Great Minds: Conny Aerts, the Starquake Professor

This episode was made in partnership with The Kavli Prize. The Kavli Prize honors scientists for breakthroughs in astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience — transforming our understanding of the big, the small, and the complex.

While doing some light reading of data from a telescope, Conny Aerts made a breakthrough that allowed her to lead the charge in the field of asteroseismology and win her the 2022 Kavli Prize in Astrophysics.

Hosted by: Savannah Geary (they/them)
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[StYxXx]

About her childhood: Belgium is not like the US. So rural is not as rural as you imagine, since the population density is much higger. More like suburbs in the US I would say, which also means more light pollution. Also being working class (or poor) doesn't affect your academic chances as much as in the US. There is ab excellent public school system and no need for exensive private schools. Also you don't need to be rich for college/university. Plus a lot of social welfare stuff. So it's not that uncommon for a working class kid to go to university, although it might be a bit harder. Still: being the first one of the family is a great job (not to mention her later achievements).

[billfilm]

What a Channel!! Always bringing the most amazing space news in digestible ways! Savannah is an amazing host!

[simmonslucas]

I love it, I always tell my 2 boys your job isn't invented yet. perfect example!!

[oopsy]

so glad they're still doing great minds videos. theyre what got me interested in the channel to begin with

[ShawnHCorey]

Material is not pulled into the centre of a star. It is pushed in.

As you move closer to the centre of a star, the gravity decreases but the pressure increases. Near the centre, pressure is the dominating force. The centre of a star is being pushed together by the surrounding material.

[Oltoir]

what a great video. I love this semi deep dive i to some fascinating people and their works. Keep up the great content!!

[LeoAngora]

Thanks for bringing into more eyes the amazing contributions of female scientists.

[IstasPumaNevada]

What a rad subject (both the person and the topic). And Savannah's a great host. :)

[MrFleem]

Sure it was light reading. It was all about light.

[belstar]

0:55 Belgium is one of the worst countries in the world to stargaze its usually cloudy and we have the most extreme unnecessary streetlighting in the world

[NewMessage]

Earthshaking discovery!

Well, starshaking, anyway.

[robbob]

When Savanah said "She was doing some light reading", do they mean multiple images over time of the area the star was in, or just raw data, like electromagnetic or gravitational wave readings, or both?

[matje]

I have to say, most of the times when English people pronounce Dutch / Flemmish things, they sound rather bad. But props where props are due, the way you pronounced Leuven is nearly spot on!

[alkaidsvisor]

Is there ACTUALLY something going on with Jupiter? What is it?

[ccatarinajm]

Just so you know, it's pronounced like the word Arts. The e is not pronounced, it used to be used to make the letter before it (in this case A) sound longer.

[osmosisjones]

If you consider possible moons in mass of exoplanets .
How far tye moon is from the planet might also make it's mass appear greater
But it would be in certain direction do to the moons orbit.
And that's we might detect exomoons

[culwin]

I'm not sure I can trust someone named Con Aerts

[madrandomize]

The kavli prize... What an unfortunate name :( ...
In Greek language at least...