Universe Today Podcast

Fraser Cain
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Aug 29, 2025 β€’ 45min

[Starship Special] Full Analysis of IFT-10 with Scott Manley and Marcus House

The boys are back! Discussing all the things that happened during Starship IFT-10. Why didn't they catch the Super Heavy booster? What did explode near the engines? Why was Starship orange? What's next for SpaceX? Looking for all the answers with Scott Manley and Marcus House. πŸ“Ί Scott Manley: https://www.youtube.com/@scottmanley πŸ“Ί Marcus House: https://www.youtube.com/@MarcusHouse πŸš€ IFT-5 Analysis: https://youtu.be/Flv1W6AR-cU πŸš€ IFT-4 Analysis: https://youtu.be/ecMlV4W_CLU πŸš€ IFT-3 Analysis: https://youtu.be/EVic941kQ44 πŸš€ IFT-2 Analysis: https://youtu.be/ReXZvXPak4U πŸš€ IFT-1 Analysis: https://youtu.be/RGcdjJj-f4g 00:00 Intro 00:34 The Boys are back! 01:46 Starship IFT-10 04:47 Liftoff 05:24 Super Heavy return and landing 07:54 It didn't explode 09:27 Starlink mockups deployment 11:38 Skirt explosion and re-entry 21:10 Ship landing 29:39 What next? 32:28 Economics of Starlink 34:36 Artemis 39:23 Final thoughts πŸ“Ί VIDEO VERSION https://youtu.be/-u0Qw4gEjHw πŸ“° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter 🎧 PODCASTS Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/ Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/ πŸ“© CONTACT FRASER frasercain@gmail.com βš–οΈ LICENSE Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast
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Aug 29, 2025 β€’ 20min

[Space Bites] "WOW!" Signal Gets an Update // Starship IFT-10 // JWST Finds No Atmospheres

The Wow signal was even more Wow. Starship Flight 10 makes it space and returns to Earth, more red dwarf planets get crossed off the list as lacking an atmosphere, a supernova spilled its guts into space. And on Space Bites+, finding supernovae as quickly as possible. πŸ¦„ Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/universetoday 00:00 Intro 00:21 Update for the β€œWow!” Signal https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-wow-signal-gets-an-update-it-was-even-strong-than-we-thought 02:50 Starship IFT-10 https://www.universetoday.com/articles/blaze-of-glory-spacex-starship-goes-the-distance-in-10th-flight-test 06:39 JWST finds no atmospheres https://www.universetoday.com/articles/another-earth-like-exoplanet-crossed-off-the-list-the-jwst-shows-that-gj-3929b-has-no-atmosphere https://www.universetoday.com/articles/gj-1132-b-doesnt-have-an-atmosphere-according-to-new-jwst-data 09:12 White Dwarf Habitable Zones https://www.universetoday.com/articles/white-dwarf-stars-could-create-surprisingly-common-long-lived-habitable-zones 11:03 Supernova Headscratcher https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-exposed-core-of-this-supernova-is-a-headscratcher 12:43 Vote results https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/posts 13:14 TESS saw 3I/ATLAS https://www.universetoday.com/articles/tess-spotted-3iatlas-two-months-before-it-was-discovered-it-was-even-active-then 14:50 The Mystery of Jupiter https://www.universetoday.com/articles/new-study-rocks-jupiters-giant-impact-theory 16:52 Newsletter 17:38 Bonus story 18:01 Starship collab with Scott Manley and Marcus House πŸ“Ί VIDEO VERSION 00:00 Intro 00:21 Update for the β€œWow!” Signal https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-wow-signal-gets-an-update-it-was-even-strong-than-we-thought 02:50 Starship IFT-10 https://www.universetoday.com/articles/blaze-of-glory-spacex-starship-goes-the-distance-in-10th-flight-test 06:39 JWST finds no atmospheres https://www.universetoday.com/articles/another-earth-like-exoplanet-crossed-off-the-list-the-jwst-shows-that-gj-3929b-has-no-atmosphere https://www.universetoday.com/articles/gj-1132-b-doesnt-have-an-atmosphere-according-to-new-jwst-data 09:12 White Dwarf Habitable Zones https://www.universetoday.com/articles/white-dwarf-stars-could-create-surprisingly-common-long-lived-habitable-zones 11:03 Supernova Headscratcher https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-exposed-core-of-this-supernova-is-a-headscratcher 12:43 Vote results https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/posts 13:14 TESS saw 3I/ATLAS https://www.universetoday.com/articles/tess-spotted-3iatlas-two-months-before-it-was-discovered-it-was-even-active-then 14:50 The Mystery of Jupiter https://www.universetoday.com/articles/new-study-rocks-jupiters-giant-impact-theory 16:52 Newsletter 17:38 Bonus story 18:01 Starship collab with Scott Manley and Marcus House πŸ“° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter 🎧 PODCASTS Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/ Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/ πŸ“© CONTACT FRASER frasercain@gmail.com βš–οΈ LICENSE Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast
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Aug 28, 2025 β€’ 19min

[Q&A] Fermi Paradox Special

Can the difficulty of interstellar travel the answer to the Fermi paradox? Or maybe it's the fact that we can only apply it to our galaxy and not further? Or maybe we can even find life in our solar system? πŸ‘‰ [Q&A+] No YT ads. Bonus Question https://www.patreon.com/universetoday 00:00 Start 00:00 [Sean E] A copy of the ISS 00:31 [Josh B] Favourite mind-blowing fact 01:12 [SpaceManLegend] Life on Europa or Enceladus? 03:47 [Todd Gibson Art] Interstellar travel VS the Fermi paradox 04:45 [GMol] Fermi paradox for the galaxy VS the Universe 06:38 [Db Ireland] Panspermia 09:57 [Jurij Slavec] Rare Earth hypothesis 13:07 [paul wilson] How to kill a black hole? 13:44 [Astrobirder] Smart telescope to buy πŸ“Ί VIDEO VERSION https://youtu.be/pygx-mseIZY πŸ“° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter 🎧 PODCASTS Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/ Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/ πŸ“© CONTACT FRASER frasercain@gmail.com βš–οΈ LICENSE Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast
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Aug 28, 2025 β€’ 39min

[Interview] How Close Are We To Building A Practical Skyhook

We definitely won't see a space elevator built in any foreseeable future. But there is a similar but much more practical approach – a skyhook. How close are we to creating one? Why is it useful? What challenges does it bring and when can we expect first practical demonstrations? Finding out in this interview. πŸ‘‰ [Interview+] No YT ads https://www.patreon.com/universetoday 🟣 Guest: Dr. Markus Landgraf https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=vgra4_QAAAAJ πŸ“œ A multi-stage orbital sky hook for exploration in the new space transportation era https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0094576525004485 00:00 Intro 01:52 What is a skyhook 24:52 Materials 28:23 Possible practical tests 30:30 Current obsessions 36:59 Final thoughts πŸ“Ί VIDEO VERSION https://youtu.be/SvYvXk39wG8 πŸ“° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter 🎧 PODCASTS Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/ Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/ πŸ“© CONTACT FRASER frasercain@gmail.com βš–οΈ LICENSE Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast
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Aug 26, 2025 β€’ 18min

[Q&A] Dangerous Supernova, Astronomy's Blind Spot, Space Race to Mars

When is a supernova too close for comfort? Will USA's Moon race against China accelerate a race towards a Mars base? How can we see the Oort cloud? And in Q&A+, what do I tell to space deniers? πŸ¦„ Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/universetoday 00:00 Start 00:00 [Dvids] What do I say to people that deny space? 00:25 [SpaceInfrastructure] If China beats US to the Moon, will it accelerate a Mars base development? 04:37 [LtNuke] How close does a supernova need to be to cause real damage? 08:23 [Stephen Eichenhorn] How can we see the Oort cloud? 11:36 [Visto Tutti] What telescope do we need to see the furtherest light? πŸ“Ί VIDEO VERSION https://youtu.be/bJLwYHutFfE πŸ“° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter 🎧 PODCASTS Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/ Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/ πŸ“© CONTACT FRASER frasercain@gmail.com βš–οΈ LICENSE Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast
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Aug 22, 2025 β€’ 18min

[Space Bites] Origin of Ryugu and Bennu // JWST's Big Discovery // A Star Ate a Black Hole

Ryugu and Bennu are related, a star tried to eat a black hole and it didn’t go well, using moons to save fuel, and China tests its new human lunar lander. In Space Bites+, how climate change will impact satellite orbits. πŸš€ [Space Bites+] No ADS. BONUS Story. For FREE: https://www.patreon.com/universetoday πŸ‘‰ Vote for the best story here: https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/community 00:00 Intro 00:20 Asteroids Siblings https://www.universetoday.com/articles/its-official-asteroids-ryugu-and-bennu-are-siblings 02:16 Star Explodes While Eating a Black Hole https://www.universetoday.com/articles/a-distant-star-explodes-while-swallowing-its-black-hole-companion 04:14 Moon Flybys https://www.universetoday.com/articles/moon-flybys-could-save-fuel-on-interplanetary-missions 06:22 Universe’s Greatest Fireworks Show https://www.universetoday.com/articles/new-theory-points-to-the-universes-greatest-fireworks-show 08:34 Vote results https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/posts 08:57 China Tests Its Lunar Lander https://www.universetoday.com/articles/chinas-crewed-lunar-lander-passes-key-test-milestone 10:32 Webb Finds Uranus’ 29th Moon https://www.universetoday.com/articles/uranus-29th-moon-cant-hide-from-the-jwst 11:22 Psyche’s Version of The Pale Blue Dot https://www.universetoday.com/articles/nasa-commanded-psyche-to-turn-around-and-capture-images-of-earth-and-the-moon 12:42 More space news 13:42 Bonus story: Climate change impacting space 13:59 Current state of NASA πŸ“Ί VIDEO VERSION https://youtu.be/p6RWUT8fEW8 πŸ“° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter 🎧 PODCASTS Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/ Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/ πŸ“© CONTACT FRASER frasercain@gmail.com βš–οΈ LICENSE Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast
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Aug 21, 2025 β€’ 17min

[Q&A] Starships on Mars, Molten Salt Moon Batteries, Observable Universe

Why do people believe Starships will go to Mars? Can we use molten salt batteries on the Moon? What's the difference between the Universe and the Observable Universe? And in Q&A+, what's the chance of hitting an stone during an interstellar voyage? 😍 PROMO -57% OFF your first month on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/join-my-patreon-134941769 πŸ‘‰ [Q&A+] No YT ads. Bonus Question https://www.patreon.com/universetoday πŸ”΄ @scottmanley goes full-time YouTube: https://youtu.be/hM9h5TU39Dc?si=jQk50rpTnxcS5YhS 00:00 Start 00:25 [Dean T] Why people believe that Starships will land on Mars? 05:01 [Michael Stanley] What is does "observable Universe" mean? 06:46 [Dixie Q] When will we be able to see into the Oort cloud? 07:39 [puffcrusader696] How big can a telescope mirror get? 09:31 [kLONDIKE69 NONE] Can we use molten salt batteries on the Moon? 10:12 [Andrea Lencione] Which classic scifi author was best at predicted the future? πŸ“Ί VIDEO VERSION https://youtu.be/pbAZmQ2Sh80 πŸ“° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter 🎧 PODCASTS Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/ Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/ πŸ“© CONTACT FRASER frasercain@gmail.com βš–οΈ LICENSE Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast
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Aug 20, 2025 β€’ 41min

[Interview] Fighting Light Pollution from Satellites with Ultra Black Paint

Satellites are causing light pollution. Every year there a more of them. So, why don't they just paint them all vantablack, the ultra-black coating that doesn't reflect almost any light? Finding out in this interview. 😍 PROMO -57% OFF your first month on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/join-my-patreon-134941769 πŸ‘‰ [Interview+] No YT ads https://www.patreon.com/universetoday 😍 PROMO -57% OFF your first month on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/join-my-patreon-134941769 πŸ‘‰ [Interview+] No YT ads https://www.patreon.com/universetoday 00:00 Intro 02:25 The problem of satellite pollution 08:35 Counter measures so far 11:36 Vantablack 24:15 Satellite project 33:42 Current obsessions 38:43 Final thoughts πŸ“Ί VIDEO VERSION https://youtu.be/1yQegWQWtUo πŸ“° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter 🎧 PODCASTS Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/ Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/ πŸ“© CONTACT FRASER frasercain@gmail.com βš–οΈ LICENSE Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast
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Aug 19, 2025 β€’ 17min

[Q&A] Living on Venus VS Mars, Biosphere 2 for Mars, Dangers of Space Junk

Is living in the clouds of Venus better than living in sub-surface habitats on Mars? Can we really lock ourselves from orbit with space junk? Should we build another version of Biosphere before going to Mars? And in Q&A+, is abiogenesis really unlikely? 😍 PROMO -57% OFF your first month on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/join-my-patreon-134941769 πŸ‘‰ [Q&A+] No YT ads. Bonus Question https://www.patreon.com/universetoday 00:00 Start 00:29 [Mr Kyle] How do we distinguish the motions of galaxies and the expansion of the Universe? 02:14 [Melinda Green] Biosphere 2 before going to Mars? 03:38 [Adam Redwine] Are there any plans for Biosphere 3? 05:43 [A.SmollZz] Can we really trap ourselves on orbit because of space junk? 07:50 [Nick Stokes] What kind of space mission would I get on? 09:21 [name] Floating habitat on Venus VS sub-surface habitat on Mars 10:11 [Kyle] Hostile aliens 11:25 [Ken Sole] Rarest phenomena in our universe πŸ“Ί VIDEO VERSION https://youtu.be/S4Nj0kJ7ZMo πŸ“° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter 🎧 PODCASTS Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/ Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/ πŸ“© CONTACT FRASER frasercain@gmail.com βš–οΈ LICENSE Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast
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Aug 15, 2025 β€’ 26min

[Space Bites] JWST's Results from TRAPPIST-1d // Water from 3I/ATLAS // Biggest Black Hole Ever Found

Finally, Webb’s analysis of TRAPPIST-1d, new Hubble images comet 3I/ATLAS, the most massive black hole ever discovered, why Mars sand is so dangerous. And in Space Bites+, staring right down the jet of an actively feeding supermassive black hole. 😍 Patreon Q&A. 4+ hours of content! https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-questions-136023971 πŸš€ [Space Bites+] No ADS. BONUS Story. For FREE: https://www.patreon.com/universetoday πŸ‘‰ Vote for the best story here: https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/community 00:00 Intro 00:20 Webb's Analysis of Trappist-1d https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-jwst-shows-us-that-trappist-1d-is-not-as-earth-like-as-we-hoped 04:30 Stellar flares at Trappist-1 https://www.universetoday.com/articles/stellar-flares-unveil-hidden-magnetic-secrets-of-trappist-1 06:22 3I/ATLAS is actively releasing water https://www.universetoday.com/articles/3iatlas-is-very-actively-releasing-water 08:41 Hubble looks at 3I/ATLAS https://www.universetoday.com/articles/hubble-captures-stunning-view-of-third-interstellar-visitor 10:03 More on Little Red Dots https://www.universetoday.com/articles/mystery-of-the-little-red-dots-may-finally-be-solved 12:05 Biggest Supermassive Black Hole ever found https://www.universetoday.com/articles/a-36-billion-solar-mass-black-hole-detected-thanks-to-gravitational-lensing 14:07 Ultramassive white dwarf https://www.universetoday.com/articles/this-white-dwarf-merged-with-another-star-to-form-an-ultra-massive-white-dwarf 15:49 Vote results https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/posts 16:23 Offroading on Mars https://www.universetoday.com/articles/this-could-prevent-rovers-from-getting-stuck-in-sand-or-dust 18:09 Mars from above https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-martian-landscape-reveals-climate-secrets 19:56 Mars mosaic from Percy https://www.universetoday.com/articles/perseverance-takes-a-new-panoramic-image-of-mars-on-a-clear-day 20:55 More space news 22:05 Bonus story: Eye of Sauron Blazar 22:27 CLICKBAIT! πŸ“Ί VIDEO VERSION https://youtu.be/7cRLHpD87ug πŸ“° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter 🎧 PODCASTS Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/ Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/ πŸ“© CONTACT FRASER frasercain@gmail.com βš–οΈ LICENSE Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

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