Fraser Cain
Universe Today
Dr. Pamela Gay
CosmoQuest
The Earth is teeming with life, both in the upper atmosphere to kilometers underground. There’s no question that our planet has life. But is our planet itself alive? This is a question posed back in the 1970s as the Gaia hypothesis, and it got its share of criticism. Some new ideas have been proposed to bring this hypothesis to the modern era.
There are general-purpose telescopes and missions that astronomers can use to study specific objects. And there are survey missions that look at the entire sky, which astronomers can use to answer questions about the Universe. We’ve talked about surveys in the past, but the landscape is changing fast so it’s time for an update.
Knowledge moves forward, and so, we must move with it. Today we’ll give you an update on some of the most fascinating, and fast-changing topics in astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology.
Although humans have never actually been to Mars, explorers have simulated many aspects of Mars missions here on Earth. There are missions under the ocean, on the tops of volcanoes, in the harsh Canadian north, and even in bed that simulate the limitations of spaceflight, and teach us many of the lessons to prepare us for the real thing.
Recent Episodes
The number of protons defines an element, but the number of neutrons can vary. We call these different flavors of an element isotopes, and use these isotopes to solve some challenging mysteries in physics and astronomy. Some isotopes occur naturally, and others need...
As we've mentioned before, the Sun is a terrifying ball of plasma. It's a good thing we're keeping an eye on it. And that eye is the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, or SOHO. Operating for more than 18 years now, SOHO has been making detailed observations of the...
Sometimes the Sun is quiet, and other times the Sun gets downright unruly. During the peak of its 11-year cycle, the surface of the Sun is littered with darker sunspots. And its from these sunspots that the Sun generates massive solar flares, which can spew radiation...
Our Sun isn't just a terrifying ball of white hot plasma, it's actually a lot more complex. It's got layers. And today, we're going to peel back those layers and learn about the Sun - from the inside out. Download the show [MP3] | Jump to Shownotes | Jump to...
Although the Zodiac is best known for astrology nonsense, it has a purpose in astronomy too. The constellations of the Zodiac define the plane of the ecliptic: the region where the Sun, Moon and planets appear to travel through the sky. What are the constellations of...
Sometimes you've just got to get away from it all. From your planet, your Solar System and your galaxy. If you're looking to escape, you'll need to know just what velocity it'll take to break the surly bonds of gravity and punch the sky. Download the show [MP3] | Jump...
Have you ever wondered what it's like to visit one of the big research observatories, like Keck, Gemini, or the European Southern Observatory? What's it like to use gear that powerful? What's the facility like? What precautions do you need to take when observing at...
Sometimes you can do science by watching patiently, and sometimes you've just got to get your hands dirty with an experiment or two. These two methods have their advantages and disadvantages for revealing Nature's secrets. Let's talk about how and why scientists...
Who knew that destruction could be so informative? Only by smashing particles together with more and more energy, can we truly tease out the fundamental forces of nature. Join us to discover the different kinds of accelerators (both natural and artificial) and why...
Put that pedal to the metal and accelerate! It's not just velocity, but a change in velocity. Let's take a look at acceleration, how you measure it, and how Einstein changed our understanding of this exciting activity. Download the show [MP3] | Jump to Shownotes |...
The Earth is wobbling on its axis like a top. You can't feel it, but it's happening. And over long periods of time, these wobbles shift our calendars around, move the stars from where they're supposed to be, and maybe even mess with our climate. Thank you very much...
Why don't we have insects the size of horses? Why do bubbles form spheres? Why does it take so much energy to broadcast to every star? Let's take a look at some non-linear mathematical relationships and see how they impact your day-to-day life. Download the show [MP3]...
Shhhh, shhh. You can stop screaming. That's because nobody can hear you ... in space. But why not? How does sound work here on Earth, and what would it sound like on other planets? Download the show [MP3] | Jump to Shownotes | Jump to Transcript This episode is...
Dear Astronomy Cast fans, If you're looking for episode 310, you won't find it. That episode got lost in the shuffle of technology and software fails. But don't worry, the information was put into later episodes, so you're not missing anything! Thank you for listening!
Our modern society depends on science. It impacts the way we eat, work, communicate and play. And yet, most people take our amazing scientific advancement for granted, and some are even hostile to it. What can we do to spread the love of science through education,...
When it comes to carbon dioxide, just a little goes a long way to warming the planet. Unfortunately, we've been dumping vast amounts into the atmosphere, recently passing 400 parts per million. Let's look at the science of the greenhouse effect, and how it's impacting...
The Pacific Ring of Fire wraps around the Pacific Ocean, including countries like Japan, Canada, New Zealand and Chile. And the inhabitants within those countries are prone to... oh... killer earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. Let's chat about the history of this...
When too much material tries to come together, everything starts to spin and flatten out. You get an accretion disc. Astronomers find them around newly forming stars, supermassive black holes and many other places in the Universe. Today we'll talk about what it takes...
Last week we explored the various ways spacecraft can die. But this week, we explore the spacecraft (and the scientists) who never give up, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. We'll look at clever solutions to potential spacecraft catastrophes. Download the...
In the end, everything dies, even plucky space robots. Today we examine the last days of a series of missions. How do spacecraft tend to die, and what did in such heroes as Kepler, Spirit, and Galileo (the missions... not the people). Download the show [MP3] | Jump to...