Richard EastherRichard Easther

Richard Easther is a theoretical cosmologist and Professor of Physics (Head of Department) at the University of Auckland. He blogs at Excursionset.com and tweets at @REasther

Despite its starry backers’ claims, the CovidCard is no magic solution

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The Bluetooth-enabled tracking device is being sold as a more effective alternative to the Covid Tracer app, but the brutal truth is that neither are the miracle solution we want, writes Richard Easther. Covid-19 is a tightly rolled ball of nucleic acid and protein, astride the fuzzy line separating the living world from fancy chemistry. … Read more

Red sky at night: when the Australian bushfires crossed the Tasman Sea

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Leading physicist Richard Easther explains what’s been going on with the smoky orange skies above New Zealand. On New Year’s Day, social media in New Zealand was flooded with images of eerie orange skies above the South Island as the smoke from a continent-scale fire disaster crossed the Tasman Sea. Eerie. All we can hear … Read more

One small step

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Today (NZT) is the 50th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 11, the first spaceflight to land humans on the Moon. Astronomer Richard Easther looks back. One of my earliest memories is standing with my father on the balcony of my grandmother’s house in Auckland. “Ma’s House” had a spectacular view northwards, across Auckland’s Hauraki … Read more

Why that black hole image is a galaxy-shattering achievement

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You’ve probably seen the image, but have you been secretly wondering why it’s such a big deal? NZ cosmologist and physicist Professor Richard Easther explains. Mathematically, a black hole is empty space. It is not so much that a black hole has mass; rather, the black hole is a pucker in the fabric of space, … Read more

The kids are revolting, and they’re smarter than you

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Just like the principals, students striking over climate change are seeking control and order. But what our children are hoping to control is the environment they inherit, writes science educator Richard Easther The news in New Zealand is that the kids are revolting, along with kids in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom and dozens … Read more

This creationist claptrap has absolutely no place in a science class

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There is simply no way to present this material without misrepresenting the science and undermining the principles and values you are supposedly imparting to your students writes cosmologist and academic Richard Easther Given how often astrophysics shows up in the news, you might think it was one of the biggest branches of science. And yet, … Read more

RIP, Cassini. Thanks for all the memories

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The 20-year-old Saturn exploring Cassini spacecraft meets its fiery demise this week. Beyond revealing the universe to us, space exploration exposes our own small place in the big picture, writes cosmologist Richard Easther It has been a bitter-sweet month for solar system explorers. As a teenager and a space-geek, I had a poster of this … Read more

What was that strange object glowing above New Zealand on Anzac Day?

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Last night a bright disk-shaped object had New Zealanders craning their necks at the sky. Cosmologist Richard Easther explains what it was. Clue: not Venus. Last night my twitter feed carried a string of “what’s that in the western sky” queries, including this picture from Rachael King: There’s a clear disk showing in this snapshot, … Read more

The Kaikoura quake brought out the best in GeoNet. Not so much in some politicians

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Gerry Brownlee’s intemperate response to the GeoNet director’s calls for a 24/7 response centre can only damage further scientists’ willingness to share their expertise with the public, writes Richard Easther. On November 17 my alarm went off simultaneously with a call from Radio New Zealand asking me to do an on-air interview about the end … Read more