Universe Today Podcast

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Episode 606: Betelgeuse Is Dimmer Than We've Ever Seen It Dec 27, 2019

Show notes

Over the last weekend, astronomy Twitter started noting that the red giant Betelgeuse, the prominent shoulder of Orion was looking visibly dimmer in the sky, and I had a few people reach out to me and ask me if it was really happening and if I knew what was going on.

This is exciting, of course, because Betelgeuse is living on borrowed time, and it could explode as a supernova any day now. Or, it might not detonate for another 100,000 years. We just don’t know.

What’s Betelgeuse up to? Is this a sign that it’s about to explode? And what would it mean if it did?

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=2
RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audio

Weekly email newsletter:
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Astronomy Cast:
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Support us at https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
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Team: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.com
Karla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fw
Chad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.com

References:
https://twitter.com/starstrickenSF/status/1209207523179237376
https://medium.com/starts-with-a-bang/what-will-happen-when-betelgeuse-explodes-df5b04164b2
https://www.eso.org/public/usa/images/potw1726b/
https://hubblesite.org/image/4027/gallery
https://www.eso.org/public/images/eso0708a/
http://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=13341
https://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/feature1.shtml
https://twitter.com/starstrickenSF/status/1209242710281986048
https://www.astro.princeton.edu/~gk/A403/pulse.pdf
https://arxiv.org/pdf/1712.01852.pdf
https://aasnova.org/2018/01/03/astrophysics-of-red-supergiants/
https://neutrinos.fnal.gov/sources/supernova-neutrinos/
https://snews.bnl.gov/
https://researchblog.duke.edu/2014/01/22/supernova-explosion-in-m82-exciting-but-no-neutrinos/
https://aasnova.org/2018/04/20/capturing-neutrinos-from-a-stars-final-hours/
https://www.phys.hawaii.edu/~jgl/nuastron.html

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Episode 605: Open Space 56: SpaceX's Andrew Rader and "Beyond the Known" Dec 17, 2019

Show notes

This week I'm joined by Andrew Rader, a game designer and mission manager at SpaceX. Andrew's new book is called Beyond the Known and it's all about the history and future of space exploration.

Learn more about Andrew here:
https://andrew-rader.com/

And learn about his book here:
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Beyond-the-Known/Andrew-Rader/9781982123536

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=2
RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audio

What Fraser's Watching Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbJ42wpShvmkjd428BcHcCEVWOjv7cJ1G

Weekly email newsletter:
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Astronomy Cast:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSg

Support us at: https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
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Team: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.com
Karla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fw
Chad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.com

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Episode 604: 100 Million Exoplanets By 2050? How Will We Get There? Dec 17, 2019

Show notes

As I’m recording this video near the end of 2019, the total number of confirmed exoplanets stands at 4,104. We’ve come a long way since the discovery of the first exoplanet orbiting a sunlike star back in 1995 with 51 Pegasi b.

And the reality is that the race to find new exoplanets is only accelerating. New ground and space-based telescopes are turning up planetary candidates at an increasing rate. New techniques will find planets in entirely new ways. The bottom line is that over the next few decades, this mere 4000ish will multiply by orders of magnitude.

So let’s run the clock forward and try to calculate what the future holds for exoplanets. How many worlds will we know about 3 decades from now, in the year 2050?

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=2
RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audio

Weekly email newsletter:
https://www.universetoday.com/newsletter

Weekly Space Hangout:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/

Astronomy Cast:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSg

Team: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.com
Karla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fw
Chad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.com

References:
https://arxiv.org/pdf/1911.12114.pdf
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mooreslaw.asp
http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/51_peg_b/
https://sci.esa.int/web/plato/-/42276-summary
https://www.eso.org/sci/facilities/eelt/
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/habex/
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013A%26A...556A.133S/abstract
https://sci.esa.int/web/gaia/-/58788-detecting-exoplanets-with-astrometry
https://arxiv.org/pdf/1707.01348.pdf

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Episode 603: What Is The Crisis in Cosmology? With Dr. Paul Sutter Dec 16, 2019

Show notes

How old is the Universe? In order to figure that out, all you have to do is figure out how quickly it’s expanding, and then the clock backward until everything is crunched together.

And astronomers have measured the rate that the Universe is expanding with tremendous precision at various times in its history; at the beginning, and much more recently. The problem is, these expansion rates disagree, but they’ve both been measured so accurately that their error bars don’t overlap.

In other words, there are multiple, highly accurate estimates for the age of the Universe, and they disagree.

Check out Paul's channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBr7XOxxQyBHEwqkhoci7vw

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=2
RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audio

Weekly email newsletter:
https://www.universetoday.com/newsletter

Weekly Space Hangout:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/

Astronomy Cast:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSg

Team: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.com
Karla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fw
Chad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.com

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Episode 602: Q&A 110: Why Can't I Just Be Realistic About Mars? And More... Dec 12, 2019

Show notes

In this week's questions show, I explain why I don't think we always need to be realistic, if galaxies in the local group are bound together gravitationally, and what we should call Earth-moving equipment on Mars.

00:20 Be realistic.
04:24 Are galaxies in the local group bound?
05:56 Will gravitational waves give us advanced notice of collisions?
08:36 Will we ever be able to live outside on Mars?
10:16 Are we going to ruin Mars too?
12:42 Mars-moving equipment?
14:07 Could the Moon have an atmosphere?
15:51 Liquid water on the surface of Mars
16:49 Is there a business case for Mars?
19:17 What about nitrogen?
21:21 What will need to come from Earth?
23:06 Are there planets with less gravity than Earth?

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=2
RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audio

Weekly email newsletter:
https://www.universetoday.com/newsletter

Weekly Space Hangout:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/

Astronomy Cast:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSg

Team: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.com
Karla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fw
Chad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.com

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Episode 601: Living Off The Land On Mars. What Can We Find On The Red Planet? Dec 10, 2019

Show notes

Extending humanity to other worlds in the Solar System is at the very limits of our modern technology. And unless there are dramatic discoveries in new propulsion systems or we learn how to build everything out of carbon nanotubes, the future of space exploration is going to require living off the land.

The technique is known as In-Situ Resource Utilization or ISRU, and it means supplying as much of your mission from local resources as possible.

And many of our future exploration destinations, like Mars, have a lot to work with. Let’s look at the raw materials on Mars that missions can use to live off the land and the techniques and technologies that will need to be developed to make this possible.

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=2
RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audio

Weekly email newsletter:
https://www.universetoday.com/newsletter

Weekly Space Hangout:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/

Astronomy Cast:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSg

Support us at https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
More stories at https://www.universetoday.com/
Twitch: https://twitch.tv/fcain
Twitter: @universetoday

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/universetoday
Instagram - https://instagram.com/universetoday

Team: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.com
Karla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fw
Chad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.com

References:
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20160005963.pdf
https://space.nss.org/the-promise-of-mars-by-robert-zubrin/
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7038
https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/msa/ammin/article/103/7/1011/537180/gypsum-bassanite-and-anhydrite-at-gale-crater-mars
https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/jarosite-in-the-noctis-labyrinthus-region-of-mars
http://fti.neep.wisc.edu/neep533/SPRING2004/lecture19.pdf
https://www.nature.com/articles/ngeo1923
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242525435_Perchlorate_on_Mars_A_chemical_hazard_and_a_resource_for_humans
https://mars.nasa.gov/news/curiosity-finds-evidence-of-mars-crust-contributing-to-atmosphere/
https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/8200/boron-sodium-and-chlorine-in-mineral-vein-diyogha/
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6544
https://mars.nasa.gov/mars-exploration/missions/viking-1-2/
https://www.nasa.gov/jpl/msl/pia18387
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110015862.pdf
https://phys.org/news/2019-04-methane-route-storage-renewable-energy.html
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9159/213d6ad79bd800d07525bc37463588742662.pdf
https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2007/11/05/9075777/ethylene-uses-and-market-data
https://www.universetoday.com/144136/using-bacteria-to-build-a-base-on-mars/
https://madeinspace.us/press-releases/made-in-space-wins-nasa-contract-to-develop-hybrid-metal-manufacturing-system-for-space-exploration/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gfS5k8juDM
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-01157-w??utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=commission_junction&utm_campaign=3_nsn6445_deeplink_PID7596969&utm_content=deeplink
https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lunarisru2019/presentations/5066_Mueller.pdf
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/centennial_challenges/3DPHab/latest-updates-from-nasa-on-3d-printed-habitat-competition

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Episode 600: Q&A 109: Could We Have A Steam Powered Rocket? And More... Dec 06, 2019

Show notes

In this week's questions show, I explain why you could have a steam-powered rocket, how often spacecraft have crashed into asteroids and comets, and why a red supergiant star actually has a very low surface gravity.

02:42 Could you build a steam-powered rocket?
04:48 Have any probes crashed into asteroids or comets?
06:47 Surface gravity of UY Scuti
08:57 Will we ever send humans to the surface of Venus?
11:08 Lol
11:24 Does Venus have a magnetic field?
12:22 Longer guest interviews?
14:09 Save the shoutouts to the end
15:55 Could a probe float at the surface of Venus?
16:47 Where do I get my news?
20:29 Why don't meteor showers hit satellites?
21:57 Why not add a module to James Webb?

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=2
RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audio

Weekly email newsletter:
https://www.universetoday.com/newsletter

Weekly Space Hangout:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/

Astronomy Cast:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSg

Team: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.com
Karla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fw
Chad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.com

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Episode 599: Flying In The Cloudtops Of Venus. Balloons, Airships And Airplanes For Venus Dec 04, 2019

Show notes

The exploration of Venus has been mainly about getting down to the surface of the planet. The Soviet Union sacrificed lander after lander to discover just how extreme the conditions are down there on the ground.

But higher up, among the clouds, the climate on Venus is surprisingly Earthlike in temperature and pressure, and there have been some fascinating ideas for robotic and human explorers to fly the skies of Venus, to help understand our evil twin planet.

Let’s take a look at them.

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=2

RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audio

Weekly email newsletter:
https://www.universetoday.com/newsletter

Weekly Space Hangout:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/

Astronomy Cast:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSg

Team: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.com
Karla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fw
Chad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.com

References:
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/venus/in-depth/
https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/venusfact.html
http://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Venus_Express/Acid_clouds_and_lightning
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/magellan/in-depth/
https://progearthplanetsci.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40645-018-0181-x
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/2197/aerial-platforms-for-the-scientific-exploration-of-venus/
https://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/venus-20070827.html
https://trs.jpl.nasa.gov/bitstream/handle/2014/44535/13-5079_A1b.pdf?sequence=1
https://unmanned-aerial.com/nasa-taps-black-swift-to-develop-uas-for-studying-venus
https://www.universetoday.com/144045/stingray-glider-to-explore-the-cloudtops-of-venus/
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag/meetings/STIM/presentations/Polidan_VAMP%20for%20STIM%20Meeting%20Jan%202013%20-%20Final%20Approved.pdf
https://sacd.larc.nasa.gov/smab/havoc/

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Episode 598: Open Space 55: Jason Derleth, NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts Dec 02, 2019

Show notes

This week I'm joined by Jason Derleth from NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (or NIAC). This is a special part of NASA that funds innovative ideas for new telescopes, propulsion systems and rovers. Many of the cool, science-fiction ideas I present on this channel come from research done at NASA.

Jason is an aerospace engineer and tech analyst, and the Program Executive for NASA NIAC.

Learn more about NIAC here:
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/niac/index.html

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=2
RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audio

What Fraser's Watching Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbJ42wpShvmkjd428BcHcCEVWOjv7cJ1G

Weekly email newsletter:
https://www.universetoday.com/newsletter

Weekly Space Hangout:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/

Astronomy Cast:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSg

Team: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.com
Karla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fw
Chad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.com

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Episode 597: Q&A 108: Why Are There Meteor Showers Every Year? And More, Featuring Paul Geithner from JWST Nov 29, 2019

Show notes

In this week's questions show, I explain why we can see meteor showers every year, why we're not 3D printing telescopes in space, why there aren't any plans to launch telescopes with SpaceX Starship. And a lengthy answer to one of the most common James Webb questions we get: can it be refueled? This was answered by Paul Geithner, a Deputy Project Manager for James Webb during a recent livestream.

01:00 Why do we see meteor showers every year?
02:49 Why not also use 3D printing for space telescopes?
04:40 Why don't they design telescopes for Starship?
07:20 Could there be a privately backed telescope?
09:54 Is there glass on the Moon to build telescopes?
11:46 Could ISS help build new space telescopes?
13:47 Space telescopes on the far side of the Moon?
15:06 Is Andromeda actually much closer?
16:27 Why spend money on science?
19:20 Why is the dark side of the Moon illuminated?
21:34 Can James Webb be refueled?

Watch the full livestream here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX0iCqCTKzE

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=2
RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audio

What Fraser's Watching Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbJ42wpShvmkjd428BcHcCEVWOjv7cJ1G

Weekly email newsletter:
https://www.universetoday.com/newsletter

Weekly Space Hangout:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/

Astronomy Cast:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSg

Team: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.com
Karla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fw
Chad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.com

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