In this week's questions show, I explain why we don't see the same thing multiple times as we look out into the Universe, could a planet orbit in the Lagrange Points of two stars, and why haven't there been any missions to Io? 00:00 Start 00:36 Could we see the same galaxy multiple times? 05:16 Could a planet orbit in an L4/L5 point? 08:31 Why no missions to Io? 10:42 How can we drive space exploration? 13:31 Did Inspiration4 have problems with their toilet? 14:33 Self sufficient colony on Titan...
Sep 29, 2021•31 min
In this week's questions show, I jump into the controversy between Blue Origin and SpaceX, explain why bigger telescopes are better, and talk about how Mercury has eternally shadowed craters and could serve as a place for a base. Want to be part of the questions show? Ask a short question on any video on my channel. I gather a bunch up each week and answer them here. 🚀 OUR WEBSITE: ════════════════════════════════════ https://www.universetoday.com/ 🚀 PODCAST LINKS: ════════════════════════════...
Sep 28, 2021•37 min
The new season has begun! We're back with an all-new series of question shows. In this week's episode, I provide a quick guide to seeing fireballs (bolides), which are the brightest meteors you can see (and sometimes hear). I explain the philosophy behind Dyson Spheres, and explain why dark matter can't be made out of antimatter. 00:00 Start 00:43 How big are really bright meteors? 04:15 Are Dyson Spheres just pure fantasy? 08:19 What would it take to resolve features on Proxima B? 11:32 Could a...
Sep 20, 2021•36 min
My guest today is Dr. Hamsa Padmanabhan, a cosmologist at the University of Geneva. Dr. Padmanabhan's work involves the investigation of Cosmic Dawn, the period shortly after the beginning of the Universe when the large-scale structure of the cosmos was defined. https://cosmology.unige.ch/users/hamsa-padmanabhan 🚀 OUR WEBSITE: ════════════════════════════════════ https://www.universetoday.com/ 🚀 PODCAST LINKS: ════════════════════════════════════ RSS: https://universetoday.com/audio iTunes: ht...
Sep 20, 2021•58 min
My guest today is Dr. Markus Janson, an astronomy professor at Stockholm University. Dr. Janson and his co-authors have recently published a study investigating if ground-based observatory could use starshades to help directly image exoplanets. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10686-021-09792-y 🚀 OUR WEBSITE: ════════════════════════════════════ https://www.universetoday.com/ 🚀 PODCAST LINKS: ════════════════════════════════════ RSS: https://universetoday.com/audio iTunes: https://...
Sep 20, 2021•55 min
In the season finale of my questions show, I talk about high-altitude bacteria, traveling into the future, does it make sense to go back to University, and more. See you all in September! 00:00 Start 01:10 How high an altitude can bacteria survive? 04:02 Should I go back to university? 06:29 Could we terraform Venus with comets? 08:49 Could we detect life in Andromeda? 11:04 Could aliens perceive time differently? 13:01 Why do spacecraft use such old hardware? 15:20 What do I think about the bil...
Jul 22, 2021•37 min
In this week's questions show, I explain why Dyson Spheres (and Swarms) should actually be pretty easy to detect across the Universe. If it's possible to service the Hubble Space Telescope with a Falcon 9, and will computers take jobs away from astronomers. 00:00 Start 01:04 How could we detect Dyson Swarms? 07:24 How could we hide a Dyson Swarm? 10:03 Could a Falcon 9 service Hubble? 13:02 Will computers replace humans in astronomy? 16:30 Will any Venus missions be able to detect life? 18:43 Co...
Jul 05, 2021•33 min
In this week's questions show, I explain what would happen if scientists discovered an existential threat to humanity. Would they let us know, or keep it secret to avoid a panic? Could we detect a Breakthrough Starshot fleet coming our way? And how well does China communicate its space exploration to the public? 00:00 Start 00:37 Would they tell us about the end of the world? 03:05 Is the Solar System normal? 05:38 Could we detect Breakthrough Starshots? 08:46 How well does China communicate to ...
Jun 25, 2021•33 min
My guest today is Professor Lee Cronin from the University of Glasgow. Dr. Cronin investigates the chemistry of life and has developed methods that could help us detect it on other worlds - even life as we don't know it. http://www.chem.gla.ac.uk/cronin/ 🚀 OUR WEBSITE: ════════════════════════════════════ https://www.universetoday.com/ 🚀 PODCAST LINKS: ════════════════════════════════════ RSS: https://universetoday.com/audio iTunes: https://universetoday.com/itunes Spotify: https://universetod...
Jun 25, 2021•57 min
In this week's questions and answer show, I explain how all the dust in space forms, could life be Von Neumann probes, why do people think black holes lead to another universe, and more... 00:00 Start 00:57 What is space dust? 05:14 Does the Kardashev scale make sense? 08:43 Could life on Earth be Von Neumann probes? 11:31 What should I point my telescope at? 14:23 Why do people think black holes go somewhere? 16:36 Why are we seeing so many asteroids? 19:36 If we can track space debris, shouldn...
Jun 16, 2021•36 min
In this week's Q&A, I try to imagine what might happen if a microscopic black hole passed through the Earth. How long will James Webb take to become operational, and what will be the Plan B for James Webb if it fails? 00:00 Start 00:46 What if a microscopic black hole passed through the Earth? 05:25 When will James Webb come online? 06:38 What's plan B for James Webb if it fails? 09:16 Do Oort Clouds overlap? 11:29 Could there be a Tatooine out there? 13:50 Does China plan to colonize Mars? ...
Jun 09, 2021•36 min
In this week's episode, I talk about the various ways we measure the age of the Universe. What's next for OSIRIS-REx? And what are the next frontiers for gravitational wave astronomy? 00:00 Start 00:41 How do we calculate the age of the Universe? 04:32 Will the planets migrate again? 06:36 What's next for OSIRIX-REx? 07:47 What's next for gravitational wave astronomy? 11:27 Does the habitable zone shift as the Sun heats up? 12:59 Will future civilizations know about the Big Bang? 18:17 Could a p...
Jun 01, 2021•35 min
I'm pleased to welcome back Dr. Casey Handmer, a software systems architect at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In addition to his work at NASA, Casey has a fascinating blog where he considers the future of human and robotic space exploration: https://caseyhandmer.wordpress.com/ 🚀 OUR WEBSITE: ════════════════════════════════════ https://www.universetoday.com/ 🚀 PODCAST LINKS: ════════════════════════════════════ RSS: https://universetoday.com/audio iTunes: https://universetoday.com/itunes Sp...
Jun 01, 2021•1 hr 1 min
In this week's questions show, I consider what the night sky might look like if you could stand at the center of the Milky Way where the stars are denser. Do all stars have Oort clouds? And could Starship really send humans to Mars for the price of a house? 00:00 Start 00:50 What would the sky look like at the center of the Milky Way? 04:05 Will the Neutron be competitive? 07:40 Do all stars have Oort Clouds? 09:59 Would it be realistic to send humans to Mars for the price of a house? 11:38 Next...
May 17, 2021•36 min
My guest is Dr. Ken Olum, a research professor at Tufts University. His primary research is into cosmic strings, and how they could be detectable through techniques like gravitational waves. 🚀 OUR WEBSITE: ════════════════════════════════════ https://www.universetoday.com/ 🚀 PODCAST LINKS: ════════════════════════════════════ RSS: https://universetoday.com/audio iTunes: https://universetoday.com/itunes Spotify: https://universetoday.com/spotify 🚀 EMAIL NEWSLETTER: ════════════════════════════...
May 17, 2021•58 min
My guest is Dr. Michael H. Hecht, a research scientist and associate director at MIT's Haystack Observatory. Hecht is also the principal investigator for the Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment onboard Perseverance: https://www.haystack.mit.edu/researcher/mike-hecht/ 🚀 OUR WEBSITE: ════════════════════════════════════ https://www.universetoday.com/ 🚀 PODCAST LINKS: ════════════════════════════════════ RSS: https://universetoday.com/audio iTunes: https://universetoday.com/itunes Spotify: https://univer...
May 17, 2021•51 min
In this week's questions show, I explain why we'd be able to recognize aliens, even if they were vastly more technologically advanced than us. Why I don't do any promotional ads on my videos, and if we have any examples of energy turning into matter. 00:00 Start 01:09 Can we actually recognize aliens? 04:18 Why don't I have sponsors? 06:33 Could we detect light pollution? 08:36 Can energy turn into matter? 10:18 How do we measure the age of the solar system? 12:52 What other prototypes will we n...
May 10, 2021•33 min
In this special interview, I was fortunate to speak with Dr. Ronald Mallet, an emeritus professor at UConn. In addition to a lifetime's work in cosmology and astrophysics, Mallet has been trying to work out how our understanding of Einstein's theories of General Relativity might lead to a practical form of time travel. https://physics.uconn.edu/person/ronald-mallett/ This interview was part of the Weekly Space Hangout for May 5th, 2021. You can watch the whole episode here: https://www.youtube.c...
May 10, 2021•45 min
Support Universe Today Podcast
May 06, 2021•1 hr 6 min
My guest is Dr. Rebecca K. Leane, an astroparticle physicist with the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The work involves innovative ways to detect dark matter. http://rebeccaleane.com/ 🚀 OUR WEBSITE: ════════════════════════════════════ https://www.universetoday.com/ 🚀 PODCAST LINKS: ════════════════════════════════════ RSS: https://universetoday.com/audio iTunes: https://universetoday.com/itunes Spotify: https://universetoday.com/spotify 🚀 EMAIL NEWSLETTER: ═════════════════════════════...
May 06, 2021•59 min
In this week's questions show, I explain whether or not gravity is infinite, will we need to cure cancer to go to space? Will SpaceX help Artemis' chances for landing humans on Mars in 2024, and more... 00:00 Start 00:54 Is gravity infinite? 02:33 How deep does lunar regolith go? 04:09 Could nearby star systems contain planets that we don't know about? 06:59 Will dust diminish Ingenuity's performance? 10:14 Difference between micro-gravity and zero-gravity? 11:57 Will the Russians abandon the IS...
May 06, 2021•39 min
My guest is Dr. Jessie Christiansen, an astrophysicist with NASA's Exoplanet Science Institute. Jessie will give us an update on TESS and the 2,200 planets it's discovered so far. http://web.ipac.caltech.edu/staff/christia/ 🚀 OUR WEBSITE: ════════════════════════════════════ https://www.universetoday.com/ 🚀 PODCAST LINKS: ════════════════════════════════════ RSS: https://universetoday.com/audio iTunes: https://universetoday.com/itunes Spotify: https://universetoday.com/spotify 🚀 EMAIL NEWSLET...
May 06, 2021•57 min
In this week's questions show I explain why we could be first in the Universe, do galaxies flip or spin, did I pick a good career? And more. 00:00 Start 00:47 Are we first in the Universe? 03:01 Do galaxies flip end over end? 04:28 Bro, get a better career 06:46 How much longer can SLS going? 10:33 Did I watch Ingenuity fly? 12:08 Am I looking forward to the movie version of the Three-Body Problem? 13:42 Does it make sense to try and watch a rocket launch? 16:32 Could we build space elevator on ...
Apr 26, 2021•28 min
My guest is Mick West, a game developer and writer. Mick has been studying UFO claims and contrail conspiracy theories for many years and has a useful toolkit to help identify unidentified objects in the sky. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF3UCTZiVg9wrIEzO7Om6jw 🚀 OUR WEBSITE: ════════════════════════════════════ https://www.universetoday.com/ 🚀 PODCAST LINKS: ════════════════════════════════════ RSS: https://universetoday.com/audio iTunes: https://universetoday.com/itunes Spotify: https://...
Apr 26, 2021•58 min
My guest is Dr. Klaus Pontoppidan, an astronomer and project scientist working with the James Webb Space Telescope. Klaus is on the committee that helped choose targets that the telescope will be studying once it flys (and it will). https://www.stsci.edu/~pontoppi/ 🚀 OUR WEBSITE: ════════════════════════════════════ https://www.universetoday.com/ 🚀 PODCAST LINKS: ════════════════════════════════════ RSS: https://universetoday.com/audio iTunes: https://universetoday.com/itunes Spotify: https://...
Apr 26, 2021•59 min
In this week's questions show, I explain why a heat-powered rover wouldn't work on Venus. I explain how spacecraft navigate, and wonder what James Webb's Deep Field survey will look like. 00:00 Start 00:54 Could the heat on Venus power a rover? 03:53 What if Ingenuity tips over? 05:42 How do spacecraft navigate? 08:36 Are SpaceX workers being prepared to work on the Moon or Mars? 10:46 How would James Webb's deep field look? 12:52 Any more flybys for New Horizons? 14:03 Will human or a sample re...
Apr 20, 2021•30 min
My guest is astronomer and science communicator Dr. Maggie Lieu. Lieu is a research fellow of machine learning and cosmology at the University of Nottingham and has been working on the upcoming Euclid space mission to help in the search for Dark Energy. https://maggielieu.com/ 🚀 OUR WEBSITE: ════════════════════════════════════ https://www.universetoday.com/ 🚀 PODCAST LINKS: ════════════════════════════════════ RSS: https://universetoday.com/audio iTunes: https://universetoday.com/itunes Spoti...
Apr 20, 2021•1 hr
Professor Geraint Lewis is an astrophysicist focused on dark energy, gravitational lensing and galactic merger. He has recently published a paper that that investigates the nature of the anthropic principle, how the Universe needs observers. https://www.geraintflewis.com/ 🚀 OUR WEBSITE: ════════════════════════════════════ https://www.universetoday.com/ 🚀 PODCAST LINKS: ════════════════════════════════════ RSS: https://universetoday.com/audio iTunes: https://universetoday.com/itunes Spotify: h...
Apr 15, 2021•59 min
You might know Dr. Sutter as a science communicator, but his doctorate is actually in particle physics. Paul is going to join me to talk about the Muon g-2 experiment and what it means for the Standard Model of physics. We'll probably also talk about the end of the EmDrive and other topics in space and astronomy. http://www.pmsutter.com/ 🚀 OUR WEBSITE: ════════════════════════════════════ https://www.universetoday.com/ 🚀 PODCAST LINKS: ════════════════════════════════════ RSS: https://universe...
Apr 15, 2021•34 min
Dr. Michio Kaku is a theoretical physicist and science communicator. His new book is called the God Equation, which traces the quest for a single theory of everything that will unite quantum mechanics and the theory of gravity. https://mkaku.org/home/ 🚀 OUR WEBSITE: ════════════════════════════════════ https://www.universetoday.com/ 🚀 PODCAST LINKS: ════════════════════════════════════ RSS: https://universetoday.com/audio iTunes: https://universetoday.com/itunes Spotify: https://universetoday....
Apr 15, 2021•48 min
