The Life Scientific

Catherine Heymans on the lighter side of the dark universe

Jul 1, 2025
Catherine Heymans, a Professor at the University of Edinburgh and Scotland's Astronomer Royal, dives into the universe's mysteries with a comedic twist. She passionately discusses the complexities of dark matter and dark energy while sharing personal stories that shaped her journey in astrophysics. Catherine also reflects on how she navigated long COVID and its influence on her career ambitions. With a focus on accessibility in science, she highlights initiatives to inspire the next generation, particularly young women, to explore the wonders of physics.
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INSIGHT

Mystery of 95% Universe

  • Dark matter and dark energy make up 95% of the universe, yet remain mysterious.
  • Understanding them could revolutionize our physics knowledge fundamentally.
INSIGHT

Mapping Invisible Dark Matter

  • Dark matter is invisible but detected through its gravitational lensing effects on light from distant galaxies.
  • These weak distortions reveal dark matter's location and quantity.
ANECDOTE

Transforming Teens with Saturn View

  • Catherine Heymans shared a story about a surly teenager transformed by seeing Saturn through a telescope.
  • His excitement captured the joy of making astronomy accessible to everyone.
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