The Stars We Didn’t Know Existed - Dr Laura Driessen

In this episode of Astrophysics for All, I’m joined by Dr Laura Driessen, a radio astronomer and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Sydney’s Sydney Institute for Astrophysics. We explore what radio astronomy actually is, how scientists study stars and cosmic events using signals we can’t see, and why some of the universe’s biggest discoveries come from its quietest signals. Dr Driessen shares her journey into astronomy, her work with major telescopes like ASKAP and MeerKAT, and what it’s really like to search for things that appear, disappear, and change across the radio sky. Whether you’re interested in space, science, or how curiosity turns into a career, this episode offers an honest look at what it means to explore the universe.