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,...

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...

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...

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...

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, o...

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.