Mars and Future of Space Travel | Myunghyun Rhee | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Astronomer Myunghyun Rhee discusses what astronomers study, different areas of study in astronomy, the size of the universe and the number of galaxies, challenges of space exploration and migration to Mars, the existence of aliens, and the possibilities of multiverse and warp drive technology.

Transcript

Let me introduce astronomer Myunghyun Rhee. Can you introduce yourself Hello everyone Hello Is the mic working well He is really cool right Thanks for joining us today. Thanks for inviting me. Let me ask you some basic questions that people might be interested in. Also, please feel free to share your interest with us at anytime. To begin with... Read More

Key Insights

• 🔭 Different types of telescopes, such as optical telescopes and radio telescopes, enable astronomers to observe various types of light and study different celestial objects.
• 🤕 The size and age estimate of the universe is based on precise observations conducted over the past decade.
• 💉 Challenges of space exploration and migration to Mars include long travel duration, physical health issues, and the need for survival on the Martian surface.
• 👽 The existence of aliens remains largely speculative, with current research focusing on finding microbial life in celestial bodies.

Questions & Answers

Q: What do astronomers study and what are the different areas of study in astronomy?

Astronomers study celestial bodies and observe them using telescopes. There are various areas of study in astronomy, such as radio astronomy, infrared astronomy, observational astronomy, and computational astronomy.

Q: How big is the universe and how many galaxies does it have?

Based on current research, the universe is estimated to be approximately 46 billion light years in radius. As for the number of galaxies, there are estimated to be around 1 trillion galaxies in the universe.

Q: Are there any scientific evidences to support the estimate of the age and size of the universe?

Precise observations conducted in the past decade indicate that the universe is approximately 13.8 billion years old. The estimate is based on observational findings and is mostly agreed upon in the field of astronomy.

Q: What are the challenges in executing exploration or migration to Mars?

Challenges include the long duration of travel to Mars, which takes minimum 7 to 8 months, physical health issues such as loss of calcium and potassium in low gravity, and survival on Mars without necessities like breathable air, exercise facilities, and food.

Q: Do you believe in aliens and what is the perspective of researchers on the existence of aliens?

When it comes to finding aliens, researchers are interested in finding intelligent beings with capabilities of building civilizations. While research focuses on finding microbial life in celestial bodies like Mars, the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial beings is still largely theoretical and has no conclusive evidence.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Astronomers study celestial bodies such as the sun, galaxy, and stars using various telescopes that detect different types of light.

• The universe is estimated to be 13.8 billion years old, and its size is approximately 46 billion light years in radius.

• Space exploration and migration to Mars face challenges such as long travel duration, physical health issues, and survival on Mars.

• Scientists search for aliens through the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) by looking for artificial radio signals in celestial bodies.

• Multiverse theory and warp drive technology are still largely theoretical and face practical obstacles.