Universe Today Podcast

Fraser Cain
undefined
Aug 22, 2025 β€’ 0sec

[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
undefined
Aug 21, 2025 β€’ 0sec

[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
undefined
Aug 20, 2025 β€’ 0sec

[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
undefined
Aug 19, 2025 β€’ 0sec

[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
undefined
Aug 15, 2025 β€’ 0sec

[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
undefined
Aug 13, 2025 β€’ 0sec

[Interview] The Infinity Galaxy: First Evidence of a Direct Collapse Supermassive Black Hole?

How did supermassive black holes get so big so early? There are two main models for that, and JWST just got a huge boost for the one that suggests they can form via a direct collapse of gas clouds. How did the researchers pull the first observations of a potential birth of a SMBH? Finding out in this interview. πŸ‘‰ [Interview+] SECRET Bonus Part. No YT ads. It's FREE https://www.patreon.com/universetoday 😍 PROMO -57% OFF your first month on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/join-my-patreon-134941769 🟣 Guest: Dr. Pieter van Dokkum https://physics.yale.edu/people/pieter-van-dokkum πŸ“œ The JWST Might Have Found the First Direct-Collapse Black Hole https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-jwst-might-have-found-the-first-direct-collapse-black-hole πŸ“œ The ∞ Galaxy: A Candidate Direct-collapse Supermassive Black Hole between Two Massive, Ringed Nuclei https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/addcfe 00:00 Intro 02:18 Supermassive black holes 11:57 The Discovery 21:38 Implications for cosmology 34:17 Current obsessions 42:35 Final thoughts πŸ“Ί VIDEO VERSION https://youtu.be/JoqjFqakszI 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
undefined
Aug 13, 2025 β€’ 0sec

[Q&A] New Moons for Mars, Black Hole Jets, Best Case Scenario for Europa Clipper

What would happen if we moved a jovian moon to Mars? What are black holes spitting out as those jets? What's the best case scenario for Europa Clipper's search for life? And in Q&A+, how are we searching for Sun-like stars? 😍 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 00:28 [Ademnon's Couch] What if we took one of Jupiter's moons to Mars? 03:28 [John Divita] How do gravitational slingshots work? 06:12 [Trevor] What is the best case scenario for Europa Clipper's search for life? 10:22 [Steve Babarik] What are black holes spitting out? 13:40 [Ahmad Canrang] What's the difference between a comet and a meteoroid? 15:21 [Santiago Kaderian] Does Canada use F or C? πŸ“Ί VIDEO VERSION https://youtu.be/YKAepCYrA30 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
undefined
Aug 12, 2025 β€’ 0sec

[Q&A] Black Hole Size Limit, Economies of Scale for Space Missions, Favourite Galaxy

Is there an upper size limit for black holes? Why don't we build multiple identical missions to increase the chance of success? Is the Universe considered finite or infinite? And in Q&A+, is the Universe expanding or is everything else just shrinking? πŸ¦„ Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/universetoday 00:00 Start 00:28 [Ascendant Construct] Why don't we build multiple identical space missions at once? 01:36 [Lubo in China] My automated telescope 05:27 [Kasie Ream] Radiation in space 09:50 [Abdul Samad Kholia] Is space considered infinite? 11:56 [Brenda Kalt] Why changed our perspective on the Universe? 13:49 [Steven Lewis] How fast can a wired communication with the Moon be? 14:24 [Dark Jedi Order] My favourite galaxy 17:15 [paul wilson] How big can black holes get? πŸ“Ί VIDEO VERSION https://youtu.be/Yrl0UL_UEhM 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
undefined
Aug 8, 2025 β€’ 0sec

[Space Bites] New Planet at Alpha Centauri // Webb Ultra Deep Field // Six Mars Helicopters

A Planet Found at Alpha Centauri. Webb Revisits the Hubble Ultra Deep Field. Little Red Dots don't break the laws of physics. In Space Bites Plus, showing that the Earth's magnetosphere was here for a long time. 😍 PROMO -57% OFF your first month on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/join-my-patreon-134941769 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 Planet at Alpha Centauri 02:58 Webb revisits Hubble's Ultra Deep Field https://www.universetoday.com/articles/webb-revists-hubbles-classic-ultra-deep-field 04:23 NGC 6072 by JWST https://www.universetoday.com/articles/jwst-traces-details-of-complex-planetary-nebula 05:45 Little red dots VS the Eddington limit https://www.universetoday.com/articles/little-red-dots-eat-fast-but-not-faster-than-eddington 08:25 Solar array for Nancy Grace Roman Telescope 09:26 Vote results https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/posts 09:58 Six more helicopters for Mars https://www.universetoday.com/articles/six-of-ingenuitys-successors-could-be-exploring-mars-in-4-years 11:36 Rogue planetary systems https://www.universetoday.com/articles/rogue-planets-can-spawn-their-own-planetary-systems 13:02 Newsletter 14:10 Bonus story: early Earth magnetosphere 14:37 Huge Q&A πŸ“Ί VIDEO VERSION https://youtu.be/7ioJvlWBg58 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
undefined
Aug 7, 2025 β€’ 0sec

[Q&A] Aiming an Asteroid at The Moon, Mars Babies, Absolute Stillness

Could we aim asteroid YR4 at the Moon on purpose? What would happen to babies born and raised on Mars? Should we use water as an insulation layer for our spacecraft? And in Q&A+, could we mine an asteroid that's stuck in a Lagrange point? 😍 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 00:28 [Goatlord] Could we direct an asteroid into the Moon to study the effects? 01:00 [MadmonkeyOz] Mars' ancient coast line 04:53 [Christian DesAlliers] Expanding advanced civilizations 07:52 [Web Fiji] Is there such thing as absolute stillness in the Universe 08:46 [TELE KOMIK] What will happen to babies born and raised on Mars? 10:52 [Len Kelter] Tackling the wait calculation 11:28 [Kasie Ream] Is it possible to do an X-Ray telescope? 12:06 [Jul Kar 'Cerum] Can we use water as an insulation layer for spacecraft? πŸ“Ί VIDEO VERSION https://youtu.be/eTQDaMZhxbc 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

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app