

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

Feb 25, 2025 β’ 20min
[Q&A] SpaceX Consuming NASA, Earth Hoarding Asteroids, Tracking X37
Will SpaceX eventually consume NASA? Are there asteroids at Lagrange points in front and behind the Earth? Can we track the Space Force's secret X37 shuttle? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A show.
π¦ Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Start
00:31 Are there asteroids in Earth's Lagrange points?
04:09 Will Musk fold NASA into SpaceX?
12:15 How will current US events change Canadian Space Agency?
15:06 Do we track the Space Force secret "Shuttle"?
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/ejGGdBH9IzM
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

Feb 21, 2025 β’ 20min
[Space Bites] First Ever Strange Star // Fireworks from Sgr A* // Most Energetic Neutrino Ever
A massive new release of Type 1a supernova data, did astronomers see a strange star form? huge spiral arms of comets in the Oort Cloud, and the highest energy neutrino ever detected. Plus in our extended version on Patreon, how scientists could get real data on UAPs.
π Watch THIS VIDEO with NO ADS and a secret BONUS for FREE:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/122805716
00:00 Intro
00:20 Massive release of Type 1a supernovae data
https://www.universetoday.com/170923/huge-release-of-type-1a-supernovae-data/
03:33 First strange star?
https://www.universetoday.com/171006/did-astronomers-just-witness-the-formation-of-a-strange-star/
06:04 When did the Moon solidify?
https://www.universetoday.com/170956/the-moon-solidified-4-43-billion-years-ago/
07:36 Spiral structures in the Oort cloud
https://www.universetoday.com/170976/a-spiral-structure-in-the-inner-oort-cloud/
09:08 Vote results
https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/community
10:10 Highest energy neutrino ever detected
https://www.universetoday.com/170914/an-unfinished-detector-has-already-spotted-the-highest-energy-neutrino-ever-seen/
12:20 JWST spies fireworks at Sgr a
https://www.universetoday.com/170986/webb-telescope-fireworks-milky-way-galaxy-black-hole/
13:36 Intermediate size black holes
https://www.universetoday.com/171003/desi-found-300-candidate-intermediate-mass-black-holes/
15:26 Cool space images
https://www.universetoday.com/170928/stunning-80-megapixel-image-of-a-stellar-nursery/
https://www.universetoday.com/170915/a-flaming-flower-in-the-large-magellanic-cloud/
16:36 Guide to Space
17:10 Bonus part
17:42 Current state of NASA
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/WkqpZx6bt_0
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

Feb 20, 2025 β’ 19min
[Q&A] Dying in Space, Cancelling SLS, Getting My Mind Blown
What will we really lose in case SLS actually gets cancelled? Would nuclear rockets bring a significant enough improvement to space travel? Do we even know how to die in space? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A show.
π Watch this same video with no ads and a bonus question:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-question-q-122574752
π Additional Overtime episode with even more questions:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/overtime-for-q-122575228
00:00 Start
00:24 What are we losing if the SLS is cancelled?
05:59 Will a space dry dock work?
09:39 Do we even know how to die in space?
11:15 What blows my mind?
12:51 Would nuclear rockets go faster than our current engines?
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/JxMjGabWNOE
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

Feb 18, 2025 β’ 24min
[Q&A] Terraforming Exoplanets, Dark Matter Annihilation, Finding Life in Other Galaxies | Q&A 296
Does dark matter annihilate with normal matter? Should we be searching for signs of life in other galaxies? Do we know how to terraform exoplanets? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A.
π¦ Watch additional Overtime:
https://patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Start
00:22 How can we terraform exoplanets?
08:28 Can we detect life in another galaxy?
12:46 Does dark matter and normal matter annihilate?
15:46 Does the YT algorithm help my channel?
21:34 SECRET bonus question
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/bP5RIQU8-0s
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

Feb 17, 2025 β’ 31min
[NIAC 2025] Exploring Enceladus with a Hopping Robot
Moving across the surface of Enceladus can be more tricky than you think. Rough icy terrain can be hard for wheels. No atmosphere makes helicopters impossible. Thus, hopping and jumping might be the answer!
π Watch our videos with no ads:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
π NIAC 2025 playlist
π NIAC 2024 playlist
π NIAC 2023 playlist
π£ Guest: Dr. Justin Yim
https://publish.illinois.edu/novelmobilerobotslab/
NIAC Award. LEAP β Legged Exploration Across the Plume
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/niac/leap-legged-exploration-across-the-plume/
00:00 Intro
01:29 Enceladus
02:34 NIAC proposal
04:35 SALTO hopper
10:27 Scientific challenges
13:15 Alternative destinations
16:18 Scaling things up
20:26 Deliverables for NIAC
22:03 Current obsessions
30:24 More interviews
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/fXQ0tWw0zjE
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

Feb 14, 2025 β’ 18min
[Space Bites] Odds of An Asteroid Strike // Dark Matter Domination // Radiation Protection with Hydrogel
James Webb finds the smallest asteroids in the main belt, astronomers double the chances of that asteroid strike in 2032, using hydrogel to protect astronauts from radiation, and material from Alpha centauri is already streaming into the Solar System.
π¦ Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Intro
00:20 JWST sees the smallest asteroid
https://www.universetoday.com/170834/jwst-finds-the-smallest-asteroids-ever-seen-in-the-main-belt/
02:45 Double the chances of hitting Earth
https://www.universetoday.com/170837/yes-the-odds-of-an-asteroid-striking-earth-have-doubled-no-you-dont-need-to-worry/
05:52 Webb sees newly forming planets
https://www.universetoday.com/170882/the-jwst-gives-us-our-best-image-of-planets-forming-around-a-star/
07:13 Protecting from radiation with hydrogel
https://www.universetoday.com/170817/hydrogels-could-be-ideal-radiation-protection-for-astronauts/
09:03 Vote results
09:38 Meterial from Alpha Centauri
https://www.universetoday.com/170799/material-from-alpha-centauri-is-already-here/
11:37 Dark Matter dominating early Universe
https://www.universetoday.com/170833/a-new-study-reveals-how-dark-matter-dominated-the-early-universe-1/
13:17 Mars clouds from Curiosity
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia26519-curiosity-views-twilight-clouds/
14:02 Einstein ring from Euclid
https://www.universetoday.com/170864/the-euclid-space-telescope-captures-a-rare-stunning-einstein-ring/
14:59 RCW 38
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2503/
15:41 More space news
16:17 Bonus story on Patreon
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/L6Hw1ofU0IE
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

Feb 13, 2025 β’ 17min
[Q&A] Most Exciting NIAC Project, Grains of Sand vs Stars, Total Solar Eclipse Going Away
Which NIAC project would be the best to bring to life? Are there really more stars than grains of sand on Earth? Is the solar eclipse going away from us? What's on my shelf behind me? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A.
π¦ Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Start
00:26 Is the total solar eclipse going away?
02:24 Will Starship and New Glenn bring more space observatories?
04:36 Which NIAC award is the most exciting?
06:48 Are there places in the Universe with dozens of galaxies in the sky?
08:21 Are there more grains of sand than stars in the Universe?
09:54 Item from the shelf
12:33 A starhade project
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/MEfNk0dS2tI
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

Feb 12, 2025 β’ 46min
[NIAC 2025] NASA Just Funded A Project to Blow Space Structures Out Of Glass
NASA just funded a NIAC project to study the possibility of building large structures on the Moon, on Mars and in space out of glass. Blowing glass bubbles similarly to how it's done on Earth.
π Watch our videos with no ads:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
π£ Guest: Dr. Martin Bermudez
https://www.skyeports.com/
NIAC Award. Lunar Glass Structure (LUNGS): Enabling Construction of Monolithic Habitats in Low-Gravity:
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/niac/lunar-glass-structure-lungs-enabling-construction-of-monolithic-habitats-in-low-gravity/
00:00 Intro
01:25 How difficult is blowing glass
14:11 Moon habitat made of glass
29:07 Glass structures in space
33:17 What is NIAC like
40:57 Current obsessions
43:38 More interviews
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/p-eGu_RGCOI
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

Feb 11, 2025 β’ 23min
[Q&A] Space Junk Blocking Orbit, Fine-Tuning Problem, State of Media | Q&A 294
Will space debris prevent us from accessing orbit and when could it happen? Is the Universe with all its rules just a lucky accident? What does "The Publisher of Universe Today" even do? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A show.
π Watch the extended Overtime Q&A:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Start
00:27 Will the Kessler syndrome stop us from launching rockets?
04:11 The fine-tuning problem
09:38 What does the Publisher of Universe Today actually do?
14:43 How do I stay rested with all this?
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/AVyTQuzw4us
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

Feb 10, 2025 β’ 34min
[NIAC 2025] Our Best Venus Map Is 36 Years Old. NASA Wants to Fix it With Balloons
Venus has a thick layer of clouds that obscures our view of the surface. To tackle that, this NIAC project suggests launching a balloon with a tether that will go below the cloud layer and help us image Venus surface.
π¦ Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/universetoday
π£ Guest: Dr Benjamin Hockman
https://www-robotics.jpl.nasa.gov/who-we-are/people/benjamin_hockman/
NIAC Award. TOBIAS: Tethered Observatory for Balloon-based Imaging and Atmospheric Sampling
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/niac/tobias-tethered-observatory-for-balloon-based-imaging-and-atmospheric-sampling/
00:00 Intro
01:37 Upper atmosphere of Venus
20:23 Possible Sample Collection
21:52 Upcoming Venus missions
25:18 NIAC project goals
26:58 Current obsessions
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/BePPHPj6uo8
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