#749: Dark Energy Changing Over Time

We thought Dark Energy was constant, but new results from DESI say maybe not, and if it wasn’t the Hubble Tension would be easier to solve.

Our Hosts

Fraser Cain
Universe Today

Dr. Pamela Gay
CosmoQuest

Production by

  • Richard Drumm, Audio Engineer
  • Ally Pelphrey, Video Engineer

18 Seasons

700+ Episodes

2018 Winner Parsec Award

Ep. 590: Lunar Hazards: Dust, Radiation, and More

Ep. 590: Lunar Hazards: Dust, Radiation, and More

2024 can’t come soon enough. You know, that’s the year when humans will set foot on the Moon again. Don’t you roll your eyes. That’s the plan. Well, unless the plan changes. But my point is, explorers going to the Moon will need to be concerned about all kinds of hazards, like dust, radiation and gigantic moon worms.

Ep. 589: Lunar Resources: Water (Update) & Other Volatiles

Ep. 589: Lunar Resources: Water (Update) & Other Volatiles

We’ve talked about water on the Moon many times here on Astronomy Cast, but there have been a bunch of big updates, thanks to new research from NASA and others. Today we’re going to give you an update on the state of water on the Moon and the plans to take advantage of it.

Ep. 588: Lunar Resources: Lava Tubes

Ep. 588: Lunar Resources: Lava Tubes

All eyes are on the Moon. We’re going back, this time to stay… right? One of the best resources on the Moon will be the lava tubes that crisscross the subsurface of the Moon. These can provide protection from space, and a look into the geologic history of the Moon. And they can be enormous.

Ep. 587: Artemis Accords

Ep. 587: Artemis Accords

The Moon is about to become a very busy place, with multiple countries and private companies planning missions in the next few years. It’s been decades since the Outer Space Treaty was negotiated. It’s time for the Artemis Accords.

Recent Episodes

Ep. 6: More Evidence for the Big Bang

Last week's episode started out with a bang... a Big Bang. This week we continue our discussion into the beginning of everything. We present three additional lines of evidence that have led astronomers to the conclusion that our Universe started out as a singularity...

Ep. 5: The Big Bang and Cosmic Microwave Background

As a tribute to John Mather and George Smoot, the two leaders of the Cosmic Microwave Background Explorer (COBE) satellite science team, and winners of this year's Nobel Prize for Physics, we head back to the beginning of everything... the Big Bang. Follow as we trace...

Ep. 4: The Search for Dark Matter

Dark matter . . . What is it? Nobody knows for sure, but it's definitely there. Or maybe it's not there, and we just need some redefinition of gravity at vast scales. Join Fraser and Pamela as we discuss the discovery, detection, and possible explanations of dark...

Ep. 3: Hot Jupiters and Pulsar Planets

You have lived on the Earth all your life, so you'd think you know plenty about planets. As usual though, the Universe is stranger than we assume, and the planets orbiting other stars defy our expectations. Gigantic super-Jupiters whirling around their parent stars...

Ep. 2: In Search of Other Worlds

Look down at your feet. There... you're looking at a planet. Now look into the night sky and you should be able to spot a few more. After that, spotting additional planets becomes really hard, especially when you're trying to find them orbiting other stars. This week...

Ep. 1: Pluto's Planetary Identity Crisis

Pluto. It's a planet, then it's not. This week we review Pluto's history, from discovery to demotion by the International Astronomical Union. Learn the 3 characteristics that make up a planet, and why Pluto now fails to make the grade. Download Episode 1: Pluto's...

Welcome to Astronomy Cast!

Astronomy Cast offers you a fact based journey through the cosmos. Each week Fraser Cain (Universe Today) and Dr. Pamela Gay (CosmoQuestX / Slacker Astronomy) take on topics ranging from the nearby planets to ubiquitous dark matter. Your questions can guide our...