

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

Dec 27, 2024 • 32min
[Special] The Best Space News Stories of 2024 (Objectively)
All the best news stories from 2024 as voted by our viewers in Space Bites.
🦄 Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Intro
01:09 January
02:36 February
04:02 March
05:44 April
08:23 May
10:40 June
13:12 July
16:03 August
19:47 September
22:17 October
26:11 November
28:39 December
31:11 Outro
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/cdCeQldv3R0
📰 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/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

Dec 24, 2024 • 20min
[Q&A] Origin of Mars' Moons, Mission INTO a Gas Giant, Canada in Space
Where did Phobos and Deimos come from? Can we send a mission into a gas giant? How many exoplanets did Gaia detect? What is Canada's involvement in space exploration? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A show.
🦄 Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Start
00:28 How is Canada involved in space exploration?
03:25 How many exoplanets did Gaia detect?
06:21 How did Mars get its moons?
09:48 Will we ever send a mission into a gas giant or an ice giant?
14:01 Why do people mistake drones, stars, planes, etc. for aliens?
16:07 What determines the gravity on a planet?
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/fRxn1SMqQ_4
📰 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/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

Dec 23, 2024 • 44min
[Interview] What The Hell Is Life? And How Do We Search For It?
To find life outside of Earth we first need to understand what life even is. So, what is life? How can we go from understanding 'life as we know it' to 'life as we don't know it'? And how can we then search for it in the Universe?
More interviews:
👉 Venus Could Harbour Non-Water Based Life
https://youtu.be/wK9LWHNHuF4?si=zqq62dMbje2ZhfSc
👉 Exomoons. Can JWST Help Find Them?
https://youtu.be/umiMtQU3bMU?si=H5doB5PnzaSTr9Q4
🦄 Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Intro
01:09 What is life?
09:35 Life as we (don't) know it
28:55 Technosignatures
36:30 Bonus extra interview
37:20 Current obsession
42:49 More interviews
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/apqBjg91oSk
📰 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/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

Dec 20, 2024 • 20min
[Space Bites] TRAPPIST-1b Atmosphere // 2 Landers 1 Rocket // NO Magma Ocean for Io
More landers are going to the Moon; maybe TRAPPIST 1b has an atmosphere after all; Perseverance climbs up to the rim of Jezero Crater and a supermassive black hole rolls over onto its side.
🦄 Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Intro
00:14 2 Landers 1 Rocket
03:02 Trappist-1b atmosphere update
https://www.universetoday.com/170140/one-of-the-most-interesting-exoplanets-just-got-even-more-interesting/
05:03 No magma ocean for Io
https://www.universetoday.com/170123/new-research-suggests-io-doesnt-have-a-shallow-ocean-of-magma/
08:00 Eat. Rest. Repeat
https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/massive-black-hole-in-the-early-universe-spotted-taking-a-nap-after-overeating
10:07 Binary star near Sgr A
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2418/
11:46 Black hole on its side
https://www.nasa.gov/universe/black-holes/nasa-finds-sideways-black-hole-using-legacy-data-new-techniques/
13:14 Vote results
https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/community
13:56 Progress for Nancy Grace Roman
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/roman-space-telescope/nasa-successfully-integrates-roman-missions-telescope-instruments/
15:12 Rim of the Jezero crater
https://www.universetoday.com/170103/nasas-perseverance-rover-reaches-the-top-rim-of-the-jezero-crater/
16:55 ISS Astrophotography from Don Petit
https://www.universetoday.com/170146/astronaut-don-pettit-is-serious-he-rigged-up-astrophotography-gear-on-the-iss/
19:15 Last minute gift
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/R8gPKu0dl20
📰 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/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

Dec 19, 2024 • 17min
[Q&A] Ice-Covered Moon, Nature of Spaghettification, Adapting to Mars
How bright would the Moon be if it was covered with ice not regolith? How does spaghettification happen near black holes? How will the human body adapt to Mars's gravity after the long journey? Answering all these questions and more in the Q&A show.
🦄 Get the additional Overtime audio episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/overtime-audio-118171439
00:00 Start
00:26 How will our body adapt to Mars after the long journey to it?
04:06 How does spaghettification happen near black holes?
07:55 Could advanced civilizations ignite stars?
10:53 How can we be in the center of a hot bubble with multiple supernovae?
13:35 What would happen if the Moon was covered with ice?
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/y9EfiBZPoE8
📰 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/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

Dec 18, 2024 • 40min
[Interview] Ion Engines for The Solar Gravitational Lens and Beyond
Ion engines can be a very efficient way to travel not only through our Solar System but even beyond. What kinds of ion engines are there? How are they different? What kind of missions can we expect? Finding out in this interview.
🦄 Get the extra part for free here:
pattern.com/universetoday
🟣 Guest: Dr. Dan Fries
https://engr.uky.edu/people/dan-fries
📜 Advanced Electric Propulsion Systems with Optimal Specific Impulses for Fast Interstellar Precursor Missions
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385172298_Advanced_Electric_Propulsion_Systems_with_Optimal_Specific_Impulses_for_Fast_Interstellar_Precursor_Missions
00:00 Intro
01:20 What are ion engines
11:49 Possible Missions
18:15 Solar gravitational lens
30:42 Interstellar travel
34:04 Bonus part
35:10 Current obsessions
38:19 More interviews
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/QgLE-tFUVow
📰 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/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

Dec 17, 2024 • 21min
[Q&A] Space Base on Phobos, Starship Returning from Mars, Hibernation During Space Travel
Will we have a space base on Phobos? Will hibernation help us to cope with long-distance space travel? How will Starship be returning from Mars? Answering all these questions and more in the Q&A show.
🦄 Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Start
00:24 Why not build a space station at Phobos?
02:33 How long would it take for live to evolve to human level again?
05:23 How to cope with radiation during long-distance space travel?
09:58 How will humans get back from Mars on a Starship?
15:01 Will hibernation help us survive during space travel?
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/iRLrlgrK-og
📰 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/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

Dec 13, 2024 • 20min
[Space Bites] Game Over for Gaia // Why Ingenuity Crashed // Humanity's First Quasar
We finally learn why Ingenuity crashed. Gaia is nearing the end of its life. NASA is planning cargo deliveries to the Moon. And a twin of the Milky Way, seen in infancy by Webb.
🦄 Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Intro
00:15 Why Ingenuity crashed
02:58 End of Gaia
05:52 Cargo missions for the Moon
07:34 Mass of the Milky Way
09:13 Vote results
09:47 Solar flares
12:30 Cosmic rays
14:47 Milky Way's early twin
16:25 Humanity's first quasar
17:56 Interviews
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/4LXb-B3gf98
📰 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/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

Dec 12, 2024 • 24min
[Q&A] Fighting Light Pollution, Venus Holding Its Atmosphere, Space Under New Administration
How can one fight light pollution? What will happen to space exploration in our modern political climate? Why doesn't Venus lose its atmosphere without a magnetosphere? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A show.
🦄 Get the additional Overtime audio episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/overtime-audio-q-117715009
00:00 Start
00:23 How can Venus hang on to its atmosphere without a magnetic field?
02:17 What will happen to space exploration?
08:45 Would we see a Sgr A quasar from Earth if it became one?
11:54 How to fight light pollution?
15:36 What's going on with the "Crisis in Cosmology"?
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/3LaXmvY5BBE
📰 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/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

Dec 10, 2024 • 20min
[Q&A] Milky Way from the ISS, Poking a Black Hole, Sun Bringing The Moon Closer
How don't comets lose all their mass really quickly? Where are all the photos of the Milky Way from the ISS? Can you reach out from orbit and poke a black hole with a stick? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A show.
🦄 Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Start
00:24 Comets and their tails
04:06 Where are the pictures of the Milky Way from the ISS?
08:36 Will the Sun's expansion bring the Moon closer to Earth?
11:27 Can you poke a black hole with a stick?
13:35 When did 'our' part of the Universe form?
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/Jv07d5T9sQ8
📰 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/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
frasercain@gmail.com
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast