Space Nuts

By: Professor Fred Watson and Andrew Dunkley
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  • Summary

  • Join Professor Fred Watson, world-renowned Astronomer at Large, and Sci-Fi Author and Broadcaster Andrew Dunkley, on their captivating podcast, Space Nuts. Dive into the vast universe of space, astronomy and astrophysics as they discuss the latest news, exciting space travel adventures, groundbreaking discoveries, and unravel the enduring mysteries of the cosmos. This engaging series offers a unique blend of expert insights and imaginative storytelling and listener input, making it a must-listen for space enthusiasts and science fiction fans alike.

    Two episodes a week with news and explainer focused editions published on Thursday's and our Listener Q&A focused edition on Monday's.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts--2631155/support.
    Copyright bitesz.com
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Astronomy Natural History
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Episodes
  • Origins of Life, Mars Missions & Cosmic Measurements: #490 - Q&A Edition

    Origins of Life, Mars Missions & Cosmic Measurements: #490 - Q&A Edition
    Jan 27 2025
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    Space Nuts Episode 490: Origins of Life, Mars Missions, and Cosmic Distances
    Join Andrew Dunkley and Professor Jonti Horner in this enlightening Q&A episode of Space Nuts, where they tackle some of your most pressing cosmic queries. From the origins of life on Earth to the challenges of traveling to Mars, and how we accurately measure distances in space, this episode is brimming with intriguing discussions that will expand your understanding of the universe.
    Episode Highlights:
    - Origins of Life: Christian shares his exciting research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, exploring the origins of life and its implications for other planetary bodies. Andrew and Jonti discuss the significance of these findings and how they relate to the conditions necessary for life to emerge.
    - Traveling to Mars: Rennie asks about the potential pitfalls of a Mars mission. Discover the realities of traversing the asteroid belt and the safety measures in place to ensure a successful journey to the Red Planet.
    - Measuring Cosmic Distances: Lawrence raises a thought-provoking question about how astronomers judge distances in space, especially with the effects of gravitational lensing. Andrew and Jonti explain the distance ladder method used to measure astronomical distances and the challenges involved.
    - Future of the James Webb Space Telescope: Lee inquires about the possibility of building additional James Webb Space Telescopes. Andrew and Jonti discuss the complexities of space telescope production and the exciting prospects for future astronomical missions.
    For more Space Nuts, including our continually updating newsfeed and to listen to all our episodes, visit our website. Follow us on social media at SpaceNutsPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music, Tumblr, Instagram, and TikTok. We love engaging with our community, so be sure to drop us a message or comment on your favorite platform.
    If you'd like to help support Space Nuts and join our growing family of insiders for commercial-free episodes and more, visit https://www.spacenutspodcast.com/about
    Stay curious, keep looking up, and join us next time for more stellar insights and cosmic wonders. Until then, clear skies and happy stargazing.
    00:00 - Introduction to the episode and questions
    02:15 - Discussion on the origins of life and Christian's research
    10:30 - Challenges of traveling to Mars and the asteroid belt
    18:00 - How astronomers measure distances in space
    26:45 - Future of the James Webb Space Telescope
    30:00 - Closing thoughts and listener engagement
    ✍️ Episode References
    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
    https://www.pnas.org/
    Astrobiology Research
    https://www.astrobiology.com/
    James Webb Space Telescope
    https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts--2631155/support.
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    46 mins
  • Meteorite Doorbells, Space Treaties & Panspermia Possibilities: #489 - The Great Cosmic Debate

    Meteorite Doorbells, Space Treaties & Panspermia Possibilities: #489 - The Great Cosmic Debate
    Jan 23 2025
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    Space Nuts Episode #489: Meteorite Madness, Space Treaties, and Cosmic Connections
    Join Andrew Dunkley and Professor Jonti Horner as they explore a whirlwind of cosmic topics in this exciting episode of Space Nuts. From a meteorite striking a Canadian doorstep to a deep dive into space treaties and panspermia, this episode is packed with fascinating insights and discussions that will leave you pondering the mysteries of the universe.
    Episode Highlights:
    - Meteorite Strike: Discover the incredible story of a meteorite captured on a doorbell camera as it strikes a home in Canada. Jonti shares the details of the event, the type of meteorite involved, and the unique audio captured during the impact.
    - Space Treaties and Ownership: Andrew and Jonti discuss the implications of Donald Trump's inauguration speech regarding the U.S. claim to Mars. Explore the 1967 Space Treaty that prohibits ownership of celestial bodies and the challenges of enforcing such agreements in today's commercial space era.
    - Panspermia Possibilities: Delve into the intriguing concept of panspermia, which suggests that life could be transferred between planets via meteorites. Jonti explains new research proposing that life in Venus's atmosphere might have originated from Earth, raising questions about our understanding of life in the solar system.
    - SpaceX and Blue Origin Launches: Get the latest updates on recent rocket launches, including SpaceX's Starship test flight and Blue Origin's New Glenn. Learn about the successes and challenges faced by these companies as they continue to push the boundaries of space exploration.
    For more Space Nuts, including our continually updating newsfeed and to listen to all our episodes, visit our website. Follow us on social media at SpaceNutsPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music, YouTube Music Music, Tumblr, Instagram, and TikTok. We love engaging with our community, so be sure to drop us a message or comment on your favorite platform.
    For more Space and Astronomy News Podcasts, visit our HQ at www.bitesz.com.
    For your daily space and astronomy news updates, subscibe to the Astronomy Daily Podcast - available wherever you get your podcasts. For more details, visit www.asronomydaily.io
    If you'd like to help support Space Nuts and join our growing family of insiders for commercial-free episodes and more, visit spacenutspodcast.com/about.
    Stay curious, keep looking up, and join us next time for more stellar insights and cosmic wonders. Until then, clear skies and happy stargazing.
    00:00 - Andrew Dunkley introduces the episode's topics
    02:15 - Discussion on the meteorite strike in Canada
    06:50 - Analysis of Donald Trump's comments on space ownership
    12:30 - Explanation of the Space Treaty and its implications
    18:45 - Exploration of panspermia and its relevance to Venus
    25:10 - Updates on SpaceX and Blue Origin launches
    30:00 - Closing thoughts and upcoming celestial events
    ✍️ Episode References
    Space Treaty 1967
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty
    Panspermia Theory
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panspermia
    SpaceX Starship
    https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/
    Blue Origin New Glenn
    https://www.blueorigin.com/new-glenn

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts--2631155/support.
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    42 mins
  • Primordial Black Holes, Ancient Galaxies & The Ultimate Lagrange Point: #488 - Q&A Edition

    Primordial Black Holes, Ancient Galaxies & The Ultimate Lagrange Point: #488 - Q&A Edition
    Jan 20 2025
    Space Nuts Episode 488: Cosmic Curiosities - Primordial Black Holes, Ancient Galaxies, and the Ultimate Lagrange Point
    Join Andrew Dunkley, Professor Fred Watson, and Professor Jonti Horner as they tackle intriguing questions from our listeners in this Q&A edition of Space Nuts. Dive into the mysteries of the universe with thought-provoking discussions on primordial black holes, ancient galaxies, and the concept of the ultimate Lagrange point.
    Episode Highlights:
    - Primordial Black Holes: Rusty from Donnybrook throws a cosmic curveball about the impact of a primordial black hole entering our solar system. Explore the fascinating scenarios and potential consequences with Fred and Jonti as they delve into gravitational dynamics and celestial mechanics.
    - Ancient Galaxies: Marcel questions the age of the universe as the James Webb Space Telescope continues to uncover older galaxies. Fred and Jonti unravel the complexities of cosmic timelines and the implications for our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution.
    - The Ultimate Lagrange Point: Buddy from Oregon ponders whether the center of a galaxy could be the ultimate Lagrange point. Discover the intricacies of gravitational balance and stability as Jonti explains the concept of Lagrange points and their cosmic significance.
    - Expansion of the Universe: Michael from Illinois raises questions about the accelerating expansion of the universe and its effects on our solar system. Fred and Jonti discuss the interplay between cosmic expansion and gravitational forces, offering insights into the future of our universe.
    For more Space Nuts, including our continually updating newsfeed and to listen to all our episodes, visit our website. Follow us on social media at SpaceNutsPod on Facebook, X, YouTube, YouTubeMusic, Tumblr, Instagram, and TikTok. We love engaging with our community, so be sure to drop us a message or comment on your favorite platform.
    For more Space and Astronomy News Podcasts, visit our HQ at www.bitesz.com.
    If you'd like to help support Space Nuts and join our growing family of insiders for commercial-free episodes and more, visit spacenutspodcast.com/about.
    Stay curious, keep looking up, and join us next time for more stellar insights and cosmic wonders. Until then, clear skies and happy stargazing.
    00:00 - Andrew Dunkley answers questions from audience about primordial black holes
    02:08 - Rusty asks a question about black holes in the solar system
    06:39 - Science currently holds the belief that our universe is 13.8 billion years old
    09:54 - Scientists say HD140283 is older than the edge of the universe
    13:23 - Would the center of a galaxy be like the ultimate Lagrange point
    14:11 - Would the center of the galaxy be the ultimate Lagrange point
    19:30 - Fred Ferguson: An accelerating expansion means everything in the universe is moving apart
    24:20 - Patrick Lukaf: There have been several versions of Planet X proposed
    32:22 - Don't forget to send us your questions via our website
    www.spacenutspodcast.com/ama
    ✍️ Episode References
    James Webb Space Telescope
    https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/
    Dark Sky Traveller
    http://darkskytraveller.com.au/
    Methuselah Star (HD 140283)
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_140283
    Great Attractor
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Attractor
    Planet Nine
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_Nine
    Lagrange Points
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrange_point

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts--2631155/support.
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    33 mins

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