Universe Today Podcast

On Sunday, January 19th, 2020, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying its newly designed Crew Dragon spacecraft. 84 seconds into flight, at the moment of maximum aerodynamic pressure, the capsule fired its eight SuperDraco thrusters, detaching from the top of the rocket and flying ahead.Moments after, the Falcon 9 rocket exploded in midair, destroying a completely good rocket, but the capsule was completely safe, jettisoning its trunk and landing gently in the ocean a few minutes later.Nobody was on board the spacecraft, just a couple of test dummies, but this test proved that in the case of an emergency during the ascent stage fo the mission, Crew Dragon would be able to carry its astronaut crew to safety.Our Book is out!https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Today-Ultimate-Viewing-Cosmos/dp/1624145442/Audio Podcast version:ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/universe-today-guide-to-space-audio/id794058155?mt=2RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audioWeekly email newsletter:https://www.universetoday.com/newsletterWeekly Space Hangout:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/Astronomy Cast:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSgSupport us at https://www.patreon.com/universetodayMore stories at https://www.universetoday.com/Twitch: https://twitch.tv/fcainTwitter: https://twitter.com/universetodayFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/universetodayInstagram - https://instagram.com/universetodayTeam: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.comKarla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fwChad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.comReferences:https://spacenews.com/spacex-performs-in-flight-abort-test-of-crew-dragon-spacecraft/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19690017921.pdfhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/albums/72157649018048375/with/22609781825https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzIcDDJyTRIhttps://spaceflightnow.com/2015/05/06/spacex-crew-capsule-completes-dramatic-abort-test/https://spacenews.com/boeing-performs-starliner-pad-abort-test/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/12/world/soyuz-accident-quietly-conceded.htmlhttps://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/space/5-myths-of-challenger-shuttle-disaster-debunked.aspxhttps://apnews.com/50c3be84147652b242204463a5b036d5https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/successful-orion-test-brings-nasa-closer-to-moon-mars-missionshttps://www.space.com/42319-soyuz-launch-abort-russia-identifies-cause.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/30/us/challenger-limps-into-a-low-orbit-as-an-engine-fails.htmlhttps://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19690017921.pdfhttps://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/nasa-international-space-station-iss-computer-spacewalk-broken-mission-emergency-a7749956.htmlhttp://www.spaceref.com/iss/ops/iss.emergency.ops.pdfhttps://history.nasa.gov/afj/ap13fj/10day3-free-return.htmlhttps://engineering.purdue.edu/AAC/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Inspiration-Mars-2018-Free-Return-Trajectory-Edelman-Hughes-Longuski-Loucks-Carrico-Tito.pdfhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6lPMFgZU5QSupport Universe Today Podcast

In 2006, astronomers spotted the telltale sign of a supernova detonating in the galaxy NGC 1260, located about 240 million light-years away in the constellation of Perseus. As telescopes around the world turned their collective light-gathering power on the expanding explosion designated as SN 2006gy, they realized they were seeing something very unusual.This clearly wasn’t a regular supernova. It grew to be 100 times brighter than the typical stellar explosion and lasted much much longer.More than a decade after that cosmic explosion, astronomers finally think they know what series of events led to the release of this much energy, now called a superluminous supernova. A red giant ate a white dwarf. An event so rare it probably accounts for only 1 in 1000 supernovae. Our Book is out!https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Today-Ultimate-Viewing-Cosmos/dp/1624145442/Audio Podcast version:ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/universe-today-guide-to-space-audio/id794058155?mt=2RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audioWeekly email newsletter:https://www.universetoday.com/newsletterWeekly Space Hangout:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/Astronomy Cast:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSgSupport us at https://www.patreon.com/universetodayMore stories at https://www.universetoday.com/Twitch: https://twitch.tv/fcainTwitter: @universetodayFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/universetodayInstagram - https://instagram.com/universetodayTeam: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.comKarla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fwChad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.comReferences:https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2007/07may_bigsupernovahttps://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2020/01/24/the-brightest-supernovae-of-all-have-a-suspiciously-common-explanation/#179f6c4e20c0https://science.sciencemag.org/content/367/6476/415https://www.mpa-garching.mpg.de/797272/news20200124https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/science/objects/cataclysmic_variables.htmlhttps://www.space.com/superluminous-supernova-explosion-explained.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZKiWGT4Za4&list=PLbJ42wpShvml6Eg22WjWAR-6QUufHFh2v&index=153&t=0sSupport Universe Today Podcast

In this week's questions show, I explain if we'd be able to see a nuclear bomb explode on the Moon, have we already passed the Great Filter, and where we could put DNA to keep it safe in the Solar System.00:22 Could we see a nuclear bomb on the Moon?02:18 Have we already passed the great filter?05:28 Where could we put our DNA to keep it safe?07:52 Could rogue planets explain dark matter09:12 Will Betelgeuse create a nebula?10:35 ET will use quantum mechanics?12:04 What if there isn't water on the Moon?14:00 Low metal stars with planets?16:20 Could we use neutrinos to communicate through the Moon?18:19 Why bother astronomy when we should be studying the Solar System?20:46 Would it be worth it to have Starlink to have more telescopes?24:35 Will James Webb be good for Solar System objects?Want to be part of the questions show? Ask a short question on any video on my channel. I gather a bunch up each week, and answer them here.Our Book is out!https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Today-Ultimate-Viewing-Cosmos/dp/1624145442/Audio Podcast version:ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/universe-today-guide-to-space-audio/id794058155?mt=2RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audioWeekly email newsletter:https://www.universetoday.com/newsletterWeekly Space Hangout:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/Astronomy Cast:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSgSupport us at: https://www.patreon.com/universetodayMore stories at: https://www.universetoday.com/Twitch: https://twitch.tv/fcainFollow us on Twitter: @universetodayLike us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/universetodayInstagram - https://instagram.com/universetodayTeam: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.comKarla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fwChad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.comSupport Universe Today Podcast

Whenever I talk about the search for life in the Universe and its emphasis on water, I get comments that scientists aren’t being creative enough. Why does life rely on water? Couldn’t there be lifeforms which are completely different from life on Earth? Isn’t that the textbook definition of alien?Astrobiologists have only scratched the surface in their search for life in the Universe, and they’re going after the low-hanging fruit. Since life on Earth can be found wherever there’s water, why not check out the water on other worlds? If that doesn’t pan out, then they’ll expand the search.But it’s possible there are aliens living right here on Earth among us, in a shadow biosphere, we just haven’t detected them yet.Thumbnail credit:http://blogs.esa.int/caves/2019/09/11/a-new-journey-into-earth-for-space-exploration/Our Book is out!https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Today-Ultimate-Viewing-Cosmos/dp/1624145442/Audio Podcast version:ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/universe-today-guide-to-space-audio/id794058155?mt=2RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audioWeekly email newsletter:https://www.universetoday.com/newsletterWeekly Space Hangout:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/Astronomy Cast:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSgSupport us at https://www.patreon.com/universetodayMore stories at https://www.universetoday.com/Twitch: https://twitch.tv/fcainTwitter: @universetodayFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/universetodayInstagram - https://instagram.com/universetodayTeam: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.comKarla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fwChad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.comReferences:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2478661/https://www.jcvi.org/goshttps://aeon.co/ideas/there-are-more-microbial-species-on-earth-than-stars-in-the-skyhttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/24206781_Signatures_of_a_Shadow_Biospherehttps://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/nonprotein-amino-acidshttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/looking-for-life-on-mars-viking-experiment-team-member-reflects-on-divisive-findings/https://www.livescience.com/64829-hachimoji-dna.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2012-07-dispel-shadow-biosphere-earth.htmlSupport Universe Today Podcast

In this week's questions show, I wonder whether any aliens out there would be nice to us or try to wipe us out. What would be their motivations? Why are planets turning in the wrong direction? Would Betelgeuse generate gravitational waves?XKCD Solar System Changeshttps://m.xkcd.com/2258/Phil Metger's take:https://twitter.com/DrPhiltill/status/1220519840315736064Our Book is out!https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Today-Ultimate-Viewing-Cosmos/dp/1624145442/Audio Podcast version:ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/universe-today-guide-to-space-audio/id794058155?mt=2RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audioWhat Fraser's Watching Playlist:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbJ42wpShvmkjd428BcHcCEVWOjv7cJ1GWeekly email newsletter:https://www.universetoday.com/newsletterWeekly Space Hangout:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/Astronomy Cast:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSgSupport us at: https://www.patreon.com/universetodayMore stories at: https://www.universetoday.com/Twitch: https://twitch.tv/fcainFollow us on Twitter: @universetodayLike us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/universetodayInstagram - https://instagram.com/universetodayTeam: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.comKarla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fwChad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.comSupport Universe Today Podcast

In 2015, scientists discovered the telltale signal from ripples of spacetime sweeping over the Earth. It was the very first direct detection of gravitational waves, generated by the merger of two massive black holes 1.3 billion light-years away.This discovery was the culmination of decades of research and construction of huge instruments called interferometers to detect the warping of spacetime caused by gravitational waves.Today, the most advanced detectors, the LIGO/VIRGO collaboration, have turned up over 50 gravitational wave discoveries - on average one every week - allowing astronomers to perceive the Universe in a completely different way.What new gravitational wave instruments are in the works, and what does the future hold for this relatively new field of study?Our Book is out!https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Today-Ultimate-Viewing-Cosmos/dp/1624145442/Audio Podcast version:ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/universe-today-guide-to-space-audio/id794058155?mt=2RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audioWeekly email newsletter:https://www.universetoday.com/newsletterWeekly Space Hangout:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/Astronomy Cast:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSgSupport us at https://www.patreon.com/universetodayMore stories at https://www.universetoday.com/Twitch: https://twitch.tv/fcainTwitter: @universetodayFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/universetodayInstagram - https://instagram.com/universetodayTeam: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.comKarla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fwChad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.comReferences:https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/page/what-is-interferometerhttps://www.ligo.caltech.edu/system/media_files/binaries/313/original/LIGOHistory.pdfhttps://gwcenter.icrr.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/planhttp://www.gw-indigo.org/tiki-index.phphttps://www.osa-opn.org/home/articles/volume_29/may_2018/features/gravitational_waves_the_road_ahead/http://www.et-gw.eu/https://tds.virgo-gw.eu/?call_file=ET-0106C-10.pdfhttps://cosmicexplorer.org/https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1907/1907.04833.pdfhttps://sci.esa.int/web/lisa/-/61367-mission-summaryhttps://sci.esa.int/web/lisa-pathfinder/-/59238-lisa-pathfinder-to-conclude-trailblazing-missionhttps://arxiv.org/pdf/1907.11305.pdfSupport Universe Today Podcast

In this week's questions show, I explain why it doesn't make sense to send a microscope to Mars, how we could use a black hole to see a reflection of Earth and see dinosaurs, and why we don't just send a solar sail down to the Sun.Featuring Stella Kafka from the American Association of Variable Star Observershttps://www.aavso.org/00:42 Why no microscopes to Mars?02:38 Could we see a reflection of Earth?04:37 Send a solar sail to the Sun?07:03 How will red dwarfs die?08:51 Do radio telescopes have pixels?10:58 Do aliens have to be close to detect us?13:21 Will civilizations want to settle every star?15:17 What is expanding in between space?17:18 Will we get out of balance with nature?21:42 Do black holes come in different shapes?24:03 How could a civilization go extinct?26:37 Are their models for dying stars?Want to be part of the questions show? Ask a short question on any video on my channel. I gather a bunch up each week, and answer them here.Our Book is out!https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Today-Ultimate-Viewing-Cosmos/dp/1624145442/Audio Podcast version:ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/universe-today-guide-to-space-audio/id794058155?mt=2RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audioWeekly email newsletter:https://www.universetoday.com/newsletterWeekly Space Hangout:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/Astronomy Cast:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSgSupport us at: https://www.patreon.com/universetodayMore stories at: https://www.universetoday.com/Twitch: https://twitch.tv/fcainFollow us on Twitter: @universetodayLike us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/universetodayInstagram - https://instagram.com/universetodayTeam: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.comKarla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fwChad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.comSupport Universe Today Podcast

This week I'm joined by Professor Greg Eghigian, from Penn State University to talk about the history of UFO sightings and claims of alien contact. You can read a recent essay by Dr. Eghigian on Smithsonian's Air and Space Magazine:https://www.airspacemag.com/space/year-ufos-180973965/And learn more about his work here:https://history.la.psu.edu/directory/gae2Our Book is out!https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Today-Ultimate-Viewing-Cosmos/dp/1624145442/Audio Podcast version:ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/universe-today-guide-to-space-audio/id794058155?mt=2RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audioWhat Fraser's Watching Playlist:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbJ42wpShvmkjd428BcHcCEVWOjv7cJ1GWeekly email newsletter:https://www.universetoday.com/newsletterWeekly Space Hangout:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/Astronomy Cast:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSgSupport us at: https://www.patreon.com/universetodayMore stories at: https://www.universetoday.com/Twitch: https://twitch.tv/fcainFollow us on Twitter: @universetodayLike us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/universetodayInstagram - https://instagram.com/universetodayTeam: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.comKarla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fwChad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.comSupport Universe Today Podcast

We’ve now passed the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing, and all eyes are back on the Moon. NASA is planning to return to the Moon by 2024 with its Artemis mission, the Chinese have put the Moon firmly in their plans for space exploration, and even SpaceX thinks the Moon is the perfect destination to test out the capabilities of its Starship.But what can you do with the Moon? Refuel spacecraft with resources drawn from the lunar regolith? Mine its helium 3 for your fusion reactors? Build a lunar amusement park? In fact, the far side of the Moon might make one of the best platforms we have for radio telescopes. One side of the Moon is completely blocked from Earth’s constantly increasing radio traffic, giving it the perfect view to the most sensitive radio signals in the Universe.Our Book is out!https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Today-Ultimate-Viewing-Cosmos/dp/1624145442/Audio Podcast version:ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/universe-today-guide-to-space-audio/id794058155?mt=2RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audioWeekly email newsletter:https://www.universetoday.com/newsletterWeekly Space Hangout:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/Astronomy Cast:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSgSupport us at https://www.patreon.com/universetodayMore stories at https://www.universetoday.com/Twitch: https://twitch.tv/fcainTwitter: @universetodayFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/universetodayInstagram - https://instagram.com/universetodayTeam: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.comKarla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fwChad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.comReferences:https://www.lpi.usra.edu/leag/white-papers-astronomy/FARSIDE_190710_Final.pdfhttps://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/planckhttps://jwst.nasa.gov/content/science/firstLight.htmlhttps://www.haystack.mit.edu/edu/pcr/Data/pdf/Hydrogen%2021-cm%20Emission%20line-final.pdfhttps://www.universetoday.com/144206/theres-now-an-operational-radio-telescope-on-the-far-side-of-the-moon/Support Universe Today Podcast

On Monday, January 6th, 2020, another SpaceX Falcon 9 blasted off from Cape Canaveral, carrying another 60 Starlink internet communications satellites, bringing the full size of the constellation to 180. With just three launches, SpaceX becomes the largest satellite operator in the world.But the company is just getting started. They’re planning to do this again every couple of weeks during 2020, bringing the total number of satellites in the constellation to about 1440, which is enough to provide high-speed internet services to the United States and parts of Canada.Shortly after launch, as the satellites are raising their altitude, they’re clearly visible to the eye as they streak across the sky in a close train.Astronomers aren’t happy.Thumbnail credit: Victoria Girgis/Lowell ObservatoryOur Book is out!https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Today-Ultimate-Viewing-Cosmos/dp/1624145442/Audio Podcast version:ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/universe-today-guide-to-space-audio/id794058155?mt=2RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audioWeekly email newsletter:https://www.universetoday.com/newsletterWeekly Space Hangout:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/Astronomy Cast:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSgSupport us at https://www.patreon.com/universetodayMore stories at https://www.universetoday.com/Twitch: https://twitch.tv/fcainTwitter: @universetodayFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/universetodayInstagram - https://instagram.com/universetodayTeam: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.comKarla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fwChad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.comReferences:https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starlink-internet-satellites-itc-filing-30000-additional-42000-total-2019-10https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-fccs-approval-of-spacexs-starlink-mega-constellation-may-have-been-unlawful/https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/14/21043229/spacex-starlink-satellite-mega-constellation-concerns-astronomy-space-traffichttps://spacenews.com/spacex-gets-ok-to-re-space-starlink-orbits/https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starlink-satellite-ufo-terminals-how-network-works-2020-1Support Universe Today Podcast