Full podcast episodes: http://www.askaspaceman.com/ Support: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter Follow: http://www.twitter.com/PaulMattSutter and http://www.facebook.com/PaulMattSutter What is the fine structure constant? Where does it come from? Why is it so important? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman! Follow all the show updates at http://www.askaspaceman.com/, and help support the show at http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter! Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF TIME AND SPACE! Music by Jason Grady and Nick Bain. 00:00 Discovery of the Fine Structure Constant 04:50 The Electromagnetic Coupling 08:49 The Constant That Isn't 12:35 Origins of the Constant