The Curious Cosmos with Derrick Pitts

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Latest Episodes:

Brandon Burroughs: Real-Life Rocket Scientist! Nov 14, 2023

In this episode of The Curious Cosmos, join Derrick Pitts for an interview with real-life aerospace engineer Brandon Burroughs! Get the inside scoop on the building of the Space Launch System, learn how the rocket industry works, and discover what it's like to research, design, and build the tech that will bring humans deeper into space than ever before.

Links for this episode:

Learn more about Brandon Burroughs and his work!
Learn more about the NASA's Space Launch System, which Brandon spent 5 years working on.
Explore NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building further, and get a sense of just how large a building they assemble rocket ships has to be!

Steve Russo and Sam Storch: Planetarium Magic Nov 07, 2023

Join Derrick Pitts and his long time friends and colleagues, Sam Storch and Steve Russo, as they bring you behind the scenes of the planetarium! Learn all about the history of planetariums, the many people and experiences they encountered over the course of their careers, and what makes planetariums such a special place for learning about the universe.

Links for today's episode:

Learn more about the East Kentucky Science Center, where Steve fished his career and still volunteers
Learn more about the Hubble Planetarium, which Sam built and ran for many years at Murrow High School
And of course, check out the current offerings of the Fels Planetarium at The Franklin Institute, where Derrick spent his career.

Carter Emmart: Visualizing the Universe Oct 31, 2023

Join Derrick Pitts for a conversation with Carter Emmert, head of astrovisualization at the American Museum of Natural History, to learn all about how data visualization can help us to see our universe in whole new ways!

Links for today's episode:

Learn more about Carter Emmart and his work at the American Museum of Natural History
Explore the data visualization work being done by Carter's colleagues at Linköping University in Sweden
Learn more about OpenSpace, the open source data visualization of space Carter is working on
Dig around in Google Earth equipped with your new understanding of data visualization technology!

John Blackwell: High School Astronomy Oct 24, 2023

Join Derrick Pitts for a conversation with John Blackwell, high school astronomy teacher and director of the Grainger Observatory at Philips Exeter Academy. Listen in as the two discuss the importance of teaching scientific citizenship, what John's students are currently working on, and what it's like teaching high schoolers about astronomy in the digital age.

Links for today's episode:

Learn more about John Blackwell and his work in Exeter Academy's Grainger Observatory
Learn more about spectroscopy in astronomy, and the science behind how rainbow glasses work!
To be prepped for the next time you read sensational headlines about a super special comet, check out this guide to comet observations

Mary Roach: Packing for Mars Oct 17, 2023

For years, the possibility of a manned mission to Mars has filled our newsfeeds and imaginations, but what actually needs to be done to make that dream a reality? In this episode of The Curious Cosmos, Derrick Pitts is joined by science writer Mary Roach discuss her book, Packing for Mars, and all the important (and often off-kilter) work being done to prepare for that mission here on Earth!

Check out Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void, and Mary's other books
Explore the Antarctic Search for Meteorites further
Check out the Mars500 project from the European Space Agency, where participants simulated a tip to Mars in Moscow.
Learn more about Peggy Whitson, the American record holder for most time in space!
Learn more about the failed Mars One project, which promised to colonize Mars via a reality TV show

Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi: A Quantum Life Oct 10, 2023

In this episode of The Curious Cosmos, Derrick is joined by astophysist, inventor, and media personality Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi, to discuss everything from cutting edge physics, the future of human spaceflight, and Hakeem's unique and inspiring path to science.

Learn more about Dr. Oluseyi, and check out his memoir,A Quantum Life: My Unlikely Journey from the Streets to the Stars
Explore the advancements physicist have made on gravitational wave astronomy and the cosmic microwave background
Learn more about 'Oumuamua, the first confirmed object from another star to visit our solar system
Discover more about the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment Derrick and Hakeem discuss
Learn more about the life and work of Hakeem's mentor, Dr. Arthur Walker

Ashley Walker: Black In Astro Oct 03, 2023

Join The Franklin Institute's Derrick Pitts for a conversation with astrochemist and founder of advocacy org Black in Astro, Ashely Walker. Listen as they discuss resources for Black scientists entering the field, the importance of diversity within astronomy and other hard sciences, and Ashley's work exploring the environments of the ice giant planets Uranus and Neptune!

Links for this episode:

Learn more about Ashley's research, Black in Astro and the work of the organization's leadership team!
Check out some of the resources Ashley recommends, like Dr. Nia Imara's tutoring project Onaketa and the Women+ of Color Project
Check out some of Black in Astros sister orgs, like Black in Chem, Black in Marine Science, and Black in Physics
Learn more about the field of space law
Learn more about NASA's Dragonfly Mission out to Saturn's largest moon, Titan

Leslie Kean: UFOs, UAPs, and Scientific Inquiry Sep 26, 2023

In this episode of The Curios Cosmos, Derrick Pitts sits down with Leslie Kean, an investigative journalist who's work led to the US government acknowledging the existence of unidentified flying objects! But what does this recognition mean for space science?

Listen as the two discuss the reclassification of UFOs to unidentified aerial/anomalous phenomenon (UAPs), how stigma has prevented even the most credible sightings from being seriously studied, and the important role scientists will play in solving this mystery moving forward.

For listener reference, this interview was recorded in February 2023. Between recording and air date, public government acknowledgment and investigation into UAPs have continued, including further reporting by Leslie and more congressional hearings on the topic.

Links for this episode:

Learn more about Leslie Kean, and check out her 2010 book exploring UFO/UAPs
Read the NYT article Leslie helped write, which exposed the Department of Defense's UFO investigation program to the public, and check out the unclassified Navy videos for yourself!
Look into some civilian-run UFO sighting databases, like the National UFO Reporting Center and the Mutual UFO Network
Learn more about the Galileo Project at Harvard
Check out the National Geographic docuseries Leslie produced, UFOs: Investigating the Unknown, which featured Derrick as an expert!

Vivian White: Astronomy for All! Sep 19, 2023

Join Derrick Pitts for a conversation with astronomy educator Vivian White, who's curiosity and unique career has led her everywhere from partnerships with NASA to teaching Buddhist monks in Bhutan!

Links for this episode:

Learn more about Vivian White, and check out her book, The Total Skywatcher's Manual, a guide for astronomy enthusiasts of any background.
Want to check out remote telescopes for yourself? Derrick recommends these from Slooh, OWN, Skynet University, and Bareket Observatory
Learn more about the Science for Monks and Nuns project
amateur archeologist's theory
Learn more about the Voyager Golden Record

Christopher Ferguson: The Astronaut Experience Sep 12, 2023

In the inaugural episode of Curious Cosmos, join Derrick for a conversation with real-life astronaut Christopher Ferguson!

Listen and discover what it's like to be a Top Gun pilot, the experience of looking down at Earth from orbit, and what the future of human spaceflight might look like.

Links for this episode:

Learn more about Christopher Ferguson
Curios about what it looked like when Chris saw a hurricane while in orbit? Check out this footage of Hurricane Florence, captured by NASA from ISS
Learn more about NASA's Perseverance Mission on Mars
Check out the movie Chris and Derrick discussed, The Martian
View a picture of Derrick with the Steel Star that's traveled to space multiple times!

The Curious Cosmos Trailer Sep 05, 2023

Welcome to Derrick Pitts' brand new podcast, The Curious Cosmos!

Join The Franklin Institute's beloved Chief Astronomer and Planetarium Director for a peek behind the curtain of space science, discovering the wonders of our universe and the people shaping our understanding of the cosmos.

Be sure to subscribe, it's gonna be a blast!

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