SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 14 The Astronomy, Space and Science News Podcast Asteroid from the Moon, Lunar Landers, and Trump’s Mars Ambitions In this episode of SpaceTime, we explore the intriguing discovery of a small asteroid, designated 2024 PT5, which is believed to be a fragment of the Moon ejected into space by a historic impact. This 10-meter wide near-Earth object offers new insights into both asteroid and lunar science, as researchers confirm its composition aligns closely with lunar r...
Jan 31, 2025•40 min•Season 28Ep. 14
SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 13 Mysteries of Water on Mars and the Origins of Earth's Moon In this episode of SpaceTime, we explore groundbreaking discoveries about the history of water on Mars. New research reveals thousands of mounds on the Martian northern plains, rich in clay minerals, indicating that this area was once submerged under a vast ocean. These findings, reported in Nature Geoscience, suggest that the mounds preserve a complete geological history of water on Mars, making them prime...
Jan 29, 2025•21 min•Season 28Ep. 13
SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 12 Unveiling the Mysteries of Fast Radio Bursts and Mars' Geology In this episode of SpaceTime, we delve into the enigmatic origins of fast radio bursts (FRBs), those mysterious cosmic phenomena that release immense energy in mere nanoseconds. Recent findings challenge existing theories about their sources, suggesting that some FRBs may originate from regions in ancient, dead galaxies, raising profound questions about the nature of these bursts and their potential as ...
Jan 28, 2025•31 min•Season 28Ep. 12
SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 11 Ancient Water on Mars and the Birth of the Universe's Lights Scientists have uncovered two sets of ancient wave ripples on Mars, revealing evidence of long-dried ponds and lakes that once existed on the Red Planet. Discovered by NASA's Curiosity rover, these ripples, formed approximately 3.7 billion years ago, indicate that shallow bodies of water were open to the Martian atmosphere, challenging previous climate models suggesting an ice-covered surface. This findin...
Jan 24, 2025•19 min•Season 28Ep. 11
SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 10 Gaia's Sky Scanning Completion and Mid Infrared Flare from Sagittarius A* The European Space Agency's Gaia spacecraft has completed its sky scanning phase, marking a monumental achievement in astronomical missions. Over the past decade, Gaia has transformed our understanding of the Milky Way by mapping the positions and characteristics of billions of stars. This mission has provided unprecedented insights into the origins and evolution of our galaxy, revealing its ...
Jan 22, 2025•21 min•Season 28Ep. 10
SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 09 Starship's Fiery End and Blue Origin's New Glenn Debut SpaceX's Starship experienced a dramatic explosion during its seventh test flight, marking both success and setback. While the super heavy booster was successfully caught by the launch tower's chopstick arms, the Starship upper stage exploded during ascent. Despite the fiery end, the mission demonstrated significant advancements in booster recovery technology. Blue Origin's New Glenn Maiden Flight Blue Origin's...
Jan 20, 2025•39 min•Season 28Ep. 9
SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 08 Origins of Fast Radio Bursts Unveiled Astronomers have pinpointed the source of fast radio bursts, specifically linking them to magnetars, a type of highly magnetic neutron star. This breakthrough, reported in Nature, was achieved by analysing the scintillation of FRB2022 1022A, indicating its proximity to a magnetar within 10,000 kilometres. This discovery sheds light on the mysterious phenomenon, suggesting that all fast radio bursts might originate from similarl...
Jan 17, 2025•23 min•Season 28Ep. 8
SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 07 Dark Matter's Role in Milky Way's Stellar Streams New research suggests that dark matter may have influenced the formation of the GD-1 stellar stream in the Milky Way. A study in the Astrophysical Journal Letters proposes that a core-collapsing, self-interacting dark matter subhalo could explain the unusual spur and gap features observed in the stream. This finding could deepen our understanding of dark matter's properties and its influence on the universe. Sun's T...
Jan 15, 2025•24 min•Season 28Ep. 7
SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 06 Formation of Pluto-Charon Binary System A new study reveals that the formation of the Pluto-Charon dwarf planet binary system may mirror that of the Earth-Moon system. The research, published in Nature Geoscience, suggests that both systems feature a secondary body significantly large in comparison to the primary, unlike other moons in our solar system. The findings could explain Pluto's active geology and potential subsurface ocean, highlighting the significance o...
Jan 14, 2025•35 min•Season 28Ep. 6
SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 05 Volcanic Activity on Mars New research suggests recent volcanic activity on Mars, with eruptions possibly occurring within the last 50,000 years. This discovery, based on satellite observations, highlights a mysterious dark deposit in Elysium Planitia, indicating explosive volcanism. The findings could mean Mars is still volcanically active, raising possibilities of habitable conditions due to interactions between magma and icy substrates. Mysteries of Supernova 19...
Jan 10, 2025•26 min•Season 28Ep. 5
SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 04 Challenging the Existence of Dark Energy A groundbreaking study from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand is challenging the long-held belief in dark energy, suggesting that the universe's expansion might not require this enigmatic force. The research proposes the "timescape" model, which accounts for variations in cosmic expansion rates by considering differences in gravitational time dilation. This model could potentially resolve some of the universe's big...
Jan 08, 2025•29 min•Season 28Ep. 4
SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 03 Parker Solar Probe's Historic Journey NASA's Parker Solar Probe has made history by becoming the fastest man-made object, surviving a record-breaking close approach to the Sun's surface. The probe, travelling at an unprecedented speed of 155,520 kilometres per hour, flew just 6.1 million kilometres above the Sun, providing invaluable data to help scientists understand the Sun's impacts on the solar system, including Earth. This mission marks a significant achieveme...
Jan 06, 2025•27 min•Season 28Ep. 3
SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 02 Liquid Water on Mars: A Mirage? A new study casts doubt on the existence of liquid water on Mars, challenging previous assumptions about recurring slope lineae and the potential for brine pools. Researchers argue that the Martian environment's low temperature and pressure make it unlikely for liquid water to exist, even in the form of salty brines. The findings question the habitability of the Red Planet by Earth standards. New Asteroids Discovered NASA's Webb Spac...
Jan 03, 2025•38 min•Season 28Ep. 2
SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 01 Webb Telescope Confirms Hubble Tension The James Webb Space Telescope has confirmed the Hubble Tension, challenging the current understanding of cosmic theory. New observations reveal that the Universe is expanding faster now than during its early years, suggesting gaps in our understanding of cosmic physics. The study, led by Adam Rees and Thomas Barber, confirms the accuracy of Hubble's measurements, pointing to unknown factors in the Universe's expansion. Liquid...
Jan 01, 2025•33 min•Season 28Ep. 1
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 157 NASA's Parker Solar Probe Touches the Sun NASA's Parker Solar Probe has made history by becoming the first spacecraft to touch the Sun. The probe, weighing 685 kilogrammes, flew within 6.1 million kilometres of the solar surface, achieving unprecedented speeds of over 692 kilometres per hour. This milestone marks a significant step in understanding solar phenomena and space weather, with implications for forecasting geomagnetic storms. Moon's Volcanic Past Unveile...
Dec 30, 2024•24 min•Season 27Ep. 157
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 156 Superflares: A Century-Long Threat? A new study warns of the potential for our Sun to unleash superflares, with the threat estimated at once per century. These massive eruptions could engulf the Earth, challenging our understanding of solar behaviour. Evidence from other sun-like stars suggests that such violent solar events may be more common than previously thought, urging caution as we continue to study these phenomena. Binary Star Discovery Near Galactic Core ...
Dec 27, 2024•19 min•Season 27Ep. 156
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 155 *Discovery of a New Class of Cosmic X-Ray Astronomers have identified a new class of cosmic X-ray source, potentially originating from a novel type of nova event. The study, published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, reveals 29 unusual objects in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. These objects displayed unexpected behaviours, such as long-duration X-ray outbursts and recurring outbreaks. The findings suggest these sources, dubbed 'Milli Novae', could pla...
Dec 25, 2024•26 min•Season 27Ep. 155
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 154 * The Moon's Age: A New Perspectiv e New research suggests the Moon may be much older than previously believed. Evidence indicates the Moon's crust underwent extensive remelting around 4.35 billion years ago, obscuring its true age. This study proposes the Moon could be as old as 4.53 billion years, challenging past estimates and offering a new understanding of its formation. * Perseverance Rover's New Horizons NASA's Perseverance rover has reached the top of Jeze...
Dec 23, 2024•28 min•Season 27Ep. 154
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 153 * The Mysterious Origins of Martian Minerals A new study suggests that some Martian minerals may have formed in liquid carbon dioxide rather than water. While traditional views link Mars' dry river channels to past water presence, this research indicates that under ancient Martian conditions, liquid CO2 could have been a significant factor in shaping the planet's geological features. This finding, published in Nature Geoscience, adds a new layer to the ongoing deb...
Dec 20, 2024•25 min•Season 27Ep. 153
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 152 * Martian Dust Storms: A New Understanding A groundbreaking study reveals the triggers behind Mars' infamous planet-wide dust storms. Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder suggest that relatively warm and sunny days could initiate these massive storms. Presented at the American Geophysical Union's 2024 meeting, the findings could pave the way for forecasting Martian weather, similar to Earth meteorology. Understanding these storms is crucial, as they...
Dec 18, 2024•24 min•Season 27Ep. 152
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 151 * A New Perspective on the Moon's Aitken Basin Recent observations of the Moon's south pole reveal that the Aitken Basin crater is more circular than previously believed. This significant discovery challenges existing theories about its formation and has implications for future lunar missions, including NASA's Artemis program. The study, published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, suggests a more direct impact created the crater, offering potential access to...
Dec 16, 2024•30 min•Season 27Ep. 151
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 150 * Venus: A Lifeless World New research has debunked the long-standing theory that Venusmight have once been habitable. Despite being Earth's sister planet, a study of its atmospheric chemistry reveals that Venus has always been too dry to support oceans, making it an inhospitable world throughout its history. These findings, published in Nature Astronomy, have significant implications for the search for life on exoplanets, suggesting a focus on more Earth-like can...
Dec 13, 2024•25 min•Season 27Ep. 150
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 149 * Did Earth's Oceans Come from Comets? New research suggests that Earth's oceans may have originated from comets, reigniting the debate about the origins of Earth's water. Recent observations of Comet 67P reveal a similar molecular signature to Earth's oceans, challenging previous findings and suggesting Jupiter family comets could have contributed to Earth's water supply. This discovery, led by Kathleen Mandit from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre, highlights t...
Dec 11, 2024•21 min•Season 27Ep. 149
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 148 * Another Delay for NASA's Artemis Moon Mission NASA has announced a delay in the launch of its Artemis 2 manned Moon mission, now rescheduled for April 2026. Originally planned for September 2025, the delay is due to concerns about the Orion spacecraft's heat shield. This postponement also affects the timeline for Artemis 3, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface. NASA's focus is on ensuring the safety and reliability of the spacecraft's reentry systems...
Dec 10, 2024•40 min•Season 27Ep. 148
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 147 * A Cosmic Glimpse into the Universe's Past Astronomers have witnessed a rare supernova, 2023 UFX, offering insights into the early universe. This unusual stellar explosion involved a metal-poor red supergiant star, providing clues about the cosmic conditions when the universe began. The study, led by Michael Tucker from Ohio State University, reveals how early supernovae seeded the next generation of stars, shaping galaxies like the Milky Way. The findings unders...
Dec 06, 2024•43 min•Season 27Ep. 147
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 146 * Supernova's Potential to End the Dark Matter Search Astronomers are eagerly awaiting a nearby supernova that could finally solve the mystery of dark matter. A new study suggests that axions, hypothetical particles, could be discovered within seconds of a supernova's gamma-ray burst. The Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope might detect these gamma rays, offering insights into the mass of QCD axions. However, the rarity of such supernovae and the telescope's limited f...
Dec 04, 2024•27 min•Season 27Ep. 146
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 145 * Unveiling the Mysteries of Uranus and Neptune A new study reveals that Uranus and Neptune, the ice giants of our solar system, may have layered interiors composed of water, methane, and ammonia, similar to oil and water that do not mix. This discovery could explain their unique magnetic fields, previously a mystery to scientists. The research, led by Burkhard Miltzer from the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that these planets have a water-rich layer...
Dec 02, 2024•32 min•Season 27Ep. 145
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 144 * Young Exoplanet Challenges Planet Formation Theories Astronomers have discovered an exoplanet, Taade 1b, that is just 3 million years old, challenging our current understanding of the speed at which planets form. This young planet, orbiting its star every seven Earth days, offers a unique glimpse into the early stages of planetary formation. The study, led by Madison Barber from the University of North Carolina, highlights the surprising rapidity of Taade 1b's f...
Nov 29, 2024•24 min•Season 27Ep. 144
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 143 * The Milky Way: An Unusual Galaxy A new study reveals that our Milky Way galaxy is an outlier among similar galaxies, challenging the assumption that it is a typical model for understanding galactic formation and evolution. Published in the Astrophysical Journal, the research highlights differences in the Milky Way's evolutionary history compared to other galaxies of similar mass. The Satellite Surround Galactic Analogues (SEGA) survey has identified 101 Milky Wa...
Nov 27, 2024•25 min•Season 27Ep. 143
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 142 * How Mars Got Its Moons A groundbreaking study suggests that Mars acquired its moons, Phobos and Deimos, after a passing asteroid was torn apart by the planet's gravity. This new hypothesis, based on NASA's supercomputer simulations and published in the journal Icarus, challenges previous theories of their origin, such as capture or major impact. The upcoming Martian Moons Exploration mission by JAXA, with NASA's involvement, aims to further investigate these the...
Nov 25, 2024•40 min•Season 27Ep. 142
