

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

Sep 25, 2025 • 0sec
[Q&A] Landing on Venus, Neutron Stars Going Boom, Shape of the Oort Cloud
Can neutron stars create an equivalent of Type 1a supernovae? Can you land on Venus without a parachute? How do we know the shape of the Oort cloud? And in Q&A+, what's going on with 3I/ATLAS' weird tail situation?

Sep 23, 2025 • 0sec
[Q&A] Huge Problem with YouTube, Inter-Species Communication, Earth to Jupiter
Could we turn Earth into Jupiter by just adding more atmosphere? Can we train to communicate with aliens by talking to animals? How's YouTube destroying itself and it's getting really dangerous? And in Q&A+ will Vera Rubin find an asteroid on a collision course with Earth?🔴 [Q&A+] No YT ads. Bonus Question. For FREEhttps://www.patreon.com/collection/116942🟣 [Overtime] Even more Q&Ahttps://www.patreon.com/collection/172006000:00 Start00:28 [Schnatz Grummelt] Can we turn the Earth into a Jupiter? 04:13 [InXs] Should we invest time into inter-species communication to prepare to talk to aliens? 08:52 [Aaron T] The big problem with YouTube📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/Of5v9Mr-5wU📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter🎧 PODCASTSUniverse Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/📩 CONTACT FRASERfrasercain@gmail.com⚖️ LICENSECreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

Sep 22, 2025 • 0sec
[Interview] Fighting Moon and Mars Dust with An Electric Shield
Dust is a big problem for Moon and Mars. It sticks to everything, breaks things, covers solar panels. So, how do you solve this problem? One possible solution is an electric shield that uses charged surfaces to repel the dust.👉 [Interview+] No YT adshttps://www.patreon.com/universetoday🟣 Guest: Luca Scifonihttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Luca-Scifoni📜 Performance of electrodynamic dust shields with functional surface coatings for lunar dust mitigationhttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/395286032_Performance_of_electrodynamic_dust_shields_with_functional_surface_coatings_for_lunar_dust_mitigation00:00 Intro02:24 Lunar dust07:12 Mitigation strategies10:46 Electrostatic shield20:49 Not just the Moon26:07 Potential tests28:33 Current obsessions33:11 Final thoughts 📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/KPzd40hj3gQ📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter🎧 PODCASTSUniverse Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/📩 CONTACT FRASERfrasercain@gmail.com⚖️ LICENSECreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

Sep 19, 2025 • 0sec
[Space Bites] Moon Infrastructure // End of Breakthrough Starshot // Moon Lava Tube Robots
Building infrastructure on the Moon, Earth gets a new quasi-satellite, a black hole has wandered away from the center of its galaxy, and a tour through star forming nebulae thanks to Gaia. And on Space Bites+, China’s new neutrino detector comes online. 🔴 [Space Bites+] No ADS. BONUS Story. For FREE:patreon.com/collection/116942👉 Vote for the best story here:https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/posts00:00 Intro00:18 Another Step Towards A Working Moon Infrastructurehttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/blue-alchemist-is-one-step-closer-to-creating-sustainable-infrastructure-on-the-moon02:13 Earth has another mini-moonhttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/earth-has-another-quasi-satellite-the-asteroid-arjuna-2025-pn703:50 JWST Finds An Exoplanet Around A Pulsar Whose Atmosphere Is All Carbonhttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/jwst-finds-an-exoplanet-around-a-pulsar-whose-atmosphere-is-all-carbon06:29 Wandering Black Holehttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/this-wandering-black-hole-has-left-its-galactic-center09:05 Trio of Robots to Explore Moon Caveshttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/this-trio-of-robots-could-explore-lunar-caves11:25 Vote results12:00 Black Hole Stars and Little Red Dotshttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/black-hole-stars-could-solve-the-mystery-of-little-red-dots13:38 GAIA’s Legacy in 3Dhttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/make-like-a-spacecraft-and-fly-through-gaias-3d-map-of-stellar-nurseries00:00 More space news00:00 What happened to Breakthrough Starshothttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-quiet-demise-of-breakthrough-starshot-a-billionaires-interstellar/📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/MkOPvzXKipM📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter🎧 PODCASTSUniverse Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/📩 CONTACT FRASERfrasercain@gmail.com⚖️ LICENSECreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

Sep 18, 2025 • 0sec
[Q&A] 3I/ATLAS Comet Special
How can we realistically tell if 3I/ATLAS is an alien spaceship or not? Can we turn an interstellar comet into a transmitter? Would the government suppress information about a dangerous asteroid? And in Q&A+, why aren't there more asteroids outside the solar system? 🔴 [Q&A+] No YT ads. Bonus Question. For FREEhttps://www.patreon.com/collection/116942🟣 [Overtime] Even more Q&Ahttps://www.patreon.com/collection/172006000:00 Start00:30 [Visto Tutti] How could we tell 3i-Atlas as comet, from Avi-Loeb-style alien space junk?04:25 [Jera King] What’s going to happen when 3I/ATLAS goes through the asteroid belt?06:33 [Buzz Uka] Can we turn a comet into a transmitter?10:10 [Todd Szafranski] Will MRO get good images of 3I/ATLAS?11:57 [Scott S] Would the government suppress information about a dangerous asteroid?15:12 [Sid vicious] Small channel recommendations📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/3yed1iFQ9Aw📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter🎧 PODCASTSUniverse Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/📩 CONTACT FRASERfrasercain@gmail.com⚖️ LICENSECreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

Sep 16, 2025 • 0sec
[Q&A] Naming Planet X, Cats in Space, Stars Blocking Galaxies
Who will name Planet X if/when it is discovered? How will cats deal with the toilet situation if they go to space? Can a star block an entire galaxy? And in Q&A+ what happens if we find proof that there's no life elsewhere?🔴 [Q&A+] No YT ads. Bonus Question. For FREEhttps://www.patreon.com/collection/116942🟣 [Overtime] Even more Q&Ahttps://www.patreon.com/collection/172006000:00 Start00:28 [Aaron Brinkerhoff] How sure are we that planet 9 exists?01:25 [Dem Pilafian] Who will name the Planet X?03:40 [Steven Kolins] When does Vera Rubin go live live and not just testing?06:47 [Eric Rouleau] Why study what is outside of out galaxy since we will never go there?10:24 [churchdiscography] How could my cats use a cat pan in space?11:18 [Ayush Agarwal] Can stars block entire galaxies?13:02 [Christopher Kirby] Gravity in space16:31 [laladieladada] Gravity from the Pillars of Creation17:06 [Edward] What happens if somebody dies in space? 📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/wYN5kIKVS58📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter🎧 PODCASTSUniverse Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/📩 CONTACT FRASERfrasercain@gmail.com⚖️ LICENSECreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

Sep 11, 2025 • 0sec
[Q&A] Hiding Earth from Aliens, Truth About Pyramids, Crashing Into a Black Hole
Can we make Earth invisible for possible alien invaders? What's the deal with the pyramids and their alignment to stars? Can an interstellar ship casually crash into a black hole? And what's the difference between cosmology and astronomy after all? 🔴 [Q&A+] No ads. Bonus question. For FREEhttps://patreon.com/universetoday00:00 Start00:27 [Rod Tolosa] Possible life on Venus03:16 [abstractedaway] Heium-rich dwarf stars as techosignatures04:00 [kenji] The truth about pyramids06:25 [Jakub Polášek] Most interesting citizen science projects in astronomy/space field right now07:21 [Osiris Mpg] Could an interstellar ship crash into a black hole? 08:34 [FunkyCritter] Will Earth's spin stop eventually? 09:12 [Keiichi S] Naked-eye nebula11:03 [Nolan Mosley] LEO satellites and the ozone layer13:11 [Nanp90] Making the Earth invisible for alienes📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/cuXXPrp3_PU📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter🎧 PODCASTSUniverse Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/📩 CONTACT FRASERfrasercain@gmail.com⚖️ LICENSECreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

Sep 11, 2025 • 0sec
[Space Bites] HUGE “Life on Mars” Announcement // 3I ATLAS Grows a Tail // JWST Looks at TRAPPIST-1e
Has Perseverance found signs of life on Mars? Webb scans TRAPPIST-1e for signs of an atmosphere. 3I/ATLAS grows a tail, and could get a mission. And on Space Bites+, Webb sees a cloud of methane around the dwarf planet Makemake.🔴 [Space Bites+] No ADS. BONUS Story. For FREE:https://www.patreon.com/universetoday👉 Vote for the best story here:https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/posts00:00 Intro00:21 NASA Says Perseverance Discovered Signs of Life on Marshttps://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-says-mars-rover-discovered-potential-biosignature-last-year/https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-exoplanet-trappist-1-e-takes-its-turn-in-the-jwsts-spotlight09:18 3I/ATLAS Grows a Tailhttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-gemini-south-telescope-takes-a-turn-imaging-the-interstellar-comet-3iatlas11:18 Mission Concept to Catch 3I/ATLAShttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/researchers-at-swri-produced-a-mission-concept-for-exploring-interstellar-objects-like-3iatlas13:34 Calisto’s Footprints in Jupiter Aurorahttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/juno-detects-callistos-footprints-in-jupiters-aurorae14:53 Vote resultshttps://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/posts15:35 A Giant Burst of Energy In Need Of An Explanationhttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/a-giant-burst-of-energy-in-need-of-an-explanation17:34 Titan Dragonfly Continues Developmenthttps://science.nasa.gov/blogs/dragonfly/2025/09/08/nasas-dragonfly-soaring-through-key-development-test-activities/18:59 Amazing JWST Imagehttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/a-glittering-stellar-nursery-shines-in-new-jwst-image20:14 More space news to your inbox20:58 Bonus story: Methane on Makemake21:25 State of science journalism📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/V28Tc_koO5U📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter🎧 PODCASTSUniverse Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/📩 CONTACT FRASERfrasercain@gmail.com⚖️ LICENSECreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

Sep 9, 2025 • 0sec
[Q&A] Flammable Titan, Jupiter Gravitational Lens, Max Photon Energy | Q&A 352
What's the highest energy a photon can have? Is Titan just a huge fire hazard floating in space? How do they measure the masses of planets with just satellites? And in Q&A plus, what realistic scifi is worth watching? 🔴 [Q&A+] No ads. Bonus question. For FREEhttps://www.patreon.com/universetoday00:00 Start00:00 [Chris Nelsynels] Realistic scifi recommendations00:26 [Marz Chart] Is oxygen flammable on Titan? 00:46 [FPLMikkel] Ability to light fires as a Great Filter01:44 [darthex0] Are stars burning after all? 02:01 [Francois Miron] Jupiter gravitational lens03:08 [Michael McConnell] Measuring gravity with satellites05:42 [Colin Houseworth] Energy limit for high energy photons06:57 [Encodedpr] Trip to a Moon base07:57 [Annie Alexander] For All Mankind📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/w3Fx1hEX0ws📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter🎧 PODCASTSUniverse Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/📩 CONTACT FRASERfrasercain@gmail.com⚖️ LICENSECreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast

Sep 5, 2025 • 0sec
[Space Bites] 3I/ATLAS Is NOT Normal // JUICE Lost Contact // Mars' Lumpy Interior
3I/ATLAS is very different from any comet we’ve ever seen before, Mars is filled with fragments from ancient impacts, ESA loses contact with JUICE right before an important flyby, and the highest resolution image of a solar flare ever seen. And on Space Bites+, why asteroid made of the same material can have different colors. 🔴 [Space Bites+] No ADS. BONUS Story. For FREE:https://www.patreon.com/universetoday👉 Vote for the best story here:https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/posts00:00 Intro00:25 3I/ATLAS is Weirdhttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/3iatlass-coma-is-largely-carbon-dioxide02:51 Technosignatures of Interstellar Objectshttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/what-technosignatures-would-interstellar-objects-have06:52 Mars’ Lumpy Interiorhttps://www.nasa.gov/missions/insight/nasa-marsquake-data-reveals-lumpy-nature-of-red-planets-interior/08:40 Plasma Waves In Jupiter’s Aurorashttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/scientists-discover-unusual-plasma-waves-in-jupiters-aurora10:15 ESA Restores Communication with JUICEhttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-esa-restores-communications-with-juice-at-venus12:25 Vote results12:55 Supernova’s Hearthttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/chandra-peers-into-a-supernovas-troubled-heart15:38 Breathtaking Solar Flarehttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/worlds-most-powerful-solar-telescope-captures-breathtaking-image-of-solar-flare17:11 Cosmic Butterflieshttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-butterfly-star-and-its-planet-forming-diskhttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/cosmic-butterfly-unlocks-secrets-of-how-rocky-planets-form18:59 Newsletter19:55 Bonus story in [Space Bites+]20:25 Media recommendations📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/n4Uc5hnljRg📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter🎧 PODCASTSUniverse Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/📩 CONTACT FRASERfrasercain@gmail.com⚖️ LICENSECreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Support Universe Today Podcast


