Universe Today Podcast

When did humans first think of aliens? Why is Oort cloud a sphere when the Solar System is a disk? Which space image is my favourite? And in our Q&A+ on patreon, is search for life only limited to looking for water? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A show.🎁 [Q&A+] Same video. No YT ads. BONUS question, totally free :https://www.patreon.com/universetoday🚀 [Overtime] Even more Q&Ashttps://www.patreon.com/universetoday00:00 Start00:30 [Paige Potter] When did humans first think of aliens? 03:24 [Paul_in_Tucson] Why is Oort cloud a sphere while Solar System is a disk?06:51 [Walter Hartman] Are dark matter and dark energy 100% real?11:33 [Scotty-Too-Hottie] How long before our Sun turns into a red giant? 13:34 [Heya Sasha] My favourite space image📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/k3iCw1Wtdws📰 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

Which space mission would I save from cancellation if I could? Is fighting space junk with lasers a good idea or not? What if we find asteroids that have already been mined? And in our Q&A+ on patreon, how do we measure masses of black holes ? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A show.🎁 [Q&A+] Same video. No YT ads. BONUS question, totally free :https://www.patreon.com/universetoday🚀 [Overtime] Even more Q&Ashttps://www.patreon.com/universetoday00:00 Start00:28 [AshStar] Which mission would I save from cancellation?05:54 [Fearthelettuce] Why missions last longer than their projected lifespan? 09:38 [Briar Patch] Lasers vs space junk. Good or bad? 12:55 [Marie la Misérable] Adblocks with our videos?13:31 [MikeD] What if asteroids have already been mined? 📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/hxe3XDefWeA📰 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

So far we couldn't find liquid water on Mars. But there are still places where it can hide from us. One of them is pockets under the ice. How can it exist there and which possible ways do we have to detect it? Finding out in this interview.🦄 Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/universetoday🟣 Guest: Dr. Aditya Khullerhttps://apl.uw.edu/people/profile.php?last_name=Khuller&first_name=Aditya00:00 Intro01:51 Liquid water on Mars08:16 Habitability11:57 Where on Mars could liquid water be?17:34 How can we detect liquid water29:52 Current obsessions32:49 Final thoughts and more interviews📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/5dS26HSjhyU📰 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

ESA’s PLATO mission gets its eyes installed, Webb finds water ice in another star system, could it be dark matter and not dark energy that’s evolving over time? And in our longer [Space Bites+] on Patreon, researchers have found that hardy bacteria are evolving to thrive in spacecraft clean rooms.🚀 [Space Bites+] No ADS. BONUS Story. For FREE:https://www.patreon.com/universetoday00:00 Intro00:20 Plato gets its eyeshttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-plato-mission-just-got-dozens-of-cameras-installed02:05 Cubesat telescopehttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/a-cubesat-to-capture-a-supernovas-uv-spectrum04:14 Water ice in another star systemhttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/water-ice-found-in-another-star-system06:34 Evolving Dark Matterhttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/could-dark-matter-be-evolving-over-time-and-not-dark-energy09:13 Vote resultshttps://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/community09:55 Everything evaporates with Hawking radiationhttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/everything-in-the-universe-could-decay-from-hawking-radiation11:25 Venus tectonicshttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/venus-might-have-tectonic-activity-after-all13:25 Auroras on Jupiterhttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/webb-watches-auroras-dance-in-jupiters-atmosphere15:23 More space news in Guide to Space16:13 [Space Bites+] bonus story16:28 Patreon Q&A 📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/VcOfDAf9UsU📰 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

Our current tech doesn't allow us to block light from Sun-like stars to see Earth-like planets. The brightness difference is just too high. One of the ways we can achieve it is with quantum coronagraphs. What are they and how do they work? Finding out in this interview.👉 [Interview+] Bonus Part. No YT ads. FREE https://www.patreon.com/universetoday🟣 Guest: Nico Deshlerhttps://github.com/NicoDeshler📜 Experimental Demonstration of a Quantum-Optimal Coronagraph Using Spatial Mode Sortershttps://arxiv.org/abs/2407.1277600:00 Intro02:26 What is a quantum coronagraph10:39 How to make one19:20 How can a quantum coronagraph be used22:02 Applications for ground-based telescopes27:48 What's next?34:14 Current obsessions38:54 Final thoughts📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/cfdMxauquec📰 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

Why risk sending big space missions instead of swarms of cubesats? Can NASA protect future Mars astronauts from radiation with EM-rockets? How close are we to discovering our first exomoon? And in our Q&A+ version, which sci-fi tech is the closest to becoming a reality? Answering all that and more in this Q&A show. 🎁 [Q&A+] Same video. No YT ads. BONUS question, totally free :https://www.patreon.com/universetoday🚀 [Overtime] Even more Q&Ashttps://www.patreon.com/universetoday00:00 Start00:31 [Ramon Martinez] How will NASA protect astronauts from radiation on Mars? 02:01 [First Ninja] Why launch space missions instead of swarms of cubesats? 05:07 [J Bell] Is it normal to be not interested in life beyond Earth? 08:23 [Xander Schnoebbe] How close are we to discovering exomoons? 10:05 [Jamie Doe] Can we combine a Solar Gravitational Lens and an interferometer? 10:59 [Mandahl] Visible light interferometers on Earth13:01 [Christopher “Fiss” Brummet] Will CSA/ASC step up after NASA budget cuts? 14:44 [Web Fiji] If we go through space, will we inevitably hit something? 15:31 [Silas Miller] Is the Sun made of the same elements as the planets? 📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/OOOPpw11Z1U📰 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

Is keeping the Voyagers active a waste of money and time on the Deep Space Network? Could you play catch with a baseball-mass black hole? How confident are we in the distance ladder? And in our Q&A+ version, does it make sense to film a movie in space? Answering all that and more in this Q&A show. 🎁 [Q&A+] Same video. No YT ads. BONUS question, totally free :https://www.patreon.com/universetoday🚀 [Overtime] Even more Q&Ashttps://www.patreon.com/universetoday00:00 Start00:29 [Bentation Funkiloglio] Could we play catch with a really tiny black hole? 01:24 [Aturuxo] How confident are we in the "distance ladder"?08:03 [Pelican666] Is continuing the Voyager missions just a waste of money? 09:53 [Cooper Levesque] What will finding life in the Solar System actually mean?12:10 [Edward] Would a microbe without DNA even be alive? 13:48 [Cooper Levesque] The topic I'm bored to cover📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/6egvw2jEHVQ📰 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

The Kerbal Space Program is a fun game, but also an incredible tool for simulating a realistic space exploration program. According to a new paper, people playing the game can help develop innovative ideas that can turn into real missions, especially with the development and integration of reusable rockets like Starship and New Glenn.👉 [Interview+] Bonus Part. No YT ads. FREE https://patreon.com/universetoday🟣 Guest: Rodrigo Schmitthttps://rodrigo-schmitt.github.io/📜 Design of space systems and operational mission architectures using sandbox gameshttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S009457652500204800:00 Intro01:14 KSP as a learning tool12:26 Why is KSP useful for mission planning21:17 From gamers to mission architects 22:54 Useful mods for KSP 25:08 Alternatives to KSP26:52 Gaming meta and AI33:22 Current obsessions37:00 Final thoughts📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/DIFnf0UCZUk📰 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

The official NASA cuts are here. Several missions reach big milestones. The Solar Gravitational Lens will be challenging to use, and in our special bonus version on Patreon, [Space Bites+] an additional story about New Horizons scanning the clouds of hydrogen around the Solar System. 🦄 Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/universetoday00:00 Intro00:19 NASA budget cuts are officialhttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-white-house-releases-its-2026-budget-request-for-nasa-cuts-to-sls-gateway-and-orion03:31 Milestones for Dragonfly and Romanhttps://science.nasa.gov/blogs/dragonfly/2025/04/24/nasas-dragonfly-passes-critical-design-review/https://www.nasa.gov/missions/roman-space-telescope/key-portion-of-nasas-roman-space-telescope-clears-thermal-vacuum-test/05:22 Satellite occultationshttps://arxiv.org/abs/2505.0347406:34 Complications with SGLhttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/using-the-solar-gravitational-lens-will-be-extremely-difficult09:27 Vote results10:09 Hakuto-R 2 arrives at Moon orbithttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/ispaces-resilience-enters-lunar-orbit-itll-try-to-land-in-early-june11:32 Rogue binary planetshttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/free-floating-binary-planets-cant-last-long13:09 Strange object on the edge of the Milky Wayhttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/its-either-the-milky-ways-farthest-known-star-cluster-or-the-smallest-known-galaxy14:30 Guide to Space15:50 Space Bites+16:09 Importance of keeping up space missions📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/M96tqKyVx_Q📰 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

Which evidence will be a definite smoking gun when it comes to finding extraterrestrial life? Why is a Dyson sphere more realistic than warp drives? Will America ever adopt the metric system? And in our Q&A+ version, will China be collaborating with other nations in space? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A show.🎁 [Q&A+] Same video. No YT ads. BONUS question, totally free :https://www.patreon.com/universetoday🚀 [Overtime] Even more Q&Ashttps://www.patreon.com/universetoday00:00 Start00:32 [Ross] What will be a sufficient enough evidence of life on another world? 06:07 [Mikael Biilmann] Will North America ever switch to the metric system? 08:11 [LeMonkDog] Why is a Dyson sphere considered more rational than FTL travel?12:34 [Conspiracy_Theory_Enthusiast] Are there any filters that help cope with light pollution?📺 VIDEO VERSIONhttps://youtu.be/Z31aWzrlOb0📰 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