Universe Today Podcast

Latest Episodes:

[Space Bites] Weakening Dark Energy // Lunar Radio Telescope // Fuel Depots for Space Aug 01, 2025

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More evidence that dark energy is weakening, cosmic rays could keep life alive under the ice, NASA is building fuel depots in space, and a radio telescope is going to the far side of the Moon. On Space Bites+, how brines could form on the surface of Mars, providing a habitat for life.

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[Q&A] Deflecting Gravitational Waves, Destruction from Comets, Religious AI Jul 31, 2025

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Do gravitational waves deflect like waves on the water? Which type of comet would cause the most destruction for Earth? Will we see humans on Mars in our lifetime? And in Q&A+ could AI become religious?

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00:00 Start
00:25 [Web Fiji] Which type of comet will cause the most devastation if it hits Earth?
04:04 [James Sobek] Do gravitational waves reflect off objects?
07:09 [Pat Ludwig] Are there rogue gravitational waves?
07:27 [Rob Wright] Can a planet exist at the barycenter of a binary system?
09:28 [Clockwork Rex] Betelegeuse explosion wen?
11:41 [TJ] Will we see humans on Mars in your lifetime?
12:17 [Aiden Weatherbee] What would be my PhD research project?

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[Q&A] End of Expansion of the Universe, Hypervelocity Stars, Retrograde Planets Jul 29, 2025

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Do we predictions when will the Universe stop its expansion? Did we find hypervelocity stars in M31? What does it mean when planets go retrograde? And in Q&A+ could the Big Bang be a white hole?

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00:00 Start
00:27 [Peter Keyson] When will the Universe stop expanding?
02:54 [John De Keizer] Hypervelocity stars in M31
06:20 [kindness] What does it mean that planets are retrograde?
08:31 [J E] Are we working on strategies to mitigate the effect of satellites?

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[Interview] Modern Day Space Enigmas. Fast Radio Bursts Jul 28, 2025

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FRBs are a great example of a modern day space mystery. We've seen a lot of them. We know a fair amount about them. But we still don't really know for sure how do they work and what's their true source. Some of them can be super weird. How exactly? Finding out in this interview.

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🟣 Guest: Dr. Fengqui Adam Dong

📜 A ‘Unicorn’ Object Defies Astrophysics
https://public.nrao.edu/news/unicorn-object/

📜 CHIME/FRB Discovery of an Unusual Circularly Polarized Long-Period Radio Transient with an
Accelerating Spin Period
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2507.05139

00:00 Intro
01:52 FRB on a conference
10:10 Source of FRB
19:59 New research
32:21 Current obsessions
36:03 Final thoughts

📺 VIDEO VERSION
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[Space Bites] Betelgeuse Has a Companion // Blow Against Planet X // Huge SMBH Discovery Jul 25, 2025

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Betelgeuse has a companion star, Vera Rubin discovered the third interstellar object accidentally, the first evidence of direct collapse supermassive black holes, and in Space Bites+ developing plans to help humanity deal with finding an extraterrestrial intelligence.

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📺 VIDEO VERSION
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[Q&A] Concerns About China, Book to a Movie, Space Set SciFi Jul 24, 2025

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Should we be concerned about China's progress in space? Is their progress held back by a lack of cultural freedom? Which space-set book story desperately needs a movie adaptation? and in Q&A+, the best space-set movie that's factually accurate

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00:00 Start
00:24 [2Evil2Hope] Are we concerned about China?
09:41 [mr man] Is China's science held back by lack of cultural freedom?
13:13 [Alan Laurie] Which book should be turned into a movie?

📺 VIDEO VERSION
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[Q&A] Destination Venus, Drilling Europa's Ice, Shape of The Universe Jul 22, 2025

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How can we realistically get under the ice of Europa? Why Venus is such an under appreciated destination for spacecraft? What is the shape of the Universe? And in Q&A+ what would happen to Jupiter if it became a rogue planet?

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00:00 Start
00:26 [Knight Family] How do we drill down under the ice on Europa?
02:23 [kLONDIKE69 NONE] Why Venus is a good destination?
10:21 [Aaron Perelmuter] What's the size of the Universe?
13:20 [John Stanton] What's the shape of the Universe?

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[BONUS] The Sky Isn’t the Limit. Interview with me on The Last Easy Mile Podcast Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

This is an interview with me on The Last Easy Mile podcast with Josh Farahi.

Video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_FR_ZvPc3U&ab_channel=TheLastEasyMilePodcast
THE LAST EASY MILE: https://linktr.ee/TheLastEasyMilePodcast

In this episode, Fraser Cain—founder of Universe Today and co-host of Astronomy Cast—shares why space still matters. From watching meteor showers with your kids to seeing Saturn’s rings through binoculars in a city, Fraser offers practical ways to reconnect with awe. He reflects on raising science-minded kids, his love of tabletop RPGs, and how parents can create deeper imaginative experiences than screens can provide.

We also talk about the James Webb Space Telescope, the Mars rovers, and the Vera Rubin Observatory, which will capture time-lapse images of the sky. Fraser warns against the growing distrust of experts, advocating for humility, critical thinking, and Carl Sagan’s “baloney detection toolkit.”

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[Space Bites] Earth in a Void // Ancient Stellar Flyby // Resonance with Uranus Jul 18, 2025

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Is the Earth at the center of a giant void? Did a star fly through the Solar System billions of years ago messing up the orbits of some objects? Comet 3i/ATLAS is the oldest comet ever seen. Look at the picture to celebrate the third anniversary of Webb. And in Space Bites Plus, covering a crater on the moon with a concrete dome to build a pressurised habitat.

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📺 VIDEO VERSION
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[Q&A] Best Possible Space Mission, Sea Launches, Sun's Siblings Jul 17, 2025

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What would be the best possible space mission if budget restrictions didn't exist? Why don't we launch all rockets from ships in the sea? Where are the stars that formed with our Sun? And in Q&A+ where is the center of the Universe?

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00:00 Start
00:30 [John Hoy] Dream space mission when budget isn't a concern?
04:20 [Adam Redwine] Which places are best for launching rockets to different altitudes?
06:20 [Chris Nelsynels] How are we looking for the Sun's siblings?
07:48 [MouseDestruction] Stirling engines in space?
10:23 [Ivan M] What's the density of a black hole?
14:37 [xXPhiliPXx6541] What are the pros and cons of launching rockets from ships?
17:49 [Aaron ball] What's coming after the ISS?

📺 VIDEO VERSION
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⚖️ LICENSE
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