Kelsey Johnson: My Quest to Decode the Cosmos [Ep. 467]

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Can science, philosophy, and religion work together to address humanity's biggest questions? What lessons can the cosmos teach us about our place in the universe and the future of humanity? And how do we bring back that sense of curiosity that seems to have faded among professionals?

Here today to invite us into her daring quest to decode the universe’s secrets is the brilliant Kelsey Johnson. Kelsey is an accomplished astronomer, professor, and science communicator known for her groundbreaking work in astrophysics and her unique approach to blending science with philosophy and existential inquiry. She is a faculty member at the University of Virginia, where she has made significant contributions to the understanding of starburst galaxies, molecular clouds, and magnetic fields in the universe. Kelsey also founded the Dark Skies, Bright Kids program, which introduces rural communities to the wonders of astronomy. 

Tune in to learn more about curiosity, the intersection of science and philosophy, and the universe’s mysteries. 

Key Takeaways: 

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:13:06 What inspired Kelsey to write Into the Unknown 
• 00:16:23 Why scientists lose their curiosity 
• 00:18:33 Judging a book by its cover
• 00:24:18 Balancing science and philosophy 
• 00:31:55 The role of religion in understanding science
• 00:37:21 The cosmic marshmallow test 
• 00:47:04 Dark Skies, Bright Kids
• 00:50:53 The Fermi paradox and the search for extraterrestrial life
• 01:00:55 Changing perspectives in cosmology 
• 01:05:48 Starburst galaxies
• 01:08:03 Molecular clouds and feedback 
• 01:10:38 Magnetic fields 
• 01:12:59 Arthur C Clarke’s three laws
• 01:19:31 Outro

Additional resources: 

➡️ Learn more about Kelsey Johnson: 

📚 Get Into the Unknown on Amazon: https://a.co/d/5XW0bmG 

✖️ Follow Kelsey on Twitter: https://x.com/ProfKelsey

➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list 

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast 

Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

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