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Brad E Tucker

Astrophysicist/Cosmologist, Australian National University
I am an Astrophysicist/Cosmologist, and currently a Fellow at the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Mt Stromlo Observatory and Senior Lecturer at the National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science at the Australian National University.

I have my hand in a variety of things, but the majority of my work involves exploding stars called supernova, and cosmology, the study of the universe. A certain type of supernova, called a type Ia, can be used as a standard candle that can trace our universe's history.

For this work, I am involved with a number of supernova surveys. I have been working on the ESSENCE Project, The CfA Supernova Search, The Carnegie Supernova Project and also using Mt Stromlo's new SkyMapper telescope. I am one of the leads of the Kepler Extra-Galactic Survey, KEGS, a Kepler Space Telescope Key Program, to understand why and how stars blow. I am leading a project to build a network of ultraviolet telescopes in the upper atmosphere which are being built at Mt Stromlo.

In addition to research, I frequently give talks to school groups and the general public about astronomy and have regular segments on various radio stations talking about astronomy news and events.

Among other things, I have developed a series of astronomy coins in conjunction with the Royal Australian Mint, consulted on science fiction movies, advised on astronomy-themed art projects, and have been featured in specials on the National Geographic Channel.

I am currently in the process of writing my first popular book and producing a Massive Open Online Course.

Space Science Series

Only 100 years ago the Milky Way was visible from central Paris. Here’s how we can get the night sky back

Aug 12, 2024 06:03 am UTC| Science

For the more than 100,000 years humans have been on Earth, we have looked up at night and seen the stars and our celestial home, the Milky Way galaxy. Cultures all around the world have stories and records incorporating...

Space Science Series

Why is the universe ripping itself apart? A new study of exploding stars shows dark energy may be more complicated than we thought

Jan 09, 2024 23:06 pm UTC| Science

What is the universe made of? This question has driven astronomers for hundreds of years. For the past quarter of a century, scientists have believed normal stuff like atoms and molecules that make up you, me, Earth,...

Economy

Trade War Escalation: Trump's Tariffs Target India, Japan, and Canada

On April 2, 2025, President Trump is scheduled to announce his Liberation Day tariff plan at 4 p.m. ET in the White House Rose Garden, with immediate implementation expected. The plan focuses on imposing reciprocal...

Indian Rupee Eyes US Tariff Move as Bond Yields Slide Ahead of RBI Policy

The Indian rupee may face headwinds this week as markets brace for the U.S. announcement of reciprocal tariffs, set for April 2. Investors are closely watching the potential fallout on global trade and growth, with...

White House Confirms Trump’s New Tariffs to Reshape Global Trade

The White House confirmed President Donald Trump will announce new tariffs on Wednesday, with a 25% duty on auto imports taking effect April 3 and immediate reciprocal tariffs on countries taxing U.S. goods. Though details...

Australia Vows to Protect Beef Exports Amid Looming U.S. Tariffs

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton have both pledged to defend the nations interests as the U.S. considers imposing tariffs that could impact Australian beef exports. Despite a...

Fed’s Goolsbee Warns Trump Tariffs Could Fuel Inflation, Hurt Growth

Chicago Federal Reserve President Austan Goolsbee warned that President Donald Trumps proposed trade tariffs could pose risks to U.S. inflation and economic growth. In a Fox News interview, Goolsbee acknowledged the...

Politics

South Korea Parliament Moves to Impeach Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok

South Koreas National Assembly has officially introduced a motion to impeach Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, marking a significant development in the countrys political landscape. The motion, submitted on Wednesday,...

Trump Administration Layoffs Disrupt FDA Bird Flu Response Efforts

The Trump administration has dismissed key staff from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) involved in bird flu response efforts, as part of mass layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services. The move...

NLRB Halts Apple Cases Following Trump’s Nomination of Apple-Linked Lawyer

The U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has unexpectedly paused two legal cases against Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) shortly after President Donald Trump nominated Crystal Careya lawyer previously representing Appleas...

North Korea Slams US-Japan Missile Pact as Regional Threat

North Korea has strongly condemned a recent agreement between the United States and Japan to co-produce air-to-air missiles, calling it a serious threat to regional stability. According to North Koreas state-run KCNA news...

UK Introduces £10 Electronic Travel Permit for EU Visitors Starting April

Starting April 3, 2025, European visitors to the UK will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before entering the country. The move brings the UK in line with other countries tightening border...

Science

AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi Gets US Approval for Bladder Cancer Treatment

AstraZenecas drug Imfinzi (NASDAQ: AZN) has received U.S. approval to treat adult patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, a significant advancement in cancer therapy. The approval allows Imfinzi to be used in...

Sanofi’s New Hemophilia Drug Qfitlia Gains FDA Approval with Breakthrough Bimonthly Dosing

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Qfitlia, a groundbreaking hemophilia treatment by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY). Designed for patients aged 12 and older with hemophilia A or B,...

FDA Vaccine Chief Peter Marks Resigns Amid Controversy Over Transparency

Peter Marks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) top vaccine official, has resigned after reportedly being forced out by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), according to The Wall Street Journal....

What are the chances an asteroid will impact Earth in 2032?

For a few days in mid-February, headlines around the world buzzed about the potential for an asteroid to hit the Earth in 2032 specifically, asteroid 2024 YR4. The chance of this impact rose to a high of 3.1 per cent on...

A new study reveals the structure of violent winds 1,300 light years away

The planet WASP-121b is extreme. Its a gas giant almost twice as big as Jupiter orbiting extremely close to its star50 times closer than the Earth does around the Sun. WASP-121b is so close to its star that tidal forces...

Technology

ReliaQuest Secures $500M to Boost AI Cybersecurity, Hits $3.4B Valuation

ReliaQuest, a leading AI-powered cybersecurity company, has raised over $500 million in a new funding round led by EQT, KKR, and FTV Capital, pushing its valuation to $3.4 billion. Other backers in this round include Ten...

GlobalFoundries and UMC Explore Merger Amid U.S. Chip Strategy Shift

United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC), a major Taiwanese semiconductor foundry, and U.S.-based GlobalFoundries (NASDAQ: GFS) are reportedly in early talks about a potential merger, according to sources cited by Reuters. If...

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan Outlines Bold Turnaround Strategy at IntelVision 2025

At the IntelVision 2025 conference, new Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) CEO Lip-Bu Tan unveiled a transformative vision to revitalize the tech giant. Since taking the helm on March 12, Tan has prioritized customer engagement and...

OpenAI Secures $40B from SoftBank, Reaches $300B Valuation Amid AI Boom

OpenAI announced Monday it has raised $40 billion in a funding round led by Japans SoftBank Group Corp. (TYO:9984), pushing the AI firms valuation to a staggering $300 billion. This marks a major leap from its $157 billion...

Apple and Elon Musk Clash Over Satellite Connectivity as Starlink Faces New Rival

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is facing pushback from Elon Musk over its expanding satellite connectivity plans, potentially positioning the tech giant as a direct competitor to Musks Starlink network, according to the Wall...