Episode 121: No Country for Old Material

In this episode, we take a break from our usual astronomical antics to reflect on sustainability in the cosmos. Cormac, Cole and Shashank explore how the Universe manages to recycle material across all scales, from pepping up prostrated pulsars to cleaning up our orbital backyard. We conclude with a discussion of how analogies are (sometimes over)used in astronomy, and ponder when exactly a supernova remnant begins.

Astrobites:

Recycle your paper, plastic, and… pulsars?https://astrobites.org/2026/03/31/transitional_millisecond_pulsar

The Final Frontier for the Circular Economyhttps://astrobites.org/2026/04/24/the-final-frontier-for-the-circular-economy

Video about Swift boost mission:https://youtu.be/Up0LNTMPnjI