Jocelyn Bell Burnell describes how she discovered pulsars - Beautiful Minds_Ep1 Preview_BBC Four

Summary

The speaker describes a pivotal discovery in radio astronomy, where unusual blip signals were detected through a high-speed recorder on December 21st. Initially suspected to be signals from extraterrestrial life, the signals were later identified as a new type of star. This breakthrough dispelled the 'little green men' hypothesis and opened the way for public announcement. The signals, never before seen, generated excitement as they revealed an entirely unexpected astronomical phenomenon. The discovery was groundbreaking, with consistent pulses being recorded since November.

Takeaways

• 🔭 The speaker was observing a specific portion of the sky through a telescope during the early morning hours of December 21st.
• ❄️ It was extremely cold while the high-speed recorder was switched on to capture signals.
• 📡 The recorder picked up a repetitive signal, 'blip blip blip,' which was similar to previously recorded signals.
• 👽 The repetitive signals helped disprove the 'little green men' hypothesis, as it was unlikely that two sets of aliens would signal Earth simultaneously using the same technique.
• 🌌 The signals were identified as originating from a new kind of star that had never been observed before.
• 📰 This discovery cleared the way for publishing the findings, and Martin Ryle contacted the editor of *Nature*, John Maddox, to announce the upcoming breakthrough.
• 📏 The regularity of the signals, spaced at precise intervals, was highly unusual in astronomy.
• 📅 These spaced signals had been consistently detected 24 hours a day since November.
• 🌠 The signals were completely new and unexpected, unlike anything previously seen in radio astronomy.
• 🚀 The discovery generated significant excitement because it represented a novel kind of object with behavior that astronomers had not predicted or even imagined.

Q & A

What was the significance of the signal that was detected at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning on December 21st?

The signal, described as 'blip blip blip,' was significant because it was clearly part of the same family of signals previously detected, confirming that this was not a random occurrence but something consistent.

How did the detection of this signal debunk the 'little green men' hypothesis?

The detection of similar signals from opposite sides of the universe at the same time made it highly unlikely that two separate groups of 'little green men' were signaling Earth simultaneously using the same technique. This led to the conclusion that it was more likely a new kind of star.

What did the discovery imply for the field of radio astronomy?

The discovery introduced a completely new kind of object in the universe that behaved in ways never expected or imagined by astronomers, marking a significant milestone in the field of radio astronomy.

Why did Martin Ryle contact the editor of Nature, John Maddox, after the discovery?

Martin Ryle contacted John Maddox to inform him that they had something significant to publish. Although he didn't explicitly say 'hold the presses,' it was clear that the discovery was urgent and groundbreaking.

What made the repeated signals so remarkable?

The signals were exactly spaced out, which was highly unusual. Receiving three signals with such exact timing would be rare, but receiving them continuously for 24 hours since November made it phenomenal.

What was the general response of the scientific community to the new signals?

The scientific community was excited and intrigued by these signals because they represented a completely new type of object in the universe, something that had never been seen or predicted before in radio astronomy.

Why was the use of a 'high-speed recorder' important in this discovery?

The high-speed recorder allowed the astronomers to capture the fast, repetitive nature of the signal, helping to identify its consistency and characteristics.

What does the term 'roller commonplace frequency' refer to in the context of this discovery?

The 'roller commonplace frequency' likely refers to the standard or consistent frequency of the signal, making it unlikely to be an artificial or alien source, further suggesting it was a natural phenomenon.

What does the term 'publishing going public' mean in this context?

It means that the team was ready to share their discovery with the wider scientific community and the public, moving from private research to public dissemination through scientific journals.

What was the historical impact of this discovery in radio astronomy?

This discovery was historically important because it led to the identification of a new type of star, which revolutionized the understanding of celestial objects and paved the way for further research in astrophysics and radio astronomy.