Inner Solar Secrets: Sample Returns, Water Origins, and the Dawn of Space Commerce

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welcome to Astronomy Daily your source


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for the latest space and astronomy news


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i'm your host Anna and today we'll be


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diving into some fascinating stories


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from across the cosmos we have quite a


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lineup of cosmic discoveries and


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developments to explore we'll begin with


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an intriguing road map for potential


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sample return missions from our solar


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systems most inhospitable planets


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Mercury and Venus these ambitious


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missions could help fill critical gaps


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in our understanding of the inner solar


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system then we'll examine a surprising


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new theory about the origins of Earth's


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water that challenges conventional


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wisdom about asteroid impacts delivering


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our planet's life-giving resource we'll


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also explore the dawn of a new space age


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that some are comparing to the


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revolutionary age of sale in the 1600s


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with all its opportunities and


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challenges for humanity's expansion


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beyond Earth the James Web Space


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Telescope continues to amaze us with its


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observations and we'll look at its


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latest examination of a complex nebula


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with a fascinating history that dates


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back to William Hershel's observations


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in


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1790 finally we'll provide a helpful


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guide to spotting two upcoming meteor


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showers the Lids and Aquarids that will


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grace our night skies beginning in late


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April so buckle up for a journey through


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the latest astronomical discoveries that


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are expanding our understanding of the


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universe for our first story today


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ponder this how can we successfully


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collect and return samples from the two


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innermost planets of our solar system


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Mercury and Venus this fascinating


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question was recently tackled by


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researchers at the California Institute


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of Technology in a study presented at


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the 56th Lunar and Planetary Science


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Conference the team outlined potential


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road maps for what would be


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groundbreaking missions to these


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challenging


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destinations these aren't just academic


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exercises sample return missions from


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Mercury and Venus could help scientists


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fill a significant knowledge gap in our


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understanding of the solar systems


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formation what makes this particularly


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interesting is that despite the


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thousands of meteorites in our


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collections we don't have a single


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confirmed meteorite that originated from


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either Mercury or Venus when you think


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about it this is quite remarkable we


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have meteorites from Mars from asteroids


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and even from the Kyper belt beyond


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Neptune but nothing from our closest


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planetary neighbors this absence creates


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a substantial blind spot in our


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understanding of the planetary building


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materials of the inner solar system


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tangi Tony Yap the PhD student who led


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the study explained that their research


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emerged from a workshop at Caltech's KEK


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Institute of Space Studies the workshop


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brought together experts in


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geocchemistry orbital dynamics and


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mission science to discuss high priority


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scientific objectives that could be


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achieved through sample returns from


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various bodies throughout the solar


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system one of the most compelling


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reasons for pursuing these challenging


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missions is to understand what materials


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existed in the inner solar system during


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its early formation billions of years


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ago without samples from Mercury and


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Venus we lack crucial data on the


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carbonatous and non-carbonatous


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materials that formed these planets the


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researchers made their case by building


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on knowledge gained from previous


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missions like NASA's Messenger to


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Mercury and looking ahead to active


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missions like the European Space Ay's


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Bey Columbo currently in route to


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Mercury they also considered proposed


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future NASA missions to Venus like Da


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Vinci and Varadus as potential


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precursors to eventual sample return


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missions but the challenges are immense


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mercury's proximity to the sun makes it


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extraordinarily difficult to reach while


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Venus has a crushing atmosphere and


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surface temperatures hot enough to melt


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lead these conditions make landing


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collecting samples and returning them to


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Earth technologically daunting despite


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these obstacles the Caltech team


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believes that with the development of


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advanced propulsion technologies


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particularly nuclear thermal propulsion


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a Mercury sample return mission might


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eventually become feasible venus


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presents even greater challenges with


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its massive gravity while making it


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particularly difficult to launch


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anything from its surface back to Earth


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the researchers emphasize a critical gap


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in our understanding of our solar system


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we simply don't have any physical


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samples from Mercury or Venus tony Yap


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the Caltech PhD student leading the


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study puts it bluntly we do not have a


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single sample in the form of a meteorite


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from Mercury and Venus this absence


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creates a significant blind spot in


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planetary science the building blocks of


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both planets derived from the innermost


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solar system remain largely theoretical


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understanding these materials


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geochemically would provide crucial


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insights into the evolution of the early


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solar system approximately 4.6 billion


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years ago what makes these potential


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sample return missions particularly


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significant is that they might represent


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the missing component needed to explain


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Earth's composition currently scientists


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cannot fully account for our planet's


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composition using known meteorite


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materials there's a piece of the puzzle


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missing and Mercury or Venus samples


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might provide it the technical


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challenges however are formidable for


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Mercury the team believes nuclear


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thermal propulsion could eventually make


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a sample return mission feasible this


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advanced propulsion technology would


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provide the necessary power to escape


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Mercury's gravity well while managing


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the extreme heat near the sun venus


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presents even greater obstacles its


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massive size creates a much deeper


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gravity well than Mercury making it


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extraordinarily difficult to launch


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anything from its surface with enough


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velocity to return to Earth the planet's


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crushing atmospheric pressure and


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extreme surface temperatures hot enough


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to melt lead further complicate any


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sample collection mission given these


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challenges researchers are exploring


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alternative approaches for Venus


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balloonbased technologies that could


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float in the more temperate upper


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atmosphere are being considered these


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floating laboratories might collect


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atmospheric samples or potentially even


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surface material without requiring a


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traditional landing and return


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mission moving forward the scientists


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emphasize the need to develop these


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advanced technologies while


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simultaneously building stronger


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scientific cases for sample returns from


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the inner planets as Yap notes figuring


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out how to maximize scientific value


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from even a single gram of material


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scraped or drilled from these hostile


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planetary surfaces will be crucial to


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justifying such ambitious


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missions next on today's story list a


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fascinating new study published in the


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journal Icarus challenges the prevailing


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notion that Earth's water came from


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asteroid impacts for decades the


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scientific consensus has suggested that


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water or its components arrived on our


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planet via asteroid bombardment after


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Earth had already formed but now


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University of Oxford researchers have


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uncovered compelling evidence that the


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building blocks for water may have been


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here all along the team examined a rare


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type of meteorite known as an Enstatite


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condrite which is particularly


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significant because it shares similar


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composition with the materials that


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formed early Earth approximately 4.5


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billion years ago what they discovered


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was surprising hydrogen present within


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the meteorites chemical structure this


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finding suggests that if this meteorite


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material could naturally contain


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hydrogen then the primordial Earth


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likely did too perhaps most convincing


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about this research is how carefully the


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scientists worked to determine that the


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hydrogen they found was original to the


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meteorite not the result of terrestrial


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contamination after it landed this


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distinction is crucial if the hydrogen


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was merely from Earth exposure it


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wouldn't tell us anything about our


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planet's early composition to


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investigate this the researchers


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employed a massive machine called a


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synretron that produces powerful X-rays


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to probe the meteorites chemical


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structure they initially expected any


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hydrogen to be linked with sulfur


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molecules and targeted their analysis


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accordingly to their surprise they found


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areas rich in hydrogen sulfide just


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outside where they anticipated with the


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highest concentration locked within


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crystalline structures the smoking gun


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came when they examined areas of the


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meteorite showing signs of earthly


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contamination cracks and rust these


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sections had little to no hydrogen


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present strongly suggesting the hydrogen


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elsewhere was native to the meteorite


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itself this evidence points to a


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revolutionary conclusion the proto Earth


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likely already contained sufficient


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hydrogen to explain our planet's current


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water supply by the time the young


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planet had grown large enough to be


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struck by asteroids the essential


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ingredients for water were already


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present as Oxford professor James Bryson


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one of the study's authors explained "We


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now think that the material that built


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our planet was far richer in hydrogen


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than we thought previously this finding


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supports the idea that the formation of


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water on Earth was a natural process


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rather than a fluke of hydrated


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asteroids bombarding our planet after it


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formed while this research may not


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completely resolve the debate over


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Earth's original water source it


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significantly strengthens the case for


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an internal origin rather than an


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external delivery system the


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implications extend beyond Earth


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potentially helping us understand water


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formation throughout our solar system


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and beyond the Oxford team's


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investigation methods were particularly


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ingenious in their pursuit to determine


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whether the hydrogen was truly original


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to the meteorite to precisely pinpoint


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hydrogen's presence they utilized a


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powerful X-ray beam from a synretron


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essentially a massive particle


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accelerator that produces incredibly


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intense light used to examine the atomic


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structure of materials when they aimed


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this sophisticated equipment at the


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Antarctic meteorite named


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LR12252 they discovered something


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remarkable the hydrogen wasn't


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distributed randomly throughout the


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sample but was specifically concentrated


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in hydrogen sulfide locked within


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crystalline structures of the meteorite


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this specific positioning is significant


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because it suggests the hydrogen was


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incorporated during the meteorite's


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formation not afterward what makes their


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evidence particularly compelling is the


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comparison between different areas of


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the same meteorite the sections showing


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clear signs of terrestrial contamination


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like cracks or rust formations that


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developed after the meteorite landed on


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Earth contained virtually no hydrogen if


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contamination were the source of all the


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hydrogen we would expect to see higher


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concentrations in these damaged areas


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where Earth materials could more easily


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penetrate


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instead the pristine uncontaminated


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sections held the hydrogen creating a


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strong case that this element was part


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of the meteorite's original


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composition tom Barrett an Oxford


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graduate student who worked on the study


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described their excitement at this


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discovery we were incredibly excited


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when the analysis told us the sample


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contained hydrogen sulfide just not


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where we expected this finding


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fundamentally shifts our understanding


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of Earth's water origins since instatite


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condondrites are believed to represent


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the building blocks of our early planet


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their hydrogen content suggests Earth


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naturally contained the essential


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ingredients for water from its very


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beginning rather than requiring a cosmic


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delivery service of water- richch


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asteroids our planet had the necessary


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components all along the implications


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extend beyond Earth this research could


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help explain water formation throughout


00:11:35.839 --> 00:11:38.150
our solar system and may even inform our


00:11:38.160 --> 00:11:39.750
search for potentially habitable


00:11:39.760 --> 00:11:41.430
exoplanets


00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:43.190
if water formation is a natural


00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:45.269
byproduct of planetary development


00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:47.269
rather than depending on chance asteroid


00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:49.590
impacts the potential for waterbearing


00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:51.110
worlds might be much higher than


00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:52.590
previously


00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:55.110
estimated next if you've ever felt like


00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:57.190
becoming an entrepreneur of some note


00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:58.790
you may have picked a good time to be


00:11:58.800 --> 00:12:01.750
alive let me explain now imagine it's


00:12:01.760 --> 00:12:03.990
1625 and you're an ambitious young


00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:06.310
entrepreneur the world's most powerful


00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:07.990
nations have pushed wooden shipb


00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:10.269
building technology to unprecedented


00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:12.710
heights the oceans are no longer the


00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:15.269
barrier to commerce they once were new


00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:17.030
continents have been discovered with


00:12:17.040 --> 00:12:19.829
gold to be found spices to trade and


00:12:19.839 --> 00:12:22.629
fortunes to be made of course there were


00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:25.509
risks violent storms shipwrecks and


00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:27.470
pirates lurking in wait for merchant


00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:30.870
vessels fast forward 400 years and we


00:12:30.880 --> 00:12:32.550
find ourselves at a remarkably similar


00:12:32.560 --> 00:12:35.269
threshold instead of wooden ships we


00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:37.590
have advanced spacecraft instead of


00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:39.350
crossing oceans we're venturing beyond


00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.110
our


00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:42.470
atmosphere the comparison between these


00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:44.550
two eras of exploration is not just


00:12:44.560 --> 00:12:47.110
poetic it's profoundly accurate in terms


00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:49.030
of the opportunities and challenges we


00:12:49.040 --> 00:12:49.790
now


00:12:49.800 --> 00:12:52.550
face space launch technology has evolved


00:12:52.560 --> 00:12:55.190
at a breathtaking pace particularly in


00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:57.590
the last decade what was once the


00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:59.509
exclusive domain of powerful nation


00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:01.509
states is now accessible to private


00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:04.310
companies and ambitious startups Earth's


00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:06.150
atmosphere which for millennia


00:13:06.160 --> 00:13:08.269
represented an absolute barrier to human


00:13:08.279 --> 00:13:10.710
exploration is now regularly traversed


00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:13.590
by both crude and uncrrewed missions the


00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:15.590
potential rewards of this new frontier


00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:17.750
dwarf even the riches sought by those


00:13:17.760 --> 00:13:20.310
early maritime explorers we're not just


00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:21.910
talking about discovering new trading


00:13:21.920 --> 00:13:23.670
routes or finding gold we're


00:13:23.680 --> 00:13:26.069
contemplating mining asteroids rich in


00:13:26.079 --> 00:13:28.870
precious metals harnessing unprecedented


00:13:28.880 --> 00:13:31.430
energy sources and potentially even


00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:33.750
finding the answers to humanity's oldest


00:13:33.760 --> 00:13:36.150
questions about our origins and whether


00:13:36.160 --> 00:13:37.710
we're alone in the


00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:40.150
universe space traffic is projected to


00:13:40.160 --> 00:13:42.710
grow exponentially over the next 5 to 10


00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:45.269
years it's not unreasonable to imagine


00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:47.030
regular trips to the moon by the end of


00:13:47.040 --> 00:13:49.190
this decade with Mars and even the


00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:51.350
asteroid belt becoming accessible in the


00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:54.069
following years currently we use space


00:13:54.079 --> 00:13:56.350
primarily for communications and Earth


00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:58.710
observation but that's merely scratching


00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:01.269
the surface of possibilities just as the


00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:03.430
age of sale brought risks alongside its


00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:05.750
rewards our venture into space comes


00:14:05.760 --> 00:14:07.670
with inherent dangers the space


00:14:07.680 --> 00:14:09.670
environment itself is incredibly hostile


00:14:09.680 --> 00:14:13.550
to human life vacuum radiation


00:14:13.560 --> 00:14:15.430
micrometeorites these are the modern


00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:17.189
equivalents of the storms and reefs that


00:14:17.199 --> 00:14:19.350
threatened early sailors and as space


00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:21.189
becomes more commercialized we'll likely


00:14:21.199 --> 00:14:23.189
face new challenges in terms of security


00:14:23.199 --> 00:14:24.910
and competition for


00:14:24.920 --> 00:14:27.269
resources for every entrepreneur who


00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:29.750
sees opportunity in mining asteroids


00:14:29.760 --> 00:14:31.350
there may be those who see opportunity


00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:34.949
in piracy or sabotage nations with early


00:14:34.959 --> 00:14:37.269
advantages in space capability will have


00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:39.110
tremendous economic and strategic


00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:41.750
benefits over those who lag behind the


00:14:41.760 --> 00:14:43.829
dynamics of power and wealth that shaped


00:14:43.839 --> 00:14:46.150
Earth's colonial era may find new


00:14:46.160 --> 00:14:48.189
expression in our expansion beyond our


00:14:48.199 --> 00:14:50.790
planet yet unlike our ancestors who


00:14:50.800 --> 00:14:52.550
sailed into the unknown with limited


00:14:52.560 --> 00:14:55.030
knowledge and primitive tools we venture


00:14:55.040 --> 00:14:56.870
forth with the accumulated wisdom and


00:14:56.880 --> 00:14:59.509
technology of our entire civilization


00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:01.430
the possibilities before us are limited


00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:04.150
only by our imagination our courage and


00:15:04.160 --> 00:15:06.310
our ability to cooperate across national


00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:07.990
boundaries for the benefit of all


00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:10.310
humanity space traffic is expected to


00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:12.629
grow exponentially in the coming years


00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:14.949
as humans explore new worlds and seek


00:15:14.959 --> 00:15:17.350
fortune beyond Earth while the concept


00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:19.110
of space tourism gets plenty of


00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:21.189
attention it's merely the tip of an


00:15:21.199 --> 00:15:23.110
iceberg of commercial possibilities


00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:25.949
whose depths we have yet to fully


00:15:25.959 --> 00:15:28.310
comprehend the initial focus of space


00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:30.389
commerce will likely center around three


00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:33.509
key areas: resource acquisition energy


00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:36.069
production and advanced manufacturing


00:15:36.079 --> 00:15:38.069
these aren't just speculative ventures


00:15:38.079 --> 00:15:39.829
they represent logical extensions of


00:15:39.839 --> 00:15:41.509
existing needs coupled with emerging


00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:44.069
technological capabilities asteroids


00:15:44.079 --> 00:15:45.990
present perhaps the most tantalizing


00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:48.710
near-term opportunity many contain vast


00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:50.470
quantities of rare earth minerals and


00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:52.470
precious metals in concentrations far


00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:54.230
exceeding those found in Earth's most


00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:57.189
productive mines a single asteroid with


00:15:57.199 --> 00:15:59.189
the right composition could yield


00:15:59.199 --> 00:16:01.189
trillions of dollars worth of materials


00:16:01.199 --> 00:16:03.350
critical to advanced technologies and


00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:05.829
manufacturing processes


00:16:05.839 --> 00:16:08.069
meanwhile the moon has drawn renewed


00:16:08.079 --> 00:16:10.230
interest not just as a stepping stone to


00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:12.629
deeper space but as a valuable resource


00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:15.110
in its own right its surface contains


00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:17.910
abundant helium 3 an isotope extremely


00:16:17.920 --> 00:16:20.389
rare on Earth but potentially ideal as


00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:23.590
fuel for future nuclear fusion reactors


00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:25.509
if fusion power becomes commercially


00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:28.470
viable lunar helium 3 could become one


00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:30.389
of the most valuable commodities in the


00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:33.110
solar system the unique environment of


00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:34.870
space also creates opportunities for


00:16:34.880 --> 00:16:37.030
manufacturing processes impossible on


00:16:37.040 --> 00:16:39.509
Earth zero gravity conditions allow for


00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:41.990
the creation of perfect crystals ultra


00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:44.389
pure pharmaceuticals and exotic alloys


00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:45.749
that cannot be produced under


00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:48.470
terrestrial conditions as launch costs


00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:50.870
continue to decrease the economic case


00:16:50.880 --> 00:16:52.710
for orbital manufacturing becomes


00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:55.430
increasingly compelling for ambitious


00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:57.030
companies looking to stake their claim


00:16:57.040 --> 00:16:59.430
in this new frontier several market


00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:01.990
niches are emerging manufacturing will


00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:04.069
be crucial not just for Earth-based


00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:05.990
customers but for the infrastructure of


00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:09.029
space itself long range transports


00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:12.069
mining systems and lunar bases will all


00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:14.470
need to be constructed potentially on


00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:16.630
orbit to avoid the limitations of


00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:19.510
Earth-tospace launch systems logistics


00:17:19.520 --> 00:17:21.590
presents another massive opportunity


00:17:21.600 --> 00:17:23.829
we'll need transfer stations refueling


00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:26.710
depots and efficient transport networks


00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:28.710
the companies that develop reliable


00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:30.710
cost-effective ways to move people


00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:32.789
equipment and resources throughout cys


00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:34.789
lunar space and beyond will be the


00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:36.230
equivalent of the shipping companies


00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:39.669
that dominated oceanic trade of course


00:17:39.679 --> 00:17:41.270
all this activity will generate


00:17:41.280 --> 00:17:43.430
unprecedented demand for information


00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:45.909
management communication systems


00:17:45.919 --> 00:17:47.990
navigation networks and security


00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:50.789
services the data infrastructure needed


00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:53.029
to support operations across the solar


00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:55.190
system will dwarf our current internet


00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:57.830
in both complexity and capacity the


00:17:57.840 --> 00:17:59.350
countries and companies that master


00:17:59.360 --> 00:18:01.190
these challenges will enjoy economic


00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:03.350
advantages comparable to those gained by


00:18:03.360 --> 00:18:05.789
maritime powers during the age of


00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:08.390
exploration but unlike Earth's resources


00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:10.230
the resources of space are virtually


00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:12.390
limitless offering the potential for


00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:14.549
growth and prosperity without the zero


00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:16.710
sum competition that has characterized


00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:19.350
much of human history


00:18:19.360 --> 00:18:22.110
next time to check in with the


00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:25.110
JWST the James Web Space Telescope has


00:18:25.120 --> 00:18:26.950
recently turned its powerful infrared


00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:30.549
eyes toward NGC 1514 a fascinating


00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:33.110
planetary nebula sitting about 1,500


00:18:33.120 --> 00:18:35.110
lighty years away from Earth this


00:18:35.120 --> 00:18:37.430
celestial object has a particularly


00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:39.190
intriguing history in the annals of


00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:41.350
astronomy when William Hershel first


00:18:41.360 --> 00:18:44.070
discovered it in 1790 the nebula's


00:18:44.080 --> 00:18:45.750
unique appearance forced him to


00:18:45.760 --> 00:18:47.590
reconsider fundamental assumptions about


00:18:47.600 --> 00:18:50.470
the nature of nebula prior to this


00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:52.710
discovery Hershel had believed that all


00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:55.430
nebuli were simply masses of stars too


00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:57.830
distant to be resolved individually but


00:18:57.840 --> 00:19:00.870
NGC 1514 presented something different


00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:03.110
what he described as a lone star


00:19:03.120 --> 00:19:04.950
surrounded with a faintly luminous


00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:06.630
atmosphere


00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:08.470
this observation marked a significant


00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:10.710
shift in astronomical understanding


00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:12.789
suggesting that not all nebulous objects


00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:15.830
were comprised of stars fast forward to


00:19:15.840 --> 00:19:18.310
modern times and this curious nebula


00:19:18.320 --> 00:19:20.070
continues to yield new insights with


00:19:20.080 --> 00:19:22.789
each technological advance nasa's


00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:26.150
Widefield Infrared Survey Explorer WISE


00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:27.909
previously detected a pair of rings


00:19:27.919 --> 00:19:29.830
around the nebula that are only visible


00:19:29.840 --> 00:19:33.190
in infrared wavelengths now the JWSD's


00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:35.110
unparalleled capabilities have allowed


00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:37.029
astronomers to examine these structures


00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:40.310
in unprecedented detail led by Michael


00:19:40.320 --> 00:19:42.070
Wrestler a researcher and project


00:19:42.080 --> 00:19:43.750
scientist for WEB's mid-infrared


00:19:43.760 --> 00:19:45.430
instrument at NASA's Jet Propulsion


00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:47.750
Laboratory the new observations reveal


00:19:47.760 --> 00:19:50.549
the complex and turbulent nature of NGC


00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:54.390
1514 the JWST's mid-infrared imager and


00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:56.789
mediumresolution spectrometer have


00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:58.390
clearly resolved the nebula's


00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:00.470
distinctive rings showing them to be


00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:02.390
relatively distinct structures with both


00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:05.270
filament and clumpy details throughout


00:20:05.280 --> 00:20:07.029
what makes these new observations


00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:08.789
particularly valuable is how they've


00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:10.549
enabled astronomers to peer through the


00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:12.950
nebula's history tracing its evolution


00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:15.830
over approximately 4,000 years as


00:20:15.840 --> 00:20:18.390
Wrestler noted before web we weren't


00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:20.470
able to detect most of this material let


00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:22.870
alone observe it so clearly the


00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:25.350
telescope's infrared sensitivity has


00:20:25.360 --> 00:20:27.350
provided a comprehensive view of the


00:20:27.360 --> 00:20:29.750
nebula's turbulent nature allowing


00:20:29.760 --> 00:20:32.149
scientists to examine features that were


00:20:32.159 --> 00:20:35.029
previously impossible to detect the


00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:37.029
detail revealed by these observations


00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:39.830
offers a time capsule of sorts recording


00:20:39.840 --> 00:20:41.830
the dramatic processes of stellar


00:20:41.840 --> 00:20:43.909
evolution as they've unfolded over


00:20:43.919 --> 00:20:46.390
millennia by studying the intricate


00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:50.070
structures within NGC 1514 astronomers


00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:51.830
can better understand the complex


00:20:51.840 --> 00:20:53.909
interactions that occur when stars reach


00:20:53.919 --> 00:20:56.549
the end of their main sequence lives and


00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:58.830
begin shedding their outer layers into


00:20:58.840 --> 00:21:01.990
space a pair of binary stars reside at


00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:05.510
the center of NGC 1514 appearing as a


00:21:05.520 --> 00:21:06.950
single purple star with bright


00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:09.830
diffraction spikes in JDUSD images this


00:21:09.840 --> 00:21:11.830
central system is actually what powers


00:21:11.840 --> 00:21:14.149
and shapes the entire nebula one of


00:21:14.159 --> 00:21:16.310
these stars was originally several times


00:21:16.320 --> 00:21:19.110
more massive than our sun and as it


00:21:19.120 --> 00:21:21.750
evolved into a red giant it cast off its


00:21:21.760 --> 00:21:23.590
outer layers of gas which formed the


00:21:23.600 --> 00:21:25.710
distinctive nebular structure we see


00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:28.470
today david Jones a senior scientist at


00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:29.990
the Institute of Astrophysics on the


00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:31.990
Canary Islands who proved there is a


00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:35.110
binary star system at the center in 2017


00:21:35.120 --> 00:21:36.510
explains this


00:21:36.520 --> 00:21:39.350
process as it evolved it puffed up


00:21:39.360 --> 00:21:41.350
throwing off layers of gas and dust in a


00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:43.750
very slow dense stellar wind that once


00:21:43.760 --> 00:21:45.669
massive star has now collapsed to become


00:21:45.679 --> 00:21:47.990
a white dwarf while its companion is


00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:49.510
currently a giant star on what


00:21:49.520 --> 00:21:52.070
astronomers call the horizontal branch


00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:53.750
what appears from our viewing angle to


00:21:53.760 --> 00:21:55.350
look like a can being poured out is


00:21:55.360 --> 00:21:57.270
actually an hourglass shape there are


00:21:57.280 --> 00:21:59.510
hints of a pinched waist near the top


00:21:59.520 --> 00:22:01.750
left and bottom right of the nebula and


00:22:01.760 --> 00:22:03.510
at these locations the dust appears


00:22:03.520 --> 00:22:06.310
orange and drifts into shallow Vshapes


00:22:06.320 --> 00:22:08.710
this unusual configuration likely


00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:10.390
results from the interaction between the


00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:13.510
binary stars when this star was at its


00:22:13.520 --> 00:22:15.990
peak of losing material the companion


00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:18.950
could have gotten very very close jones


00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:21.029
notes that interaction can lead to


00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:23.190
shapes that you wouldn't expect instead


00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:25.430
of producing a sphere this interaction


00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:28.630
might have formed these rings the JWSD


00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:30.310
observations have allowed researchers to


00:22:30.320 --> 00:22:32.070
dig more deeply into the nebula's


00:22:32.080 --> 00:22:34.070
composition revealing something quite


00:22:34.080 --> 00:22:36.630
unexpected unlike many other planetary


00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:39.830
nebula the brightness of NGC 1514's


00:22:39.840 --> 00:22:41.590
rings doesn't come from line emissions


00:22:41.600 --> 00:22:43.750
from elements like atomic hydrogen


00:22:43.760 --> 00:22:46.710
polyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or


00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:49.909
shocked molecular hydrogen instead the


00:22:49.919 --> 00:22:51.750
brightness primarily comes from thermal


00:22:51.760 --> 00:22:53.990
emission from dust grains with


00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:55.990
researchers calculating that only about


00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:58.470
1.5% of the ring flux comes from line


00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:59.990
emissions


00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:02.149
this composition is particularly unusual


00:23:02.159 --> 00:23:04.270
since carbon and polyyclic aromatic


00:23:04.280 --> 00:23:06.470
hydrocarbons are common features in


00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:09.029
planetary nebula the lack of emissions


00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:11.029
from molecular hydrogen indicates that


00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:13.029
the ring structures weren't formed by


00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:14.789
material shocked from collisions with


00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:17.110
the interstellar medium while the new


00:23:17.120 --> 00:23:18.870
observations provide unprecedented


00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:21.270
clarity about what the rings are made of


00:23:21.280 --> 00:23:22.870
they haven't yet fully explained how


00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:25.430
they formed researchers suggest that a


00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:27.270
strong thermal pulse from the binary


00:23:27.280 --> 00:23:29.830
stars common envelope may have created


00:23:29.840 --> 00:23:31.750
pronounced changes in density in the


00:23:31.760 --> 00:23:34.470
surrounding material alternatively a


00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:36.470
period of heavy mass loss followed by


00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:38.789
fast jets or winds could have carved out


00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:40.789
material along the poles to create the


00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:43.669
ring-like structure as the researchers


00:23:43.679 --> 00:23:45.990
concluded the new data do complete the


00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:47.990
picture of the rings being cool dusty


00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:50.470
structures embedded in the tenuous outer


00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:53.110
shell of a very complex but fascinating


00:23:53.120 --> 00:23:57.190
planetary nebula finally today shifting


00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:59.430
our gaze from distant nebuli to events


00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:02.149
much closer to home skygazers have an


00:24:02.159 --> 00:24:04.149
exciting opportunity coming up with not


00:24:04.159 --> 00:24:06.470
one but two meteor showers visible in


00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:09.110
our night skies beginning in late April


00:24:09.120 --> 00:24:11.029
these celestial light shows offer


00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:12.710
everyone a chance to witness the beauty


00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:15.390
of space without the need for expensive


00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:17.909
equipment the Lid's meteor shower will


00:24:17.919 --> 00:24:20.230
be the first to grace our skies active


00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:23.750
from April 17th to 26 these meteors are


00:24:23.760 --> 00:24:25.669
actually tiny pieces of debris from the


00:24:25.679 --> 00:24:27.669
Thatcher comet that interact with


00:24:27.679 --> 00:24:30.070
Earth's atmosphere and disintegrate


00:24:30.080 --> 00:24:31.590
creating those beautiful streaks of


00:24:31.600 --> 00:24:34.950
light we associate with shooting stars


00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:36.710
the lids take their name from the


00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:39.269
constellation Lyra which contains the


00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:42.149
bright star Vega this is the region of


00:24:42.159 --> 00:24:44.430
the sky from which the meteors appear to


00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:46.549
radiate what makes the Lirids


00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:49.190
particularly special is their long


00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:51.750
observational history people have been


00:24:51.760 --> 00:24:53.950
spotting these meteors for at least


00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:56.789
2,700 years making them one of the


00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:59.190
oldest recorded meteor showers while


00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:01.029
they may not produce the highest rates


00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:03.190
compared to other major showers they


00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:05.149
often compensate with numerous bright


00:25:05.159 --> 00:25:07.669
meteors this year the peak activity


00:25:07.679 --> 00:25:10.310
occurs on the night of April 21st with


00:25:10.320 --> 00:25:12.390
the best viewing just before dawn on


00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:15.830
April 22nd hot on the heels of the Lids


00:25:15.840 --> 00:25:18.630
comes the Aquarids meteor shower these


00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:20.630
meteors have a more famous parent


00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:22.470
they're the icy and rocky debris


00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:25.430
originally shed by the renowned comet


00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:27.029
when these particles eventually reach


00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:29.350
Earth's atmosphere they create their own


00:25:29.360 --> 00:25:32.390
fiery nighttime display the Eta Aquarids


00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:34.470
can be seen between April 20th and May


00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:36.789
28th with optimal viewing between


00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:39.430
midnight and dawn on May 5th the Eta


00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:41.190
Aquarids are named after one of the


00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:43.070
brightest stars in the constellation


00:25:43.080 --> 00:25:45.990
Aquarius Eta Aquari which is near the


00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:47.669
point from which the meteors appear to


00:25:47.679 --> 00:25:50.070
originate astronomers note that the


00:25:50.080 --> 00:25:52.710
itaids are particularly interesting


00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:54.549
because they sometimes produce strong


00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:56.630
outbursts in certain years though this


00:25:56.640 --> 00:25:58.909
year is expected to show more moderate


00:25:58.919 --> 00:26:00.710
activity there's an interesting


00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:02.470
hemispheric divide when it comes to


00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:05.190
viewing these showers the Lids are best


00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:07.190
observed from the northern hemisphere


00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:08.950
while the southern hemisphere provides


00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:11.510
superior viewing conditions for the ITA


00:26:11.520 --> 00:26:13.110
aquarids


00:26:13.120 --> 00:26:15.590
that said both can be seen from either


00:26:15.600 --> 00:26:18.110
hemisphere just with varying degrees of


00:26:18.120 --> 00:26:20.470
visibility while the lids might produce


00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:22.470
around 10 to 20 meteors per hour during


00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:25.350
their peak the Eta Aquarids can display


00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:27.110
about 30 meteors per hour from the


00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:29.909
southern hemisphere and between 10 to 30


00:26:29.919 --> 00:26:31.310
from the northern


00:26:31.320 --> 00:26:34.390
hemisphere the Eta Aquarids sometimes


00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:36.390
leave glowing dust trains in their wake


00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:38.470
that remain visible for several seconds


00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:40.710
or even minutes adding an extra


00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:42.870
dimension to the spectacle


00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:44.230
if you're hoping to catch either of


00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:46.710
these meteor showers location and timing


00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:49.590
are everything for the lids northern


00:26:49.600 --> 00:26:51.909
hemisphere viewers have the advantage


00:26:51.919 --> 00:26:53.750
head out in the dark hours just before


00:26:53.760 --> 00:26:57.110
dawn particularly on April 22nd and look


00:26:57.120 --> 00:26:59.510
up you won't need any special equipment


00:26:59.520 --> 00:27:01.110
just your naked eyes and a bit of


00:27:01.120 --> 00:27:03.510
patience the meteors will appear as fast


00:27:03.520 --> 00:27:05.510
streaks of light across the sky and


00:27:05.520 --> 00:27:06.950
occasionally you might spot an


00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:09.430
especially bright flash during peak


00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:10.789
activity you could be rewarded with


00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:13.590
anywhere from 10 to 20 meteors per hour


00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:15.510
for those in the southern hemisphere


00:27:15.520 --> 00:27:16.870
while you won't have the best view of


00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:19.029
the Lid since the constellation Lyra


00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:21.029
stays below the horizon for most


00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:23.029
southern viewers you'll have the prime


00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:26.870
seats for the ETA aquarids in early May


00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:28.789
this shower favors southern hemisphere


00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:31.029
observers who can expect to see around


00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:34.149
30 meteors per hour during peak activity


00:27:34.159 --> 00:27:36.070
northern hemisphere sky watchers needn't


00:27:36.080 --> 00:27:38.470
feel left out though you can still catch


00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:40.950
about 10 to 30 meters hourly but you'll


00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:42.549
need to look toward the horizon as the


00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:44.830
radiant point remains lower in your


00:27:44.840 --> 00:27:47.350
sky one challenge for northern viewers


00:27:47.360 --> 00:27:49.669
of the EDA aquarids is the limited


00:27:49.679 --> 00:27:52.230
viewing window the showers radiant only


00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:54.549
rises a couple of hours before dawn and


00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:56.310
daylight arrives before it climbs high


00:27:56.320 --> 00:27:58.870
in the sky this gives you just a brief


00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:01.430
opportunity to spot these meteors making


00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:04.070
proper preparation even more important


00:28:04.080 --> 00:28:05.909
for optimal viewing of either meteor


00:28:05.919 --> 00:28:08.149
shower astronomy experts recommend


00:28:08.159 --> 00:28:09.909
finding a location with minimal light


00:28:09.919 --> 00:28:12.149
pollution far away from city lights if


00:28:12.159 --> 00:28:14.549
possible bring along a star map to help


00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:16.549
locate the relevant constellations


00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:18.389
though the meteors themselves can appear


00:28:18.399 --> 00:28:21.029
anywhere in the sky a reclining lawn


00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:22.870
chair or camping mattress will make the


00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:25.029
experience much more comfortable as


00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:27.149
you'll be looking up for extended


00:28:27.159 --> 00:28:29.830
periods dress warmly even if the spring


00:28:29.840 --> 00:28:32.230
night doesn't seem that cold initially


00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:33.590
when you're sitting still for long


00:28:33.600 --> 00:28:35.269
periods temperatures can feel much


00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:37.750
chillier than expected remember that


00:28:37.760 --> 00:28:39.909
your eyes need about 20 to 30 minutes to


00:28:39.919 --> 00:28:42.389
fully adapt to the darkness so avoid


00:28:42.399 --> 00:28:44.070
looking at your phone or other bright


00:28:44.080 --> 00:28:46.470
lights once you've settled in keep in


00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:48.549
mind that patience is key not every


00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:50.549
meteor you see will necessarily be from


00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:53.110
these specific showers but the ultimate


00:28:53.120 --> 00:28:54.870
experience of watching the night sky


00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:56.789
come alive with streaks of light is well


00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:59.269
worth the wait


00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.950
and that's all for today's episode of


00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:03.269
Astronomy Daily from sample return


00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:05.029
missions to our solar systems most


00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:07.350
challenging planets to the surprising


00:29:07.360 --> 00:29:09.430
origins of Earth's water the new


00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:12.389
frontier of space commerce the JWST's


00:29:12.399 --> 00:29:15.430
stunning observations of NGC 1514 and


00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:17.110
the upcoming meteor light shows in our


00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:19.510
night skies the universe continues to


00:29:19.520 --> 00:29:22.389
amaze and inspire us i'm Anna and it's


00:29:22.399 --> 00:29:23.669
been my pleasure to bring you these


00:29:23.679 --> 00:29:26.149
cosmic stories today if your curiosity


00:29:26.159 --> 00:29:28.149
about our universe has been peaked


00:29:28.159 --> 00:29:29.909
there's always more to discover at our


00:29:29.919 --> 00:29:32.029
website


00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:34.070
astronomydaily.io there you can catch up


00:29:34.080 --> 00:29:36.070
on all the latest space and astronomy


00:29:36.080 --> 00:29:37.990
news and listen to our complete library


00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:40.470
of past episodes we're also active


00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:42.549
across social media making it easy to


00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:44.630
stay connected with our cosmic community


00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:46.470
just search for Astro Daily Pod on


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Instagram and Tik Tok remember that


00:29:52.080 --> 00:29:53.669
whether you're scanning the night sky


00:29:53.679 --> 00:29:55.909
for meteors or contemplating the origins


00:29:55.919 --> 00:29:58.470
of Earth's water we're all explorers of


00:29:58.480 --> 00:30:01.110
this vast and wondrous cosmos the


00:30:01.120 --> 00:30:03.029
universe is full of mysteries waiting to


00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:05.269
be unraveled and we'll continue bringing


00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:07.350
them to you right here thanks for


00:30:07.360 --> 00:30:09.029
joining me today on this journey through


00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:11.830
space i'm Anna and until next time keep


00:30:11.840 --> 00:30:13.269
looking up and wondering about the


00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:17.990
magnificent universe we call home


00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:20.700
the stories we told


00:30:20.710 --> 00:30:36.130
[Music]