Short Wave Life Lessons From Supernovae
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Jun 12, 2023 Sarafina El-Badry Nance, an astrophysicist and science communicator, shares her profound insights from her memoir, Starstruck. She discusses the parallels between supernovae and personal growth, inspired by her own journey with cancer. The conversation delves into how cosmic explosions mirror our life challenges and revelations. Sarafina also reflects on historical supernovae and the emotional hurdles of navigating health crises, emphasizing empowerment and gratitude as key themes in both science and life.
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Supernovae Research
- Sarafina's research focuses on supernovae, exploding stars much larger than our sun.
- She explains the process of core collapse supernovae, where massive stars explode at their life's end, leaving beautiful remnants.
Betelgeuse and its Impending Supernova
- Sarafina discusses Betelgeuse, a red supergiant star expected to explode as a supernova.
- While her previous research estimated the explosion in 100,000 years, recent dimming and brightening has led to speculation it could happen sooner.
Cancer Diagnosis and Genetic Testing
- Right before grad school, Sarafina El-Badry Nance's dad was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer.
- This prompted genetic testing, revealing she carried the BRCA mutation, significantly increasing her risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
