The Cosmic Companion - Astronomy, Space, Technology Advancing Humanity

Is Earth one of the weirdest planets we have ever seen? Heck, yes! And we talk about what makes our planet so weird with Kathryn Williams from Nat Geo Kids!This week on The Cosmic Companion, we’ll look at Earth: What a Weird Planet, exploring some of the odd facts which make our world such an odd place. Later in the show, we’ll be talking with Kathryn Williams, editor of Weird but True! World 2023 from National Geographic.The most striking feature of the Blue Marble of planets is… well… it’s blue. Very blue. So bluuueeee!Water covers roughly three-quarters of the surface of our planet. And, although we now suspect several other worlds of the Solar System house vast oceans of water, none of these is found so readily across the surface.And have you noticed the Moon? Our planetary companion is a whopping one-quarter of the size of Earth. That ratio is only outdone by Pluto and Charon, but Pluto is no longer considered a full-fledged planet, so we win. Go Earth!Listen to the podcast here or watch the video version of the episode on YouTube!Next week on The Cosmic Companion, we look in on Jupiter: King of the Planets! as we welcome astrophysicist Stephen Kane from UC Riverside back to the show! We will talk about his work explaining why the largest planet in our solar system doesn’t have a magnificent set of rings! Make sure to join us beginning 6 September. See you then!Clear skies!JamesVIP SUBSCRIBERS! Tell us what you thought of this episode below! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aicreatorhouse.substack.com/subscribe

This week on The Cosmic Companion, we’ll be Exploring Ocean Floors from Earth out to distant stars. Later in the show, we’re going to be talking with Catherine Musemeche, author of Lethal Tides, a new biography, telling the story of pioneering oceanographer Mary Sears.Earth is an ocean world, with water covering roughly three-quarters of the surface of our planet. Despite the abundance of oceans around the globe, only a small percentage of the ocean floor has been explored. In many ways, exploring ocean floors on Earth is significantly more challenging than studying other worlds.Next week on The Cosmic Companion: 30 August (s6/e28): Earth – What a Weird Planet! with Kathryn Williams, editor of Weird but True! World 2023 from National Geographic!Make sure to join us then!Thank you for being a subscriber!Clear skies!JamesVIP SUBSCRIBERS:Leave us a comment below! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aicreatorhouse.substack.com/subscribe

This week on The Cosmic Companion, we discuss how artificial intelligence opens a Universe of understanding the Cosmos. We'll be talking with astrophysicist Dr. Yosuke Kobayashi of the University of Arizona.For centuries, the human mind was the only way we had to interpret images and data from telescopes.The idea of artificial intelligence goes back to at least the days of the science-fiction classic Metropolis, and the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz.Listen to the podcast version of this episode here or watch the video version!Next week on The Cosmic Companion, we talk about Exploring Planetary Oceans as we talk with Catherine Musemeche, author of Lethal Tides. We will talk about her new book, telling the story of pioneering oceanographer Mary Sears. Make sure to join us, starting on 23 August! If you enjoyed this episode, please like, follow, and share The Cosmic Companion with friends, relatives, pets, even complete strangers!Clear skies!James This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aicreatorhouse.substack.com/subscribe

Amateur astronomy is entering a new golden age — armchair astronomy. Here is a look at how you can see the Cosmos without leaving home. This week on The Cosmic Companion, we look at doing Astronomy from Home. We’ll be talking with Alex Curry, one of the co-founders of Telescope Live. We will discuss amateur astronomy in the modern age — from the comforts of home.There was a time, not long ago, when most amateur astronomy took place at night. When I was young, my father and I would pack up our 8" telescope into his car and drive up a mountainside as the Sun was setting. Sitting in the back seat of the car, alongside the telescope, sat a plastic cooler full of dry ice — frozen carbon dioxide — to chill the “cold camera” we used to photograph objects in the sky. Unlike yours truly, film works better for astronomy when it is cold... Listen to the podcast of this episode here or watch the video version.Try out Telescope Live, and receive 50% off your first two months of a silver or gold membership with promo code COSMIC!Next week, we look at how Artificial Intelligence Explores the Universe. We’ll be talking with astrophysicist Dr. Yosuke Kobayashi of the University of Arizona, talking about his work uncovering the secrets of ancient galaxies. This is his first-ever interview in English, offering us a special treat! Make sure to join us, starting on 16 August!  Thanks for being a subscriber! Clear skies, JamesVIP SUBSCRIBERS: Leave a comment below, and let us know what you thought of the episode! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aicreatorhouse.substack.com/subscribe

We dedicate this episode to the memory of Nichelle Nichols. Her portrayal of Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek inspired millions.Welcome back to The Cosmic Companion. This week, we talk about the future of space exploration, as we build the first human habitations beyond the confines of Earth.Later in the show, we will talk with Martynas Fedotovas and Nika Chinchaladze, about their work developing and promoting science education in Eastern Europe and beyond.On 12 April 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space, and the first woman, Valentina Tereshkova, followed a little over two years later. Since then, around 600 people have reached beyond the limits of our home planet… Listen to our podcast episode here, or the watch the video version on YouTube.Join us next week, when we welcome Alex Curry, co-founder of Telescope Live to the show, talking about Astronomy at Home. We’re going to teach you how you too can use large telescopes around the world without leaving home!Subscribe to Telescope Live using promo code COSMIC and get 50% off silver of gold memberships!Clear skies! James This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aicreatorhouse.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to The Cosmic Companion. This week, we look at the future of the human race. We’re going to be talking with Stephanie Drimmer from National Geographic. We will be discussing how our species will change over the coming years, as we get an inside look at her new book from National Geographic, Ultimate Book of the Future.Millions of years ago, a few foolhardy, um brave, ancestors of the human race first dared to come down out of the trees. These daring primates faced unknown dangers, as they scurried across the ancient savannahs. Since our earliest days on the Serengeti Plain, the human race has been confined to the face of one lone planet. Meanwhile, there are likely more than 500 billion planets in the Milky Way Galaxy alone, and hundreds of billions of trillions of planets scattered throughout the Universe…Listen to the podcast here or watch this episode as a video!Next week, we discuss why Space is for Everyone! talking with space developers Martynas Fedotovas and Nika Chinchaladze of Altair Enterprises. Make sure to join us then!Clear skies! JamesVIP Subscribers: Tell us what you thought of the episode below. What do YOU think will happen in the future? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aicreatorhouse.substack.com/subscribe

Hello everyone!Jupiter is far larger than Saturn, yet it is Saturn which has the remarkable system of rings. Why isn’t the ring system of Jupiter even larger than that of its smaller planetary brethren?Astrophysicist Stephen Kane at UC Riverside has an explanation. click below for the video version of this episode:This is Why Jupiter Can’t Have Nice RingsNEXT WEEK: We look at The Future of Everything, talking with Nat Geo science writer Stephanie Drimmer, author of Ultimate Book of the Future!VIP subscribers: Watch tomorrow’s sneak preview of next week’s episode below! AND - view a new, original full-resolution image revealing what Jupiter might look like with a massive ring system. Clear skies! Jamesnot yet a VIP subscriber? try a month of our extended VIP newsletter for 30 days!VIP EXTRAS:The background for the video version of today’s short shows what Jupiter might look like if it had a significant ring system. Image by The Cosmic Companion / Created in Universe Sandbox. Here is tomorrow’s sneak preview of next week’s episode with Stephanie Drimmer from National Geographic! Enjoy! Thanks again for being a VIP subscriber! You are what makes this show possible! James This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aicreatorhouse.substack.com/subscribe

Hello everyone!The Cosmic Companion is back with a full-length episode after three weeks away! We’ve missed you so much!THIS WEEK: We kick off a new series: Extinction from Space: Asteroids!We are delighted to be joined by renowned paleontologist Nizar Ibrahim from National Geographic! We talk about these infamous creatures, extinctions, and why we may still be living in an age of dinosaurs. This is our first full episode using a lot of fancy new video and audio software that I am just starting to learn how to use. Please let me know what you think!Listen to the podcast here or watch the video version of this episode on YouTube!NEXT WEEK: The Future of Everything! with National Geographic’s Stephanie Drimmer, author of Ultimate Book of the Future!See you then!Clear skies, JamesVIP subscribers join in the comments! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aicreatorhouse.substack.com/subscribe

Hello all!There are still 213 days left until Valentine’s Day, but that doesn’t mean we don’t all need some love! Astronomers at the CHIME radio telescope find an unusual radio heartbeat, in a distant galaxy billions of light years away.A Heartbeat from Space with Heartbeat McAllister Full episodes of The Cosmic Companion return this Tuesday! Join us on Tuesday, 19 July when we look at Extinction from Space: Asteroids! We’ll be talking with National Geographic paleontologist Nizar Ibrahim about the most famous asteroid strike of them all! VIP subscribers can watch a BRAND NEW, UNRELEASED SNEAK PREVIEW of next week’s episode below! Not a VIP member yet? Click below for a 30-day free trial! VIP Subscriptions start at just $5 a month!Thanks for watching! Clear skies, JamesVIP Subscriber Extra:Here’s a previously unreleased preview of next week’s episode! Enjoy! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aicreatorhouse.substack.com/subscribe

Hello everyone! The skies of the Northern Hemisphere will show off the Moon and Saturn, huddled together close on the east-southeast horizon this weekend!Here’s everything you need to know about viewing this event. Listen to the podcast here or watch the video version of the show!Clear skies!JamesVIP subscribers get an original star chart showing this cosmic cuddle!Not a VIP subscriber yet? Click bellow to try a VIP subscription for 30 days free - in celebration of Webb Week at The Cosmic Companion! Plans start at just $5 a month.VIP goodies:A star chart showing the Moon and Saturn cuddled together on Friday 15 July. Enjoy! Thanks for being a VIP subscriber! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aicreatorhouse.substack.com/subscribe