Physics World Weekly Podcast A Martian aurora, how the universe fades away, Heisenberg on holiday, physics of fake coins
May 22, 2025
Margaret Harris, a knowledgeable colleague at Physics World, discusses the recent discovery of auroras on Mars by NASA's Perseverance Rover, shedding light on planetary atmospheres. She also contemplates the ultimate fate of the universe and the future of white dwarf stars. Matin Durrani shares intriguing insights about Werner Heisenberg's pivotal retreat to Helgoland in 1925, where he developed crucial quantum mechanics principles. The conversation rounds off with innovative uses of neutron science for authenticating antique coins, revealing fascinating intersections between physics and history.
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Mars' Unique Weak Magnetosphere
- Mars has a weak hybrid magnetosphere produced by remnant magnetic rocks, not a core dynamo like Earth.
- This weak magnetosphere still allows for auroras visible from the surface, detected by Perseverance rover.
Martian Aurora: A Hard-Won Capture
- Perseverance rover had to stop other tasks to point cameras upwards during predicted solar storms to catch Mars auroras.
- It took four tries to successfully detect the first Martian aurora in visible light from the surface.
White Dwarfs Fade To Black Dwarfs
- White dwarf stars slowly fade as carbon nuclei fuse into heavier elements through pyconuclear fusion.
- This process will eventually produce black dwarf stars, marking the end of visible stellar objects over extremely long timescales.