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

Apr 4, 2025 β’ 20min
[Space Bites] Revolutionary Mercury Mission Concept // Dust Shield for the Moon // First Crewed Polar Mission
Webb discovers auroras on Neptune, and measures the exact size of Asteroid 2024 YR4, the first Private Mission to carry humans on a polar orbit, a mission that could reach and explore Mercury using only a solar sail. And in our bonus story on Patreon, what would it take to build a sample return mission to Io?
π Watch THIS VIDEO with NO ADS and a secret BONUS for FREE:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Intro
00:24 JWST sees Neptune's auroras
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/webb-sees-neptunes-auroras-for-the-first-time
01:46 Webb measures the size of asteroid YR4
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/webb-scans-asteroid-2024-yr4-its-60-meters-across
03:02 Private polar mission Fram-2
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/four-private-astronauts-are-about-to-make-a-polar-orbit-for-the-first-time
04:36 Riding a solar sail to Mercury
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/a-mission-could-reach-mercury-on-solar-sails-alone
07:37 Gaia is gone
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/its-mission-over-gaia-rides-off-into-the-sunset
08:59 Vote results
https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/community
09:35 Electromagnetic dust shield
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/nasas-new-dust-repelling-shield-seems-to-work-well
11:43 Protoplanetary disks are small
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/many-protoplanetary-disks-arent-much-bigger-than-earths-orbit
13:35 Cool images
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/a-dramatic-einstein-ring-seen-by-webb
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/here-are-spherexs-first-images
15:40 Guide to space
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/lunar-polar-regions-could-have-microbes
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/subsurface-voids-could-allow-for-living-on-the-moon-and-mars
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/how-can-we-find-cryovolcanoes-on-europa
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/spaceflight-weakens-our-weight-bearing-bones-the-most
17:05 Bonus story
17:33 Shows to watch
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/1NN_dPBVRoE
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

Apr 3, 2025 β’ 23min
[Q&A] Dying Moon Landers, Gravitational Waves from Betelgeuse, Furthest Galaxies
Why don't moon landers just heat themselves to live through the lunar night? Will Betelgeuse's explosion cause a lot of gravitational waves? Is it even theoretically possible to accelerate close to the speed of light? And in our free bonus question on Patreon, what is my dream space mission? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A show.
π [Q&A+] Same video. No YT ads. BONUS question :
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
π [Overtime] Even more Q&A:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Start
00:29 [TuckFeem0] Which galaxies does JWST see in its most distant surveys?
03:50 [Silas Miller] Why do moon rovers and landers die from cold instead of just heating themselves?
09:04 [Larry Ward] What's happening with the expansion of the Universe?
12:06 [Lost in space] When Betelgeuse goes boom, will there be detectable gravitational waves?
13:30 [Bohr1um] Did my audience growth stagnate?
18:12 [Oh Ish Waddup] Can you realistically accelerate close to the speed of light?
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/5UcujAzxSOI
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

Apr 1, 2025 β’ 22min
[Q&A] Nearby Rogue Planets, Beaming Power from Space, Solar Sail Propulsion
Could there be rouge planets floating in space between us and Alpha Centauri system? Will the Chinese be beaming power from a space station to Earth? Will solar sails be used for propulsion in our lifetime? And in our free bonus question on Patreon, how Lagrange points work for different planets and moons? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A.
π [Q&A+] Same video. No YT ads. BONUS question :
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
π [Overtime] Even more Q&A:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Start
00:33 [Visto Tutti] Could there be rogue planets between us and Alpha-Cen?
03:59 [Wilkse1] Are there rogue black holes?
06:31 [KoiJoiJoe] Is the Chinese project to harvest solar energy in space and beam it to Earth real?
09:41 [KayKay14m] Will beaming power from space harm the atmosphere?
11:26 [Somadove] Will solar sails be used for propulsion in our lifetime?
13:21 [Abdul Samad Kholia] How can one work on realistic interstellar travel?
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/I8dH_L58mpQ
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

Mar 31, 2025 β’ 32min
[Interview] Can We Fix Liquid Mirror Telescopes' Biggest Problem?
Liquid mirror telescopes exist. But there's a big problem with them. They can only look directly up. Can we fix it? Can they work beyond the Earth's surface, in orbit or on the Moon? Finding out in this interview.
π Watch this video with NO ADS and a BONUS part for FREE:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
π£ Guest: Dr. Alvaro Romero-Calvo
https://lowgravitylab.ae.gatech.edu/
00:00 Intro
01:16 How liquid mirror telescopes work
06:39 Changing the orientation
17:18 Adaptive optics with liquid mirrors
19:32 Going beyond Earth surface
25:18 Current obsessions
29:02 Final thoughts
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/PIVuv64h19c
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

Mar 28, 2025 β’ 23min
[Space Bites] Possible Solution for Hubble Tension // Weird Rock Found on Mars // Space Tornadoes
Long-chain hydrocarbons found on Mars, has dark energy been decreasing over time? a completely flat telescope lens, the center of the Milky Way contains a star grinder. And in our free version on Patreon, a new theory for the formation of Mercury.
π Watch THIS VIDEO with NO ADS and a secret BONUS for FREE:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Intro
00:20 Long-chain Hydrocarbons on Mars
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/long-chain-hydrocarbons-found-on-mars
02:10 Weird Mars rock found by Percy
https://science.nasa.gov/blog/shocking-spherules/
03:44 Possible solution for Hubble Tension
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/fresh-findings-strengthen-the-case-for-dark-energys-evolution
08:24 Flat lens telescope
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/researchers-test-a-completely-flat-telescope-lens
10:23 Updates on the earliest galaxies
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-most-distant-known-galaxy-already-had-oxygen
12:34 Galaxy blowing on cosmic fog
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/webb-sees-an-early-galaxy-blowing-away-the-cosmic-fog
14:41 Vote results
https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/community
15:14 Space tornadoes
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/there-are-space-tornadoes-surrounding-the-core-of-the-milky-way
16:59 The star grinder
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-star-grinder-a-cloud-of-black-holes-at-the-center-of-the-milky-way
18:01 Cool space images
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/webb-sees-a-young-star-create-a-cosmic-tornado
19:13 More space news
20:32 Bonus story. Origin of Mercury
21:02 Our biggest piece of content ever
https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-questions-125246249
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/Q_UyQqTv-oA
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

Mar 27, 2025 β’ 20min
[Q&A] RoboAstronauts, Replacing Kepler, Starship HLS in Danger
Will astronauts be eventually replaced by robots in space? Is there a plan for a replacement for the Kepler telescope? Do Intuitive Machines failures mean that Starship HLS is kind of in danger? And in our free bonus question on Patreon, will Artemis become 100% SpaceX? All this and more in this Q&A show.
π¦ Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Start
00:30 Will astronauts be replaced by robots?
05:12 Is the vertical Starship HLS in danger?
07:44 What does NASA budget cuts mean for Chandra?
11:53 Are there any plans to repalce Kepler?
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/jWYHflFer-o
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

Mar 26, 2025 β’ 37min
[Interview] Titan Is Much Stranger Than You Think
Titan is the only known world except Earth that has liquid on its surface and a dense atmosphere. We are planning to send a nuclear helicopter called Dragonfly to explore it. What can we expect from Titan? Finding out in this interview.
π Watch this video with NO ADS and a BONUS part for FREE:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
π£ Guest: Dr. Sam Birch
https://geomorph-sbirch.com/
π Titanβs Fluvial & Lacustrine Landscapes
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2502.02556
00:00 Intro
00:58 Why Titan?
08:28 Climate on Titan
13:32 Dragonfly mission
23:31 Sub-surface ocean
31:05 Current obsessions
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/jxPsu0zHrd8
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

Mar 25, 2025 β’ 22min
[Q&A] Colouring the Sun Green, Self-Sustaining Space Station, Fate of LUVOIR
Is painting the Sun green a clever way to attract alien attention? Discover the complexities behind creating a self-sustaining space station and the innovative ideas inspired by past experiments. Learn about the fate of the LUVOIR telescope and its implications for future astronomy. Plus, uncover the environmental impacts of satellite launches and explore sustainable strategies for resource utilization in space. This episode is packed with intriguing questions and thought-provoking topics!

Mar 21, 2025 β’ 21min
[Space Bites] AMAZING Lunar Spectacle // Alternative Mars Sample Return // Direction of a Death Star
Dive into the lunar excitement as the Blue Ghost lander captures stunning sunset views before concluding its mission. Get the scoop on the reassuring news about the menacing 'Death Star' thatβs not actually threatening us. Learn about innovative plans for Mars Sample Return missions from Rocket Lab and China. Plus, incredible insights from the Euclid telescope and groundbreaking discoveries in exoplanetary atmospheres are highlighted. Join in on the thrilling advancements shaping the future of space exploration!

Mar 20, 2025 β’ 18min
[Q&A] Black Hole in Uranus, AI Impersonating my Channel, Which Telescope to Buy
What would a black hole do if it was inside Uranus? What do I think about AI-generated content impersonating Universe Today? What telescope should you buy in 2025? And in our free extended version, the deepest rabbit hole I went into. All this and more in this Q&A show.
π Same video. No YT ads +a BONUS question:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/124793779
π Even more Q&A in Overtime:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/overtime-for-q-124799180
00:00 Start
00:27 Black hole in Uranus
02:12 What would I tell scientists 100 year ago?
03:44 Telescope recommendations
06:39 Channels impersonating me. What should I do?
08:39 How does throwing a ball in an artificial gravity ring station look like?
11:57 Will Betelgeuse explode soon?
14:30 Where to leave your questions
πΊ VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/ajvutm--rgQ
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