New Books Network Emma Chapman, "Radio Universe: How to Explore Space Without Leaving Earth" (Hachette UK, 2026)
Mar 19, 2026
Emma Chapman, award-winning astrophysicist and Royal Society Research Fellow, explains how radio waves reveal hidden cosmos. She traces a radio wave from the Moon to the Milky Way. Topics include radar mapping of planets and lava tubes, the Event Horizon Telescope and black hole imaging, the Square Kilometre Array’s time-travel power, SETI’s radio search, and radar’s role in planetary defense.
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Radio Astronomy Is A Different Kind Of Eye
- Radio astronomy observes the longest wavelengths of light, using antennas and software instead of optical lenses.
- Emma Chapman contrasts radio dishes and algorithms with optical telescopes and camera sensors to show a different “eye” for the universe.
PhD Moment Changed Her View Of Radio Telescopes
- Chapman first encountered radio astronomy in graduate school and expected glamorous optical telescopes.
- She learned her PhD radio instruments were small arrays “in a duck pond in the Netherlands,” which changed her view of the field.
Translation Barrier Keeps Radio Hidden
- Radio astronomy needs translation from radio signals into images, which creates a public understanding barrier.
- Chapman wrote her book to guide readers gently so future news about radio discoveries will be accessible to them.
