Episodes

SpaceTime with Stuart Gary - Series 28 Episode 145 In this episode of SpaceTime , we explore groundbreaking discoveries that deepen our understanding of the origins of life and the dynamics of our galaxy. Sugars and Stardust: Insights from Asteroid Bennu NASA's Osiris Rex mission has returned samples from the asteroid Bennu, revealing the presence of biologically essential sugars, including ribose and glucose, along with a unique gum-like substance never before seen in astromaterials. These f...

### Episode Summary Real-time images of exploding stars, a surprisingly “gentle” supermassive black hole, the return of a long-duration Soyuz crew, a packed week of launches, Subaru’s first new exoplanet and brown-dwarf finds, and a controversial plan to light up the night sky with orbital mirrors. ### Timestamps & Stories 00:00 – Cold Open 00:35 – Intro 01:05 – **Story 1: Astronomers watch novae explode in real time** **Key Facts** - First-ever direct imaging of two novae as they erupted...

(00:00:00) Galactic Tug-of-War: The Small Magellanic Cloud's Struggle Against Gravitational Forces (00:00:46) One of our nearest neighbouring galaxies being torn apart (00:08:00) A giant spider on the Jovian Ice Moon Europa (00:12:23) Mars could have been habitable for long periods (00:14:14) The Science Report (00:17:23) Skeptics guide to why some people are born suckers (00:20:24) Episode Wrap In this episode of SpaceTime , we delve into fascinating cosmic phenomena and groundbreaking d...

Mysterious Interstellar Object 3i Atlas: The interstellar object 3i Atlas is back in the spotlight, exhibiting strange behavior that has scientists puzzled. With non-gravitational acceleration and focused jets forming an anti-tail, its upcoming close approach to Earth on December 19th has prompted coordinated space defense drills among various nations, raising intriguing questions about its true nature. SOHO's 30th Anniversary: Celebrating 30 years of operation, the Solar and Heliospheric Obser...

Sponsor Details: This episode of Space Nuts is brought to you with the support of NordVPN . To get our special Space Nuts listener discounts and four months free bonus , all with a 30-day money-back guarantee, simply visit www.nordvpn.com/spacenuts (https://nordvpn.com/spacenuts) or use the coupon code SPACENUTS at checkout. Cosmic Curiosities: Time Dilation, Supernova Remnants, and Aurora Colors In this engaging Q&A edition of Space Nuts , hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson tackl...

Discovery of a Cosmic Filament: Astronomers have uncovered a remarkable string of 14 galaxies spinning in unison within a colossal cosmic filament, a structure that is about 50 million light years long and rotates at an astounding 110 kilometers per second. This discovery reveals the profound influence of cosmic structures on galaxy formation. China's Earth 2.0 Initiative: The China National Space Agency has unveiled ambitious plans for their upcoming missions aimed at exploring Earth-like plan...

Sponsor Details: This episode of Space Nuts is brought to you with the support of NordVPN . To get our special Space Nuts listener discounts and four months free bonus , all with a 30-day money-back guarantee, simply visit www.nordvpn.com/spacenuts (https://nordvpn.com/spacenuts) or use the coupon code SPACENUTS at checkout. Cosmic Discoveries: Erupting Comets, Boiling Ice Moons, and Mars' Climate Secrets In this captivating episode of Space Nuts , hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Wats...

In this episode of SpaceTime , we explore groundbreaking discoveries and intriguing phenomena from Mars to the depths of space. Lightning Strikes on Mars: A Historic Discovery NASA's Perseverance Rover has made a remarkable find by detecting lightning in the Martian atmosphere for the first time. Recorded within two dust devils in Jezero Crater, the rover's Supercam microphone captured electromagnetic and acoustic signals indicative of electrical discharges. This discovery not only confirms lo...

Nancy Chris Roman Space Telescope Assembly Complete: NASA has successfully assembled the Nancy Chris Roman Space Telescope, a major milestone that brings us closer to its anticipated launch in May 2027. This powerful telescope, equipped with a 288-megapixel camera, promises to gather data hundreds of times faster than Hubble, potentially unveiling over 100,000 new exoplanets and billions of galaxies. Russian Soyuz Rocket Launch Damage: Following a successful launch to the International Space St...

China's Zhuqi 3 Rocket Launch: Landspace has successfully launched its Zhuqi 3 rocket, marking a significant milestone in the reusable rocket race. Although the first stage booster experienced a mishap during its landing attempt, the successful reach of orbit demonstrates the progress in China's commercial space industry. WASP 107B's Atmospheric Loss: The James Webb Space Telescope has captured stunning images of the gas giant WASP 107B, which is actively losing its atmosphere due to intense st...

Threat to the Atacama Desert: Scientists are raising alarms over a massive renewable energy project near Chile’s Atacama Desert, home to the Paranal Observatory. Concerns include potential light pollution, dust interference, and atmospheric heating that could compromise the region's exceptional astronomical conditions. The scientific community is advocating for solutions to minimize these impacts while balancing sustainable energy needs. Blue Origin's New Innovations: Blue Origin has unveiled e...

(00:00:00) Theia Unveiled: Tracing the Origins of Earth's Moon and Lucy's Journey to Jupiter's Trojans (00:00:50) New study claims Theia and Earth were once neighbours (00:06:16) Lucy’s mission to Jupiter’s trojan asteroids (00:15:26) Starliner’s next mission to be limited to cargo only (00:17:57) The Science Report (00:23:17) Alex on Tech: Dooms Day clock countdown to Digital ID In this episode of SpaceTime , we dive into the intriguing origins of our Moon and the latest developments in s...

Emergency Return of Shenzhou 20: China's Shenzhou 20 spacecraft is making an uncrewed emergency return to Earth after sustaining damage from a micrometeoroid, which caused a crack in its window. The crew safely returned on a different vessel, marking a significant first for China's space program. Galactic Neighborhoods Matter: The Deep Extragalactic Visible Legacy Survey (DEVELS) reveals that a galaxy's local environment significantly influences its evolution. Galaxies in crowded clusters exhib...

In this episode of SpaceTime , we explore groundbreaking advancements in our understanding of the universe and the challenges faced in space exploration. Detecting Dark Matter: A Major Breakthrough After nearly a century of speculation, scientists may have finally detected dark matter. A report in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics reveals that gamma rays emitted from dark matter particle collisions have been observed using NASA's Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope. This discovery...

ESA's European Launcher Challenge: The European Space Agency is taking significant steps towards enhancing its commercial launch market, with member states committing over 900 million euros to the European Launcher Challenge. This initiative will see ESA acting as an anchor client, co-funding upgrades for private companies and stimulating competition and innovation in space launch services. Starquakes and Black Holes: Scientists are uncovering the mysteries of dormant black holes through the st...

Sponsor Details: This episode of Space Nuts is brought to you with the support of NordVPN . To get our special Space Nuts listener discounts and four months free bonus , all with a 30-day money-back guarantee, simply visit www.nordvpn.com/spacenuts (https://nordvpn.com/spacenuts) or use the coupon code SPACENUTS at checkout. Cosmic Queries: The Birth of Our Sun, Future Discoveries, and Gas Giants In this thought-provoking Q&A episode of Space Nuts , hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Wat...

Launch of the Mauve Telescope: A groundbreaking new space telescope named Mauve, about the size of a mini fridge, has successfully launched aboard a SpaceX transporter mission. Owned by Blue Skies Space, this private telescope will operate on a subscription model, offering unique ultraviolet data that could revolutionize astronomical research by providing dedicated access to space-based observations. Roscosmos Launch Pad Trouble: Following the successful launch of the Soyuz MS.28 crew to the IS...

Lightning on Mars: NASA's Perseverance rover has potentially captured the first direct evidence of lightning on Mars. Using its super-sensitive microphone, the rover recorded distinct crackling sounds, suggesting that electrical discharges may be caused by the planet's notorious dust storms. This discovery indicates that Mars has a more dynamic atmosphere than previously thought, raising excitement for future crewed missions. Thanksgiving Crew Launch: A crew of three, including one NASA astrona...

Sponsor Details: This episode of Space Nuts is brought to you with the support of NordVPN . To get our special Space Nuts listener discounts and four months free bonus , all with a 30-day money-back guarantee, simply visit www.nordvpn.com/spacenuts (https://nordvpn.com/spacenuts) or use the coupon code SPACENUTS at checkout. Exploring Theia, Near-Earth Asteroids, and Enceladus In this exciting episode of Space Nuts , hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson dive into a wealth of astrono...

In this episode of SpaceTime , we delve into the latest discoveries and challenges in space exploration and Earth science. Tracking Interstellar Comet 3I Atlas from Mars The European Space Agency has successfully monitored interstellar comet 3I Atlas from its ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, significantly improving the accuracy of its predicted trajectory by a factor of ten. The comet, which travels at speeds of up to 250,000 km/h, was observed from a unique vantage point, allowing astronomers to re...

(00:00:00) Astronomy Daily podcast features the latest news from across the cosmos (00:00:35) SpaceX scrubbed the launch of their Transporter 15 mission on Wednesday (00:02:45) SpaceX scrubbed its B1062 booster due to unspecified issue (00:04:26) Scientists used data from a spacecraft orbiting Mars to predict comet's path (00:05:42) Improved trajectory means telescopes and other spacecraft can track comet with greater accuracy (00:07:57) NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is scheduled...

Breakthrough in Dark Matter Research: A potential game-changing discovery has emerged in the search for dark matter. An astronomer from the University of Tokyo has detected high-energy gamma rays that align with theoretical predictions for dark matter particle collisions. This intriguing signal could provide the first direct evidence of dark matter, specifically linked to the hypothesized WIMPs (weakly interacting massive particles), marking a monumental step in understanding one of the universe...

(00:00:00) Cosmic Speedsters: Unravelling Our Solar System's Surprising Velocity and Enceladus' Organic Secrets (00:00:46) Our solar system is moving faster than expected (00:04:38) Organic molecules discovered erupting from Saturn’s moon Enceladus (00:08:29) A new satellite launched to study Earth’s oceans (00:13:49) The Science Report (00:15:52) Alex on Tech In this episode of SpaceTime , we uncover groundbreaking insights into Earth's mysteries and the cosmos beyond. Mysterious Structu...

Boeing's Starliner Mission Shift: A significant change has been announced for Boeing's Starliner 1 mission, now transitioning to a cargo-only mission to the ISS, scheduled for no earlier than April 2026. This decision follows a challenging crew flight test earlier this year, emphasizing safety and the need for further analysis and fixes related to thruster issues. The number of required flights for Boeing has also been reduced from six to four, reflecting the success of SpaceX's Crew Dragon. Ch...