Oct. 9, 2025

Uranus & Neptune's Shocking Makeover, Blue Origin's Next Steps, and Martian Whirlwinds

Uranus & Neptune's Shocking Makeover, Blue Origin's Next Steps, and Martian Whirlwinds
  • Reclassification of Uranus and Neptune: New research from the University of Zurich challenges the long-held belief that Uranus and Neptune are ice giants. Advanced computer models suggest these planets may actually be rock giants, altering our understanding of their formation and evolution. This groundbreaking finding could necessitate a reevaluation of how we classify exoplanets, as well.
  • Blue Origin's Upcoming Launch: Blue Origin is set to make headlines with its New Shepard suborbital vehicle, vital for expanding humanity's access to space. Each launch contributes crucial data that enhances safety and prepares for more ambitious missions, including the upcoming New Glenn rocket, which aims to support lunar missions.
  • Philosophical Reflections on Humanity's Place: As we explore the cosmos, we confront profound questions about our existence and uniqueness. The search for extraterrestrial life and studies of dark matter and energy drive our understanding of where we fit in the grand cosmic tapestry.
  • Dust Devils on Mars: European Space Agency orbiters have mapped over 1,000 dust devils on Mars, revealing they can reach speeds of up to 98 mph. This data is crucial for future Mars missions, helping scientists refine atmospheric models and improve weather forecasts for sustained human presence on the planet.
  • For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
  • Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna and Avery signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and exploring the wonders of our universe.
✍️ Episode References
Uranus and Neptune Research
[University of Zurich](https://www.uzh.ch/en.html)
Blue Origin Launch Details
[Blue Origin](https://www.blueorigin.com/)
Humanity's Cosmic Inquiry
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Mars Dust Devils Study
[European Space Agency](https://www.esa.int/)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)

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WEBVTT

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Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your quick dive

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into the cosmos with me, Anna and me

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Avery.

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Avery: We've got some fascinating stories for you

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today, from our solar system's mysterious ice

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giants, possibly being rock giants, to

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Blue Origin's next big launch, and some

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mind bending theories about humanity's place

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in the universe.

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Anna: That's right. Let's kick things off with a

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rather surprising reclassification for two of

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our own planetary neighbors. You know how we

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always refer to Uranus and Neptune as ice

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giants? Well, a new study is

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challenging that long held belief.

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Avery: Yeah, it's pretty wild. Researchers from the

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University of Zurich have been digging into

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their interior structures using advanced

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computer models and existing planetary data.

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And what they found suggests these planets

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might actually be rock giants instead.

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Anna: Indeed, the implications of this study are

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quite profound. If Uranus and Neptune are

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primarily composed of rock rather than the

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icy mixtures we've long assumed, it

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significantly alters our understanding of how

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these planets formed and evolved. This isn't

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just a minor tweak to planetary

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classifications. It could necessitate a

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complete re evaluation of models of planet

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formation in the outer solar system. For

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decades, the ice giant moniker

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suggested a composition rich in water,

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methane and ammonia ices. However, the

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University of Zurich's research, led by Dr.

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Joachim Sauerkraut, suggests a different

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picture. Their advanced computer

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simulations, which integrate various

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geophysical and astrophysical data,

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indicate that the pressure and temperature

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conditions within these planets are more

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conducive to the formation of silicates

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and other rocky materials than previously

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thought. This would mean that a substantial

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portion of their mass, perhaps even the

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majority, is in a solid rocky state deep

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beneath their thick atmospheres.

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Avery: Absolutely, Anna. Uh, this groundbreaking

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research from the University of Zurich,

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building on the work of Dr. Joachim Sauer and

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his team, suggests a radical departure from

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the conventional wisdom. For so long, the

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term ice giants has been ingrained in our

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astronomical lexicon, painting a picture of

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these distant worlds as swirling masses of

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frozen water, methane and ammonia.

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But if these advanced computer models are

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correct, then we're talking about a

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significant portion of their internal

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structure being made of much denser rocky

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material. Imagine a core that's not

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just icy sludge, but a solidified

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high pressure rock formation hundreds of

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thousands of kilometers across. This would

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challenge our fundamental understanding of

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how planets accumulate material during their

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formation. Did they accrete more rocky

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planetesimals than previously thought? Or did

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some process during their evolution lead to a

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differentiation where heavier elements sank

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deeper and solidified under immense

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pressure? The implications are vast,

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not just for Uranus and Neptune, but for

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exoplanetary science as well. Many

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exoplanets are classified Based on

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assumptions Derived from our own solar

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system. If our ice giants Are actually

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rock giants, Then our classifications for

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distant worlds Might also need a serious

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reevaluation. It's a truly exciting time

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for planetary science. As new data and

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sophisticated modeling techniques Continually

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push the boundaries of our knowledge. This

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re evaluation Of Uranus and Neptune's

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composition. Opens up a fascinating new

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chapter in planetary science. It forces us to

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reconsider the very definition Of a giant

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planet. And how these colossal celestial

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bodies are formed. Traditionally, married

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models of planetary formation Focus on two

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main the core accretion, uh, model,

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Where a solid core forms first and then

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attracts gas, and the disk instability

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model, where portions of the protoplanetary

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disk collapse directly. If Uranus and

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Neptune are primarily rocky, it might

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suggest A more robust role for rocky

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planetesimals in their formation. Or perhaps

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a different evolutionary track where

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significant amounts of lighter elements Were

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lost over time. This could also shed light

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on the diversity of exoplanets we're

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discovering. Some exoplanets Classified as

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mini Neptunes or super Earths. Could

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potentially have compositions similar to

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these newly theorized rock giants. Blurring

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the lines between these categories. The

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implications are truly far reaching,

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Extending beyond our solar system to the

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broader understanding of planet formation

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across the galaxy. It's a testament to

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the dynamic nature of scientific discovery.

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Where even long held beliefs about our cosmic

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neighbors can be challenged and refined by

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new data and innovative theoretical

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frameworks.

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Anna: Now let's shift our gaze from the depths of

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planetary interiors to the exciting frontiers

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of commercial spaceflight. Blue Origin,

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Jeff Bezos's aerospace company, Is once

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again making headlines with its preparations

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for another significant launch. These

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missions, while often appearing routine to

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the casual observer, Are critical steps in

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expanding humanity's access to space, Pushing

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the boundaries of technology, and ultimately

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making space travel more accessible. Blue

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Origin's New Shepard suborbital vehicle has

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been a workhorse for short trips to the edge

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of space, Carrying both scientific payloads

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and private astronauts. Each launch provides

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invaluable data, Allowing engineers to refine

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systems and enhance safety and prepare for

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even more ambitious endeavors. Like their new

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Glenn Orbital rocket, which aims to deliver

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heavier payloads to higher orbits and

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eventually support lunar missions. The

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iterative nature of these launches is

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essential. Every flight, even

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seemingly minor ones, Contributes to a

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growing body of knowledge that fuels future

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innovations and brings us closer to a

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sustainable presence beyond Earth. We

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often focus on the spectacle of human

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spaceflight. But the unsung heroes

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are often the scientific experiments and

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technological demonstrations that ride

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alongside gathering data in

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microgravity and testing new systems that

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will power the next generation of space

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exploration.

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Avery: Indeed, Anna Blue Origin's strategy, much

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like that of other private space ventures, is

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a testament to the power of incremental

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progress. Each New Shepard flight, whether

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it's sending scientific instruments to

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conduct microgravity research or taking

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private citizens on a brief but unforgettable

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journey to the Karman Line, is a building

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block. These suborbital hops are not just

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about spectacle. They are vital testing

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grounds. They allow engineers to gather real

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world data on everything from propulsion

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systems and structural integrity to crew

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safety protocols and landing precision.

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This data is then fed back into the design

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and development of their more ambitious

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projects, Particularly the massive New Glenn

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Orbital rocket. New Glenn, with its

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immense payload capacity, is designed to

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launch satellites, interplanetary probes, and

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even components for future lunar landers and

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orbital habitats. The vision extends

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far beyond just getting to space. It's about

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creating a sustainable, accessible

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infrastructure for human activity in the

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cosmos. And it's not just about the rockets

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themselves. Blue Origin is also deeply

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involved in developing engines such as the

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B4, which powers both New Glenn and

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United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur

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rocket. This kind of intercompany

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collaboration and shared technology further

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accelerates the pace of innovation in the

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space industry. It's a truly exciting era

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where the dream of widespread space access

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is slowly but surely becoming a tangible

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reality. Driven by these relentless efforts

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and engineering and iterative testing.

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Anna: Absolutely, Avery. The commercial space

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sector, spearheaded by companies like Blue

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Origin, isn't just about sending rockets

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skyward. It's about democratizing access to

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space and fostering a new era of innovation.

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Think about the ripple effect. As launch

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costs decrease and capabilities expand, more

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research can be conducted in microgravity,

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new industries can emerge, and eventually

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more people will have the opportunity to

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experience space firsthand. This isn't just a

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distant dream. It's a tangible future being

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built with each successful mission. The

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pursuit of sustainable space infrastructure,

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from orbital hotels to lunar bases, relies

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heavily on the foundational work being done

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now. Blue Origin's vision Grata

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team ferocity, step by step, ferociously,

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perfectly encapsulates this methodical yet

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ambitious approach. They are not only

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building rockets, but also developing the

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underlying technologies that will make

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sustained human presence in space a reality.

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This includes advanced engines, reusable

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launch systems, and even conceptual designs

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for space habitats.

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It's a long term game, but one with profound

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implications for our species. As we look

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outwards, the very act of exploring and

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expanding our reach into the cosmos

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Inevitably leads us to ponder our own

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existence, our origins, and our ultimate

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destiny. It's a journey that forces us to

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confront Some of the most profound mind

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bending theories about humanity's place in

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the universe. From the vastness of the

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cosmos to the intricate dance of fundamental

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particles, the universe seems to whisper

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questions about our significance, our

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uniqueness, and whether we are truly alone.

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These are not merely philosophical musings,

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but deeply scientific inquiries that drive

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much of our astrophysical research. The

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search for extraterrestrial life, the study

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of exoplanets, and the exploration of dark

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matter and dark energy all contribute to our

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evolving understanding of, uh, where we fit

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in the grand cosmic tapestry. It's a

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humbling, yet exhilarating realization that

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our journey into space Is intrinsically

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linked to our quest for self knowledge. Each

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discovery, whether it's a new exoplanet Or a

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deeper insight into the early universe,

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Reframes our perspective and challenges our

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anthropocentric views, Pushing us to imagine

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possibilities Far beyond our terrestrial

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confines.

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Shifting gears from philosophical quests,

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let's talk about some fascinating new

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findings from Mars. European Space

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Agency orbiters, Mars Express and

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ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter have been busy

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Mapping dust devils on the red planet.

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Avery: That's right, anna. Uh, over two decades,

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researchers tracked an astounding

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1,039 dust devils. And what

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they found is pretty remarkable. These

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Martian whirlwinds Can actually reach speeds

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up to 98 miles per hour, or

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158 kilometers per hour, which is

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much faster than we previously thought.

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Anna: And this isn't just a cool fact. These

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findings are incredibly important for future

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Mars missions. Understanding how these dust

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devils behave Helps us plan better,

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Especially when it comes to the impact of

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dust on rover solar panels and the selection

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of safe landing sites.

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Avery: It's also a testament to innovative tech. As

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artificial intelligence played a key role,

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AI was used to analyze how these dust

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devils Shifted between frames, Essentially

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turning what might have been dismissed as

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image noise into valuable scientific

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measurements of wind speed and direction.

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Anna: The data also revealed some interesting

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patterns. Martian dust devils are most

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frequent during the daytime in spring and

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summer, Typically peaking between late

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morning and early afternoon. And they usually

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last only a few minutes.

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Avery: What's particularly significant, though, is

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how Martian dust behaves Compared to Earth.

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Here, dust settles relatively quickly, but

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on Mars, dust can linger for months.

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This makes understanding its uplift mechanism

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critical for predicting the planet's weather

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and even its long term climate.

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Anna: Exactly. This new global data is invaluable.

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It's helping scientists refine atmospheric

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models and significantly improve future

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weather forecasts for Mars, which is crucial

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as we look towards more sustained human

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presence there.

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Avery: And it's this profound connection, Anna,

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between our exploration of the cosmos and our

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internal philosophical quests that makes

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astronomy so endlessly captivating. Every

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new mission, every telescope image, every

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theoretical breakthrough serves not just to

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fill our scientific journals, but to enrich

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our human experience. It makes us question,

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imagine, and ultimately understand ourselves

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better in the grand scheme of things. From

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the subatomic to the supercluster, the

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universe is a symphony of mysteries. And we,

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as curious observers, are both part of the

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music and its eager listeners. As we continue

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to delve into the vastness, we're not just

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finding answers about distant stars and

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galaxies, but also discovering more about the

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intricate, evolving story of life itself and.

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And its potential, both here on Earth and

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perhaps far beyond. This ongoing

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dialogue between the known and the unknown is

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the very essence of discovery, constantly

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inviting us to expand our perceptions of

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what's possible.

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Anna: And that's it for today. Thank you for coming

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along with us on our cosmic journey. Join us

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again tomorrow for more insights into our

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incredible universe on Astronomy Daily.

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Until then, keep looking up.

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: The stories we told.

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Avery: Mhm.

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: Stories

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we told.

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Avery: You.