Universe Today Podcast

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[Interview] Interstellar Travel Without Breaking Physics with Andrew Higgins Dec 26, 2022

Show notes

Interstellar travel can be real. And you don't need to break the laws of Physics to do it. In this interview, I discuss a realistic way we can send missions to nearby stars in our lifetimes.

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00:00:00 Intro
00:02:06 How hard is interstellar travel
00:13:19 Ride solar wind like a bird
00:23:15 How a realistic mission can look like
00:40:20 Exploring the Solar System
00:46:50 Fastest gun in the world
00:55:39 Best way to get off planet Earth
01:01:08 Interstellar Symposium
01:04:00 First interstellar mission. When?
01:13:53 How to become an interstellar engineer
01:19:17 Outro

Interstellar Symposium
https://irg.space/irg-2023/

Andrew Higgins' group web page:
https://interstellarflight.space/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/McGill_AdAstra

Jeff Greason’s idea for a “Reaction Drive powered by External Pressure” (the so-called q-drive).
https://tauzero.aero/wp-content/uploads/JBIS-May-2019-Greason.pdf

New paper on Dynamic Soaring
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2022.1017442/full

RC gliders reaching nearly 900 km/hour by performing dynamic soaring on wind shear:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nyYaL0dGAA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eFD_Wj6dhk&t=0s

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https://youtu.be/SkGRVvA23qI

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[Space Bites] InSight Officially Dead // Detecting Warp Drives // New SLS Engine Dec 23, 2022

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It’s official, InSight is gone. Perseverance is putting samples onto the surface of Mars. More scientific results from James Webb, and using gravitational wave observatories to detect warp drives.

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00:00 Intro
00:17 InSight Mission is over
- https://www.universetoday.com/159339/this-will-probably-be-insights-last-picture-before-it-runs-out-of-power-forever/
01:52 Percy Deposits First Sample on Mars’ Surface
- https://www.universetoday.com/159365/perseverance-places-its-first-sample-on-the-surface-of-mars-one-day-this-will-be-in-the-hands-of-scientists-on-earth/
03:48 The Aftermath of the Soyuz Leak Last Week
05:19 DART Science Results
- https://www.universetoday.com/159314/what-kind-of-an-impact-did-dart-have-on-dimorphos-the-science-results-are-here/
07:58 Exoplanet is Falling onto a Star
- https://www.universetoday.com/159312/giant-exoplanet-is-spiraling-inward-to-its-doom/
10:26 Support us on Patreon
11:17 JWST Sees Star Formation
- https://www.universetoday.com/159282/jwst-sees-furious-star-formation-in-a-stellar-nursery/
13:23 New Engine for Future Moon Missions
- https://www.universetoday.com/159315/nasa-just-tested-a-new-engine-that-will-launch-artemis-v-and-beyond/
16:07 Detecting Warp Drives
- https://www.universetoday.com/159218/gravitational-wave-observatories-could-search-for-warp-drive-signatures/
18:34 Outro

📺 VIDEO VERSION
#TODO_LINK

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[Q&A] Dark Antimatter, Human Missions to Asteroids, Rockets and Global Warming Dec 21, 2022

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Does the Black Knight satellite really exist? Can JWST explore the Oort cloud? Did we hopelessly contaminate Mars with life? Would I fly on the dearMoon mission without the abort system? Should we do crewed missions to near-earth asteroids? Answers to all these questions and more in this week's Q&A with Fraser Cain!

🦄 Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/universetoday

00:00 Intro
00:46 [Tatooine] Does the Black Knight satellite really exist?
04:00 [Coruscant] Should we do crewed missions to near-earth asteroids?
06:41 [Hoth] Can we put a really good camera around the Moon?
07:39 [Naboo] Patreon announcements
09:31 [Kamino] Can JWST explore the Oort cloud?
11:48 [Bespin] Can there be Dark Antimatter?
12:36 [Mustafar] Did we hopelessly contaminate Mars with life?
16:13 [Alderaan] How do we track the movements of distant galaxies?
20:05 [Dagobah] Is there a specific direction to look at the Big Bang?
21:10 [Yavin] Does propellant contribute to Kessler Syndrome?
22:06 [Mandalore] Should we use different fuel to propel rockets?
24:37 [Geonosis] Can JWST detect Population 3 stars?
27:30 [Corellia] What size is the observable universe?
28:41 [Crait] Would I fly on the dearMoon mission without the abort system?
30:24 [Endor] Do rockets cause global warming?
32:20 [Exegol] Is it ethical to terraform Mars?

📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/AsNnbGxgIOU

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[Breaking News] What FUSION IGNITION Really Means for The Future of Energy Production Dec 17, 2022

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This week we got an announcement that a historical milestone was achieved. Fusion Ignition. But what it really means for the future of energy production, what most stories don't say and should you be excited after all?

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00:00 Intro
00:41 The IGNITION announcement
02:21 How fusion works on Earth
04:24 How the breakthrough was made
06:05 Problems with NIF's approach to fusion
08:38 Fusion applications in space
10:52 Should you be excited?

📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/HIkYzfk8BvM

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[Space Bites] Accident on the ISS, JWST Deep Field, Space Habitat Goes BANG! Dec 16, 2022

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Splashdown! Artemis I has returned home. Webb has made its first Deep Field survey. Listen to the sound of a dust devil on Mars. Space journalist is going to the Moon.

🦄 Support us on Patreon:
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🌕 Artemis 1 Overview video:
https://youtu.be/u5wNXtlZH_Q

00:00 Intro
00:16 Orion splashdown
- https://www.universetoday.com/159146/orion-splashes-down-in-the-pacific-ocean-completing-the-artemis-i-mission/
02:54 Hakuto-R and Lunar Flashlight launch
05:21 Accident on the ISS. Soyuz coolant leak
- https://www.universetoday.com/159240/a-soyuz-capsule-on-iss-is-leaking-coolant-into-space/
07:18 JWST's first proper deep field
- https://www.universetoday.com/159149/webb-completes-its-first-deep-field-with-nine-days-of-observing-time-what-did-it-find/
10:07 Percy heard a dust devil on Mars
- https://www.universetoday.com/159193/perseverance-heard-a-dust-devil-on-mars-and-now-you-can-too/
11:57 Support us on Patreon
13:01 BANG! Sierra Space inflatable module test
- https://www.universetoday.com/159222/sierra-space-inflated-a-habitat-to-destruction-testing-its-limits-before-going-to-orbit/
14:27 Asteroid as a space habitat
- https://www.universetoday.com/159224/rubble-pile-asteroids-might-be-the-best-places-to-build-space-habitats/
16:14 Everyday Astronaut is going to the Moon!
- https://www.universetoday.com/159099/japanese-billionaire-reveals-his-round-the-moon-crew/
18:17 Breakthrough in fusion
- https://www.universetoday.com/159166/fusion-ignition-breakthrough-raises-hopes-questions/
18:42 Outro

📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/yVcPzz5arb8

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[Bonus] Full Overview of Artemis 1 Dec 14, 2022

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It’s been 50 years since humans set foot on the Moon. Entire generations were born after this historic accomplishment. But humanity has kept its eyes on the sky and vowed to return. This week marks the end of the beginning of that journey, the completion of Artemis I, sending a human-rated capsule around the Moon and back again. With Orion safely back on Earth, let’s look back at this amazing accomplishment and ponder what comes next.

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00:00 Intro
01:07 Constellation Program
03:47 Artemis Program Begins
05:50 SLS first flight. Artemis 1
07:15 To the Moon and back again
11:59 Orion returns to Earth
14:00 Ups and downs of Artemis 1
16:06 What's next? Artemis 2 and beyond
18:48 Outro

📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/u5wNXtlZH_Q

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[Q&A] Should You Get a Degree, Straight Line Space Travel, Astronomy in 100 Years Dec 13, 2022

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How far away do constellations start to change? What if The Big Bang was more energetic? Which textbooks are good to learn astronomy? Is a university degree worth it? Why don't we travel through the solar system in straight lines? All this and more in this week's Q&A with Fraser Cain.

🦄 Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/universetoday

00:00 Start
01:35 [Tatooine] How far away do constellations begin to change?
04:36 [Coruscant] Can we see beyond the observable Universe?
10:37 [Hoth] What if the Big Bang was more energetic?
13:22 [Naboo] What will Vera Rubin observatory see?
16:58 [Kamino] Why not release JWST data immediately?
20:51 [Bespin] How far out can we see that is in the present-ish?
23:35 [Mustafar] Is a University degree worth it? And which books are good to start learning astronomy?
26:37 [Alderaan] Can rockets with reusable rocket fuel exist?
30:16 [Dagobah] Is straight-line travel possible in the solar system?
32:11 [Yavin] Is Astronomy as exciting as it used to be?
35:22 [Mandalore] What will Astronomy look like in 100 years?
38:30 Outro

📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/a7Y93r6A8WA

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[Bonus] John Michael Godier's Event Horizon. Can We Go Back to the Moon? Dec 12, 2022

Show notes

This is an interview I did with John Michael Godier on his show called Event Horizon. We talked about bringing people back to the Moon. With also discussed the latest space missions, such as JWST and DART, and looked back at how well did 2022 go for NASA.

⚫ Event Horizon Show
https://www.youtube.com/@EventHorizonShow

📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/_Cr9TSRe71E

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[Space Bites] Iconic Earthrise By Artemis 1, Rule-Breaking GRB, SpaceX Launches Starshield Dec 09, 2022

Show notes

Construction Begins on the Square Kilometer Array. Artemis I’s iconic crescent Earthrise picture. A gamma-ray burst that breaks all the rules. SpaceX launches a new service.

🦄 Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/universetoday

00:00 Intro
00:14 Square Kilometer Array Telescope begins construction
- https://www.universetoday.com/159011/construction-begins-on-the-square-kilometer-array/
04:38 Iconic Earthrise image from Artemis 1
- https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/52548807997/
06:49 SpaceX launches Starshield
- https://www.universetoday.com/159051/spacex-launches-starshield-a-quiet-announcement-with-a-huge-potential/
08:42 Blue Origin and Dynetics bid for new lunar landing contracts
- https://www.blueorigin.com/blue-moon/sld-national-team/
- https://www.dynetics.com/newsroom/news/2022/leidos-dynetics-team-and-northrop-grumman-to-collaborate-on-nasa-human-landing-system-bid
10:13 Support us on Patreon
11:09 GRB that broke Astronomy
- https://www.universetoday.com/159057/colliding-neutron-stars-can-generate-long-gamma-ray-bursts/
13:39 Evidence of a mega-tsunami on Mars
- https://www.universetoday.com/159035/evidence-of-a-megatsunami-on-mars/
15:42 Launch an asteroid wherever you want
- https://neal.fun/asteroid-launcher/
17:11 Outro

📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/chD-vHeYpI4

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[Q&A] Artificial Lights on Exoplanets, Sun's Black Dwarf Stage, Iron Asteroids | Q&A 202 Dec 07, 2022

Show notes

Can there be habitable worlds around black holes? Where did Mars get its perchlorates from? How are iron meteorites formed? How will the Sun die? Will China succeed with their Moon landing? All this and more in this week's Q&A with Fraser Cain.

🦄 Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/universetoday

00:00 Start
01:10 Book Club: Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson
03:21 [Tatooine] What happens during Sun's black dwarf stage?
07:26 [Coruscant] Is climate engineering a good idea?
11:24 [Hoth] Can we see city lights of exoplanets?
15:42 [Naboo] Can there be habitable worlds around black holes?
21:01 [Kamino] How are iron meteorites formed?
24:27 [Bespin] How did Mars get its perchlorates?
26:03 [Mustafar] How do we measure sea level when there are constant waves?
28:45 [Alderaan] Will SSTOs ever become a thing?
33:54 [Dagobah] Is China landing on the Moon in five more launches?
38:05 Outro

📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/EiBjG477zRE

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