Spacepod
222 episodes - English - Latest episode: 26 days ago - ★★★★★ - 374 ratingsHear stories about the alien moons orbiting our Sun, of cold stars, and the future of space exploration. Every week, scientist Dr. Carrie Nugent chats about an amazing part of our universe with an expert guest. Spacepod is the podcast that gives you an inside look into space exploration. Learn more: http://listentospacepod.com
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Episodes
218: Anything we try is new with Dr. Cable
March 24, 2024 16:00 - 26 minutes - 24.5 MBDr. Morgan Cable returns to the show after nine years! She tells us how she creates new minerals in her laboratory. She explains how this work helps shape NASA's Dragonfly mission. She encourages listeners to have confidence in their results.
217: A beautiful experience with Dr. Villanueva
February 19, 2024 13:26 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBDr. Geronimo Villanueva tells us about solar system discoveries with JWST. He talks about several projects, including observing water plumes from Saturn's moon Europa and looking for rings around Mars. He shares what it feels like to use this incredible space telescope.
Bonus: Carrie's research update
January 21, 2024 17:00 - 9 minutes - 8.97 MBI was sick for a few weeks this month and had to delay the scheduled interview. In the meantime, I've got a bonus episode for you. In this episode I talk about FindPOTATOs, which is software written by Nicole Tan and me, Carrie Nugent, to find asteroids and comets. I share some challenges we faced and how we overcame them. We hope that findPOTATOs can help astronomers find more asteroids, comets, and trans-Neptunian objects in their images of the sky!
216: Right and wrong theories in planetary science with Prof. McKinnon
December 24, 2023 17:00 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MBProfessor Bill McKinnon, 2023 recipient of the Kuiper Prize, reflects on his career as a planetary scientist. He tells us about a theory of his that was proven right, one that was proven wrong, and what he thinks might be proven wrong in the future.
215: Naming asteroids with Dr. Williams
November 19, 2023 17:00 - 25 minutes - 23.6 MBDr. Gareth Williams tells us about asteroid names. He explains the rules around naming asteroids and tells us how an asteroid name lead to a surprise trip to meet one of his heroes.
214: Astronauts on the moon with Dr. Denevi
October 27, 2023 16:00 - 43 minutes - 40.3 MBDr. Brett Denevi talks to us about the planned Artemis missions to the moon's South Pole. There, astronauts will collect rocks and other samples. She describes how geologists are working with the astronauts to ensure that the best, most interesting samples are collected. These samples will create a legacy set that scientists will study for decades.
213: The Six with Loren Grush
September 12, 2023 09:00 - 36 minutes - 33.9 MBLoren Grush talks about her new book, "The Six: The Untold Story of America's First Women in Space." She explains why Sally Ride was chosen to be the first American woman to go to space, and how the resulting attention was difficult for her. Loren also tells us how she researched and wrote the book during the pandemic.
212: A scientific legacy with Dr. Blaney
August 20, 2023 16:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBWe hear from Dr. Diana Blaney, the principal investigator of the mapping imaging spectrometer on Europa Clipper. Europa Clipper will travel to Jupiter to see if its moon Europa is habitable. She describes how they tested the spectrometer in special rooms to make sure it will work at Europa.
211: The Sparkler Galaxy with Prof. Mowla
August 06, 2023 16:00 - 32 minutes - 30 MBProfessor Lamiya Mowla tells us about an exciting JWST discovery. She describes gravitational lensing as "nature's magnifying glass." She also explains why she likes calling telescopes time machines. We discuss pretty and shiny things, and why prettiness might indicate something is scientifically interesting.
Bonus episode: The upcoming American total solar eclipse
July 24, 2023 18:31 - 4 minutes - 4.25 MBA quick bonus episode about the April 8th, 2024 total solar eclipse in Mexico, the US, and Canada! I talk about the difference between a partial and total solar eclipse, and share some tips in case you want to travel to see it.
210: Wonders of the Night Sky with Prof. Prinja
June 27, 2023 00:00 - 22 minutes - 21.1 MBProfessor Raman Prinja talks about his new book, "Wonders of the Night Sky." He tells us how we are lucky to live on a planet with a transparent atmosphere. He also shares stargazing tips for city dwellers as well as long-haul truck drivers. The book is available at Simon and Schuster's website. Note: I received a free copy of the book.
209: Mission to the largest moon in the solar system with Dr. Witasse
May 21, 2023 16:00 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MBDr. Olivier Witasse tells us about the Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer, or JUICE mission, which is currently traveling through space. JUICE will conduct 34 flybys of Jupiter's moons before orbiting Ganymede. Ganyemede may have significant liquid water, and perhaps the elements needed for life.
208: Cosmic tug of war with Dr. Plazas Malagón
April 23, 2023 16:00 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBDr. Andrés Plazas Malagón tells us about a field of astronomy called cosmology. He explains that either our universe is mostly made of mysterious stuff called dark energy, or the laws of physics are wrong. He also explains the difference between dark matter and dark energy.
207: One of the stranger surfaces in the solar system with Dr. Cartwright
March 26, 2023 16:00 - 30 minutes - 28 MBDr. Richard Cartwright tells us about the moons of Uranus and explains why we should visit Uranus with an orbiting spacecraft. This mission would take decades to design, build, and travel to the planet. He also shares what he thinks about Uranus jokes.
206: Every asteroid observation ever taken with Dr. Veres
February 19, 2023 17:00 - 27 minutes - 25.8 MBDr. Peter Veres talks about asteroids, comets, and meteors. He describes how the Minor Planet Center keeps track of observations and orbits. This data is publicly available, and non-scientists make valuable contributions. He also tells us about the AMOS meteor network, and how meteors connect to asteroids and comets.
205: The moon's right to exist with Dr. Prem
January 22, 2023 17:00 - 33 minutes - 30.5 MBDr. Parvathy Prem tells us about lunar ice. She says, "the moon records the history of our solar system neighborhood in a way that the Earth doesn't." Her simulations show that rocket landings can change lunar ice. We discuss different perspectives on the moon, and how those perspectives might change how we explore.
204: Light Pollution with Kelly Beatty
December 25, 2022 17:00 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBKelly Beatty shares easy things we can do to reduce light pollution. He tells us how artificial night light can harm humans, birds, and insects. He shares the five principles of good lighting, and explains how addressing light pollution can save money.
203: 11 hours and 23 minutes with Dr. Chabot
November 28, 2022 18:00 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MBDr. Nancy Chabot returns to the show to talk about the DART mission, which changed the orbit of an asteroid moon. This was the first demonstration of asteroid deflection technology. She explains how the mission worked, what scientists are discovering, and why a small nudge is all you need when it comes to moving an asteroid out of Earth's way.
202: Making atmospheres with Prof. Telus
October 23, 2022 16:00 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MBProfessor Myriam Telus shares how she studies atmospheres using meteorites. These experiments can teach us about exoplanet atmospheres and planet formation. She says science feels like a playground, with so much to explore.
201: International space law with Cordula Panosch
September 18, 2022 16:00 - 24 minutes - 22.3 MBInternational space law expert Cordula Panosch explains what is and is not legal when it comes to deflecting an Earth-bound asteroid. Although much depends on the individual circumstances, she explains how existing laws govern what countries can and cannot do when it comes to outer space.
200: Pluto is a planet, and so is its moon with Dr. Runyon
August 21, 2022 16:00 - 29 minutes - 27 MBDr. Kirby Runyon shares his definition of "planet"-- a round celestial body that was never a star. Using this definition, there are over 150 planets orbiting our sun. He explains why the word planet matters, and why little planets might be the most common planets in our universe.
199: Why can't we find Planet Nine with Prof. Lawler
July 24, 2022 16:00 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBProfessor Lawler discusses why planet nine might not exist. She explains why reporting not finding something is as important as reporting a discovery. She tells us how satellite internet is getting in the way of astronomical observations.
198: Dragonfly with Dr. Turtle
June 19, 2022 16:00 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MBDr. Zibi Turtle is the Principal Investigator of NASA's Dragonfly mission. She tells us what it is like to design and build an octocopter that will roam the surface of Saturn's moon Titan. She also tells us about Titan's exciting chemistry.
197: A massive asteroid hit at tremendous speed with Prof. Richardson
May 22, 2022 16:00 - 27 minutes - 25.7 MBProfessor Derek Richardson gives us an update on the DART mission, which is headed towards tiny asteroid moon Dimorphos. If all goes well this fall, DART will crash into Dimorphos at four miles per second! This experiment will be a test of asteroid deflection technology.
196: Spinning universe with Dr. Cheng
April 17, 2022 16:00 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MBDr. Jon Cheng tells us about his fluid flow experiments. These experiments investigate fundamental physics. They can be applied to the movement of the Earth's core as well as things like liquid batteries. Is electro-vortex flow the coolest phrase said on the show yet? Listen and decide!
195: Dark and quiet skies with Dr. Rawls
March 20, 2022 16:00 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MBDr. Meredith Rawls talks about the unintended consequences of artificial satellite constellations. Satellites change the night sky, impacting the people and animals that rely on it. Hundreds of thousands of these satellites may be launched, which could create more orbital debris and endanger future space missions. She explains how people are coming together to help fix this problem.
194: Exoplanet next door with Prof Whitten
February 20, 2022 17:00 - 29 minutes - 33.4 MBProf Jenny Whitten tells us about VERITAS, a NASA mission that will orbit Venus. She explains how scientists will use radar to learn about the surface, and how they picked exactly which radar band to use. She also talks about how VERITAS will shed light on Venus' evolution, the history of water on the planet, and its geologic processes.
193: Orbital parking spots with Larissa Markwardt
January 23, 2022 17:00 - 19 minutes - 22.5 MBLarissa Markwardt talks about Trojan asteroids-- asteroids that orbit the sun a little before or after planets. She describes the special technique she uses to find these asteroids, and why not finding any is an interesting result.
192: Craters on Titan with Prof. Neish
December 21, 2021 17:27 - 24 minutes - 28.5 MBProfessor Catherine Neish explains why there's so few craters on Saturn's moon Titan. She explains why Titan's craters may contain the organic molecules needed for life, and how the Dragonfly mission will test that hypothesis.
191: Back to Venus with Dr. Getty
November 22, 2021 19:34 - 30 minutes - 35.2 MBDr. Stephanie Getty tells us about DAVINCI, which will go to Venus. DAVINCI will scan the planet during three flybys, and will deploy a probe. She explains how engineers will protect the probe's instruments from Venus' harsh environment, and how you can't build a spacecraft without meetings and emails.
190: Millions of observations with Dr. Spoto
October 24, 2021 16:00 - 31 minutes - 36.4 MBDr. Federica Spoto tells us how she found millions of high-precision observations of comets and asteroids. She explains how these observations let her turn back time and study the history of the main belt of asteroids in our solar system.
189: Long Range Planning with Prof. Barmby
September 19, 2021 16:00 - 27 minutes - 31.2 MBProfessor Barmby tells us how a group of astronomers created the Canadian Astronomy Long Range Plan. This plan outlines the priorities of Canadian astronomers for the next decade. It covers telescopes, computing resources, diversity and inclusion in astronomy, and the need to consider the environmental consequences of astronomy.
188: Failing is the most important part of science with Tyler Linder
August 22, 2021 16:00 - 22 minutes - 26.2 MBPlanetary defense researcher Tyler Linder talks about the benefits of using automated telescopes. He tells us the difference between an automated and a robotic telescope, and explains that inexpensive telescope time lets students learn, experiment, and fail. He describes the work he does with students, and why it is important to him.
187: You doubt your own existence with Prof. Méndez
July 25, 2021 16:00 - 27 minutes - 31.7 MBProf. Abel Méndez tells us about his Planetary Habitability Lab. He talks about the chances of discovering extraterrestrial life, explaining that we are "alone by isolation and distance." He also tells us about his team's Visible Paleo-Earth project, as well as the proposed plans to rebuild the Arecibo Radio Telescope.
186: What's more powerful than a dinosaur with Dr. Noviello
June 20, 2021 16:00 - 30 minutes - 34.8 MBDr. Jessica Noviello tells us a story about the power of interdisciplinary science: the time geologists, physicists, archeologists, chemists, paleontologists, and petroleum engineers all came together to solve a big mystery. This story focuses on a layer of clay that divides the "dinosaur part of time" from the "non dinosaur part of time."
185: Solar system snapshots with Kevin Gill
May 23, 2021 16:00 - 23 minutes - 26.8 MBKevin Gill explains how he transforms raw spacecraft images into stunning planet photos. He describes how he turns black and white images from the Juno spacecraft into full color mosaics of Jupiter. He also tells us about his experiences with the "King of Cameras" on Cassini.
184: Samples are forever with Prof. Snead
April 18, 2021 16:00 - 31 minutes - 35.8 MBProf. Christopher Snead tells us how he is preparing a very clean laboratory. In this lab, scientists will store and study Hayabusa-2 mission asteroid samples. The samples will be photographed and manipulated without ever touching Earth's atmosphere.
183: The solar wind with Dr. Jian
March 21, 2021 16:00 - 26 minutes - 30 MBDr. Lan Jian talks to us about the solar wind, which is ionized gas from the sun. It transfers energy from the sun to the planets, and can impact astronauts and technology. She shares her research, which includes interpreting data from spacecraft and computer modeling.
182: Radar polarization with Dr. Hickson
February 21, 2021 17:00 - 22 minutes - 25.4 MBDr. Dylan Hickson talks about how he studies the surfaces of asteroids using reflected radio waves. By comparing the reflections to mathematical models and data from Earth, he tries to determine if an asteroid's surface is blocky, dusty, or both.
181: Young Stellar Objects with Dr. Smith
January 24, 2021 17:00 - 29 minutes - 33.8 MBDr. Rachel Smith tells us about her research into young stellar objects. These new stars are surrounded by a cloud of dust that may eventually become planets. Dr. Smith also explains why she thinks it is important to physically travel to telescopes when she makes her observations.
180: Space Advocacy with Casey Dreier
December 20, 2020 17:00 - 27 minutes - 31.4 MBCasey Dreier, Chief Advocate of the Planetary Society, stops by to chat about space policy. He explains why human spaceflight is such a challenge, and talks about how scientists decide which planet to explore. He also explains how individual citizens from around the world can influence space policy.
179: Not just a telescope with Dr. Virkki
December 03, 2020 18:33 - 23 minutes - 27.1 MBDr. Anne Virkki talks about the Arecibo Radio Telescope, which recently sustained severe damage. She talks about the discoveries made at the telescope and explains that it could be rebuilt, if there was enough public support.
Bonus episode: Voting
October 28, 2020 20:30 - 5 minutes - 6.14 MBA quick bonus episode for my American listeners. Voting is the keystone of our democracy, and your voice deserves to be heard. This episode goes over some common voting questions. For more, see www.ballotpedia.org.
178: Light reverberations from supermassive black holes with Dr. Gorjian
October 25, 2020 16:00 - 38 minutes - 44.6 MBDr. Varoujan Gorjian returns to the show! He explains what supermassive black holes are and how they work. He also tells us about an elegant technique that astronomers use to determine the size of the debris cloud around black holes.
177: Preventable disasters with Prof. Nugent
September 20, 2020 16:00 - 30 minutes - 34.8 MBThe tables are turned! Regular host Professor Carrie Nugent talks about her research with guest host Anthropology Professor Caitrin Lynch. We discuss near-Earth asteroids, and how Prof. Nugent is building open-source asteroid hunting software with a team of students.
176: Getting curious with Dr. Fraeman
August 23, 2020 16:00 - 26 minutes - 30.4 MBDr. Abby Fraeman returns to the show to talk about NASA's Curiosity rover. For the past eight years, Curiosity has been exploring Gale Crater on Mars. Dr. Fraeman talks about a discovery she made on the Vera Rubin Ridge, and we discuss how the Curiosity scientists and engineers have kept the rover running during the coronavirus pandemic.
175: Three lunar water mysteries with Prof. Ehlmann
July 19, 2020 16:00 - 31 minutes - 36 MBProf. Bethany Ehlmann returns to the show to talk about the mission she's leading, Lunar Trailblazer. This low-cost mission will hitch a ride to the moon using the extra space in a large rocket. Once there, it will help scientists learn more about water on the moon.
174: How NASA funding works with Dr. Throop
June 21, 2020 16:00 - 15 minutes - 17.4 MBMany of the discoveries you've heard about on this show were funded by NASA. But how do scientists get money from NASA? Dr. Henry Throop returns to the show to explain how NASA program officers evaluate scientific proposals. This episode was recorded in September 2019.
173: Last alert system with Dr. Denneau
May 24, 2020 16:00 - 20 minutes - 23.5 MBDr. Larry Denneau talks about the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, or ATLAS. He talks about how asteroid detection is a data processing problem. Every night ATLAS handles about a quarter terabyte of data. He describes how they find a few asteroids among a billion other sources, and tells us about a unique discovery by the program. This episode was recorded in June 2019, which explains the restaurant noises and the talk of air travel.
172: The whole world to a microbe with Prof. Levy
April 26, 2020 16:00 - 16 minutes - 18.8 MBProf Joe Levy talks about his research in the dry valleys of Antarctica. These valleys are dry, irradiated, salty, and cold, which makes them similar to parts of Mars. He explains why planetary scientists get excited about naturally occurring perchlorate. He also describes the changes he's witnessed over several field seasons. This episode was recorded in February 2020, before social distancing measures were recommended.