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How the Universe Works

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    How the Universe Works

    Because.


    #2
    Also, Michelle Thaller is the best person in the history of the world.

    Oh, and just in case that Ursus arctos knows this person, I have already disassociated my spleen with a fork.

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      #3
      Oh, and in other news, I read Michio's book. It started slow, then it wasshite.

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        #4
        Stop calling it the Kyper belt, and I will stop ispornoucninding Dutch words.

        COOper Belt.

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          #5
          Just wait until Elsie gets her tooth into the OOrt Cloud.

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            #6
            It's probably me, but when the voiceover guy starts talking about a luminous planet, I'm outy.

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              #7

              That Cuomo famly are just cunts.

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                #8
                It's been too long Ger.

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                  #9
                  They had an episode on the "MicroCosmos".

                  That was fucking scary, and yet enlightening.

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                    #10
                    And, they've made two whole series of (grocer's apostrophe alert)

                    "Space's Deepest Secrets", with the same clips and voiceovers (Shame on you Professor Michelle Thaller, platonic love of my life), but this season is without the annoying ACTUAL ASTRONAUT!

                    Fuck it. They are just killing time until "Ancient Aliens" finds a fact.

                    *Watching it right now, and it's not bad. They're talking about Jupiter for ... 5th graders? 10 year olds. Which is fine. BUT USE THE FUCKING ASTRONAUT.

                    **Quick check: I am disagreeing with a 4 year old TV programme, which I have obviously seen before. And am mistaking it with "NASA'S Deepest Secrets", which has the ACTUAL FUCKING ASTRONAUT as it's... compere. (Mike Massimino, bit of a TV slut, apparently. After being in space 6 FUCKING SEPARATE TIMES, I'll give him that one.)
                    Last edited by Gerontophile; 21-04-2021, 13:39.

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                      #11
                      Sorry. It was 20/4 yesterday. I'm feeling the effects.

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                        #12
                        There are a few new ... commentators, now, which is both good and bad.

                        There is a youngish Australian who is absolutely undecipherable, and because they are repeating stuff (although thats because understanding has changed), they have new people saying the same stuff, but more often. They may well have run out of their CGI budget. Phil Plait and Hakeem Oluseyi are reassuring presences. There's a very gay guy. But I won't name him, in case.

                        (This one is about 'White Dwarfs'. Snow White will be along any minute.)

                        *The Australian was fine. I just wasn't expecting it. Oh, and there's a very English guy, who is geeky like Ben Whishaw in the Bond movies, but unfortunately looks slightly like Jacob Rees-Morgue. But, he has something. It might be my disdain and jealousy, that he is on there, and I am fortunately not. Or just, he might be a twat. I'm not sure yet. He is 'captivating'. (He's probably lovely, and I am just being an arsehole.)

                        Those fucking continuous ads along the bottom of the screen, for "Bastarding Discovery Plus", are becoming slightly vexing.
                        Last edited by Gerontophile; 22-04-2021, 04:16.

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                          #13
                          They're bringing out all of the big guns in the middle bit. Michelle Thaller (swoon), and the guy with the boss eye*, who is cute.

                          *Alex Fillipenko. Lovely!
                          Last edited by Gerontophile; 22-04-2021, 04:44.

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                            #14
                            So, to summarise: we know fuck all about anything, so far.

                            (I SO want that helicopter on Mars to be playing "Life on Mars" whilst it's flying.)

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                              #15
                              This is probably an obvious statement, but, there's loads of commercials. But now I know that BOTOX works for migraines*.

                              *Terms and conditions apply.

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                                #16
                                I'll be honest, now that I have heard about the "Chandrasekhar Limit", I'm enjoying the pretty colours. I've had to pause at least 3 times to get my head around this stuff. Merging White Dwarfs indeed!

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                                  #17
                                  "Can these (things) shed light on the mysteries of supernovas?" (Then commercial)

                                  No idea. Did you know that some stars explode over and over again? And there are random White Dwarfs streaking through the galaxy? I mean... how many entendres do you need?

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                                    #18
                                    M31N 2018-12A

                                    This nova happens every year.

                                    (My inner geek has engorged everything else.)

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                                      #19
                                      Oh, OK. We've gone to commercial, just as the voiceover guy says "Death Rays".

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                                        #20
                                        It's only magnetars. Season 3, I think.

                                        (Long Good Friday reference) "Magnetars? I've shit 'em."

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                                          #21
                                          That was a show... which I would be ok not having seen. I mean, I wouldn't miss it for the world, but that was a bit more exciting than I am quite used to.

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                                            #22
                                            I have never watched this programme but am greatly enjoying the commentary. Thanks Gero.

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                                              #23
                                              The reference to Alex Fillipenko says to me that Gero is talking about The Universe on the History Channel, which does a decent job of explaining concepts in lay terms - I enjoyed them making a glass Saturn and then shaving ice onto it while it span to demonstrate how they think its rings were formed and shooting a bowling ball encased in a thin layer of plaster to show show they thought Mercury lost so much of its crust - and isn't afraid to tackle pretty complex stuff like string theory, as well. And you're right about Alex Fillipenko, Gero. He's great. I love him to bits. One of his children is called Orion, apparently.

                                              I have to admit, though, I've not been keeping current with episodes because it seemed pretty clear that they were running dry on ideas by about the 5th or 6th series I've got the first 7 on one of my HDDs). I'm certain that there was an episode called "Sex in Space", for example. Those first three or four series are pretty watchable, though, in a trashy, "now, let's not be taking all of this too seriously" sort of way. And, of course, the extent to which we're still learning new things about the way in which the universe works means that earlier episodes have probably already become a little redundant.

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                                                #24
                                                How do you run dry on ideas in a show about the universe?

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                                                  #25
                                                  It's definitely called "How The Universe Works" over here. We are now on season 9.

                                                  I don't think they've quite run out of ideas yet, more that they are repeating old ideas, and changing their minds about possible outcomes, now that different things are known. (If that makes sense, which I rarely do.)

                                                  The 'white dwarf' episode actually turned out really good.

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