Feb. 20, 2025

New Horizons Milestone, Gravitational Wave Breakthrough, and Health in Space: S04E44

New Horizons Milestone, Gravitational Wave Breakthrough, and Health in Space: S04E44
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New Horizons Milestone, Gravitational Wave Breakthrough, and Health in Space: S04E44

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S04E44

In this episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna dives into a treasure trove of exciting developments in space exploration and astronomy. From NASA's New Horizons spacecraft nearing a historic milestone to groundbreaking advancements in gravitational wave detection, this episode is packed with insights that will spark your curiosity about the cosmos.

Highlights:

- New Horizons Approaches Termination Shock: Discover how NASA's New Horizons spacecraft is preparing to cross the termination shock, a crucial boundary that marks the transition from our solar system to interstellar space. This crossing, expected as early as 2027, could provide invaluable data about solar wind interactions and the outer heliosphere.

- Breakthrough in Gravitational Wave Detection: Learn about a revolutionary advancement in adaptive optics that enhances the capabilities of gravitational wave observatories like LIGO. This technology could allow scientists to observe the universe's most dramatic events with unprecedented sensitivity, shedding light on black holes and the early universe.

- Genomic Enumeration of Antibiotic Resistance in Space: Explore NASA's groundbreaking study aboard the International Space Station aimed at detecting antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This research not only safeguards astronaut health but also has significant implications for combating antibiotic resistance on Earth.

- SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Debris Incident: Hear about the dramatic re-entry of debris from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket over Poland, creating a stunning light show. Fortunately, no injuries or damage were reported, but the incident highlights the complexities of space hardware re-entering Earth's atmosphere.

- Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Lunar Lander Update: Follow the progress of Blue Ghost as it successfully enters lunar orbit and prepares for a historic landing attempt. This mission represents a significant milestone in commercial space exploration and supports NASA's Artemis program goals.

- New Tool in the Search for Extraterrestrial Life: Uncover how sulfur dioxide levels in planetary atmospheres could help identify potentially habitable worlds around red dwarf stars. This new method allows astronomers to narrow down their search for alien life by eliminating unlikely candidates.

For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io (http://www.astronomydaily.io/) . Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, and TikTok. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.

00:00 - Welcome back to Astronomy Daily

01:05 - New Horizons and termination shock

07:30 - Gravitational wave detection breakthrough

12:15 - Antibiotic resistance study in space

18:00 - Falcon 9 debris incident

22:30 - Blue Ghost lunar lander update

27:00 - Sulfur dioxide and extraterrestrial life

32:00 - Conclusion and upcoming content

✍️ Episode References

NASA's New Horizons Mission

[NASA TV Horizons]( https://www.nasa.gov/newhorizons (https://www.nasa.gov/newhorizons) )

Gravitational Wave Detection Technology

[LIGO]( https://www.ligo.caltech.edu (https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/) )

NASA's GEARS Experiment

[NASA ISS]( https://www.nasa.gov/iss (https://www.nasa.gov/iss) )

SpaceX Falcon 9 Information

[SpaceX]( https://www.spacex.com (https://www.spacex.com/) )

Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission

[Firefly Aerospace]( https://www.fireflyspace.com (https://www.fireflyspace.com/) )

Search for Extraterrestrial Life

[Astrobiology]( https://www.nasa.gov/astrobiology (https://www.nasa.gov/astrobiology) )

Astronomy Daily

[Astronomy Daily]( http://www.astronomydaily.io (http://www.astronomydaily.io/) )


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-discoveries--5648921/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-discoveries--5648921/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) .

Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/25689218?utm_source=youtube

00:00 - Welcome back to Astronomy Daily

01:05 - New Horizons and termination shock

07:30 - Gravitational wave detection breakthrough

12:15 - Antibiotic resistance study in space

WEBVTT
Kind: captions
Language: en

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[Music]


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welcome to astronomy daily I'm excited


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to bring you another packed episode of


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space and astronomy news today we have


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an incredible lineup of stories that


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showcase just how Dynamic and


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fascinating our exploration of space


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continues to be we'll start with NASA's


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new horizon spacecraft as it approaches


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a historic Milestone that could


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revolutionize our understanding of the


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solar systems outer boundaries then


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we'll dive into a breakthrough in


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gravitational wave detection that could


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help us peer further back in time than


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ever before


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we've also got fascinating updates from


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the International Space Station where


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scientists are conducting crucial


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experiments on antibiotic resistant


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bacteria plus we'll cover some


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remarkable developments in lunar


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exploration and a new method that could


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help us in the search for alien life


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stay with me as we explore these stories


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and more right here on astronomy


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daily NASA's new horizon spacecraft


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already famous for giving us our first


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close-up views of Pluto in 2015 is


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gearing up for another groundbreaking


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achievement the probe is preparing to


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cross what scientists call the


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termination shock a fundamental boundary


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where our Sun's influence begins to WAN


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as it meets the interstellar medium this


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Milestone Crossing could happen as early


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as 2027 and the spacecraft's team is


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working diligently to ensure they don't


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miss this rare


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opportunity the actual Crossing might


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only last about 10 minutes though


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multiple Crossings could occur as the


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boundary moves back and forth over


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several days New Horizons is uniquely


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equipped for this Mission carrying


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specialized instruments that can measure


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particles and energy in ways that


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weren't possible during previous


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boundary crossings by other spacecraft


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its solar wind around Pluto instrument


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and Pluto energetic particle


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spectrometer will conduct the first ever


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measurements of crucial pickup ions in


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the outer heliosphere the spacecraft


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remains in excellent condition with all


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seven of its instruments working as well


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as they did at launch while fuel


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reserves are running low the probes


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nuclear power system could potentially


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keep it operational until


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2050 this impressive longevity means New


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Horizons could continue providing


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valuable data about this unexplored


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region of space for years to come the


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mission's findings are particularly


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significant because they could help


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solve several mysteries about our solar


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systems outer


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boundaries scientists are especially


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interested in understanding how the


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solar wind interacts with the


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interstellar medium and how this


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interaction shapes the bubble of space


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with we call home this upcoming Crossing


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represents another chapter in New


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Horizon's remarkable Journey which has


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already revolutionized our understanding


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of Pluto and the Kyper belt the data it


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collects could be crucial for planning


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future missions into Interstellar space


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and understanding the fundamental nature


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of our Cosmic


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neighborhood next up today scientists


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have achieved a remarkable breakthrough


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in gravitational wave detection


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technology that could revolutionize our


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ability to observe some of the most dram


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atic events in the cosmos this new


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advancement in Adaptive Optics promises


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to dramatically enhance the capabilities


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of facilities like ligo the laser


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interferometer gravitational wave


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Observatory and set the stage for even


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more powerful future observatories the


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heart of this Innovation lies in its


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ability to correct distortions in ligo's


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massive 40 kgr mirrors as laser power


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increases in these detectors it creates


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heat that warps these crucial components


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the new system can precisely adjust for


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these distortions allowing the


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observatories to use laser power levels


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exceeding 1 megawatt Far Beyond current


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capabilities this technological Leap


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Forward is particularly exciting for the


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planned Cosmic Explorer which will


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feature interferometer arms stretching


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40 km 10 times longer than Lego's


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current setup when operating at full


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sensitivity these enhanced detectors


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will be able to peer back to when the


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universe was just a fraction of its


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current age before the first Stars even


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began to shine


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the implications for our understanding


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of the cosmos are


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profound with this increased sensitivity


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scientists will be better equipped to


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study the nature of black holes measure


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the expansion rate of the universe with


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unprecedented precision and potentially


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resolve current contradictions in our


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cosmological models we might even


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discover entirely new types of


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astronomical phenomena that we haven't


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yet imagined the technology could help


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answer some of the most fundamental


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questions in physics and cosmology from


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testing the predictions of general


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relativity to understanding the detailed


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Dynamics around black hole event


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Horizons this marks another significant


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step forward in our ability to observe


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the universe not just through light but


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through the very ripples in the fabric


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of SpaceTime


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itself our next story is all about


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making sure our Intrepid Space Explorers


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stay healthy NASA is taking bold steps


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to protect astronaut health and Advanced


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Medical Science with a groundbreaking


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new exper expent aboard the


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International Space


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Station the study called gears genomic


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enumeration of antibiotic resistance in


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space aims to speed up the detection of


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antibiotic resistant bacteria a growing


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concern both in space and on Earth with


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future missions to the moon and Mars on


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the horizon astronauts will need to rely


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on a limited supply of antibiotics to


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combat potential infections ensuring


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these medications remain effective is


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crucial for crew safety especially when


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they're millions of miles from home the


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gears experiment focuses particularly on


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enterococus falis a common bacteria that


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has become the second leading cause of


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Hospital acquired


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infections over the next year astronauts


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will collect samples from various


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surfaces throughout the station and


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analyze them using Advanced genetic


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sequencing techniques marking the first


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time this type of comprehensive DNA


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analysis has been performed in Space the


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goal is to develop a rapid testing


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system that can identif identify


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dangerous bacteria in hours rather than


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days the implications extend far beyond


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space exploration back on Earth


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antibiotic resistant infections claim


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over 35,000 lives annually the


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Streamline detection methods being


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developed through gears could


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revolutionize how hospitals identify and


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treat these dangerous infections


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potentially saving countless lives


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initial results from the experiment have


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been encouraging the first round of


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testing revealed surprisingly few


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resistant bacteria colonies aboard the


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station suggesting current cleaning


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Protocols are effective however


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researchers are now strategically


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pausing some cleaning routines to better


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understand how these bacteria might


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naturally spread in the space


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environment this marriage of space


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research and medical advancement


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exemplifies how NASA's missions continue


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to drive innovations that benefit life


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on Earth the techniques being pioneered


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miles above our planet today could be


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saving lives in hospitals around the


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world


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tomorrow from today's news headlines in


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a remarkable space related incident


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debris from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket


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made an uncontrolled re-entry over


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Poland earlier today the rocket which


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originally launched from vandenbberg Air


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Force Base in California on February 1st


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as part of a starlink satellite Mission


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created quite a spectacle as it returned


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to Earth residents in Western Poland


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were treated to an extraordinary light


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show as the debris blazed through the


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atmosphere around 4:46 a.m. local time


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the Luminous Trails visible in the night


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sky marked the final moments of this


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piece of space Hardware's journey two


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significant pieces of the rocket have


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been recovered so far the first was


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discovered Wednesday morning in the


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outskirts of posan where a chunk


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measuring approximately 5 ft by 3 ft was


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found on Warehouse property hours later


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a second piece of similar size was


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located in a nearby Forest just a few


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kilometers away the Polish space agency


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Pulsa has confirmed the debris


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originated from the Falcon 9 Rockets


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second stage they're currently in


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communication with SpaceX to gather more


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information about the re-entry event


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importantly despite the dramatic nature


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of the incident no injuries or property


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damage have been


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reported this event serves as a reminder


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that what goes up must eventually come


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down even in the space industry While


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most rocket stages are designed to burn


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up completely during re-entry


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occasionally larger pieces can survive


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the journey through the atmosphere as


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we've seen in this


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case next Firefly aerospace's Blue Ghost


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lunar lander continues to make


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impressive progress in its Journey To


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The Moon after completing its 4-day


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Transit from Earth the spacecraft has


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successfully entered lunar orbit and is


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now preparing for what could be a


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historic Landing attempt in just under


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two weeks the mission team recently


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executed a precise engine burn lasting 3


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minutes and 18 seconds which


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successfully lowered Blu ghost's orbit


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Orit to approximately 75 m above the


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lunar surface this crucial maneuver has


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positioned the spacecraft perfectly for


00:09:06.680 --> 00:09:08.990
its upcoming Landing attempt currently


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scheduled for March 2nd as the


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spacecraft circles the moon mission


00:09:13.680 --> 00:09:15.910
controllers are experiencing expected


00:09:15.920 --> 00:09:18.389
communication blackouts when Blue Ghost


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passes behind the lunar Far Side however


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during its near side passes the team


00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:26.230
continues to receive valuable Telemetry


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data and is using this information to


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fine-tune the fin Landing sequence Blue


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Ghost is carrying 10 NASA research


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payloads as part of the commercial lunar


00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:38.590
payload Services Program these


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experiments are designed to study the


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lunar environment and will support


00:09:42.079 --> 00:09:44.990
NASA's broader Artemis program goals if


00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:47.269
successful this Mission will Mark only


00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:49.310
the second time a private company has


00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:52.030
achieved a soft landing on the moon the


00:09:52.040 --> 00:09:53.670
spacecraft will have approximately two


00:09:53.680 --> 00:09:56.630
weeks one full lunar day to complete its


00:09:56.640 --> 00:09:59.430
scientific Mission once it touches down


00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:00.750
during this time its Suite of


00:10:00.760 --> 00:10:02.230
instruments will be busy collecting


00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:05.110
samples testing components and Gathering


00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:07.030
crucial data to support future lunar


00:10:07.040 --> 00:10:09.269
missions the mission represents a


00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:11.069
significant milestone in commercial


00:10:11.079 --> 00:10:13.509
space exploration and could help pave


00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:14.990
the way for more frequent and


00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:16.750
sophisticated private missions to the


00:10:16.760 --> 00:10:18.310
moon's


00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:20.550
surface now here's a subject we never


00:10:20.560 --> 00:10:23.389
seem to stray to far away from in an


00:10:23.399 --> 00:10:25.110
exciting development for the search for


00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:27.750
extraterrestrial life astronomers have


00:10:27.760 --> 00:10:29.310
discovered a new tool that could help


00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:31.069
narrow down which planets might Harbor


00:10:31.079 --> 00:10:34.110
life the key lies in an unexpected Place


00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:36.269
sulfur dioxide in planetary


00:10:36.279 --> 00:10:38.269
atmospheres this discovery could be


00:10:38.279 --> 00:10:39.870
particularly valuable when studying


00:10:39.880 --> 00:10:42.150
planets around red dwarf stars which are


00:10:42.160 --> 00:10:43.949
the most common type of star in our


00:10:43.959 --> 00:10:46.629
galaxy many nearby star systems


00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:49.750
including Proxima centor and trapist 1


00:10:49.760 --> 00:10:51.870
fall into this category making them


00:10:51.880 --> 00:10:53.949
Prime targets for our search for alien


00:10:53.959 --> 00:10:56.670
life what makes sulfur dioxide such a


00:10:56.680 --> 00:10:59.590
useful indicator on warm wet plants plan


00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:01.949
like Earth sulfur dioxide levels remain


00:11:01.959 --> 00:11:03.750
low because rain naturally removes it


00:11:03.760 --> 00:11:06.509
from the atmosphere however on dry


00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:08.590
uninhabitable planets orbiting red dwarf


00:11:08.600 --> 00:11:11.430
stars sulfur dioxide can persist in high


00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:13.150
concentrations in the upper atmosphere


00:11:13.160 --> 00:11:14.949
due to these Stars low ultraviolet


00:11:14.959 --> 00:11:15.990
radiation


00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:18.350
output this means that if astronomers


00:11:18.360 --> 00:11:20.190
detect significant levels of sulfur


00:11:20.200 --> 00:11:22.389
dioxide in a rocky planet's atmosphere


00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:25.030
around a red dwarf it likely indicates a


00:11:25.040 --> 00:11:27.910
hot dry world with little to no water


00:11:27.920 --> 00:11:29.870
similar to Venus


00:11:29.880 --> 00:11:31.670
such planets can be removed from the


00:11:31.680 --> 00:11:33.910
priority list in our search for Life


00:11:33.920 --> 00:11:35.990
conversely planets with low sulfur


00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:38.430
dioxide levels might be more promising


00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:40.590
candidates for further investigation


00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:41.990
while this method won't directly


00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:44.269
identify planets that host life it


00:11:44.279 --> 00:11:46.310
serves as an efficient way to eliminate


00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:48.829
unlikely candidates allowing researchers


00:11:48.839 --> 00:11:50.829
to focus their limited resources on the


00:11:50.839 --> 00:11:53.389
most promising worlds as we continue our


00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:55.870
quest to find life beyond Earth having


00:11:55.880 --> 00:11:57.310
such filtering tools becomes


00:11:57.320 --> 00:11:59.069
increasingly valuable especially given


00:11:59.079 --> 00:12:00.670
the the challenges in detecting direct


00:12:00.680 --> 00:12:03.590
bio signatures with current


00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:05.350
technology and that's it for this


00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:07.190
episode thank you for joining me today


00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:08.710
as we explored these fascinating


00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:10.269
developments in space science and


00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:12.590
astronomy I'm Anna and I've enjoyed


00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:14.990
sharing these stories with you before we


00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:17.230
wrap up I want to remind you that you


00:12:17.240 --> 00:12:19.150
can stay connected with all the latest


00:12:19.160 --> 00:12:20.829
developments in space exploration and


00:12:20.839 --> 00:12:23.189
astronomy by visiting our website at


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astronomy


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daily. there you can sign up for our


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space news and join our community of


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00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:49.269
enthusiasts until next time keep looking


00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:50.750
up and wondering about the mysteries of


00:12:50.760 --> 00:12:52.949
our universe this has been astronomy


00:12:52.959 --> 00:13:04.269
daily


00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:06.850
the St is the


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[Music]