Brian Schmidt, a Distinguished Professor of Astrophysics and Nobel Prize winner, discusses his groundbreaking work on supernovae and the universe's accelerating expansion. He shares how his High-Z Supernova Search Team transformed our understanding of cosmology. The conversation also delves into Schmidt's personal journey from farm life to academia and his newfound passion for winemaking, highlighting the surprising parallels between astrophysics and viticulture. Expect discussions that blend cosmic mysteries with a touch of wine-making joy!
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insights INSIGHT
Universe Expanding Faster Than Expected
The universe was expected to slow down or coast based on gravity, but it is surprisingly accelerating instead.
This acceleration suggests the universe contains energy working against gravity, similar to Einstein's 1917 cosmological constant idea.
question_answer ANECDOTE
First Date Sparks Winemaking
Brian's journey into winemaking began on his first date when his wife challenged him to learn about red wine.
They embraced viticulture with passion, combining creativity needed both for astronomy and winemaking.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Measuring Universe Expansion with Supernovae
They measured supernova brightness and redshift to determine their distance and recession velocity.
This allowed calculation of cosmic expansion speed billions of years ago, by looking back in time through distant supernovae.
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The book follows Arthur Dent, an ordinary Englishman, whose house and planet are about to be demolished. He is rescued by his friend Ford Prefect, an alien researcher for the 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'. Together, they embark on a journey through space, encountering various characters such as Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two-headed, three-armed president of the galaxy, Trillian, a human woman, and Marvin, a paranoid android. The story involves their adventures on the spaceship Heart of Gold, which has an Infinite Improbability Drive, and their quest to understand the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything, which is revealed to be '42'. The novel is known for its humor, satire, and imaginative storytelling.
Have you ever pondered the fact that the universe is expanding? And not only that, it's expanding at an increasing speed - meaning everything around us is getting further and further away?
If that isolating thought makes you feel slightly panicked, don't worry: this programme also contains wine!
Brian Schmidt is a Distinguished Professor of Astrophysics at the Australian National University, known for his work on supernovae: massive explosions that take place when stars come to the ends of their lives. They are among the most energetic events in the universe and incredibly difficult to find; but that’s what his High-Z Supernova Search Team did, identifying enough of these rare and distant explosions to measure just how fast they were moving away from us.
This led them to the realisation that, contrary to long-held belief in cosmology, the expansion of the universe was speeding up; a discovery which earned Brian a share of the 2011 Nobel Prize for Physics. As if that wasn't enough, he's gone on to discover one of the earliest stars in the universe; run a university; and become a winemaker, at his very own vineyard just outside Canberra.
In a conversation spanning the genius phraseology of writer Douglas Adams, the importance of pisco sours, and the similarities between astronomy and viticulture, Brian tells Professor Jim Al-Khalili how his supernovae breakthrough paved the way for a revolution in astronomy - and where the field needs to go next...
Presented by Jim Al-Khalili
Produced for BBC Studios by Lucy Taylor
The Life Scientific 
