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Season 2022
James Webb wouldn’t be equipped to look in the infrared if not for the previous missions that have allowed us to see the universe in wavelengths that the human eye can’t see!
James Webb wouldn’t be equipped to look in the infrared if not for the previous missions that have allowed us to see the universe in wavelengths that the human eye can’t see!
Developing new methods for survival in space is a constant and ever-evolving process, and a well known Earthly organism has the potential for multiple applications within space’s unforgiving environment!
Developing new methods for survival in space is a constant and ever-evolving process, and a well known Earthly organism has the potential for multiple applications within space’s unforgiving environment!
As we look towards longer missions to the Moon, the shear amount of resources needed to survive becomes a much bigger question. Without space semi-trucks to haul life-giving resources to
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As we look towards longer missions to the Moon, the shear amount of resources needed to survive becomes a much bigger question. Without space semi-trucks to haul life-giving resources to astronauts, can we utilize the Moon’s barren landscape to help us breathe?
There’s no question that comets have been regarded as some of the most beautiful things in the night sky for thousands of years. But why are their heads often green but never their tails?
There’s no question that comets have been regarded as some of the most beautiful things in the night sky for thousands of years. But why are their heads often green but never their tails?
It finally happened! The James Webb Space Telescope is on its way to capturing never-before-seen images of the universe! But now that it’s airborne and unfurled, what are its next steps before it can deliver the goods?
It finally happened! The James Webb Space Telescope is on its way to capturing never-before-seen images of the universe! But now that it’s airborne and unfurled, what are its next steps before it can deliver the goods?
2022x6
How 19th Century Lighthouses Power Advanced Space Drives
Episode overview
The technology we use for space exploration gets more advanced all the time, but some of our most ambitious programs actually rely on optics invented in the 19th century for lighthouses.
The technology we use for space exploration gets more advanced all the time, but some of our most ambitious programs actually rely on optics invented in the 19th century for lighthouses.
Sugars aren’t just for munching and crunching, they also make up our genetic code! So what does it mean to find sugars INSIDE meteorites?
Sugars aren’t just for munching and crunching, they also make up our genetic code! So what does it mean to find sugars INSIDE meteorites?
The moon's South Pole-Aitken basin is the largest known crater in existence, and there's something big hidden underneath.
The moon's South Pole-Aitken basin is the largest known crater in existence, and there's something big hidden underneath.
Some scientists are hoping to use our motion through the galaxy to help detect some of the most elusive particles of all: dark matter.
Some scientists are hoping to use our motion through the galaxy to help detect some of the most elusive particles of all: dark matter.
Have we been wrong about how big neutron stars are this whole time?
Have we been wrong about how big neutron stars are this whole time?
2022x11
The Oldest Crater from a Meteorite…Isn’t a Crater after All?
Episode overview
There's one crater that may be older than any that we know of. Except there's a snag, it might not actually be a crater at all.
There's one crater that may be older than any that we know of. Except there's a snag, it might not actually be a crater at all.
In the 1970's, no vehicle had gone beyond the asteroids between Mars and Jupiter, that is until Pioneer 10.
In the 1970's, no vehicle had gone beyond the asteroids between Mars and Jupiter, that is until Pioneer 10.
In 1999, scientists discovered something that took over 20 years to solve. Why do solar flares move like a lava lamp?
In 1999, scientists discovered something that took over 20 years to solve. Why do solar flares move like a lava lamp?
2022x14
Helping Build the Internet: Valerie Thomas | Great Minds
Episode overview
Despite computers barely being a thing when she was born, Valerie Thomas knew that she was cut out for the tech world, pushed until she got there, and contributed to some hugely important technologies that many of us could not live without.
Despite computers barely being a thing when she was born, Valerie Thomas knew that she was cut out for the tech world, pushed until she got there, and contributed to some hugely important technologies that many of us could not live without.
The Crab Nebula is one of the most studied things in the sky, but it took glimpses through various wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum to get a full picture of what’s hiding inside!
The Crab Nebula is one of the most studied things in the sky, but it took glimpses through various wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum to get a full picture of what’s hiding inside!
2022x16
Could Squirrels Be the Key to Long Distance Spaceflight?
Episode overview
Space is hard on the human body, but a certain ground squirrel might have the guts to show us how to last longer in space.
Space is hard on the human body, but a certain ground squirrel might have the guts to show us how to last longer in space.
2022x17
From Optics to Spacewalks: Dr. Ellen Ochoa | Great Minds
Episode overview
Dr. Ellen Ochoa is incredible! She published over a dozen papers, co-filed three patents, and was a NASA engineer, all before becoming an astronaut and spending nearly a thousand hours in space.
Dr. Ellen Ochoa is incredible! She published over a dozen papers, co-filed three patents, and was a NASA engineer, all before becoming an astronaut and spending nearly a thousand hours in space.
We've been sending people to space since the '60s, and we're just now starting to learn what that does to their brains.
We've been sending people to space since the '60s, and we're just now starting to learn what that does to their brains.
After more than two decades buzzing around above our heads, the life of the ISS will soon be coming to a close. But what does that actually look like? And what does it mean for the future of space experimentation?
After more than two decades buzzing around above our heads, the life of the ISS will soon be coming to a close. But what does that actually look like? And what does it mean for the future of space experimentation?
What was once thought to be a black hole might in fact be a star that feeds on its own kind!
What was once thought to be a black hole might in fact be a star that feeds on its own kind!
Though our Sun is something we can count on to rise and set each day, it also comes with some phenomena that can catch us by surprise: solar winds. To better predict when these winds
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Though our Sun is something we can count on to rise and set each day, it also comes with some phenomena that can catch us by surprise: solar winds. To better predict when these winds will travel all the way to Earth, we sent the Parker Solar Probe to our big flaming ball in the sky with a big mission.
It seems the more we learn about black holes, the more there is to find out. In this case, what in the universe could have put one on its side?
It seems the more we learn about black holes, the more there is to find out. In this case, what in the universe could have put one on its side?
We've launched thousands of spacecraft over the years. And as the space junk around our planet builds up, researchers are working on ways to clean things up using some obvious things, like lasers, and some less obvious ones, like solar sails.
We've launched thousands of spacecraft over the years. And as the space junk around our planet builds up, researchers are working on ways to clean things up using some obvious things, like lasers, and some less obvious ones, like solar sails.
We don’t know what happens to stuff when it gets sucked into a black hole, but in the same instance, we don’t know what happens to the black hole. There’s a possibility that sucked up stuff might actually give the black hole “quantum hair”.
We don’t know what happens to stuff when it gets sucked into a black hole, but in the same instance, we don’t know what happens to the black hole. There’s a possibility that sucked up stuff might actually give the black hole “quantum hair”.
Despite how easy it looks in movies, growing plants on other planets is trickier than you might imagine.
Despite how easy it looks in movies, growing plants on other planets is trickier than you might imagine.
We’ve done a lot of searching for life in the universe and we need to continue to if we hope to make contact. But not all of our attempts were expected to succeed. That’s where Beacon in the Galaxy comes in.
We’ve done a lot of searching for life in the universe and we need to continue to if we hope to make contact. But not all of our attempts were expected to succeed. That’s where Beacon in the Galaxy comes in.
While most spacecraft are designed and built from scratch for one particular mission, the Phoenix Lander was pieced together from previous missions and rose from the ashes...all the way to Mars.
While most spacecraft are designed and built from scratch for one particular mission, the Phoenix Lander was pieced together from previous missions and rose from the ashes...all the way to Mars.
2022x28
This Exoplanet Shows We Might Be Wrong About Planet Formation
Episode overview
Though we’ve been able detect thousands of exoplanets in the last few decades, we’ve now directly imaged an exoplanet that changes our whole perspective on how we think planets like Jupiter form!
Though we’ve been able detect thousands of exoplanets in the last few decades, we’ve now directly imaged an exoplanet that changes our whole perspective on how we think planets like Jupiter form!
With exoplanets, often we want to know if they are Earth-like and whether they might host life, but we can also learn a lot from planets that are nothing like Earth.
With exoplanets, often we want to know if they are Earth-like and whether they might host life, but we can also learn a lot from planets that are nothing like Earth.
As we continue our search for life out in the universe, it's important that we leave no stone, or moon, unturned.
As we continue our search for life out in the universe, it's important that we leave no stone, or moon, unturned.
It turns out if you’d like to take a deeper look into the universe, the universe itself might actually help you do that!
It turns out if you’d like to take a deeper look into the universe, the universe itself might actually help you do that!
If we're going to send astronauts out to Mars someday, we'll need to figure out how to send a pharmacy with them.
If we're going to send astronauts out to Mars someday, we'll need to figure out how to send a pharmacy with them.
You'd think that two planets with similar stats, orbits, and parent stars would grow up to be pretty similar, but these twins have atmospheres that beg to differ.
You'd think that two planets with similar stats, orbits, and parent stars would grow up to be pretty similar, but these twins have atmospheres that beg to differ.
Scientists have discovered over 5,000 exoplanets in the last few decades, but where are the Exo-Earths?
Scientists have discovered over 5,000 exoplanets in the last few decades, but where are the Exo-Earths?
For most of human history, we didn't know that galaxies were a thing. So over the past century, astronomers have been working to understand how galaxies come to be and how they evolve
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For most of human history, we didn't know that galaxies were a thing. So over the past century, astronomers have been working to understand how galaxies come to be and how they evolve over time. And for a full decade, there was one telescope helping to light the way.
2022x36
Detecting Tornadoes Early by Observing Lightning... from Space
Episode overview
It’s handy having a view of Earth from space. This particular view may be one that changes the way we predict weather phenomena.
It’s handy having a view of Earth from space. This particular view may be one that changes the way we predict weather phenomena.
Understanding gravity can sometimes be a bit of a balancing act, much like the fundamental laws of physics and how they inform what it is exactly that Earth orbits.
Understanding gravity can sometimes be a bit of a balancing act, much like the fundamental laws of physics and how they inform what it is exactly that Earth orbits.
For 13 years, the Cassini probe circled Saturn and sent back fascinating data about the seasons of Saturn as it moved through a 29 Earth year Saturnian year.
For 13 years, the Cassini probe circled Saturn and sent back fascinating data about the seasons of Saturn as it moved through a 29 Earth year Saturnian year.
Astronomer Dr. Jane Rigby challenges the limits of the naked eye. Having influenced most famous telescopes that come to mind, her work is defined by breaking boundaries both physical and beyond.
Astronomer Dr. Jane Rigby challenges the limits of the naked eye. Having influenced most famous telescopes that come to mind, her work is defined by breaking boundaries both physical and beyond.
It’s nice to think that every rover we land on Mars is totally unique, but isn’t it even nicer to know that they’ve got a twin or even a triplet here on Earth making sure they’re up for the job ahead?
It’s nice to think that every rover we land on Mars is totally unique, but isn’t it even nicer to know that they’ve got a twin or even a triplet here on Earth making sure they’re up for the job ahead?
Several rovers on Mars's surface are currently in operation, including one you might not have heard of: China’s Zhurong rover. It's already spent over a year on the Martian surface and
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Several rovers on Mars's surface are currently in operation, including one you might not have heard of: China’s Zhurong rover. It's already spent over a year on the Martian surface and is bringing us ever closer to understanding the history of our planetary next-door neighbor.
Here on Earth, we’re used to seeing both lunar and solar eclipses. But further out are eclipses that don’t behave at all the way we expected them to.
Here on Earth, we’re used to seeing both lunar and solar eclipses. But further out are eclipses that don’t behave at all the way we expected them to.
2022x43
Special Webb Update: The Webb's First Four (actually 7) Images Explained
Episode overview
The first full-color images from the James Webb Space Telescope are finally here! Let's take a look, talk about what we're seeing, and compare them to the most detailed version of these images we had before.
The first full-color images from the James Webb Space Telescope are finally here! Let's take a look, talk about what we're seeing, and compare them to the most detailed version of these images we had before.
Sleep is a crucial activity for our brains to function properly. But when you’re on the ISS, you face a myriad of distractions and obligations that make it difficult to get good shuteye. So how do these astronauts ever get restful sleep?
Sleep is a crucial activity for our brains to function properly. But when you’re on the ISS, you face a myriad of distractions and obligations that make it difficult to get good shuteye. So how do these astronauts ever get restful sleep?
Black holes are everywhere, including at the center of our galaxy. But because they’re invisible they’re quite difficult to study. Looking at the disks of material surrounding them,
.. show full overview
Black holes are everywhere, including at the center of our galaxy. But because they’re invisible they’re quite difficult to study. Looking at the disks of material surrounding them, however, can give us tons of clues about how they function, how they form, and how accurate Einstein’s theory of general relativity really was.
2022x46
Hayabusa: The Artificial Meteor Launched From An Asteroid
Episode overview
After we retrieved samples of the moon, it was quite a while before we could land on anything else and bring bits of it back home.
After we retrieved samples of the moon, it was quite a while before we could land on anything else and bring bits of it back home.
No one likes being sick, but can you imagine catching a bug while hurling through space? Turns out, this is an issue that many space agencies have worked to study and mitigate.
No one likes being sick, but can you imagine catching a bug while hurling through space? Turns out, this is an issue that many space agencies have worked to study and mitigate.
Occultations may sound spooky, but in actuality they can inform us of some of the most unknown parts of the universe.
Occultations may sound spooky, but in actuality they can inform us of some of the most unknown parts of the universe.
In the 1970s, astronomers discovered a mysterious source of gamma rays that, 50 years later, still hasn’t revealed all of its secrets.
In the 1970s, astronomers discovered a mysterious source of gamma rays that, 50 years later, still hasn’t revealed all of its secrets.
It's always an asteroid heading straight toward us that we worry about, never what happens to us when we head straight toward the asteroid. OSIRIS-REx's experience with Bennu tells us it's worth a thought.
It's always an asteroid heading straight toward us that we worry about, never what happens to us when we head straight toward the asteroid. OSIRIS-REx's experience with Bennu tells us it's worth a thought.
Mars’s moon, Phobos, is striped with grooves all across its surface. But if one theory about where they came from is true, does that mean this moon might be on its way out?
Mars’s moon, Phobos, is striped with grooves all across its surface. But if one theory about where they came from is true, does that mean this moon might be on its way out?
The Sun isn’t the only celestial body in the solar system to boast spots of its own. Mercury, too, has its fair share, and they’re worth wondering about.
The Sun isn’t the only celestial body in the solar system to boast spots of its own. Mercury, too, has its fair share, and they’re worth wondering about.
Ancient perceptions of lunar eclipses weren’t as primitive as one might think. Some rigorous math was applied to these cosmic events that shaped our understanding of the solar system.
Ancient perceptions of lunar eclipses weren’t as primitive as one might think. Some rigorous math was applied to these cosmic events that shaped our understanding of the solar system.
The earth is always moving, and our view of the night sky is slowly but surely changing.
The earth is always moving, and our view of the night sky is slowly but surely changing.
SOFIA or The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy is coming to an end, but let's look back on some of the amazing discoveries of this flying telescope.
SOFIA or The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy is coming to an end, but let's look back on some of the amazing discoveries of this flying telescope.
In 1997, NASA bought a Boeing 747SP for what might be both a super cool and super absurd purpose. Turn it into SOFIA, a flying telescope.
In 1997, NASA bought a Boeing 747SP for what might be both a super cool and super absurd purpose. Turn it into SOFIA, a flying telescope.
Venus may have been named after the Roman goddess of beauty, but once humans started sending spacecraft to the planet next door, we quickly learned that beauty… hurts.
Venus may have been named after the Roman goddess of beauty, but once humans started sending spacecraft to the planet next door, we quickly learned that beauty… hurts.
Figuring out the age of a blinking speck in the sky is a difficult feat, especially if considering how many types of stars there are. This is where a Hertzsprung-Russell meets a gyrochronologist.
Figuring out the age of a blinking speck in the sky is a difficult feat, especially if considering how many types of stars there are. This is where a Hertzsprung-Russell meets a gyrochronologist.
This episode has no summary.
This episode has no summary.
This episode has no summary.
This episode has no summary.
This episode has no summary.
This episode has no summary.
This episode has no summary.
This episode has no summary.
This episode has no summary.
This episode has no summary.
This episode has no summary.
This episode has no summary.
This episode has no summary.
This episode has no summary.
This episode has no summary.
This episode has no summary.
This episode has no summary.
This episode has no summary.
If we’re going to send people to Mars someday, we’re going to need to be very conscious of the challenges presented in this endeavor. And at the top of that list is the ferocious nature of dust on the barren planet.
If we’re going to send people to Mars someday, we’re going to need to be very conscious of the challenges presented in this endeavor. And at the top of that list is the ferocious nature of dust on the barren planet.
Supernovae are only rare to the passive stargazer, but if you’re an astronomer studying them, you get to see some of the most brilliant explosions in the universe. Here are five of the most significant supernovae known to science.
Supernovae are only rare to the passive stargazer, but if you’re an astronomer studying them, you get to see some of the most brilliant explosions in the universe. Here are five of the most significant supernovae known to science.
If you’ve been distracted looking at the amazing photos The James Webb Space Telescope has taken, not to worry. Here are three other stellar stories from the last year of space science!
If you’ve been distracted looking at the amazing photos The James Webb Space Telescope has taken, not to worry. Here are three other stellar stories from the last year of space science!
As we wrap up 2022, we'd like to celebrate a few of the cosmic “winners” discovered this year, at least while they still hold their titles.
As we wrap up 2022, we'd like to celebrate a few of the cosmic “winners” discovered this year, at least while they still hold their titles.
Earth didn't always have the land beneath your feet, but what might have caused it to form is a bit of a mystery.
Earth didn't always have the land beneath your feet, but what might have caused it to form is a bit of a mystery.
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