Karolina Asks the Universe

Did you know that our galaxy contains natural alcohol — not in bottles, but in vast clouds of gas and dust between the stars? In this episode, Karolina speaks with Dr. Beatrice Kulterer, an astrochemist who studies how these complex molecules form and what they reveal about the chemistry of life in the cosmos.It’s a conversation about curiosity, the invisible connections between space and life, and how something as simple as alcohol can tell the story of our galaxy.

Formation of the Galaxies with Dr. Kaley Brauer explores how scientists use the world’s most powerful supercomputers to simulate the birth and evolution of galaxies. Together, we dive into the creation of “fake universes” — sophisticated numerical models that test our understanding of gravity, gas dynamics, dark matter, and star formation. These cosmic simulations allow researchers to rewind time and uncover how massive galaxies like the Milky Way emerged from the early universe.Dr. Kaley Brauer is an astrophysicist and NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. She studies galaxy formation and evolution using cosmological simulations, exploring how stars, gas, and metals interact to build the complex structures of our universe.

Karolina welcomes Dr. Romy Rodríguez Martínez, an astrophysicist and Future Faculty Leaders Fellow at the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Romy’s research focuses on the discovery and characterization of small, potentially habitable exoplanets, and on how the chemistry of stars influences the planets that form around them.In this episode, they explore the cutting-edge techniques used to detect exoplanets, the challenges of measuring their composition, and what these distant worlds can tell us about the possibility of life beyond Earth.

In this second episode, Karolina welcomes Dr. Jenny Calahan, an astrophysicist and Kavli-Laukien Origins Fellow at the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Jenny’s research explores how the chemistry of planet-forming disks shapes the atmospheres of exoplanets, using advanced models and observations from ALMA and JWST.Together, they discuss the chemical origins of planetary systems, the role of water and radiation in early worlds, and Jenny’s journey through astronomy. If you’re curious about how stars and planets come to life — and what that means for the search for habitable worlds — this episode is for you.

Join Dr. Anya Nugent, a Harvard postdoctoral fellow, as she unravels the mysteries of supernovae and other cosmic explosions. Each episode dives deep into how stars live, die, and leave behind breathtaking phenomena — from Type Ia supernovae to rare, high-velocity blasts, and what their host galaxies reveal about their origins. Whether you’re fascinated by neutron star mergers, stellar remnants, or the cutting-edge tools astronomers use to observe the skies, this podcast is for anyone curious about the energetic universe.Expect expert insight, clear explanations, and interviews with leading researchers. Perfect for science enthusiasts, students, and anyone who stares up at the night sky wondering how the universe really works.👩‍🔬 About Dr. Anya NugentDr. Anya Nugent is a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. She earned her PhD from Northwestern University in 2024. Her research focuses on the host galaxies of extragalactic transients — including supernovae, short gamma-ray bursts, and other spectacular stellar explosions. She uses optical and near-infrared telescopes like Magellan and MMT, along with advanced tools like stellar population modeling, to explore how environment shapes the fate of stars.

In this first episode, Karolina shares why she started this podcast, what it will be about, and what listeners can expect. A short introduction to Karolina Asks the Universe — conversations with leading scientists about their work, passion, and the bigger picture of science.