AaS! 109: What Are the Mysterious Cosmic Strings?

How do cracks appear in spacetime? What does it have to do with symmetry? Could we ever hope to find a cosmic string? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books  Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF TIME AND SPACE! Big thanks to my top Patreon supporters this month: Matthew K, Helge B, Justin Z, Matt W, Justin G, Kevin O, Duncan M, Corey D, Kirk B, Barbara K, Neuterdude, Chris C, Robert M, Nate H, Andrew F, Chris L, Jon, Elizabeth W, George, Cameron L, John, Tim R, Neil L, Joe R, Neil P, Gabriella G, Tom S, Bryan D, Irene P, Dustin R, Matt C, Iothian53, Steve P, Debra S, Ken L, Alberto M, Ron W, Chris L, Mark R, Alan B, Stephen J, David P, John F, Maureen R, Frank T, Craig B, Jesse A, Ron S, Steven L, Ulfert B, Dave L, Stace J, S Stark, Richard K, Vladimir Z, Carol S, Stephen M, Grace M, Jeremy K, Russell W, David B, Tamara F, Robert B, Fr Bruce W, Catherine R, Nicolai B, Sean M, Nate H, Edward K, Ped, and David A! Music by Jason Grady and Nick Bain. Thanks to Cathy Rinella for editing. Hosted by Paul M. Sutter, astrophysicist at The Ohio State University, and the one and only Agent to the Stars (http://www.pmsutter.com).