Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe Listener Questions #24
Dec 11, 2025
Curious about what would happen if Earth collided with Jupiter? The hosts explore the mind-boggling tidal forces and how Earth would be vaporized before even reaching the core. Switching gears, they dive into circadian rhythms, explaining how our internal clocks are regulated and the health risks of disruptions like jet lag. They also discuss how some animals thrive without sunlight, with fascinating studies on cavefish and deep-sea species. Get ready for a cosmic journey that connects the stars to our biological clocks!
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What Happens If Earth Hits Jupiter
- A small rocky world hitting Jupiter would sink into dense layers and vaporize before reaching any solid core.
- Daniel estimates an Earth→Jupiter collision would release ~10^18 megatons TNT and mostly leave Jupiter unbothered.
Tidal Forces And The Roche Limit
- Tidal forces (spaghettification) arise because gravity varies with distance and can tear objects apart inside a Roche limit.
- The Roche limit determines whether an approaching body becomes a ring or stays intact until deeper atmospheric breakup.
Watching Shoemaker–Levy Strike Jupiter
- Daniel watched Comet Shoemaker–Levy impacts on Jupiter using a fast camera hooked to a telescope in the 1990s.
- He captured fireballs rising over Jupiter and recalls the largest spot matching the size of Earth.
