Recent research suggests it may not be as old as you thought.
If everything stopped spinning, would gravity cease to exist?
Yes, including you
How old is the Universe, really?
We might not know when the Big Bang actually was
Do we know what the cores of stars look like?
The centre of our nearest star is 10-20 million degrees, making it just a little too hot for us to visit.
What happens to time at the event horizon of a black hole?
You still won't want to fall into one.
What's the strongest material in the universe?
Out in space, one rather unique material stands supreme as the strongest around.
The most likely explanation for haunted houses, according to science
Are there really ghosts in your house, or is there a much simpler explanation going on?
Does gravity distort space, move things through it, or both?
More than 100 years on from the conception of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, it's still a challenge to wrap your head around.
Is it true we collect space dust in our hair when we’re outside?
Space dust keeps fallin' on my head.
Could we be living in a black hole?
Here's one to get your head spinning.
Would a planet need a Moon for life to evolve?
The Moon is a lot more than just our neighbour.
Could a black hole ever die?
Looks like they're not going anywhere anytime soon...
Is the Moon radioactive?
Turns out the Moon is pretty inhospitable. Who knew?
Do electrons live forever?
They live for a very, very, very long time.
Why does Jupiter spin so fast?
It's our Solar System's largest planet, and also the dizziest.
Is the Moon shrinking?
A receding Moon will (eventually) have severe consequences for Earth.
What are odd radio circles?
They could be the throats of wormholes.
What is a wandering star?
Nope, they haven’t been booted out of for bad behaviour.
How many black holes are there in the Milky Way?
Let’s hope for all our sakes we don’t stumble across any…
What is Ashen light?
Trick of the light or naturally occurring phenomenon?
How can we still talk to Voyager 2, even though it’s billions of miles away?
In 2018, Voyager 2 became only the second human-made object to enter the space between the stars.