Artemis Delays, Blue Origin’s Lunar Pivot, and Life’s Building Blocks in Space

WEBVTT
Kind: captions
Language: en

00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:02.790
Welcome to [music] Astronomy Daily, your


00:00:02.800 --> 00:00:04.309
source for the latest space and


00:00:04.319 --> 00:00:06.470
astronomy news. [music] I'm Anna.


00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:08.470
>> And I'm Avery. Thanks for joining us on


00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:12.070
this Saturday, January 31st, 2026.


00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:13.910
>> We've got [music] a fascinating lineup


00:00:13.920 --> 00:00:16.070
today covering everything from NASA's


00:00:16.080 --> 00:00:18.550
Aremis program updates to groundbreaking


00:00:18.560 --> 00:00:19.990
discoveries [music] in the search for


00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:22.790
life beyond Earth. Avery, what's on the


00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:23.429
agenda?


00:00:23.439 --> 00:00:25.029
>> Well, Anna, we're kicking things off


00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:26.470
with some news from NASA's [music]


00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:28.870
Aremis 2 mission. There's been a delay


00:00:28.880 --> 00:00:30.550
in critical testing due to some


00:00:30.560 --> 00:00:32.630
unexpected [music] weather challenges.


00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:34.310
Then we'll dive into Blue Origin's


00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:36.069
strategic shift as [music] they pause


00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:38.310
their space tourism program for at least


00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:40.310
2 years. After that, [music] we're


00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:42.470
looking up at some truly cosmic


00:00:42.480 --> 00:00:45.830
phenomena. Million mileph winds racing


00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:47.910
through [music] colliding galaxies and a


00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:50.069
mysterious object sending powerful


00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:51.830
signals across space that has [music]


00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:53.910
astronomers scratching their heads.


00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:55.670
We'll also explore some surprising


00:00:55.680 --> 00:00:58.150
findings about Tatooine style planets


00:00:58.160 --> 00:01:00.950
orbiting binary stars and wrap up with


00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:02.630
an exciting [music] discovery.


00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:04.789
Scientists have detected a molecule


00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:06.789
critical to life in interstellar [music]


00:01:06.799 --> 00:01:09.350
space for the very first time.


00:01:09.360 --> 00:01:11.350
>> Quite the journey today. Let's get


00:01:11.360 --> 00:01:12.070
started.


00:01:12.080 --> 00:01:13.350
>> Ready when you are.


00:01:13.360 --> 00:01:15.109
>> All right, Avery. Let's start with


00:01:15.119 --> 00:01:17.990
NASA's Aremis program. I understand old


00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:19.749
man Winter has thrown a wrench into


00:01:19.759 --> 00:01:21.190
their testing schedule.


00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:23.749
>> He certainly has, Anna. NASA has been


00:01:23.759 --> 00:01:25.830
forced to delay a critical fueling test


00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:28.070
for the Aremis 2 mission due to below


00:01:28.080 --> 00:01:29.990
freezing temperatures at Kennedy Space


00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:31.990
Center in Florida. The wet dress


00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:33.990
rehearsal was originally scheduled for


00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:37.030
January 27th, but those unexpected cold


00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:39.749
temperatures put it on ice, so to speak.


00:01:39.759 --> 00:01:42.469
>> I see what you did there. But seriously,


00:01:42.479 --> 00:01:44.310
what exactly is this wet dress


00:01:44.320 --> 00:01:47.109
rehearsal? And why is it so important?


00:01:47.119 --> 00:01:49.270
>> Great question. The wet dress rehearsal


00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:51.510
is essentially a full practice run of


00:01:51.520 --> 00:01:53.910
launch day procedures minus the actual


00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:56.630
launch. The team loads the massive space


00:01:56.640 --> 00:01:59.590
launch system rocket with over 700,000


00:01:59.600 --> 00:02:02.069
gallons of super cold liquid hydrogen


00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:04.630
and liquid oxygen propellants, runs


00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:06.550
through all the countdown procedures,


00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:08.790
and then drains everything back out.


00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:10.790
It's the ultimate dress rehearsal before


00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:13.190
the real show. So, they're basically


00:02:13.200 --> 00:02:15.190
making sure all the plumbing works and


00:02:15.200 --> 00:02:16.710
everyone knows their roles when the


00:02:16.720 --> 00:02:18.550
clock is ticking down. What happened


00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:20.630
with the weather that caused the delay?


00:02:20.640 --> 00:02:22.869
>> Well, Florida experienced some unusually


00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:24.710
cold conditions. We're talking about


00:02:24.720 --> 00:02:26.630
freezing temperatures that persisted for


00:02:26.640 --> 00:02:28.630
several days. The problem is that


00:02:28.640 --> 00:02:30.790
loading these cryogenic propellants in


00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:32.790
freezing conditions creates additional


00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:34.790
safety risks and potential technical


00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:37.589
issues. NASA's priority is always safety


00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:39.030
first, so they made the call to


00:02:39.040 --> 00:02:39.910
postpone.


00:02:39.920 --> 00:02:41.910
>> Smart move. When are they planning to


00:02:41.920 --> 00:02:42.790
try again?


00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:44.869
>> The space launch system is now set to


00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:47.830
roll out to launchpad 39B on February


00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:49.990
5th with the wet dress rehearsal


00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:52.550
rescheduled for February 8th. This means


00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:54.949
the Aremis 2 launch is now no earlier


00:02:54.959 --> 00:02:57.830
than April 2026, which is a shift from


00:02:57.840 --> 00:02:59.589
the previous March target.


00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:01.350
>> For our listeners who might not be


00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:03.589
following every detail of Artemis,


00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:05.910
remind us what makes Artemis 2 so


00:03:05.920 --> 00:03:06.949
significant.


00:03:06.959 --> 00:03:09.509
>> Hannah, Artemis 2 is absolutely


00:03:09.519 --> 00:03:11.830
historic. This will be the first crude


00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:14.309
mission beyond low Earth orbit in over


00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:17.030
50 years, basically since the Apollo


00:03:17.040 --> 00:03:19.430
program ended. Four astronauts will fly


00:03:19.440 --> 00:03:21.589
around the moon, testing all the systems


00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:23.270
and procedures that will eventually


00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:25.430
support landing astronauts back on the


00:03:25.440 --> 00:03:28.390
lunar surface during Artemis 3.


00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:30.390
>> It's wild to think we haven't sent


00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:33.509
humans beyond Earth orbit in 5 decades.


00:03:33.519 --> 00:03:35.589
Who's on the crew? The crew includes


00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:37.910
NASA astronauts Reed Weisman, Victor


00:03:37.920 --> 00:03:40.470
Glover, and Christina Ko along with


00:03:40.480 --> 00:03:42.630
Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy


00:03:42.640 --> 00:03:45.270
Hansen. Victor Glover will make history


00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:47.430
as the first person of color to travel


00:03:47.440 --> 00:03:50.309
beyond low Earth orbit. And Christina Ko


00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:52.789
will become the first woman to do so.


00:03:52.799 --> 00:03:55.509
>> That's incredible. Even with this delay,


00:03:55.519 --> 00:03:58.229
April 2026 is right around the corner.


00:03:58.239 --> 00:04:00.070
The wait is almost over.


00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:02.710
>> Absolutely. And honestly, a few weeks


00:04:02.720 --> 00:04:05.030
delay to ensure everything is perfect is


00:04:05.040 --> 00:04:06.949
well worth it when you're pioneering the


00:04:06.959 --> 00:04:09.830
return of human deep space exploration.


00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:11.910
>> Speaking of human space flight, let's


00:04:11.920 --> 00:04:14.229
shift gears to Blue Origin. They're


00:04:14.239 --> 00:04:16.150
making some significant changes to their


00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:17.749
program, aren't they, Avery?


00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:20.069
>> They sure are, Anna. Blue Origin has


00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:21.590
announced they're hitting pause on their


00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:23.590
New Shepard space tourism flights for at


00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:26.629
least 2 years. This is a major strategic


00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:29.030
shift as they refocus their resources on


00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:30.870
NASA's Aremis program and the


00:04:30.880 --> 00:04:33.110
development of their lunar lander.


00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:36.230
>> 2 years is a substantial pause. What's


00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:37.670
driving this decision?


00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:39.350
>> It all comes down to their Blue Moon


00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:42.070
lunar lander program. Blue Origin won a


00:04:42.080 --> 00:04:44.150
contract from NASA worth potentially up


00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:47.189
to $3.6 billion to develop a human


00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:49.430
landing system for the Aremis missions.


00:04:49.440 --> 00:04:50.870
They're planning an uncrrewed


00:04:50.880 --> 00:04:52.870
demonstration mission to the moon in


00:04:52.880 --> 00:04:55.830
2028. And that's requiring a massive


00:04:55.840 --> 00:04:57.350
concentration of their engineering


00:04:57.360 --> 00:04:59.189
talent and resources.


00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:01.270
>> So they're essentially choosing moon


00:05:01.280 --> 00:05:03.510
landings over suborbital tourism


00:05:03.520 --> 00:05:05.590
flights. That seems like a pretty clear


00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:07.270
indication of where they see the bigger


00:05:07.280 --> 00:05:08.629
opportunity.


00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:10.710
>> Exactly. And it's worth noting that Blue


00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:12.710
Origin has already conducted eight


00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:14.870
successful New Shepard tourism flights


00:05:14.880 --> 00:05:18.550
since July 2021, carrying 43 people past


00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:20.790
the Carmen line, the internationally


00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:23.590
recognized boundary of space at 100 km


00:05:23.600 --> 00:05:25.990
altitude. So they've proven the concept


00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:27.430
and the technology.


00:05:27.440 --> 00:05:29.270
>> I remember the excitement around those


00:05:29.280 --> 00:05:31.270
early flights. What exactly will


00:05:31.280 --> 00:05:33.510
passengers experience on a New Shepard


00:05:33.520 --> 00:05:36.070
flight? It's a roughly 11-minute journey


00:05:36.080 --> 00:05:38.150
where passengers experience about 3


00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:39.830
minutes of weightlessness at the top of


00:05:39.840 --> 00:05:41.990
the ark. The capsule has massive


00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:44.070
windows, the largest ever flown in


00:05:44.080 --> 00:05:46.469
space, giving spectacular views of


00:05:46.479 --> 00:05:48.469
Earth's curvature and the blackness of


00:05:48.479 --> 00:05:50.870
space. It's suborbital, meaning you go


00:05:50.880 --> 00:05:53.110
up and come right back down, but you


00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:55.270
definitely cross into space.


00:05:55.280 --> 00:05:57.510
>> And this pause is specifically for the


00:05:57.520 --> 00:05:59.670
tourism program. What about other New


00:05:59.680 --> 00:06:00.950
Shepard missions?


00:06:00.960 --> 00:06:03.270
>> Good distinction, Anna. New Shepard will


00:06:03.280 --> 00:06:05.029
continue flying cargo and research


00:06:05.039 --> 00:06:07.029
missions. Blue Origin has committed to


00:06:07.039 --> 00:06:08.950
conducting at least two cargo flights


00:06:08.960 --> 00:06:11.189
each year during this tourism pause.


00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:12.950
These missions carry scientific


00:06:12.960 --> 00:06:14.870
experiments and payloads for various


00:06:14.880 --> 00:06:16.870
customers, including NASA.


00:06:16.880 --> 00:06:19.350
>> What about their ticket sales? I imagine


00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:21.029
people have already paid for future


00:06:21.039 --> 00:06:21.990
flights.


00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:24.070
>> Yes, and Blue Origin says they'll be


00:06:24.080 --> 00:06:25.749
contacting customers who've already


00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:27.270
purchased tickets to discuss their


00:06:27.280 --> 00:06:29.670
options. They haven't specified how many


00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:31.110
people are affected, but they've


00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:33.510
emphasized this is a temporary pause,


00:06:33.520 --> 00:06:35.350
not an end to the program.


00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:37.590
>> It's interesting timing, isn't it? Just


00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:39.350
as several companies are getting into


00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:41.749
the space tourism business, Blue Origin


00:06:41.759 --> 00:06:44.550
is stepping back, at least temporarily.


00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:46.390
>> It really shows you the scale of the


00:06:46.400 --> 00:06:48.390
lunar lander challenge. Building a


00:06:48.400 --> 00:06:50.390
spacecraft that can safely land humans


00:06:50.400 --> 00:06:52.230
on the moon and return them to lunar


00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:54.390
orbit is orders of magnitude more


00:06:54.400 --> 00:06:57.189
complex than a suborbital tourism op.


00:06:57.199 --> 00:06:59.189
Blue Origin is betting their future on


00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:01.110
being a key player in the new era of


00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:02.550
space exploration.


00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:04.870
>> And with that NASA contract potentially


00:07:04.880 --> 00:07:08.550
worth $3.6 billion, it's not hard to see


00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:10.469
why they're prioritizing it.


00:07:10.479 --> 00:07:12.950
>> Exactly. This is Blue Origin's moonshot,


00:07:12.960 --> 00:07:15.670
both literally and figuratively. If they


00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:17.670
can deliver a successful lunar lander,


00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:19.749
it positions them as a major player in


00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:22.469
the new era of space exploration. From


00:07:22.479 --> 00:07:25.110
human space exploration to cosmic


00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:27.350
phenomena, let's talk about something


00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:29.510
happening on a scale that's almost


00:07:29.520 --> 00:07:32.469
impossible to comprehend. Avery, tell us


00:07:32.479 --> 00:07:35.589
about these million mileph winds racing


00:07:35.599 --> 00:07:36.790
through space.


00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:39.510
>> Anna, this is absolutely mindblowing.


00:07:39.520 --> 00:07:41.830
Astronomers have discovered cosmic winds


00:07:41.840 --> 00:07:45.430
traveling at over 1.1 million mph.


00:07:45.440 --> 00:07:47.510
That's roughly 500 kilometers per


00:07:47.520 --> 00:07:49.270
second, racing through what they're


00:07:49.280 --> 00:07:51.589
calling a magnetic superighway between


00:07:51.599 --> 00:07:53.589
two colliding galaxies.


00:07:53.599 --> 00:07:57.270
>> A magnetic superhighway in space. That


00:07:57.280 --> 00:07:58.710
sounds like something out of science


00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:01.510
fiction. Where is this happening? This


00:08:01.520 --> 00:08:04.070
incredible phenomenon is occurring in a


00:08:04.080 --> 00:08:07.430
system called IC1623


00:08:07.440 --> 00:08:09.830
which is actually two galaxies in the


00:08:09.840 --> 00:08:12.390
process of merging together located


00:08:12.400 --> 00:08:14.629
about 275


00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:16.869
million light years from Earth in the


00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:19.990
constellation Cedus. These galaxies are


00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:23.029
in the late stages of a cosmic collision


00:08:23.039 --> 00:08:25.430
and it's creating some extraordinary


00:08:25.440 --> 00:08:26.309
physics.


00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:27.909
>> Walk us through what's actually


00:08:27.919 --> 00:08:29.909
happening here. How do galaxies


00:08:29.919 --> 00:08:33.430
colliding create these super fast winds?


00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:35.909
>> When galaxies merge, their gravitational


00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:38.149
interactions trigger massive bursts of


00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:40.709
star formation. We're talking thousands


00:08:40.719 --> 00:08:43.670
of stars being born. These newborn stars


00:08:43.680 --> 00:08:46.310
live fast and die young, creating


00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:48.630
powerful stellar winds and supernova


00:08:48.640 --> 00:08:50.790
explosions. All of this activity


00:08:50.800 --> 00:08:53.110
generates enormous amounts of energy


00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:55.190
that drives material outward at


00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:58.150
incredible speeds. and the magnetic


00:08:58.160 --> 00:09:01.430
superhighway. What role does that play?


00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:03.829
>> Here's where it gets really fascinating.


00:09:03.839 --> 00:09:05.430
The team from the University of


00:09:05.440 --> 00:09:07.670
Hershshire discovered that magnetic


00:09:07.680 --> 00:09:09.750
fields are actually channeling these


00:09:09.760 --> 00:09:11.990
winds, creating what they call a


00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:13.910
superighway that connects the two


00:09:13.920 --> 00:09:16.389
galactic cores. Think of it like a


00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:18.870
cosmic interstate highway system, but


00:09:18.880 --> 00:09:21.269
instead of cars, you've got superheated


00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:23.670
gas screaming along at speeds that make


00:09:23.680 --> 00:09:25.750
Earth's fastest spacecraft look like


00:09:25.760 --> 00:09:27.430
they're standing still.


00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:30.150
>> That's an amazing image. How did they


00:09:30.160 --> 00:09:32.150
detect something like this?


00:09:32.160 --> 00:09:35.030
>> They used the Arakama Large Millm Array,


00:09:35.040 --> 00:09:37.430
ALMA, in Chile, which is specifically


00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:39.829
designed to observe cold gas and dust in


00:09:39.839 --> 00:09:41.829
the universe. What they found was


00:09:41.839 --> 00:09:44.630
unexpected. The magnetic field structure


00:09:44.640 --> 00:09:46.870
doesn't just randomly radiate outward


00:09:46.880 --> 00:09:49.750
like many galactic winds do. Instead,


00:09:49.760 --> 00:09:52.310
it's highly organized, creating this


00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:54.550
directed pathway between the galactic


00:09:54.560 --> 00:09:55.590
centers.


00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:58.310
>> Why is this discovery so significant?


00:09:58.320 --> 00:09:59.990
What does it tell us about galaxy


00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:01.509
evolution?


00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:03.750
>> This is crucial for understanding how


00:10:03.760 --> 00:10:06.630
galaxies grow and evolve. These powerful


00:10:06.640 --> 00:10:08.710
outflows, what astronomers call


00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:11.350
feedback, can actually regulate star


00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:13.829
formation by expelling the gas and dust


00:10:13.839 --> 00:10:16.069
that would otherwise collapse to form


00:10:16.079 --> 00:10:18.470
new stars. It's like a pressure release


00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:20.630
valve for galaxies. Too much star


00:10:20.640 --> 00:10:22.630
formation can blow away the material


00:10:22.640 --> 00:10:24.949
needed to make more stars, which can


00:10:24.959 --> 00:10:27.430
eventually slow down or even halt a


00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:28.790
galaxy's growth.


00:10:28.800 --> 00:10:31.430
>> So, galaxies regulate their own growth


00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:33.590
through these winds. That's a pretty


00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:36.230
elegant self-limiting system.


00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:40.069
>> It really is. And what makes IC1623


00:10:40.079 --> 00:10:42.069
particularly interesting is that we're


00:10:42.079 --> 00:10:44.389
seeing this process in action during a


00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:47.910
galaxy merger. When galaxies collide, we


00:10:47.920 --> 00:10:50.069
see the most extreme versions of these


00:10:50.079 --> 00:10:52.230
processes. The most intense star


00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:55.110
formation, the most powerful winds, the


00:10:55.120 --> 00:10:57.509
strongest magnetic fields. It's like


00:10:57.519 --> 00:10:59.430
watching galaxy evolution. and fast


00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:00.230
forward.


00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:04.069
>> What do we think the fate of IC1623


00:11:04.079 --> 00:11:04.790
will be?


00:11:04.800 --> 00:11:06.790
>> Eventually, these two galaxies will


00:11:06.800 --> 00:11:09.269
completely merge into a single larger


00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:11.509
galaxy. The current burst of star


00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:13.750
formation will eventually exhaust much


00:11:13.760 --> 00:11:15.910
of the available gas. And what we're


00:11:15.920 --> 00:11:18.389
looking at now, this spectacular phase


00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:20.949
of cosmic winds and magnetic highways


00:11:20.959 --> 00:11:23.670
will fade. But the combined galaxy will


00:11:23.680 --> 00:11:25.829
carry the imprint of this violent event


00:11:25.839 --> 00:11:28.150
in its structure and stellar populations


00:11:28.160 --> 00:11:30.310
for billions of years to come.


00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:31.829
>> It's humbling to think that we're


00:11:31.839 --> 00:11:33.829
witnessing something that takes millions


00:11:33.839 --> 00:11:36.550
of years to play out, just captured in a


00:11:36.560 --> 00:11:37.910
snapshot.


00:11:37.920 --> 00:11:40.310
>> Absolutely. And every time we point our


00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:42.870
telescopes at merging galaxies, we learn


00:11:42.880 --> 00:11:44.710
something new about the forces shaping


00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:47.350
the universe's largest structures.


00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:49.350
Speaking of pointing our telescopes at


00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:51.269
the universe and finding surprises,


00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:53.269
Avery, we need to talk about this


00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:55.350
mysterious object that's been sending


00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:57.829
powerful signals across the galaxy. The


00:11:57.839 --> 00:12:00.389
headline says it's unlike anything we


00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:01.750
have seen before.


00:12:01.760 --> 00:12:04.310
>> That's not just hype, Anna. Astronomers


00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:06.150
have discovered something truly


00:12:06.160 --> 00:12:08.870
puzzling. A cosmic object that's


00:12:08.880 --> 00:12:11.509
periodically sending out intense radio


00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:14.150
signals. And it doesn't fit into any


00:12:14.160 --> 00:12:16.069
category of known astronomical


00:12:16.079 --> 00:12:18.230
phenomena. It's one of those discoveries


00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:19.990
that makes you rethink what you thought


00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:20.790
you knew.


00:12:20.800 --> 00:12:23.750
>> Okay, you've got my attention. What


00:12:23.760 --> 00:12:25.590
exactly are we dealing with here?


00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:28.230
>> The object sends out extremely bright


00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:31.829
radio pulses that last about 30 to 300


00:12:31.839 --> 00:12:34.069
seconds. That's up to 5 minutes per


00:12:34.079 --> 00:12:36.710
pulse. And these pulses occur roughly


00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:39.509
every 2.9 hours with remarkable


00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:42.310
regularity. What makes this so unusual


00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:44.870
is the combination of that long period


00:12:44.880 --> 00:12:46.550
and the duration of the pulses


00:12:46.560 --> 00:12:47.509
themselves.


00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:49.509
>> When you say it doesn't fit known


00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:51.910
categories, what are the usual suspects


00:12:51.920 --> 00:12:53.750
for objects that send out regular


00:12:53.760 --> 00:12:55.110
signals like this?


00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:57.590
>> Great question. The two most common


00:12:57.600 --> 00:13:00.069
sources of periodic radio signals are


00:13:00.079 --> 00:13:03.350
pulsars and magnetars. Pulsars are


00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:05.430
rapidly spinning neutron stars that


00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:07.750
sweep beams of radiation across space


00:13:07.760 --> 00:13:10.150
like a cosmic lighthouse. But they


00:13:10.160 --> 00:13:11.829
typically pulse on the order of


00:13:11.839 --> 00:13:15.110
milliseconds to seconds, not hours. And


00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:17.190
their individual pulses are brief,


00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:19.750
usually milliseconds, not minutes.


00:13:19.760 --> 00:13:22.470
>> So this object is pulsing way too slowly


00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:24.150
to be a normal pulsar.


00:13:24.160 --> 00:13:26.870
>> Exactly. And the pulses last far too


00:13:26.880 --> 00:13:29.910
long. Magnetars, which are neutron stars


00:13:29.920 --> 00:13:31.910
with incredibly powerful magnetic


00:13:31.920 --> 00:13:34.310
fields, can sometimes produce longer


00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:36.870
period signals than regular pulsars, but


00:13:36.880 --> 00:13:39.030
even they don't typically operate on a


00:13:39.040 --> 00:13:41.509
3-hour cycle with multi-minute pulse


00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:42.310
durations.


00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:44.310
>> Have astronomers proposed any theories


00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:45.670
about what this could be?


00:13:45.680 --> 00:13:47.350
>> There are a few possibilities being


00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:49.750
investigated. One idea is that it could


00:13:49.760 --> 00:13:51.990
be a white dwarf in a binary system,


00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:53.829
which is two stars orbiting each other


00:13:53.839 --> 00:13:56.389
where one is a white dwarf remnant. The


00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:58.470
interaction between the two stars can


00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:00.629
potentially generate these periodic


00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:03.110
radio emissions. Another possibility is


00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:05.590
that we're seeing some kind of unusual


00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:08.069
magnetar or pulsar that operates


00:14:08.079 --> 00:14:09.670
differently than the ones we studied


00:14:09.680 --> 00:14:10.389
before.


00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:13.189
>> When was this object discovered and how?


00:14:13.199 --> 00:14:15.189
>> The discovery was made using radio


00:14:15.199 --> 00:14:17.509
telescope observations. And what's


00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:19.350
particularly intriguing is that the


00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:21.110
signals are powerful enough to be


00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:23.990
detected across vast distances. The


00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:25.990
exact distance to this object is still


00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.990
being determined, but the fact that we


00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:31.030
can detect such clear periodic signals


00:14:31.040 --> 00:14:33.509
suggests it's either relatively close in


00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:35.750
cosmic terms or it's putting out


00:14:35.760 --> 00:14:37.590
tremendous amounts of energy.


00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:39.910
>> This reminds me of those fast radio


00:14:39.920 --> 00:14:42.470
bursts we've heard about, brief, intense


00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:44.870
radio signals from across the universe.


00:14:44.880 --> 00:14:46.230
Is this related?


00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:48.629
>> That's a natural comparison, Anna. But


00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:51.750
fast radio bursts, FRBs, are different.


00:14:51.760 --> 00:14:53.910
They're much briefer. typically lasting


00:14:53.920 --> 00:14:56.790
milliseconds, though some do repeat.


00:14:56.800 --> 00:14:59.030
This object's behavior is more periodic


00:14:59.040 --> 00:15:01.509
and predictable with much longer pulse


00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:03.910
durations. It's almost like comparing a


00:15:03.920 --> 00:15:06.470
strobe light to a slowly rotating search


00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:07.110
light.


00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:09.110
>> What's the next step for studying this


00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:10.629
mysterious object?


00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:12.790
>> Astronomers will be conducting follow-up


00:15:12.800 --> 00:15:14.550
observations across multiple


00:15:14.560 --> 00:15:16.710
wavelengths, not just radio, but also


00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:19.750
optical, X-ray, and potentially others.


00:15:19.760 --> 00:15:21.910
They want to determine exactly where it


00:15:21.920 --> 00:15:24.629
is, measure its properties in detail,


00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:26.629
and hopefully identify what type of


00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:28.790
object it is. Sometimes you need


00:15:28.800 --> 00:15:30.710
multiple types of observations to build


00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:31.910
a complete picture.


00:15:31.920 --> 00:15:34.230
>> Do discoveries like this happen often


00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:35.910
where we find something that just


00:15:35.920 --> 00:15:38.230
doesn't fit our existing models.


00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:39.670
>> More often than you might think,


00:15:39.680 --> 00:15:42.150
actually, the universe keeps surprising


00:15:42.160 --> 00:15:44.389
us. Every major improvement in our


00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:46.310
observing technology reveals new


00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:48.389
phenomena we didn't predict.


00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:50.949
Radioastronomy in particular has a


00:15:50.959 --> 00:15:53.189
history of unexpected discoveries.


00:15:53.199 --> 00:15:55.350
Pulsars themselves were a complete


00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:57.030
surprise when they were first detected


00:15:57.040 --> 00:15:58.710
in 1967.


00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:00.790
>> Could this turn out to be a whole new


00:16:00.800 --> 00:16:03.430
class of astronomical objects?


00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:05.910
>> That's definitely possible. If follow-up


00:16:05.920 --> 00:16:08.310
observations confirmed that this truly


00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:11.030
doesn't fit into any existing category,


00:16:11.040 --> 00:16:13.269
it could indeed represent something new.


00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:15.350
Of course, it might also turn out to be


00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:17.590
an extreme example of a known type of


00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:20.310
object, just operating in a regime we


00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:22.389
haven't observed before. Either way,


00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:24.069
it's expanding our understanding of


00:16:24.079 --> 00:16:26.069
what's possible in the universe.


00:16:26.079 --> 00:16:27.829
>> I love that we're still finding things


00:16:27.839 --> 00:16:29.990
that make astronomers say we've never


00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:31.749
seen anything like this before.


00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:34.230
>> Me, too, Anna. It reminds us how much we


00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:36.470
still have to learn about the cosmos.


00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:38.790
Sticking with unexpected discoveries,


00:16:38.800 --> 00:16:40.949
let's talk about planets that orbit two


00:16:40.959 --> 00:16:44.069
suns. Tatooine style worlds. Avery, I


00:16:44.079 --> 00:16:45.509
understand these aren't as rare as


00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:47.910
scientists once thought. That's right,


00:16:47.920 --> 00:16:50.230
Anna. New research is challenging our


00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:53.030
assumptions about circumbinary planets.


00:16:53.040 --> 00:16:54.790
That's the technical term for planets


00:16:54.800 --> 00:16:57.030
that orbit both stars in a binary


00:16:57.040 --> 00:16:59.749
system. It turns out these Star Wars


00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:01.829
style worlds might be more common than


00:17:01.839 --> 00:17:03.910
we previously believed, especially


00:17:03.920 --> 00:17:06.949
around certain types of binary stars.


00:17:06.959 --> 00:17:09.189
>> Before we dive into the findings, let's


00:17:09.199 --> 00:17:11.429
set the stage. How common are binary


00:17:11.439 --> 00:17:13.429
star systems in the first place?


00:17:13.439 --> 00:17:15.669
>> Binary systems are actually incredibly


00:17:15.679 --> 00:17:18.230
common, Anna. Roughly half of all


00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:20.870
sunlike stars exist in binary or


00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:23.110
multiple star systems. So, we're not


00:17:23.120 --> 00:17:25.429
talking about a rare cosmic curiosity


00:17:25.439 --> 00:17:27.750
here. Binaries are a fundamental


00:17:27.760 --> 00:17:29.590
component of the galaxy's stellar


00:17:29.600 --> 00:17:30.789
population


00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:32.630
>> and we have discovered actual


00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:35.029
circumbinary planets already, right?


00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:36.870
This isn't just theoretical.


00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:39.190
>> Absolutely. NASA's Kepler Space


00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:41.669
Telescope discovered the first confirmed


00:17:41.679 --> 00:17:44.710
circumbinary planets back in 2011, and


00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:46.870
we've found several more since then.


00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:49.750
These are real worlds orbiting two suns,


00:17:49.760 --> 00:17:52.070
just like Luke Skywalker's home planet.


00:17:52.080 --> 00:17:54.150
But the question has always been, how


00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:56.390
common are they? So, what does this new


00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:57.830
research tell us?


00:17:57.840 --> 00:17:59.909
>> The study found that circumbinary


00:17:59.919 --> 00:18:02.310
planets appear to be particularly common


00:18:02.320 --> 00:18:04.310
around what are called equal mass


00:18:04.320 --> 00:18:06.870
binaries. Systems where both stars are


00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:09.510
roughly the same size and mass. In these


00:18:09.520 --> 00:18:11.830
systems, the stable orbital zone where


00:18:11.840 --> 00:18:14.230
planets can form and survive might


00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:15.750
actually be more favorable than


00:18:15.760 --> 00:18:18.150
astronomers previously calculated.


00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:20.470
>> Why would having two equal mass stars


00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:22.870
make it easier for planets to form? It


00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:25.110
has to do with gravitational stability.


00:18:25.120 --> 00:18:27.750
When you have two stars of similar mass,


00:18:27.760 --> 00:18:29.510
their gravitational influence on the


00:18:29.520 --> 00:18:31.270
surrounding disc of planet forming


00:18:31.280 --> 00:18:33.029
material is more balanced and


00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:35.110
predictable. There's less chaotic


00:18:35.120 --> 00:18:37.350
variation in the gravitational forces


00:18:37.360 --> 00:18:39.510
acting on the disc, which means there


00:18:39.520 --> 00:18:41.430
are stable regions where material can


00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:43.750
accumulate and grow into planets.


00:18:43.760 --> 00:18:46.230
>> What about unequal binary systems? One


00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:48.630
big star and one small one. Those


00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:50.710
systems can still host circumbinary


00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:52.710
planets, but the dynamics are more


00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:55.190
complex. The larger star dominates


00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:57.590
gravitationally, and the smaller star


00:18:57.600 --> 00:18:59.669
creates additional pertabbations that


00:18:59.679 --> 00:19:01.430
can make certain orbital regions


00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:03.990
unstable. It doesn't mean planets can't


00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:06.230
form, but the stable zones might be more


00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:08.070
limited or located at different


00:19:08.080 --> 00:19:09.190
distances.


00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:11.110
>> This has implications for the search for


00:19:11.120 --> 00:19:13.270
habitable worlds, doesn't it?


00:19:13.280 --> 00:19:15.909
>> Very much so. If circumbinary planets


00:19:15.919 --> 00:19:17.750
are more common than we thought,


00:19:17.760 --> 00:19:20.390
especially in equal mass binaries, that


00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:22.070
increases the overall number of


00:19:22.080 --> 00:19:24.230
potential planetary environments in the


00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:26.390
galaxy. Some of these could potentially


00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:28.390
be in the habitable zone, the region


00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:30.390
where liquid water could exist on a


00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:31.669
planet surface,


00:19:31.679 --> 00:19:33.990
>> although I imagine having two suns would


00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:35.669
complicate the climate situation


00:19:35.679 --> 00:19:36.950
significantly.


00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:39.110
>> You're absolutely right. The climate on


00:19:39.120 --> 00:19:40.950
a circumbinary planet would be


00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:43.270
fascinatingly complex. You'd have


00:19:43.280 --> 00:19:45.270
variations in heating depending on the


00:19:45.280 --> 00:19:47.750
orbital positions of both stars relative


00:19:47.760 --> 00:19:50.070
to the planet. Sometimes of the year,


00:19:50.080 --> 00:19:51.990
both suns might be on the same side of


00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:54.310
the sky, providing intense combined


00:19:54.320 --> 00:19:56.390
heating. Other times, they'd be on


00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:58.789
opposite sides, creating more balanced


00:19:58.799 --> 00:19:59.830
illumination.


00:19:59.840 --> 00:20:01.510
>> How did researchers arrive at these


00:20:01.520 --> 00:20:03.750
conclusions about circumbinary planet


00:20:03.760 --> 00:20:06.470
frequency? They combined observational


00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:08.470
data from telescope surveys with


00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:10.710
sophisticated computer modeling of how


00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:13.669
planets form in binary star systems. By


00:20:13.679 --> 00:20:15.430
simulating thousands of different


00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:17.510
scenarios with various binary


00:20:17.520 --> 00:20:19.750
configurations, they could identify


00:20:19.760 --> 00:20:22.150
patterns about which systems are most


00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:24.150
likely to host planets.


00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:25.909
>> Are there any specific systems


00:20:25.919 --> 00:20:27.669
astronomers are now targeting for


00:20:27.679 --> 00:20:29.590
follow-up observations based on these


00:20:29.600 --> 00:20:32.230
findings? The research definitely points


00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:35.029
to equal mass binaries as high priority


00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:37.430
targets for planet hunting campaigns.


00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:39.590
Missions like NASA's upcoming Nancy


00:20:39.600 --> 00:20:42.070
Grace Roman telescope and continuing


00:20:42.080 --> 00:20:44.310
observations from groundbased facilities


00:20:44.320 --> 00:20:46.230
will be keeping a close eye on these


00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:49.029
systems. Every new circumbinary planet


00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:51.909
we discover helps refine our models.


00:20:51.919 --> 00:20:54.549
>> It's exciting to think those iconic twin


00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:56.630
sunset scenes from Star Wars might be


00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:58.230
more common in the universe than we


00:20:58.240 --> 00:21:00.870
realized. It really is, Anna. The


00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:03.029
universe keeps proving that the reality


00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:05.110
can be just as spectacular as science


00:21:05.120 --> 00:21:07.750
fiction. Sometimes even more so.


00:21:07.760 --> 00:21:10.070
>> And for our final story today, Avery,


00:21:10.080 --> 00:21:11.669
we're talking about a discovery that


00:21:11.679 --> 00:21:14.070
touches on one of astronomy's biggest


00:21:14.080 --> 00:21:16.310
questions, the search for life beyond


00:21:16.320 --> 00:21:18.630
Earth. Scientists have detected a


00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:20.549
molecule critical to life in


00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:22.950
interstellar space. For the first time,


00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:24.789
tell us about this breakthrough.


00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:27.270
>> This is genuinely exciting, Anna. For


00:21:27.280 --> 00:21:29.750
the first time ever, astronomers have


00:21:29.760 --> 00:21:32.710
detected ethylenamine, a molecule that


00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:34.950
plays a crucial role in forming cell


00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:37.750
membranes floating in the vast spaces


00:21:37.760 --> 00:21:40.149
between stars. This discovery has


00:21:40.159 --> 00:21:41.990
profound implications for how we think


00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:43.909
about the building blocks of life in the


00:21:43.919 --> 00:21:44.870
universe.


00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:46.549
>> Let's start with the basics. What


00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:49.590
exactly is ethylamine and why is it so


00:21:49.600 --> 00:21:52.390
important to life? Ethylamine is an


00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:54.630
organic molecule that's a key component


00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:57.190
of phospholipids which are the primary


00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:59.669
building blocks of cell membranes. Think


00:21:59.679 --> 00:22:02.230
of cell membranes as the walls and gates


00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:04.549
of cells. They define the boundary


00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:06.870
between the inside and outside of a cell


00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:09.190
and control what goes in and out.


00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:11.590
Without molecules like ethyleneamine,


00:22:11.600 --> 00:22:13.430
you can't build functional cell


00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:15.909
membranes. And without cell membranes,


00:22:15.919 --> 00:22:18.470
you can't have cells as we know them.


00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:20.630
Though this is truly fundamental to


00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:23.350
life, at least life as we understand it.


00:22:23.360 --> 00:22:25.510
Where was this molecule detected?


00:22:25.520 --> 00:22:27.510
>> The discovery was made in a molecular


00:22:27.520 --> 00:22:30.149
cloud, one of these vast, cold regions


00:22:30.159 --> 00:22:33.110
of space where gas and dust accumulate


00:22:33.120 --> 00:22:35.110
and where new stars and planetary


00:22:35.120 --> 00:22:37.830
systems eventually form. These clouds


00:22:37.840 --> 00:22:40.390
are essentially stellar nurseries. and


00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:42.549
finding lifebuilding molecules there


00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:44.470
suggests that the ingredients for life


00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:46.230
might be getting incorporated into


00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:48.950
planetary systems right from the start.


00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:51.190
>> How do scientists actually detect


00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:53.190
specific molecules in interstellar


00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:55.830
space? I imagine you can't exactly


00:22:55.840 --> 00:22:57.430
collect a sample.


00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:59.510
>> Great question. They use radio


00:22:59.520 --> 00:23:02.070
spectroscopy. Every molecule has a


00:23:02.080 --> 00:23:04.390
unique spectroscopic signature. Think of


00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:06.789
it like a molecular fingerprint.


00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:09.029
Different molecules absorb and emit


00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:11.510
light at specific wavelengths. Radio


00:23:11.520 --> 00:23:13.510
telescopes can detect these signatures,


00:23:13.520 --> 00:23:15.750
allowing astronomers to identify what


00:23:15.760 --> 00:23:18.310
molecules are present in distant clouds,


00:23:18.320 --> 00:23:20.230
even though those clouds are trillions


00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.590
of miles away.


00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:23.750
>> We've found other organic molecules in


00:23:23.760 --> 00:23:26.070
space before, haven't we? What makes


00:23:26.080 --> 00:23:27.990
this discovery special?


00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:29.750
>> You're absolutely right, Hannah.


00:23:29.760 --> 00:23:32.390
Astronomers have detected more than 200


00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:34.070
different molecules in interstellar


00:23:34.080 --> 00:23:37.270
space, including amino acids and sugars.


00:23:37.280 --> 00:23:39.430
But ethylanamine is special because of


00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:41.750
its direct connection to cell membrane


00:23:41.760 --> 00:23:44.230
formation. It's one thing to find amino


00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:46.950
acids, the building blocks of proteins.


00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:48.950
But finding a molecule that's essential


00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:51.190
for creating the actual structure of


00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:54.070
cells, takes us another step closer to


00:23:54.080 --> 00:23:55.990
understanding how life's fundamental


00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:58.549
architecture might arise. Does this


00:23:58.559 --> 00:24:00.310
discovery change our thinking about


00:24:00.320 --> 00:24:02.149
where the building blocks of life come


00:24:02.159 --> 00:24:02.950
from?


00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:05.190
>> It definitely supports the hypothesis


00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:07.830
that many of life's essential molecular


00:24:07.840 --> 00:24:10.070
ingredients aren't created on planets


00:24:10.080 --> 00:24:12.950
after they form, but rather arrive from


00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:15.830
space. We already know that meteorites


00:24:15.840 --> 00:24:18.390
deliver organic compounds to planets. We


00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:20.390
found amino acids and meteorites that


00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:23.029
have fallen to Earth. This discovery


00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:25.510
suggests that even more complex life


00:24:25.520 --> 00:24:27.430
related molecules could be delivered


00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.710
from space.


00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:31.350
>> Though in a sense the raw materials for


00:24:31.360 --> 00:24:33.350
life might be common throughout the


00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:34.390
galaxy.


00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:36.789
>> That's the tantalizing possibility this


00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:39.590
raises. If molecules like ethanolamine


00:24:39.600 --> 00:24:41.590
can form in the harsh conditions of


00:24:41.600 --> 00:24:44.230
interstellar space, then these building


00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:46.149
blocks might be present in molecular


00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:48.789
clouds throughout the galaxy. Every time


00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:51.350
a new planetary system forms, it could


00:24:51.360 --> 00:24:53.590
be inheriting these pre-made components


00:24:53.600 --> 00:24:54.789
of life.


00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:56.950
>> This doesn't mean life is automatically


00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:58.950
everywhere, though, right? Having the


00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:00.549
ingredients doesn't guarantee you'll


00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:01.830
bake the cake.


00:25:01.840 --> 00:25:04.549
>> Exactly. This is about potential and


00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:06.789
possibility. Having the molecular


00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:09.190
building blocks is necessary for life,


00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:11.669
but it's not sufficient. You still need


00:25:11.679 --> 00:25:13.750
the right conditions for those molecules


00:25:13.760 --> 00:25:16.230
to assemble into functioning biological


00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:18.470
systems. The right temperature,


00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:21.590
pressure, energy sources, solvents like


00:25:21.600 --> 00:25:24.070
liquid water, and probably a host of


00:25:24.080 --> 00:25:26.789
factors we don't fully understand yet.


00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:28.470
>> What are the next steps for this kind of


00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.430
research?


00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:30.950
>> Astronomers will be looking for


00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:33.350
ethanolamine and similar molecules in


00:25:33.360 --> 00:25:35.190
other molecular clouds to see how


00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:37.350
widespread they are. They'll also be


00:25:37.360 --> 00:25:39.590
searching for even more complex organic


00:25:39.600 --> 00:25:41.909
molecules that might be precursors to


00:25:41.919 --> 00:25:45.029
biological chemistry. Every molecule we


00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:47.110
find helps us piece together the story


00:25:47.120 --> 00:25:49.830
of how inanimate chemistry transitions


00:25:49.840 --> 00:25:51.990
to the chemistry of life.


00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:53.590
>> It's remarkable to think that the


00:25:53.600 --> 00:25:55.669
membrane surrounding every cell in our


00:25:55.679 --> 00:25:57.669
bodies might have had their chemical


00:25:57.679 --> 00:25:59.830
ancestors floating between the stars


00:25:59.840 --> 00:26:01.510
billions of years ago.


00:26:01.520 --> 00:26:03.590
>> It really is, Anna. It connects us to


00:26:03.600 --> 00:26:06.710
the cosmos in a very tangible way. We're


00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:09.190
not just made of stardust in an abstract


00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:12.390
sense. The actual molecular machinery of


00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:14.950
life may have origins that predate Earth


00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:16.149
itself.


00:26:16.159 --> 00:26:18.070
>> What a perfect note to end today's


00:26:18.080 --> 00:26:20.070
episode on. A reminder that we're part


00:26:20.080 --> 00:26:22.390
of a universewide chemistry experiment


00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:24.149
that's been running for billions of


00:26:24.159 --> 00:26:25.110
years.


00:26:25.120 --> 00:26:27.110
>> Well, that wraps up another day of space


00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:29.909
and astronomy news. From NASA's Aremis


00:26:29.919 --> 00:26:32.070
preparations to the discovery of life's


00:26:32.080 --> 00:26:33.909
building blocks floating between the


00:26:33.919 --> 00:26:36.950
stars, the universe continues to amaze


00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:38.310
and inspire.


00:26:38.320 --> 00:26:40.310
>> It really does. Thanks so much for


00:26:40.320 --> 00:26:42.149
joining us today, everyone. Remember,


00:26:42.159 --> 00:26:44.789
you can find us at astronomyaily.io


00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:46.630
for full episode transcripts and


00:26:46.640 --> 00:26:47.590
additional content.


00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:49.510
>> And don't forget to follow us on social


00:26:49.520 --> 00:26:52.950
media at astroaily pod for daily updates


00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:55.029
and space news throughout the week.


00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:58.470
>> Until next time, keep looking up. Clear


00:26:58.480 --> 00:27:03.029
skies everyone. Astronomy [music] day.


00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:10.950
Stories be told.


00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:19.473
Stories [music] told.


00:27:19.483 --> 00:27:21.503
[music]