I am an enthusiastic science communicator and have been involved with many media projects. From explaining science on TV and the radio, to performing on stage, recording podcasts, and advising on projects behind the scenes. I try to let my passion for science shine through in all of these things. Check out my YouTube channel to see the astronomy and science interest videos I've made for over 800,000 subscribers. I'm happy to discuss any astronomy, astrophysics, night sky or space exploration related news story. I also enjoy advising as an expert for scripts and books. Please get in touch if you're interested in working with me.
YouTube
As the internet's "friendly neighborhood astrophysicist", I get overly enthusiastic about all things astrophysics on YouTube. I post a video once a week on my channel, "Dr Becky: from a recap of monthly space news, to weird objects in space, unsolved mysteries or the science history behind an idea or theory. I like to focus on how we know things, not just what we know. The channel has over 800,000 subscribers and over 122 million total views (and counting!), so come and join us all in the conversation.
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In A Brief History of Black Holes, award-winning University of Oxford researcher Dr Becky Smethurst charts five hundred years of scientific breakthroughs in astronomy and astrophysics.
'A jaunt through space history . . . with charming wit and many pop-culture references' – BBC Sky At Night Magazine
“A lot of astrophysics is packed into this neat little book”Jim Al-Khalili, quantum physicist and author of The World According to Physics, on Space: 10 Things You Should Know
“Bite-sized, cutting edge science delivered with enormous enthusiasm”Chris Lintott, astrophysicist and host of The Sky at Night, on Space: 10 Things You Should Know
“A jaunt through space history . . . with charming wit and many pop culture references”BBC Sky At Night Magazine, BBC Sky At Night Magazine
“A fantastic read . . . there's certainly a lot to suck you in (unlike black holes, of course)”Popular Mechanics, Popular Mechanics
Right now, you are orbiting a black hole.
The Earth orbits the Sun, and the Sun orbits the centre of the Milky Way: a supermassive black hole, the strangest and most misunderstood phenomenon in the galaxy.
In this cosmic tale of discovery, Dr Becky Smethurst takes us from the earliest observations of the universe and the collapse of massive stars, to the iconic first photographs of a black hole and her own published findings.
She explains why black holes aren’t really ‘black’, that you never ever want to be ‘spaghettified’, how black holes are more like sofa cushions than hoovers and why, beyond the event horizon, the future is a direction in space rather than in time.
Told with humour and wisdom, this captivating book describes the secrets behind the most profound questions about our universe – all hidden inside black holes.
Book
The secrets of 14 billion years for people short on time
This book is for anyone who wants to easily understand the mind-blowing fundamentals of our extraordinary, expanding universe.
Written by Oxford astrophysicist Dr Becky Smethurst and composed of ten captivating, simple essays, it guides you swiftly through the galaxies, explaining the mysteries of black holes, dark matter and what existed before the Big Bang, presenting the evidence as to whether we really are alone, illuminating what we still don't know, and much more besides.
Note that in the USA & Canada, thte book has a different title: "Space at the Speed of Light". You can find out more information on where to buy the book here.