Take a break, we’re on Smoko! This week we sit down with astrophysicist, science communicator, and STEM icon Kihana Wilson, known online as The Astro Stud.

Kihana shares her incredible journey from a curious 10-year-old discovering a life-changing astronomy book in her school library, to becoming a post-baccalaureate researcher at Argonne National Laboratory. Her research dives deep into theoretical cosmology, large-scale structure, galaxy clustering, and the mysterious realms of dark matter and dark energy. Kihana breaks it all down in a way that even space newbies can understand.

We explore the importance of simulations, her work with protoclusters and the James Webb Space Telescope, and why this moment in astronomy is so exciting. But this episode isn’t just about the cosmos, it’s about community, identity, and the power of showing up authentically in spaces that weren’t built with you in mind.

Kihana opens up about navigating physics and academia as a Black queer woman, building her own support networks, and why she believes in unapologetic representation. Her platform, The Astro Stud, is more than just science communication; it’s a love letter to her younger self and a rallying cry for others who have felt unseen in STEM. With humor, heart, and a whole lot of insight, Kihana reminds us that science should be for everyone, and that you don’t have to shrink yourself to belong.

Kihana Wilson (The Astro Stud):
Instagram @theastrostud

Mentioned in the Podcast:

• James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
• Argonne National Laboratory
• DESI: Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument

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