Scientist at the Main Astronomical Observatory of the NAS of Ukraine, astrophysicist Olena Kompaniiets, was a guest in an interview on the YouTube channel "Sasha and Sense," where she talked about the modern scientific view of the Universe, the nature of cosmic phenomena, the search for extraterrestrial life, and the dangers of pseudoscientific theories.
During the conversation, the scientist explained why astrology and horoscopes have nothing to do with science. According to her, the stars in constellations only appear close from Earth, although in reality they can be separated by thousands of light years, so they cannot influence a person's character or fate. And the "retrograde Mercury," according to the scientist, is just an optical illusion caused by the peculiarities of the planets' movement around the Sun.
Special attention was given to the scale of the Universe, the nature of black holes, the future of the Sun, and the prospects of colonizing Mars. The scientist reminded that all heavy elements in the human body were formed as a result of star explosions billions of years ago, so a person is literally "star dust."
The interview also discussed the search for extraterrestrial life, the possibility of life existing on the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and why the development of STEM education today is directly related to society's resilience to disinformation and propaganda. Watch the interview