Shows / Universe Today Podcast
Universe Today Podcast
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Episodes
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Terraforming Exoplanets, Dark Matter Annihilation, Finding Life in Other Galaxies | Q&A 296
Does dark matter annihilate with normal matter? Should we be searching for signs of life in other galaxies? Do we know how to terraform exoplanets? Answering…
Universe Today Podcast[NIAC 2025] Exploring Enceladus with a Hopping Robot
Moving across the surface of Enceladus can be more tricky than you think. Rough icy terrain can be hard for wheels. No atmosphere makes helicopters impossible…
Universe Today Podcast[Space Bites] Odds of An Asteroid Strike // Dark Matter Domination // Radiation Protection with Hydrogel
James Webb finds the smallest asteroids in the main belt, astronomers double the chances of that asteroid strike in 2032, using hydrogel to protect astronauts…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Most Exciting NIAC Project, Grains of Sand vs Stars, Total Solar Eclipse Going Away
Which NIAC project would be the best to bring to life? Are there really more stars than grains of sand on Earth? Is the solar eclipse going away from us?…
Universe Today Podcast[NIAC 2025] NASA Just Funded A Project to Blow Space Structures Out Of Glass
NASA just funded a NIAC project to study the possibility of building large structures on the Moon, on Mars and in space out of glass. Blowing glass bubbles…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Space Junk Blocking Orbit, Fine-Tuning Problem, State of Media | Q&A 294
Will space debris prevent us from accessing orbit and when could it happen? Is the Universe with all its rules just a lucky accident? What does "The Publisher…
Universe Today Podcast[NIAC 2025] Our Best Venus Map Is 36 Years Old. NASA Wants to Fix it With Balloons
Venus has a thick layer of clouds that obscures our view of the surface. To tackle that, this NIAC project suggests launching a balloon with a tether that will…
Universe Today Podcast[Space Bites] Potential City-Killer Asteroid // Largest Structure in The Universe // Moon Canyons
A new asteroid with a 1% chance of hitting Earth in 2032, the European Space Agency is building a Lunar Lander platform, the largest structure in the Universe…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] China VS USA Mars Sample Return, Who Controls JWST, Science VS AI
Who will get sample from Mars first? Who controls the James Webb Space Telescope? Does space radiation rule out panspermia? Answering all these questions and…
Universe Today Podcast[NIAC 2025] Using Metamaterials to Build A Starshade in Space
We all want to see potentially habitable exoplanets around Sun-like stars. But to do that you need a starshade. Something to cover the star and reveal the…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Shape of Craters, Max Size for a Telescope, Atmospheres of Black Holes
Why are most craters circular, no matter which angle the meteor falls? Is there a size limit for a telescope before diminishing returns take place? Can black…
Universe Today Podcast[NIAC 2025] NASA Just Funded This Project. Assembling Large Structures in Space
Space Docks are everywhere in science fiction. It's the most logical way to build big constructions in space. So, NASA funded a futuristic project that studies…
Universe Today Podcast[NIAC 2025] NASA’s First Step To A Cloud City on Venus
The MOXIE experiment on the Perseverance rover showed that creating oxygen on other planets is possible. Now, we can apply the same logic to Venus. This could…
Universe Today Podcast[Interview] Here's Why We Need A Venus Exploration Program
Venus is closer than Mars. It's more Earth-like. We can bring back samples from it. But it's chronically underexlored. This is why we need a Venus Exploration…
Universe Today Podcast[Space Bites] Building Blocks of Life // Giant Volcanic Activity of Io // Bacteria Outside the ISS
The building blocks of life have been found in asteroid samples, the most volcanic activity ever seen on Io, astronauts are searching for bacteria on the…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Biggest Possible Crowbar, Sun Illusion, Measuring Temperature on the Moon
How big can a space crowbar be? Why does the Sun look bigger near the horizon? How do we measure temperature on the Moon? Answering all these questions and…
Universe Today Podcast[Interview] Alien Atmosphere Inspector. The Pandora Telescope
NASA is launching a new telescope this year called Pandora. It'll be specifically inspecting atmospheres of exoplanets. It even uses spare parts from JWST…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Riding a Comet, Moon Ore Veins, Internet on Mars
Did we find ore veins on Moon or Mars? Can we see astronomical objects in 3D? Can we catch a ride on a comet? How will the internet work on Mars? Answering all…
Universe Today Podcast[Interview] An Ultimate Guide to TRAPPIST-1 System
What's going on with the TRAPPIST-1 system? Did James Webb find atmospheres or not? Do any of the planets have a chance to be habitable? When should we expect…
Universe Today Podcast[Space Bites] Flapping Moon Flag // Real-Time Black Hole Jets // Insane Exoplanet Winds
What happened to Starship during test flight 7? Astronomers see a black hole’s jets forming in real-time. Curiosity finds ripples of an ancient shore, and an…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Using Jupiter's Lagrange Points, JWST Staying in Place, Fighting Mars' Low Gravity
How does JWST stay in L2 and not drift away? What is the wait calculation for Alpha Centauri? How can we use Jupiter's Lagrange points? Answering all these…
Universe Today Podcast[Interview] Fundamental Limits of Life
To look for lifer in space we need to understand it. What fundamental boundaries does it have? What limits are imposed on life? Finding out in this interview.🟣…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Galactic Age of the Sun, Evidence for Dark Matter, Contamination of Mars
Did we already contaminate Mars with life from Earth? When will we find the first intergalactic object? How do we know dark matter is in the center of the…
Universe Today Podcast[Interview] Life in Space WITHOUT Planets
We're used to look for life on exoplanets. But what if we're looking in the wrong place? Can life exist without a planet? Finding out in this interview.
Universe Today Podcast[Space Bites] Gaia Is Dead // Two MegaRockets in One Day // JWST’s Biggest Mystery Solved
The Gaia mission is over, New Glenn gets to orbit, SpaceX catches SuperHeavy but loses Starship, and we finally get an explanation for little red dots.
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Humanity's First Megaproject, Will NASA Skip the Moon for Mars, Other Local Groups
Are there any other local groups of galaxies out there? Did the high temperature of the Universe create life? Will NASA be skipping the Moon for Mars?…
Universe Today Podcast[Interview] What Will It Take to Find All The Exoplanets? MAUVE and Beyond
How will the upcoming MAUVE telescope fit into the search for exoplanets? What science goals will it have? How will future instruments and telescopes help?…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] First Terrestrial Planets, Expanding Universe VS Gravity, Black Hole Lagrange Points
When did the first terrestrial planets form? How can galaxies collide when the Universe is expanding? Do black holes have Lagrange points? Answering all these…
Universe Today Podcast[Interview] 10 Year Search for Dark Matter in Antarctica
How can neutrinos help us find dark matter? How a 10-year search can give null results and what significance does it have? What's next for this direction?…
Universe Today Podcast[Space Bites] BIG Mars Sample Return Update // Three HUGE Launches // EPIC Comet Incoming
We’ve got two new options for NASA’s Mars Sample Return Mission, an explanation for why Mars can get planet-wide dust storms, stealing secrets from Conan the…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Reaching The Great Attractor, Hiding UFO Accidents, NASA Avoiding Searching for Life
Can the government really hide any unwanted UFO incidents? Is NASA avoiding looking for life? How will Hubble Tension help science?
Universe Today Podcast[Bonus] Extra Part. Interview with Harry Brodsky
This is a bonus part for the interview with Harry Brodsky where he talks about his underwater research experience.
Universe Today Podcast[Interview] This Element Is Critical for Extraterrestrial Life. And It's Not Carbon
Searching for life is complicated. Which elements are critical and which ones are not? Which can we count as biosignatures and which can occur without life?…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Tesla Bots on Mars, Tidally Locked Earth 2.0, Where Life Came From
What happens if we find the true origin of life? What space things should you look forward to in 2025? Can a tidally locked planet qualify as Earth 2.0?…
Universe Today Podcast[Space Bites] Dark Energy Illusion // Great Meteor Shower // Mars Chopper
NASA is working on an even bigger Mars helicopter, is dark energy just an illusion?, a particle that only has mass when moving in one direction, and Parker…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Bigger Body Parts in Space, Venus VS Mars, Favourite Moon
What will happen to Phobos and Deimos in Mars' orbit? What happens to different body parts in space? Could Venus be a better destination for human exploration…
Universe Today Podcast[Special] The Best Space News Stories of 2024 (Objectively)
All the best news stories from 2024 as voted by our viewers in Space Bites.
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Origin of Mars' Moons, Mission INTO a Gas Giant, Canada in Space
Where did Phobos and Deimos come from? Can we send a mission into a gas giant? How many exoplanets did Gaia detect? What is Canada's involvement in space…
Universe Today Podcast[Interview] What The Hell Is Life? And How Do We Search For It?
To find life outside of Earth we first need to understand what life even is. So, what is life? How can we go from understanding 'life as we know it' to 'life…
Universe Today Podcast[Space Bites] TRAPPIST-1b Atmosphere // 2 Landers 1 Rocket // NO Magma Ocean for Io
More landers are going to the Moon; maybe TRAPPIST 1b has an atmosphere after all; Perseverance climbs up to the rim of Jezero Crater and a supermassive black…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Ice-Covered Moon, Nature of Spaghettification, Adapting to Mars
How bright would the Moon be if it was covered with ice not regolith? How does spaghettification happen near black holes? How will the human body adapt to…
Universe Today Podcast[Interview] Ion Engines for The Solar Gravitational Lens and Beyond
Ion engines can be a very efficient way to travel not only through our Solar System but even beyond. What kinds of ion engines are there? How are they…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Space Base on Phobos, Starship Returning from Mars, Hibernation During Space Travel
Will we have a space base on Phobos? Will hibernation help us to cope with long-distance space travel? How will Starship be returning from Mars? Answering all…
Universe Today Podcast[Space Bites] Game Over for Gaia // Why Ingenuity Crashed // Humanity's First Quasar
We finally learn why Ingenuity crashed. Gaia is nearing the end of its life. NASA is planning cargo deliveries to the Moon. And a twin of the Milky Way, seen…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Fighting Light Pollution, Venus Holding Its Atmosphere, Space Under New Administration
How can one fight light pollution? What will happen to space exploration in our modern political climate? Why doesn't Venus lose its atmosphere without a…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Milky Way from the ISS, Poking a Black Hole, Sun Bringing The Moon Closer
How don't comets lose all their mass really quickly? Where are all the photos of the Milky Way from the ISS? Can you reach out from orbit and poke a black hole…
Universe Today Podcast[Interview] How Black Widow Pulsars Can Be A Sign of Star-Eating Aliens
Black Widow pulsars consume their partners. But if there were advanced alien species, it could be a perfect way to produce energy and move the stars around…
Universe Today Podcast[Space Bites] Trump's New NASA Administrator // Artemis Delayed Again // No Oceans in Venus' Past
Trump announces his choice for the new NASA administrator, we’ve got a new date for Artemis III, Venus might have never had liquid oceans, and finding…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] JWST in Different Spectra, Milky Way Losing Stars, Mystery of the Sun's Corona
Does building more JWSTs for different parts of the spectrum make sense? Are star types predetermined at their birth? Can you cook a pizza on the Sun? Why is…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Funding New Space Stations, Pollution from Rocket Launches, Best Place for Space Factory | Q&A 276
Who will pay for the next-generation space stations that follow the ISS? How much do rockets pollute? Did James Webb make the observable Universe bigger?…
Universe Today Podcast[Space Bites] What's Inside Uranus // Dragonfly Launch Secured // Best JWST Image of 2024
Dragonfly is taking a Falcon Heavy to Titan, What’s inside Uranus?, Russia’s cargo ship delivers a stinky smell to the station, and testing robots to go under…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Fuel for Comet Tails, Detecting a Voyager's Crash, Driving Into Lava Tubes
Why don't comets run out of "tail fuel"? If Voyager crashes into something, can we tell it apart from a regular failure? What are the chances we will drive…
Universe Today Podcast[Interview] First Ever Steam World Found by JWST
James Webb recently detected a new kind of exoplanet. It's a steam world. How did they find it and what does it mean for the future of exoplanet search?…
Universe Today Podcast[Interview] Where Did The Mysterious JUMBOs in The Orion Nebula Come From?
JUMBOs, Jupiter Mass Binary Objects. Over 500 of them were detected in the Orion Nebula by JWST. But where did they come from? How did they form and why are…
Universe Today Podcast[Q&A] Funding Space Stations After ISS, Gravity Tractor Experiment, Digital Adaptive Optics
Where will the money come from for the next generation of space stations? Does NASA have plans for a gravity tractor experiment for the Apophis flyby? Which…
Universe Today Podcast[Bonus] Cosmology, AI Doom, and the Future of Humanity
I just wrapped up an interesting conversation over at Doom Debates talking about the future of artificial intelligence, the Fermi Paradox, Great Filter…
Universe Today Podcast[Overtime Q&A] Detecting Warp Drive Ships, Good Telescope Under $200, Solar Gravitational Lens
If there is a faster-than-light spaceship, could we detect it? Can we use the Sun as a magnifying glass? Which telescope to get under $200? Can Juno meet…
Universe Today Podcast[Space Bites] No Booster Catch for Starship // A Star from Another Galaxy // New Explanation for Moons of Mars
Starship completes its 6th flight test, Webb analyzes a star in another galaxy and confirms the Hubble tension, again, and a new explanation for the moons of…
Universe Today Podcast[Interview] How Red Dwarf Stars Could Host Habitable Planets After All
We're still waiting for the results from JWST about the atmospheres on the TRAPPIST-1 planets. But is there a way for red dwarf planets to keep atmospheres on…
Universe Today Podcast[Overtime Q&A] Conspiracy Theories in School, Preserving History, JWST Restrictions
Should they teach conspiracy theories in schools? How can we preserve history? How restricted is JWST because of its sunshield? Answering all these questions…