Foundational Physics
Understand the physics underlying astronomy
What is Gravity?
What is gravity really — and why does it behave so weirdly in black holes and space? This fast, fun explainer unpacks one of the universe’s biggest mysteries. Learn how gravity works, why it's essential to life on Earth, and how it bends the rules of physics in extreme conditions.
Spacetime: The Fabric of Reality
You’ll discover what spacetime is, how time and space are connected in ways that change how we understand motion and light and what it means for light speed, black holes, and the expanding universe.
Gravitational Lensing
Can space really bend light? Yes — and the results will blow your mind. Discover how gravitational lensing lets us see warped galaxies and cosmic mirages, prove Einstein’s theory of general relativity, detect black holes, dark matter, and even exoplanets.
Gravitational Redshift
According to Einstein’s theory of general relativity, gravity can stretch light itself — shifting it toward the red end of the spectrum. This effect is called gravitational redshift, and it proves that gravity doesn’t just pull on matter… it warps space and time.
Stellar Nucleosynthesis
Every atom in your body was forged inside a star. Through a process called stellar nucleosynthesis, stars fuse simple elements like hydrogen into heavier ones — carbon, oxygen, iron — the very building blocks of life. As stars evolve and explode, they scatter these elements across space, seeding new stars, planets, and eventually… us.
