The Cosmic Companion - Astronomy, Space, Technology Advancing Humanity
225 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsAstronomy, space, and science news and education delivered in a fun, friendly format!
Short form Astronomy Minutes and full-length episodes featuring interviews with some of the top scientists, authors, and developers around the globe!
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Episodes
Healing Words for Our Planet w/ Ann E. Burg, Force of Nature
April 20, 2024 22:53 - 26 minutes - 24.1 MBWelcome back to The Cosmic Companion. I’m James G. Maynard — science show host, terrible actor, worse puppeteer, and proud resident of this planet Earth. For our Earth Day 2024 episode, we’ll be exploring how fiction and storytelling have inspired environmental movements throughout history. Later in the show, we will be joined by Ann E. Burg, talking about her new book, Force of Nature, a free-verse novel inspired by Rachel Carson. Let’s begin by traveling back in time! [beep beep beep] ...
Solar Eclipse 2024: Eclipse Viewing Guide
April 06, 2024 15:15 - 8 minutes - 7.86 MBThis week, we are providing you with a viewing guide to the solar eclipse happening over much of North America on Monday 8th April. Sit back and enjoy. Take notes. There will be a test later. Maybe. naw, it’s only a quiz. Get ready for an incredible celestial event on 8th April — a solar eclipse! As the moon lines up perfectly between the Earth and the sun, parts of North America will experience a spectacular show, and we’re here to help you make the most of it... This is a public episode....
Solar Eclipse 2024: Predicting Eclipses with Stephen Wolfram
March 23, 2024 22:03 - 1 hour - 62.2 MBWelcome back to The Cosmic Companion. I’m James G. Maynard. This week, we take the first of two looks at the upcoming solar eclipse coming on 8 April. Later in the show, we will be talking with noted physicist, mathematician, and developer Stephen Wolfram about his new book, Predicting the Eclipse. From ancient fears and superstitions to modern-day scientific predictions, the history of eclipse forecasting is a captivating tale of human curiosity and ingenuity. Have you ever looked up at ...
Jaws, Claws, Life, and Death w/ Jennifer Szymanski, Nat Geo Kids
February 11, 2024 02:26 - 6 minutes - 6.03 MBHello Everyone! Welcome back to The Cosmic Companion. This week, we’re talking about Jaws, Claws, Life and Death, and what they can teach us about staying alive in space! In a little bit, we’re going to be talking with Jennifer Szymanski from Nat Geo Kids about their new book, Deadliest Animals on the Planet. But first, the boring bit of the show with me in it... This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecosm...
The Inside Story on Planets with Sabine Stanley, Planetary Physicist, Johns Hopkins University
December 09, 2023 22:56 - 1 minute - 934 KBWe get the inside scoop on planets from famed 1940s space reporter James G. Maynard, talking with the planets themselves, together with Sabine Stanley of Johns Hopkins University. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecosmiccompanion.substack.com/subscribe
Exploring Exploration: with Jon Waterman, Atlas of Wild America, National Geographic
November 04, 2023 21:07 - 28 minutes - 27.8 MBHello everyone! This week on The Cosmic Companion, we explore exploration, exploring the human need to… explore. Later in the show, we’ll be talking with Jon Waterman, creator of Atlas of Wild America from National Geographic. From the dawn of time, humans have been driven by a primal urge: the need to explore. This innate curiosity has shaped our history, propelling us from the confines of caves to the vast expanse of our planet, and beyond. Let’s take a detour down memory lane. Somewhe...
HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: The Top 10 Ways Space is Trying to Kill You! w/ Ethan Siegel, Starts with a Bang!
October 28, 2023 23:34 - 36 minutes - 35.3 MBHAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE! (I mean, BOO!) This week on The Cosmic Companion, for our Halloween Special, we’ll be looking at The Top 10 Ways Space is Trying to Kill You! Later in the show, we’ll be talking with astrophysicist and science educator Ethan Siegel, host of Starts with a Bang! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecosmiccompanion.substack.com/subscribe
Seeing the Invisible w/ Anand Varma, Invisible Wonders, Nat Geo
October 21, 2023 23:22 - 31 minutes - 29.8 MBHello Everyone! This week on The Cosmic Companion, we are Seeing the Invisible. We’ll be discussing how astronomers study objects in space which are invisible to the human eye. Later on, we will be talking with Anand Varma, creator of a new book, Invisible Wonders: Photographs of the Hidden World, from National Geographic. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecosmiccompanion.substack.com/subscribe
Global Warming - It's Not Just Hot Air! w/ Elizabeth Rusch, The 21
October 14, 2023 22:19 - 32 minutes - 31.7 MBGlobal warming and climate change is happening all around us. We look at the science of climate change, talking with Elizabeth Rusch, author of The 21. --- This week on The Cosmic Companion, we look at Global Warming - It's Not Just Hot Air! We will be talking with Elizabeth Rusch, author of The 21. Climate change, the ultimate uninvited guest, has been making itself quite comfortable lately. It's like that distant cousin who shows up unannounced, cranks up the heat, and then leaves the ...
Greece is the Word: How science was born: With Kenny Curtis and Jillian Hughes, Greeking Out, Nat Geo Kids
October 07, 2023 22:18 - 29 minutes - 28.9 MBHello everyone! This week on The Cosmic Companion, we are pondering why Greece is the Word, discussing the birth of science in the ancient world, and what it means for us today. Later on, we'll be talking with Kenny Curtis and Jillian Hughes, hosts of the Greeking Out podcast, and authors of a new book of the same name, from Nat Geo Kids. Once upon a time, in the sunny lands of Ancient Greece more than 25 centuries ago, a bunch of curious folks decided to ask some big questions. "Why does...
Designing Dinosaurs with Stephanie Warren Drimmer, National Geographic
September 30, 2023 20:19 - 25 minutes - 26.2 MBThis week on The Cosmic Companion, we look at Designing Dinosaurs. How do we know details about dinosaurs that are not readily apparent from the fossil record? How can we tell what we can tell about the colors, sounds, and behaviors of these magnificent little beasties? Later in the show, we are going to talk with Stephanie Warren Drimmer from National Geographic about her new book, Jurassic Smarts. Fossils, including those of dinosaurs, have been known about since ancient times. These fin...
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of the Human Race w/ Neil deGrasse Tyson
September 17, 2023 18:20 - 35 minutes - 34.9 MBThis week on The Cosmic Companion, we’re discussing Artificial Intelligence and the Future of the Human Race. Later on, we are talking with one of your species more impressive information processing and dissemination units, Neil deGrasse Tyson. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecosmiccompanion.substack.com/subscribe
It's a Weird World, After All! with Kathryn Williams, Nat Geo Kids
September 09, 2023 19:02 - 26 minutes - 27 MBThis week on The Cosmic Companion, we’re talking about how It’s a Weird World, After All! Later in the show, we’re going to talk with Kathryn Williams about Weird but True! World 2024, new from National Geographic Kids! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecosmiccompanion.substack.com/subscribe
Gravity - a Weighty Subject! with Joe Swiggum, NanoGrav Collaboration
August 19, 2023 18:23 - 24 minutes - 23.4 MBThis week on The Cosmic Companion, we take on a weighty subject — gravity. Later in the show, we are going to talk with Joe Swiggum from the NanoGrav Collaboration. Gravity is one of those things that we all know about, but when you really stop to think about it, it’s pretty mind-boggling. I mean, there’s this invisible force that keeps us all stuck to the ground and makes things fall when we drop them. How wild is that? This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other su...
Exploring Dark Matter and Dark Energy w/ René Laureijs, Euclid Project Scientist, European Space Agency
August 12, 2023 20:59 - 32 minutes - 31.9 MBThis week on The Cosmic Companion, we talk about the mysteries of Dark Matter and Dark Energy. Later in the show, we will be joined by René Laureijs, Euclid Project Scientist, from The European Space Agency. If one were to look at all the matter and energy in the Universe, about 68% is dark energy, 27% is dark matter, and just five percent is everything we see around us. 95% of everything out there — is totally unknown. [That’s chicken feed. What IS most of the Universe?] Good question! ...
Finding Our Home Among the Stars- w/ Richard Dinan, Founder of Pulsar Fusion
August 05, 2023 19:01 - 31 minutes - 31.2 MBWe are back from summer break with an amazing guest, Richard Dinan, founder of Pulsar Fusion (Yeah. The guy from Made in Chelsea!).Kicking off the second half of our seventh season, we offer you a look at how the human race might take our first steps to becoming an interplanetary species. Later in the show, we will be talking with Richard Dinan, founder and CEO of Pulsar Fusion, about spacecraft powered by nuclear fusion. Neat-O, Wally! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss th...
The Greatest Mysteries of the Universe with Lawrence Krauss
July 09, 2023 00:11 - 32 minutes - 30.9 MBWe explore the greatest mysteries of the Universe, from the Big Bang, to black holes, dark matter, dark energy, and more, talking with famed cosmologist and author Lawrence Krauss... This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecosmiccompanion.substack.com/subscribe
Planting the Seeds of STEAM w/ Ariane Szu-Tu, Nat Geo Kids
July 02, 2023 00:30 - 25 minutes - 25.5 MBPlanting the Seeds of STEAM w/ Ariane Szu-Tu, Nat Geo Kids Exploring STEAM education and learning, with Ariane Szu-Tu, senior editor, National Geographic Kids Books. This week on The Cosmic Companion, we're going to take a wild ride through the exciting and innovative universe of STEAM education. Later in the show, we talk with Ariane Szu-Tu, senior editor at National Geographic Kids Books, about their new release, Almanac 2024! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this wit...
Living with a Body in Space with Christina Sauer, Associate Editor, National Geographic Kids
June 25, 2023 00:31 - 25 minutes - 25.9 MBHello everyone! Welcome back to The Cosmic Companion. I’m James Maynard! This week, we look at the one thing every space traveler will have in common — they will all be Living with a Body in Space. Later in the show, we will be joined by Christina Sauer, Associate Editor for National Geographic Kids, talking about their new release, Why? The Human Body. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecosmiccompanion....
Coding the Universe w/ cosmologist Andrew Pontzen, author of The Universe in a Box
June 17, 2023 20:07 - 27 minutes - 27.3 MBHow do we create computer models of the Universe, and how will artificial intelligence revolutionize astronomy? Talking with Andrew Pontzen, author of The Universe in a Box --- This week on The Cosmic Companion, we explore the fascinating world of computer models of the universe! From humble beginnings to mind-boggling simulations, this is the history of how we unravel mysteries of the Cosmos using the power of computers. Astronomers and cosmologists seek to understand what happened billi...
Water Worlds of Our Solar System with Olivier Witasse, Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer
June 10, 2023 23:52 - 29 minutes - 28.8 MBHello everyone! This week on The Cosmic Companion, we will explore The Water Worlds of the Solar System, talking with Olivier Witasse from the European Space Agency, Project Scientist for the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or Juice, now on its way to the Jovian system. Join me, your trusty celestial tour guide, as we don our intellectual swim trunks and dive into the water worlds of our solar system. Water, essential for all life on Earth, was once thought to be rare in the solar system. L...
Apocalypse 2.0: From Dinosaurs to Doomsday w/ Steve Brusatte, Jurassic World Dominion
June 04, 2023 00:22 - 27 minutes - 27.2 MBWhat would happen if the asteroid that ended the Age of Dinosaurs struck today? We are talking with Steve Brusatte, paleontologist with National Geographic and Jurassic World Dominion! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecosmiccompanion.substack.com/subscribe
Artificial Intelligence Takes a Flight to Space w/ Ashlee Vance, author of When the Heavens Went on Sale
May 27, 2023 19:28 - 28 minutes - 28.2 MBHello everyone! This week on The Cosmic Companion, Artificial Intelligence Takes a Flight to Space, talking with Ashlee Vance, author of When the Heavens Went on Sale. The Cosmic Companion w/ James Maynard is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecosmiccompanion.substack.com/subscribe
Surviving Extinction with Kathyrn Williams, Nat Geo Kids
May 20, 2023 23:54 - 26 minutes - 27 MBWhich species are the greatest survivors? We talk about surviving extinction through the eyes of "The Masters of Survival" - tardigrades, horseshoe crabs, and sharks. We are joined by Kathryn Williams, editor of Weird but True! Sharks! from Nat Geo Kids! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecosmiccompanion.substack.com/subscribe
How to Cook Up Life on a Planet - with Jaime Green, author of The Possibility of Life
May 13, 2023 23:40 - 29 minutes - 29.8 MBHello everyone! This week, we are looking at How to Cook Up Life on a Planet. Later in the show, we will be talking with Jaimie Green, author of the new book, The Possibility of Life. So, how does life form on a new planet? Chemicals and energy. That’s how. You know what else you can do with chemicals and energy? Cook food, that’s what! (Excuse me a minute while I put on this chef’s hat) Listen to the podcast here, or watch this episode as a video! If you are looking to cook up life on ...
What a Crazy Cosmos! w/ Emily Fego from National Geographic
May 06, 2023 23:17 - 23 minutes - 23 MBThis week on The Cosmic Companion, we look at What a Crazy Cosmos we live in, talking about some of the most bizarre objects in the Universe. Later on, we will be joined by Emily Fego from National Geographic, talking about Nat Geo’s new work, That’s Fact-Tastic! Now, you may think that things around your neighborhood are weird, but your oddball neighbor is just peanuts compared to what’s in outer space... This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or g...
Pondering Panspermia w/ Brian Selznick, Author of Big Tree
April 29, 2023 18:20 - 24 minutes - 25.3 MBHello everyone! Here’s our latest episode - Pondering Panspermia w/ Brian Selznick, Author of Big Tree! NARRATOR: There are those who suggest that life on Earth began out there… Among the stars. Well, not the stars. Too bloody hot. Among the planets and asteroids, scattered throughout the Cosmos… With building blocks of life that may have been the forebearers of proteins, biopolymers, and peptides. Some believe there may still be the stuff of life floating around space searching for a pla...
Water is More Important? with Sandra Postel, director of the Global Water Policy Project
April 22, 2023 18:40 - 24 minutes - 24.4 MBIn the second part of our two-part Earth Day episode, Water is More Important!?, we’re exploring the vital role that water plays in sustaining life on Earth and beyond. Our special guest is none other than Sandra Postel, director of the Global Water Policy Project. She will share her insights with us into the importance of this precious resource. [[So. I’m sitting here on my bachelor pad, and you have me wondering. How did it all get here? The water, I mean. It seems Earth has an awful lot ...
Earth Day Special pt. 1: How Young People Can Help Save the Planet
April 15, 2023 19:26 - 26 minutes - 24 MBFor Earth Day week, we bring you a look at ways young people can help save the planet! We’ll be talking with Cliff Lewis, author of We the Future! This week on The Cosmic Companion, we look at ways young people can help make Earth a better place to live. Later in the show, we’re going to be talking with Cliff Lewis, author of We the Future! [This episode is aimed toward young people, but there are plenty of lessons in here for everyone, so keep watching, regardless of your age.] {Thank yo...
Exploring Extraterrestrial Life through Science and Science Fiction w/ Julie Nováková, Giovanni Poggiali, and Eric Choi
April 08, 2023 22:06 - 39 minutes - 27 MBFor Easter week, as most people share fables of giant anthropomorphic rabbits distributing chocolate eggs, we are Exploring Extraterrestrial Life through Science and Science Fiction. Later in the show, we will welcome Julie Nováková, Giovanni Poggiali, and Eric Choi to the show, talking about their new anthology, Life Beyond Us. The idea of alien life has fascinated us for centuries. While science fiction has often portrayed extraterrestrial beings as having advanced intelligence, strange a...
The Stone-Cold Truth About Moon Rocks w/ Nicolle Zellner, Department of Physics, Albion College
April 01, 2023 20:00 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MBThis April Fool's Day, we are bringing you The Stone-Cold Truth About Moon Rocks. No kidding! Later on, we will be joined by Albion College physics professor Nicolle Zellner to discuss her research on planetary impacts in our Solar System. Throughout history, many cultures had myths and legends about the Moon, although they did not have a real scientific understanding of its composition. Some people believed it was made of a metal like silver, while others held to the belief the Moon was a...
What is Life? With Robert Temple, author of A New Science of Heaven
March 25, 2023 21:48 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBWhat is Life? That's not an easy question to answer. We're going to do our best, talking with Robert Temple, author of A New Science of Heaven, in our first-ever mostly-fully-animated episode! This week on The Cosmic Companion, we're delving into one of the most profound questions in the Universe: What is Life? Later in the show, we will be talking with Robert Temple, author of A New Science of Heaven. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get ac...
Celebrating Diversity in Space Exploration w/ Meredith Bagby, author of The New Guys
March 11, 2023 19:52 - 22 minutes - 21 MBThis week on The Cosmic Companion, we are Celebrating Diversity in Space Exploration, looking at the history of inclusion in human explorations beyond our world — past, present, and future. Later in the show, we’ll be talking with Meredith Bagby, author of The New Guys, a look at NASA’s groundbreaking astronaut class of 1978. The history of space exploration has been marked by numerous milestones, not only in terms of scientific and technological achievements but also in the inclusion and d...
Making Space Sustainable w/ Daniel Bock from Morpheus Space
March 04, 2023 23:58 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBThis week on The Cosmic Companion, we look at Making Space Sustainable, talking with Daniel Bock from Morpheus Space. We’ll be looking at how we can move into the inner solar system while protecting the environments of Earth, the Moon, and Mars, as well as the future of space travel. The first and most obvious way to improve the sustainability of spaceflight is through the use of reusable boosters, and the development of greener fuel alternatives. Biofuels, for example, emit fewer harmful p...
Our Future on Mars! w/ James Burk from The Mars Society
February 04, 2023 22:50 - 24 minutes - 22.3 MBWe look at the future of living on Mars, talking with James Burk, executive director of The Mars Society This week on The Cosmic Companion, we look at our shared future, living on the surface of the Red Planet. Later in the show, we’ll be talking with James Burk, executive director of The Mars Society. Science-fiction has fueled the human quest to live on Mars for generations, from the technically-adept-if-illness-prone aliens of H.G. Wells’ “The War of the Worlds,” onward to Ray Bradbury’...
Our Future on the Moon - Apollo to Artemis w/ Andy Saunders
January 28, 2023 18:25 - 23 minutes - 21.4 MBThis week on The Cosmic Companion, we look at the Apollo and Artemis programs, discussing how these first missions to the Moon set the stage for the next step in human evolution — becoming an interplanetary species. We will be talking with NASA historian Andy Saunders. His new book, Apollo Remastered, is filled with never-before-seen and newly remastered photographs exploring the history of humanity’s first forays to our planetary companion. The Apollo Program, one of the greatest accompl...
Teaching Kids About Space w/ Dean Regas from Cincinnati Observatory
January 22, 2023 00:08 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MBThis week on The Cosmic Companion, we look at Teaching Kids About Space, as we welcome astronomer Dean Regas to the show. He is the author of a new book, 1,000 Facts About Space from National Geographic Kids. In years past, students didn’t have a lot of resources for learning about the stars and planets. They would have to rely on books, or perhaps a telescope if they were lucky. But all that began to change in the 20th century. In the 1920s and 30s, planetariums began to pop up in schools...
Predators from Space! w/ Paul de Gelder (Yeah. The guy from Shark Week!)
January 14, 2023 22:53 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MBThis week on The Cosmic Companion, we imagine PREDATORS FROM SPACE!!! as we welcome Shark Week regular Paul de Gelder to the show. We will be talking about his new book, Shark: Why We Need to Save the World’s Most Misunderstood Predator. And — did I mention? PREDATORS FROM SPACE!!! Life on other worlds is likely to be far different than life on Earth. However, most lifeforms throughout the Cosmos are likely to share a few common traits. The laws of chemistry and physics suggest that carbon ...
Seeing the Future of Space Exploration in the Metaverse w/ Tony Tellado - Season 7 Premiere
January 07, 2023 21:47 - 27 minutes - 25 MBWelcome to our premiere of season seven of The Cosmic Companion! To kick off the new year, we’ll be looking at our collective future in space, as seen through the new tools of interactive 3D environments. Such prescience was once exclusively the hallmark of science-fiction. Today, as Star Trek goes into its sixth decade with hit-or-miss series, movies and episodes, as the Rolling Stones of sci-fi franchises, a revolutionary new media is taking shape. Later in the episode, we will welcome ...
Space: 2023 - a Look Forward to Astronomy in the Coming Year
December 31, 2022 23:04 - 8 minutes - 9.57 MBThis week on The Cosmic Companion, we wrap up season six with a look at… SPACE: 2023. In the year 2023, a massive nuclear explosion will rip the Moon from its orbit, sending more than 300 inhabitants of a lunar colony careening into space. [No. No. That’s not right.] Oh, yeah, ANYWAY! We are going to give you a look at what’s happening in the night sky over the next 12 months, as well as looking forward to what’s coming up on our show in the coming weeks. In January, we will take a glim...
Holiday Special 2022: Exploring the Winter Sky Part 2: Amateur Astronomy with Telescopes w/ Michael Petrasko from Insight Observatory
December 17, 2022 22:52 - 21 minutes - 19.7 MBHappy holidays! This week on The Cosmic Companion, we explore the winter skies using telescopes! But don’t fret — we’ll be talking with Michael Petrasko from Insight Observatory learning how to see the winter sky using telescopes from the warmth and comfort of home. The winter sky is filled with dazzling targets calling out to amateur astronomers. Jupiter is shining brightly in the southwestern sky. Look for the King of the Planets glowing with a bright white light in the southwestern s...
Exploring the Winter Sky Part 1 + Geminids Meteor Shower Guide! w/ Andrew Fazekas!
December 10, 2022 18:44 - 22 minutes - 15.8 MBThis week on The Cosmic Companion, we begin a two-part series, exploring the winter sky. We are going to take a look at what you can see using just your eyes. We'll welcome Andrew Fazekas back to the show. He is National Geographic's Night Sky Guy, and we'll talk about exploring the winter sky using eyes alone. We'll also take a look at how to view the Geminid meteor shower peaking on the 14th and 15th of December! Winter is often considered the best season for amateur astronomy. Heat...
Exoplanets in Your Backyard! w/ Allyson Johnson from National Geographic
December 03, 2022 18:16 - 16 minutes - 18.7 MBThis week on the Cosmic Companion, we take a look at Exoplanets in Your Backyard! Or, at least how you can get a small idea of what it might be like to visit these worlds, and you know… Survive. Later in the show, we’re going to be talking with Allyson Johnson, senior editor at National Geographic. We’ll be discussing their new release, Complete National Parks of the United States, and explore how some national parks can give us a small taste of life on distant worlds. Astronomers curren...
The Future of Cities in Space! w/ National Geographic’s Joe Yogerst
November 27, 2022 23:17 - 28 minutes - 38.7 MBThis week on The Cosmic Companion, we look at the future of cities in space. We will discuss how the urban areas many of us live in today will lead to cities of the future, placed in orbit around Earth, on the surfaces of the Moon and Mars, and beyond. Later on in the show, we will be talking with Joe Yogerst. We’ll discuss his new book from National Geographic, 100 Cities 5000 Ideas, as well as what cities of today can tell us about cities of the future. Currently, roughly four billion...
Why Explore Space? Curing Climate Change! w/ Alan Gratz, author of Two Degrees
November 13, 2022 00:06 - 27 minutes - 37.2 MBWelcome back to The Cosmic Companion! This week, we kick off a new series, Why Explore Space? As we discuss how space travel and exploration are essential to help monitor and cure the effects of global climate change. Later on in the show, we are going to be talking with Alan Gratz. His new book, Two Degrees, is a young adult novel exploring the effects of catastrophic climate change around the world. Since the earliest days of the human race, people have been attempting to predict the w...
Ryugu and the Giant Laser! w/ Argonne's Esen Ercan Alp and Barbara Levina from the University of Chicago
November 04, 2022 00:22 - 29 minutes - 40 MBHello everyone! My apologies for being a day late - but this one is worth it! (You might say… IT ROCKS!) This week on The Cosmic Companion, we explore one of the most-interesting asteroids known, Ryugu. The Hayabusa2 spacecraft recently collected samples from this mysterious object, bringing fragments of the rocky body to Earth in December 2020. Ryugu could help researchers uncover the mysteries of the early Solar System, as examination shows this asteroid was likely born as our plane...
Halloween Spooktacular - Death in Space! w/ Kevin Heath, Founder of Space Crystals!
October 27, 2022 00:22 - 21 minutes - 29.6 MBHappy Halloween! For our Spppooooky Halloween episode of The Cosmic Companion, we’re going to look at Death in Space! Nearly 600 people have launched into space since Yuri Gagarin’s first journey beyond our planetary birthplace. During that time, 19 people, so far, have perished during training or flights. 14 of these were accounted for by the pair of space shuttle tragedies. But, beyond accidents, death is one of the great certainties of life — or something like that. To paraphrase W...
It's Just a Lil' BABY Planet! w/ Feng Long, University of Arizona
October 19, 2022 21:38 - 21 minutes - 29.8 MBThis week on The Cosmic Companion, we look at lil' baby planets, discussing the birth of solar systems. Later in the episode, we will be joined by University of Arizona astrophysicist Feng Long. She has recently developed a new means of finding young exoplanets as they form in clouds of gas and dust. But first, let's learn a little bit about how planets and solar systems form around the Cosmos. Planets coalesce from gas and dust revolving around their developing stars in formations known a...
Imagining Life in Outer Space w/ Stephanie Drimmer of National Geographic!
October 13, 2022 00:48 - 24 minutes - 34 MBThis week on The Cosmic Companion, we examine what the oddities of life here on Earth can teach us about life on other worlds. Later in the show, we will welcome Stephanie Drimmer from National Geographic back to the show. Her new book, 5,000 Awesome Facts (About Animals) is filled with amazing facts about animals around the world. We will discuss her new work, as well as play a game exploring what life on our home planet can teach us about life on other worlds. But first, let’s imagine ...
The TRAPPIST-1 Bunch - Seven GROOVY Exoplanets! - The Cosmic Companion 04 Oct. 2022
October 05, 2022 00:23 - 7 minutes - 10.9 MBHello everyone! This week on The Cosmic Companion, we journey just 40 light years from our home, examining the TRAPPIST-1 family of planets, one of the most interesting families of worlds yet discovered by astronomers. Solar systems all begin with a star, don’t they? I mean, it’s as good of a place to start as any, in’t? The stellar furnace at the center of this family of worlds is a cool, red star, conveniently named TRAPPIST-1. Less than 12 percent as large as our own Sun and only ei...