Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
AD | Upgrade your workspace with FlexiSpot! Check out the link and use my code "YTE7P50" to get an extra $50 off the E7 and E7 Pro standing desk!
FlexiSpot E7 Pro standing desk: go.flexispot.com/Dr.Becky-E7Pro (US)
go.flexispot.com/Dr.Becky_E7Pro (CA)
------
What’s your definition of danger?
Because technically, if any of us leave the Earth’s atmosphere we’re in danger. But let’s say we live in a hopefully not-too-distant future where space exploration is possible across huge distances to explore Saturn’s rings, and marvel at beautiful nebulae. But, where would you definitely not want to go?
Where are the most DANGEROUS places in the Universe? I’ve picked out 5 for this video, including a brand new discovery from this year, so let’s dive in…
Papers mentioned:
Gowanlock et al. (2016) - iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/0004-637X/832/1/38/pdf
Hinkle et al. (2025) - arxiv.org/pdf/2405.08855
Mandea et al. (2007) - arxiv.org/pdf/0710.2793
Tuthill et al. (2007) - iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1086/527286/pdf
Wu et al. (2015) - arxiv.org/pdf/1502.07418
00:00 - Introduction
00:37 - I - Magnetars & SGR 1806-20
02:27 - II - WR 104, the "Death Star"
04:56 - III - Kilonova neutron star mergers
07:47 - IV - Ultra luminous quasar J0100+2802
10:29 - V - Extreme nuclear transients
14:24 - Bloopers
Video filmed on a Sony ⍺7 IV
Video edited by Martino Gasparrini: martino.freelance@gmail.com
Video produced by Marina Hui & Dr Becky Smethurst
---
📚 My book, "A Brief History of Black Holes", out NOW in hardback, paperback, e-book and audiobook (which I narrated myself!): lnk.to/DrBecky
---
👕 My merch, including JWST designs, are available here (with worldwide shipping!): dr-becky.teemill.com
---
🎧 Royal Astronomical Society Podcast that I co-host: podfollow.com/supermassive
---
🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and click the little bell icon to be notified when I post a new video!
---
👩🏽💻 I'm Dr. Becky Smethurst, an astrophysicist at the University of Oxford. I love making videos about science with an unnatural level of enthusiasm. I like to focus on how we know things, not just what we know. And especially, the things we still don't know. If you've ever wondered about something in space and couldn't find an answer online - you can ask me! My day job is to do research into how supermassive black holes can affect the galaxies that they live in. In particular, I look at whether the energy output from the disk of material orbiting around a growing supermassive black hole can stop a galaxy from forming stars.
drbecky.uk.com
AD | Upgrade your workspace with FlexiSpot! Check out the link and use my code "YTE7P50" to get an extra $50 off the E7 and E7 Pro standing desk!
FlexiSpot E7 Pro standing desk: go.flexispot.com/Dr.Becky-E7Pro (US)
go.flexispot.com/Dr.Becky_E7Pro (CA)
------
What’s your definition of danger?
Because technically, if any of us leave the Earth’s atmosphere we’re in danger. But let’s say we live in a hopefully not-too-distant future where space exploration is possible across huge distances to explore Saturn’s rings, and marvel at beautiful nebulae. But, where would you definitely not want to go?
Where are the most DANGEROUS places in the Universe? I’ve picked out 5 for this video, including a brand new discovery from this year, so let’s dive in…
Papers mentioned:
Gowanlock et al. (2016) - iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/0004-637X/832/1/38/pdf
Hinkle et al. (2025) - arxiv.org/pdf/2405.08855
Mandea et al. (2007) - arxiv.org/pdf/0710.2793
Tuthill et al. (2007) - iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1086/527286/pdf
Wu et al. (2015) - arxiv.org/pdf/1502.07418
00:00 - Introduction
00:37 - I - Magnetars & SGR 1806-20
02:27 - II - WR 104, the "Death Star"
04:56 - III - Kilonova neutron star mergers
07:47 - IV - Ultra luminous quasar J0100+2802
10:29 - V - Extreme nuclear transients
14:24 - Bloopers
Video filmed on a Sony ⍺7 IV
Video edited by Martino Gasparrini: martino.freelance@gmail.com
Video produced by Marina Hui & Dr Becky Smethurst
---
📚 My book, "A Brief History of Black Holes", out NOW in hardback, paperback, e-book and audiobook (which I narrated myself!): lnk.to/DrBecky
---
👕 My merch, including JWST designs, are available here (with worldwide shipping!): dr-becky.teemill.com
---
🎧 Royal Astronomical Society Podcast that I co-host: podfollow.com/supermassive
---
🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and click the little bell icon to be notified when I post a new video!
---
👩🏽💻 I'm Dr. Becky Smethurst, an astrophysicist at the University of Oxford. I love making videos about science with an unnatural level of enthusiasm. I like to focus on how we know things, not just what we know. And especially, the things we still don't know. If you've ever wondered about something in space and couldn't find an answer online - you can ask me! My day job is to do research into how supermassive black holes can affect the galaxies that they live in. In particular, I look at whether the energy output from the disk of material orbiting around a growing supermassive black hole can stop a galaxy from forming stars.
drbecky.uk.com
