From Ancient Myths to Modern Discovery: Our Milky Way with Moiya McTier

Summary

In this Star Talk podcast episode, astrophysicist and folklorist Moya McTeer joins the hosts to discuss the connections between folklore and astrophysics. McTeer explains how she combines the two in her work, including her podcasts EXO Lore and Pale Blue Pod, and her latest book, The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy, which tells the story of the Milky Way from its birth to present day. The episode emphasizes the importance of connecting science to personal and cultural experiences and notes the efforts being made in planetariums to incorporate indigenous storytelling into their shows.

The conversation delves into the importance of constellations and their origins in Greek mythology and Babylonian culture. They discuss the idea of updating constellations to modern mythologies and the challenges that come with it. The episode highlights the importance of preserving the cultural and historical significance of constellations while also allowing for new interpretations and insights.

The hosts also answer questions from listeners about topics such as dark matter, white holes, and how we map the Milky Way. They explain that dark matter is still a mystery to scientists, but it interacts with other matter gravitationally. They also discuss the fact that constellations do not necessarily represent physically clustered stars, and that the third dimension of distance is important to consider.

The podcast also touches on the topic of astrology, with the host stating that while they don't personally believe in it, ancient astrology was practical and used to interpret the will of the gods. Finally, the hosts discuss the idea of ghosts and their possible scientific explanations, acknowledging the importance of scientific progress while also appreciating the value of folklore and storytelling.

Overall, the podcast episode provides a fascinating and insightful discussion on the connections between science and culture, and the importance of preserving and updating our understanding of the universe.