

Universe Today Podcast
Fraser Cain
Space news, interviews, Q&As, and exclusive content from Universe Today.
Audio versions of Fraser Cain YouTube channel.
Audio versions of Fraser Cain YouTube channel.
Episodes
Mentioned books

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.
πΊ Scott Manley:
https://www.youtube.com/@scottmanley
πΊ Marcus House:
https://www.youtube.com/@MarcusHouse
π IFT-5 Analysis: https://youtu.be/Flv1W6AR-cU
π IFT-4 Analysis: https://youtu.be/ecMlV4W_CLU
π IFT-3 Analysis: https://youtu.be/EVic941kQ44
π IFT-2 Analysis: https://youtu.be/ReXZvXPak4U
π 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
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/-u0Qw4gEjHw
π° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
π§ PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
π© CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
βοΈ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

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.
π¦ Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Intro
00:21 Update for the βWow!β 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
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
00:00 Intro
00:21 Update for the βWow!β 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
π° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
π§ PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
π© CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
βοΈ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

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?
π [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
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/pygx-mseIZY
π° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
π§ PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
π© CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
βοΈ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

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 β 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.
π [Interview+] No YT ads
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π£ Guest: Dr. Markus Landgraf
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=vgra4_QAAAAJ
π 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
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/SvYvXk39wG8
π° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
π§ PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
π© CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
βοΈ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

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?
π¦ 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?
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/bJLwYHutFfE
π° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
π§ PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
π© CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
βοΈ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

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 didnβt 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.
π [Space Bites+] No ADS. BONUS Story. For FREE:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
π 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 Universeβs 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 Uranusβ 29th Moon
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/uranus-29th-moon-cant-hide-from-the-jwst
11:22 Psycheβs 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
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/p6RWUT8fEW8
π° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
π§ PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
π© CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
βοΈ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

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?
π PROMO -57% OFF your first month on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/join-my-patreon-134941769
π [Q&A+] No YT ads. Bonus Question
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
π΄ @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?
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/pbAZmQ2Sh80
π° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
π§ PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
π© CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
βοΈ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

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.
π PROMO -57% OFF your first month on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/join-my-patreon-134941769
π [Interview+] No YT ads
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π PROMO -57% OFF your first month on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/join-my-patreon-134941769
π [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
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/1yQegWQWtUo
π° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
π§ PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
π© CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
βοΈ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

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?
π PROMO -57% OFF your first month on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/join-my-patreon-134941769
π [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
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/S4Nj0kJ7ZMo
π° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
π§ PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
π© CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
βοΈ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

Aug 15, 2025 β’ 26min
[Space Bites] JWST's Results from TRAPPIST-1d // Water from 3I/ATLAS // Biggest Black Hole Ever Found
Finally, Webbβs 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.
π Patreon Q&A. 4+ hours of content!
https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-questions-136023971
π [Space Bites+] No ADS. BONUS Story. For FREE:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
π 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!
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/7cRLHpD87ug
π° GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
π§ PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
π© CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
βοΈ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast