Outer Space for Humanities Majors
December 11, 2019 5:49 PM Subscribe
Today I learned that Jupiter could have become a star if it were bigger and this fact both terrifies and intrigues me. I would like to learn more about how planets and stars, y'know, work. However, high school algebra and physics were as far as I got in those subjects, they were never my thing, and those classes were a long time ago. Can you recommend some books (or podcasts, but books would be preferable) that explain space stuff for people with only a rudimentary science backgroud? Thank you!
Best answer: Given that it's a counterfactual scenario that got you interested, you might enjoy a couple of books by Neil Comins that explain some basics of astronomy / planetary science for fairly wide audiences by imagining similar hypotheticals.
posted by Wobbuffet at 7:07 PM on December 11, 2019
posted by Wobbuffet at 7:07 PM on December 11, 2019
You might like Dr. Becky's YouTube channel. She's astrophysicist Rebecca Smethurst at Oxford University, and she's really good at explaining stuff to people who don't have science backgrounds. Here's a recent video that's relevant to the 'Jupiter almost could have become a star' thing.
She also has a book out, called Space: 10 Things You Should Know. Unfortunately, it's not available in the US and Canada yet.
You can poke around on her YouTube channel and see if you like the way she explains things, and then consider buying her book when it's available.
posted by nangar at 7:19 PM on December 11, 2019 [5 favorites]
She also has a book out, called Space: 10 Things You Should Know. Unfortunately, it's not available in the US and Canada yet.
You can poke around on her YouTube channel and see if you like the way she explains things, and then consider buying her book when it's available.
posted by nangar at 7:19 PM on December 11, 2019 [5 favorites]
Came to recommend exactly what nangar did. I haven't read her book but if it's at all as engaging as her YouTube channel, it should be exactly what you're looking for.
You didn't explicitly ask for videos, but if those are also a good option for you, there's an entirely community of space researchers and enthusiasts on YouTube that make videos targeted at various levels of background. In addition to Rebecca Smethurst, who is definitely worth watching, here are a few.
SciShow Space has regular videos targeted to a pretty general audience on all kinds of topics, often recently published findings. A cool recent video related to the topic of expanding the idea of how stars and planets work is on how planets might be able to form around black holes.
Deep Sky Videos is an astronomy channel featuring short interviews / presentations with astronomers (including sometimes Rebecca Smethurst, who nangar mentioned) talking about recent research and/or interesting objects in space.
A little more hardcore but still accessible for enthusiasts is PBS Space Time, which has a stronger focus on astrophysics and cosmology. One thing about this channel that can be either great or difficult, depending on your preferences, is that it often builds up information on a topic over a short series of videos, forming a sort of mini-curriculum, with later videos presuming you've watched and digested the earlier ones. This channel is great if you want a much deeper dive on a challenging topic.
Vintage Space has a bit of a different focus which may not be exactly what you're looking for but could be a fun thing you didn't know you were looking for. Presented by space historian Amy Shira Teitel, her focus is much less on space science (though she occasionally covers some of that, including a really nice video or two on Jupiter and its moons) and more on the history of the space program, especially NASA, ranging from the pre-spaceflight era of aeronautics research up to about the '80s. Her videos are highly accessible to someone with a minimal science background while giving a nice perspective on what we learned about our solar system from the first few decades of spaceflight. She's also written two books on the subject, Breaking the Chains of Gravity, on spaceflight research before the founding of NASA, and Fighting for Space (currently in pre-order), about two pilots who struggled to become the first women in space.
posted by biogeo at 11:58 PM on December 11, 2019 [2 favorites]
You didn't explicitly ask for videos, but if those are also a good option for you, there's an entirely community of space researchers and enthusiasts on YouTube that make videos targeted at various levels of background. In addition to Rebecca Smethurst, who is definitely worth watching, here are a few.
SciShow Space has regular videos targeted to a pretty general audience on all kinds of topics, often recently published findings. A cool recent video related to the topic of expanding the idea of how stars and planets work is on how planets might be able to form around black holes.
Deep Sky Videos is an astronomy channel featuring short interviews / presentations with astronomers (including sometimes Rebecca Smethurst, who nangar mentioned) talking about recent research and/or interesting objects in space.
A little more hardcore but still accessible for enthusiasts is PBS Space Time, which has a stronger focus on astrophysics and cosmology. One thing about this channel that can be either great or difficult, depending on your preferences, is that it often builds up information on a topic over a short series of videos, forming a sort of mini-curriculum, with later videos presuming you've watched and digested the earlier ones. This channel is great if you want a much deeper dive on a challenging topic.
Vintage Space has a bit of a different focus which may not be exactly what you're looking for but could be a fun thing you didn't know you were looking for. Presented by space historian Amy Shira Teitel, her focus is much less on space science (though she occasionally covers some of that, including a really nice video or two on Jupiter and its moons) and more on the history of the space program, especially NASA, ranging from the pre-spaceflight era of aeronautics research up to about the '80s. Her videos are highly accessible to someone with a minimal science background while giving a nice perspective on what we learned about our solar system from the first few decades of spaceflight. She's also written two books on the subject, Breaking the Chains of Gravity, on spaceflight research before the founding of NASA, and Fighting for Space (currently in pre-order), about two pilots who struggled to become the first women in space.
posted by biogeo at 11:58 PM on December 11, 2019 [2 favorites]
To be clear, I haven't read Becky Smethurst's book either. (I'm in the US, too.) But if it's as good as her video presentations, it would be right up your alley.
I second biogeo's recommendation of PBS space Time, if videos work for you. They're bit more technical than Dr. Becky's presentations, but the host, Matt O'Dowd, takes the time to explain the terms he's using.
(The other stuff biogeo recommended I'll have to check out as well.)
posted by nangar at 3:18 AM on December 12, 2019
I second biogeo's recommendation of PBS space Time, if videos work for you. They're bit more technical than Dr. Becky's presentations, but the host, Matt O'Dowd, takes the time to explain the terms he's using.
(The other stuff biogeo recommended I'll have to check out as well.)
posted by nangar at 3:18 AM on December 12, 2019
Best answer: I (no science background) enjoyed and learnt something from How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown.
posted by paduasoy at 3:39 AM on December 12, 2019
posted by paduasoy at 3:39 AM on December 12, 2019
I realize you asked for books, but you might also look at online courses like those at Coursera or EdX.
posted by msittig at 4:35 AM on December 12, 2019
posted by msittig at 4:35 AM on December 12, 2019
You might want to check out some of The Royal Institution videos.
Most of the Space type stuff is down in the Physics category. Like The Radioactivity of Space - with Frances Staples.
posted by zengargoyle at 5:10 AM on December 12, 2019
The Royal Institution is a 200 year old independent charity based in London dedicated to connecting people with the world of science through events, education, and the CHRISTMAS LECTURES.Most of the material is from open to the public presentations by scientists (usually on a book tour). They're quite accessible.
Most of the Space type stuff is down in the Physics category. Like The Radioactivity of Space - with Frances Staples.
posted by zengargoyle at 5:10 AM on December 12, 2019
Response by poster: These are all rad suggestions, but I'm afraid I have a very short attention span when it comes to nonfiction video media. Books (or pure audio) would be a little more helpful. Thanks!
posted by darchildre at 6:38 AM on December 12, 2019
posted by darchildre at 6:38 AM on December 12, 2019
Personally, I have really enjoyed "How The Universe Works", which you can watch online at that link (you may need to prove that you're a cable subscriber). Like most Discovery Network programming, it's aimed squarely at the average person rather than being very technical , but is not as sensationalistic as some of the other programming on the Dsicovery networks.
posted by briank at 9:26 AM on December 12, 2019
posted by briank at 9:26 AM on December 12, 2019
Best answer: Start with: Storm in a Teacup: The Physics of Everyday Life by Helen Czerski
Then: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson
I started to read Astrophysics for People in a Hurry first and found that the more basic physics info in Storm in a Teacup was a much-needed refresher (or crash course) for me, a fellow humanities person who is more than a decade out from any formal science class.
After those, you can dive into Best Astronomy and Astrophysics Books to Read. And, of course, Neil deGrasse Tyson has many more books, too.
posted by carrioncomfort at 10:20 AM on December 12, 2019
Then: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson
I started to read Astrophysics for People in a Hurry first and found that the more basic physics info in Storm in a Teacup was a much-needed refresher (or crash course) for me, a fellow humanities person who is more than a decade out from any formal science class.
After those, you can dive into Best Astronomy and Astrophysics Books to Read. And, of course, Neil deGrasse Tyson has many more books, too.
posted by carrioncomfort at 10:20 AM on December 12, 2019
Best answer: 'A Brief History of Nearly Everything' by Bill Bryson covers a lot more ground, but it's casual, accessible, and kinda funny at times. Worth reading for any reason.
posted by ovvl at 5:59 PM on December 13, 2019
posted by ovvl at 5:59 PM on December 13, 2019
Becky Smethurst's book is scheduled for release in the US and Canada by Pinguin Random House on June 2. The North American version has been re-titled Space at the Speed of Light and has illustrations not included in the UK version.
posted by nangar at 3:52 PM on March 18, 2020
posted by nangar at 3:52 PM on March 18, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ovvl at 6:17 PM on December 11, 2019 [2 favorites]