Universe Today Podcast

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Episode 566: Better Than Earth? Are There Superhabitable Worlds In The Milky Way? Sep 23, 2019

Show notes

I’ve said many times in the past that the Earth is the best planet in the Universe. No matter where we go, we’ll never find a planet that’s a better home to Earth life than Earth. Of course, that’s because we, and all other Earth life evolved in this environment. Evolution adapted us to this planet, and it’s unlikely we could ever find another planet this good for us.

However, is it the best planet? Are there places in the Universe which might have the conditions for more diversity of life?

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
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What Fraser's Watching Playlist:
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Weekly email newsletter:
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Weekly Space Hangout:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/

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

Support us at: http://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://arxiv.org/abs/1301.6674
https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1401/1401.2392.pdf
https://www.sciencealert.com/there-may-be-exoplanets-out-there-even-better-suited-for-life-than-earth
https://data.giss.nasa.gov/rocke3d/maps/
https://www.giss.nasa.gov/projects/astrobio/
https://asd.gsfc.nasa.gov/luvoir/reports/LUVOIR_FinalReportAppendices_2019-08-26.pdf

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Episode 565: Q&A 100: When Will Earth Be Uninhabitable? And More, Featuring Anton Petrov Sep 19, 2019

Show notes

In this week's questions show, I explain that life on Earth has less time than you think, if there could be multiple supermassive black holes inside the Milky Way, and what would we see if Mars replaced the Moon. Featuring Anton Petrov from WhatDaMath.

Check out his channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCciQ8wFcVoIIMi-lfu8-cjQ

00:29 When will the Earth be unlivable?
03:00 Are there more supermassive black holes inside the Milky Way?
04:48 What if Mars replaces the Moon?
06:32 Can bed bugs handle space travel?
07:37 Let's use the Moon's resources
09:25 Other methods of finding gravitational waves?
12:01 Could we put a Voyager to sleep for a long time?
13:58 Could we jump off Phobos or Deimos?
15:35 Could Alpha Centauri see the Earth?
17:24 Why refuel in space?
19:22 Are quasars dangerous?

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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Episode 564: Interview with Fraser on the Big Beard Theory Sep 19, 2019

Show notes

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Episode 562: Open Space 44: Astrophotography With Dylan O'Donnell Sep 17, 2019

Show notes

This week I was joined by Dylan O'Donnell, an incredible astrophotographer and amateur astronomer from Australia. Dylan's photography has been featured in exhibits and websites around the world, and he's the organizer of the Starstuff Conference in Byron Bay (https://starstuff.com.au/) and has a website featuring all his astrophotography (https://deography.com/)

Check out his channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgOf4wBnoGg8WHHHr_h4otQ

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 563: Want To Explore Mars? Send Humans To The Moons Of Mars First: Phobos And Deimos Sep 17, 2019

Show notes

Humans to Mars. That’s the plan right? The problem is that sending humans down to the surface of Mars is one of the most complicated and ambitious goals that we can attempt. It’s a huge step to go from low Earth orbit, then lunar landings, and then all the way to Mars, a journey of hundreds of millions of kilometers and 2 years at the least.

But there are two places humans can go which are a stepping stone between Earth and Mars. Base camps that would let us gather our resources in relative safety before dropping down into that gravity well.

I’m talking about the moons of Mars: Phobos and Deimos.

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

References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZD5nnScDks
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/mars-moons/phobos/in-depth/
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/mars-moons/deimos/in-depth/
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/85b0/1edc59d0667525bb546281b3a12997f32204.pdf?_ga=2.250002438.1632319045.1568499640-640080446.1568499640
https://space.nss.org/media/2003-Space-Colonization-Using-Space-Elevators-From-Phobos.pdf
http://www.csc.caltech.edu/talks/hopkins.pdf
https://www.geekwire.com/2019/safest-bet-space-settlers-believe-inside-mars-moon-deimos/

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Episode 561: Water Vapor Seen In the Atmosphere Of An Exoplanet. It Might Even Be Rain Sep 14, 2019

Show notes

We’re learning more and more about extrasolar planets, and for the first time, astronomers have discovered water vapor in the atmosphere of a planet orbiting another star. The planet is located in the habitable zone of its star, so this might even be rain.

Of course, it’s not all good news, it’s much more massive than Earth, with higher gravity, and is probably bathed in radiation from its red dwarf star. But, it’s a good start in the search for habitable places in the Universe, places where there might be life.

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

References:
https://www.spacetelescope.org/news/heic1916/
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/sep/11/rocky-super-earth-k2-18b-named-most-habitable-known-world-beyond-solar-system
https://arxiv.org/abs/1707.04292
http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/k2-18_b/
https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=surface+gravity+calculator&assumption=%7B%22F%22%2C+%22GravitationalAcceleration%22%2C+%22r%22%7D+-%3E%226371.000+*+2.2+km%22&assumption=%7B%22FS%22%7D+-%3E+%7B%7B%22GravitationalAcceleration%22%2C+%22g%22%7D%7D&assumption=%7B%22F%22%2C+%22GravitationalAcceleration%22%2C+%22M%22%7D+-%3E%225.972%C3%9710%5E24+kg+*+8%22&assumption=%22FSelect%22+-%3E+%7B%7B%22GravitationalAcceleration%22%7D%7D
https://sci.esa.int/web/cosmic-vision/-/59796-esa-s-next-science-mission-to-focus-on-nature-of-exoplanets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR_uEh0qhk4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PstUvHlKEg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCTGIxmM-e4

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Episode 560: Q&A 99: Could We Find Life On Venus? And More, Featuring SciManDan Sep 12, 2019

Show notes

In this week's questions show, I talk about searching for life on Venus, trying to get to orbit with a jet, and why NASA probably shouldn't hire me. This episode features special guest SciManDan.

Check out his channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRtsZ5Iak9wSLsQLQ3XOAeA

00:20 Could there be life on Venus?
03:30 Could you get into orbit with a jet?
06:31 Should NASA hire me?
08:57 Will junk get trapped in the Lagrange points
10:57 Kerbal 2?
12:23 Are Earth and the planets drifting away from the Sun?
13:44 Are Type III Civilizations a huge leap?
18:29 Could you turn a gas giant into a rocky planet?
19:40 How would a Moon base be powered?
21:02 Why's it hard to go to the Sun?
22:52 Couldn't we dig deep into the Moon or Mars?
25:13 Is the Earth above or below the plane of the Milky Way?

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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Episode 559: Open Space 43: Welcome to Season 2. Mixing Concrete in Space, And More... Sep 10, 2019

Show notes

Welcome back to Season 2 of my weekly live QA. Your chance to ask me your questions about space and astronomy... live. Sometimes I'll have guests, and sometimes I won't. This week... I didn't.

You wanted to know about recent news about astronauts mixing concrete in space, the formation of craters on Titan, and what might be the difficulties of people going to the Moon or Mars?

04:22 Mixing concrete on ISS?
07:44 Could you make shotcrete from regolith?
09:50 Why do some planets spin backwards?
12:22 Formation of Titan's lakes
14:02 Why don't millionaires and billionaires live on the Moon?
18:40 Will SpaceX make electric rockets?
21:21 What if Mars crashed into Jupiter?
23:12 Why are LISA and LIGO only 2-dimensional?
26:13 Could we survive without a pressure suit?
27:24 How is the Planet 9 search going?
28:25 Why hasn't Tim Dodd finished his new video?
29:19 Does gravity move in a different speed through different media?
30:46 Any difficulties in crewed missions to the Moon or Mars?
33:35 What is my opinion on the Great Filter?
34:26 How do we know how old the Universe is?
36:34 How do we avoid space madness?
38:29 Does quantum enganglement allow instant communication?
41:30 When will we prove dark matter exists?
45:39 Is it possible that dark matter is antimatter?
46:30 When will we visit Neptune again?
47:10 Does the Fermi Paradox make me less scared about AI?
48:12 Any protocols for alien contact?
49:23 Plans to send an asteroid hunter to L3
50:23 What's the deal with Saturn's rotation?
51:24 Why are we hearing about NEOs?
55:10 Do they do autopsies on astronauts?
56:34 Upcoming shows and projects

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 558: A Tour Of The Lagrange Points. Part 3 - Trojans and Space Colonies at L4/L5 Sep 09, 2019

Show notes

We’ve reached the third part of our series on Lagrange Points, those stable spots in the Solar System, where you can sort of hover with the minimum amount of fuel.

This episode we’re going to look at the L4 and L5 points which share the orbit with a more massive object.

Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WN7lS9bpB4
Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgIZgrOZElo

Building an artificial magnetosphere
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjFTke8E1jA

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

References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WN7lS9bpB4
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=3080
https://earthsky.org/earth/earths-dust-cloud-satellites-kordylewski
https://phys.org/news/2016-09-astronomers-neptune-trojans.html
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-017-0179
https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2015/pdf/2845.pdf
https://arxiv.org/abs/1212.2816
https://space.nss.org/settlement/nasa/75SummerStudy/Table_of_Contents1.html
https://worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/90432/stabilizing-a-mckendree-cylinder-habitat

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Episode 557: Q&A 98: What's The Best Use For The Moon? And More... Sep 05, 2019

Show notes

In this week's questions show, I explain what I think the best uses of the Moon might be, why I'm qualified to answer questions about space, and if you could use a black hole as mirror that lets you look back in time.

00:28 What's the best use of the Moon?
03:46 What are my qualifications?
05:44 Could a black hole bend light back to us?
07:12 How can the Moon drift away?
10:18 What are black holes made of?
12:18 Could we search for aliens who have organized their stars?
15:28 Could we build gravity trains?
17:24 What if we find life on Europa?
19:18 The Solar System is the weird one
21:10 Could there be aliens that look like us?
23:36 Will VR get so good we won't want to go to space?

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

Support Universe Today Podcast

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