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Hello.
They say you can't go wrong opening with a joke.
So here goes.
Einstein developed a theory about space.
And it was about time, too.
Okay,
my guest is laughing more likely the listeners are groaning but my attempt at physics humor is in honor of today's guest an astrophysicist who understands the power of comedy to make science accessible Catherine Heymans is a professor at the University of Edinburgh and the current astronomer royal for Scotland indeed the first woman to take on that role in its 200 year history Catherine studies dark matter and dark energy those mysterious ingredients of the cosmos that to the best of our current understanding make up about 95% of everything that exists.
Her work has delivered some of the most detailed information we have about the dark universe,
including actual pictures of dark matter.
No mean feat since the stuff is invisible.
On top of her academic achievements,
Catherine is also committed to making science accessible to all,
not least by taking an astronomy-themed comedy show to the Edinburgh Festival and beyond.
proof, if anyone needed, that I should leave further attempts at humour to her.
Professor Catherine Heymans, welcome to the Life Scientific.
Oh, thank you very much, Jim.
Thank you.
So, Anastasia Physics Comedy Act, how did that come about?
Well, I have always loved...