Adam Frank
Astrophysicist
Adam Frank is a professor of astrophysics at the University of Rochester and a leading expert on the final stages of evolution for stars like the sun. Frank's computational research group at the University of Rochester has developed advanced supercomputer tools for studying how stars form and how they die. A self-described “evangelist of science," he is the author of four books and the co-founder of 13.8, where he explores the beauty and power of science in culture with physicist Marcelo Gleiser.
Einstein did “basic research.” Here’s what that term actually means
What we call "basic research" is actually the most cutting-edge. It underpins knowledge, and without it, technology does not come into being.
Lasers are weird and amazing
Lasers are all around you. This ubiquitous technology came from our understanding of quantum physics.
Stars die. We’re about to learn a lot more about how and why
Like humans, stars die. The James Webb Space Telescope's early images already give us a lot of information about how this happens.
The world is hell, but life is a miracle
Science and the sacred both allow us to retain our sense of wonder, even as disaster seems to swirl around us.
Other than Doctor Strange, is the Multiverse good for anything?
Quite a lot, actually, even though it has no identifiable value as a scientific concept.
Why the UN cares about climate change — and aliens
Any alien civilization that grows to span an entire planet would spark the same effects that we have. So, what do we do about it?
Is your mind just a parasite on your physical body?
What if intelligence can thrive without consciousness?
Could an advanced civilization change the laws of physics?
Do the laws of physics place a hard limit on how far technology can advance, or can we re-write those laws?
Why seeing the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole is such a big deal
Astronomers in 2017 caught an image of a supermassive black hole in a galaxy far, far away. Doing it in our own galaxy is a huge milestone.
A clock beats inside the heart of every atom
Every timekeeping device works via a version of a pendulum — even the atomic clocks that are accurate to nanoseconds.
Realism in science needs to be more real
Realism in science cannot be completely unmoored from human experience. Otherwise, realism ends up tortured with unreal paradoxes.
Could aliens suck the energy from black holes with Dyson Spheres?
A new paper combines two concepts from the edges of astrophysics: Dyson Spheres and black holes. A Type III civilization could combine them.
Moon Knight: Am I tired of the Marvel Cinematic Universe yet?
Time for a status check before watching "Moon Knight."
What does Buddhism offer physics?
The relationship between these two ways of thinking about the world deserves deeper exploration.
Cosmic dark ages: how astrophysicists will peek into the distant past
The James Webb Space Telescope could help scientists learn about the cosmic dark ages and how they ended.
Return of the old gods: why there is nothing delicate about Earth’s balance
Earth is not a benign mother. We have begun to witness what happens when it unleashes its fury.
Science as a personal journey: from an oasis to the mountains
From a desert oasis to the Rocky Mountains, being filled with awe makes me a better scientist.
Is the Multiverse real? Two astrophysicists debate
Is the multiverse real? It's one of the hottest questions in all of theoretical physics. We invited two astrophysicists to join the debate.
Humanity is not even a Type 1 civilization. What would a Type 3 be capable of?
The Kardashev scale ranks civilizations from Type 1 to Type 3 based on energy harvesting.
What is the “average star” like? Hint: It’s not like our Sun
Please stop calling our Sun an "average star." It is philosophically dubious and astronomically incorrect.
There is no empirical, scientific evidence for the Multiverse
In scientific theories, the Multiverse appears as a bug rather than as a feature. We should squash it.
Not rocket science: SpinLaunch hurls payloads into orbit
Besides offering an incredibly cool way to get stuff into space, SpinLaunch promises to reduce the cost of a launch by 20-fold.
Dawn of Everything: What if the arc of history isn’t inevitable?
We are generally taught that there is an arc of history — an inevitable path of progress that leads to modern society. Maybe it isn't true.
Will aliens look like us? The answer involves ergodicity and the predictability of evolution
In movies and TV shows, aliens look like pointy-eared humans. Is this realistic? If evolution is predictable, then it very well might be.
Why Earth is habitable but Venus looks like hell
Venus has far more carbon dioxide in its atmosphere than Earth, which turned our sister planet into an inferno. But how did it get there?
Exoplanets fill us with awesome wonder
Even if you or I will never actually visit these distant worlds, we now know they exist. They should fill us with wonder.
What is scientism, and why is it a mistake?
Science is a method of inquiry about nature, while scientism is philosophy. And scientism is no longer up to the challenge of meeting the most pressing issues of our day.