The Cosmic Cast

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A light-hearted look at news and views from the world of planetary science! Brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolars


    • Jul 30, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 35m AVG DURATION
    • 61 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Cosmic Cast

    S2E38: What inspired us growing up?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2020 72:57


    This week, we catch up with some of our guests from this season and reflect on what inspired to peruse a career in planetary science. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E37: How to explore lava tubes on the Moon (Just the Hosts)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2020 35:54


    This week, we catch up with the hosts to see what they've been up to over the last few months. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E36: How old is the solar system? (Tim Gregory)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2020 76:09


    This week, Dr. Tim Gregory (Bristol/BGS) talks to us about the challenges in dating some of the oldest solids in the Solar System. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E35: Will ExoMars find life on Mars? (Elliot Sefton-Nash)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2020 46:56


    This week, Elliot Sefton-Nash (ESA) talks to us about what it's like project managing a mission to Mars. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E34: Can Biomarkers Survive Impacts? (Zoe Morland & Sam Halim)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2020 49:05


    This week, Dr Candice Bedford, from the Lunar and Planetary Science Institute, talks about how terrestrial analogues are important for understanding sediments on Mars. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E33: How to do Sedimentology on Mars (Candice Bedford)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2020 42:19


    This week, Candice Bedford from the Lunar and Planetary Science Institute talks about how terrestrial analogous are important for understanding sediments on Mars. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E32: What are the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune like? (Naomi Rowe Gurney)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2020 33:16


    This week, Naomi Rowe-Gurney from the University of Leicester talks about how data from the Spitzer telescope helps us understand the atmospheres of Neptune and Uranus. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E31: The Moon: a shocking development? (Lee White)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2020 31:17


    This week, Dr Lee White from the Royal Ontario Museum talks to us about why understanding the shock history of meteorites is important. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E30: What are micro-meteorite (Martin Suttle)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2020 41:58


    This week Martin Suttle from the NHM talks micro meteorites and what they tell us about the solar system. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E29: Making the Moon in the lab (Josh Snape)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2020 44:48


    This week Josh Snape from VU talks Pb isotopes what they tell us about the formation of the lunar crust. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E28: Where does water come from? (Tara Hayden & Tom Barrett)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2020 42:56


    This week, Tara Hayden and Tom Barrett from the OU, talks to us about measuring water across the solar system can help us understand the origins of water here on Earth. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E27: What is Mars like in 3D? (Divya Persaud)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2020 41:39


    This week Divya Persaud, from UCL, talks to us about how we render 3D images of the Martian surface! To view the video of this episdoe check out our YouTube channel. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E26: The Glaciers of Mars (Frances Butcher)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2020 35:10


    This week Dr. Frances Butcher from the University of Sheffield talks to us why Martian glaciers are important and how they relate to the glaciers here on Earth. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E25: Organic compounds on Mars? (Áine O'Brien)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2020 39:25


    This week Áine O'Brien from the University of Glasgow talks to us about detecting organic compounds in Martian meteorites. Follow Áine on Twitter: @aineclareob To find out more about the roving with Rosalind project email the team at: rovingwithrosalind@gmail.com. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E24: Papua New Guinea volcanoes don't like cockerels! (Brendan Mccormick Kilbride)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2020 41:57


    This week Dr. Brendan Mccormick Kilbride from the University of Manchester talks to us about some of the challenges studying volcanoes in Papua New Guinea. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E23: Why Carbonaceous Chondrites are important (Ashley King)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2020 38:29


    This week Dr. Ashley King from the Open University talks to us about why carbonaceous chondrites are such an important meteorite type to understand. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E22: How to write a paper (Hosts)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2020 31:08


    As we are in lockdown, this week we share tips, tricks, and stories about writing articles for journals. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E21: The LPSC that never was!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2020 28:51


    Alas this week the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Houston, TX was canceled. So instead the folk from Manchester talk to us about the science that they would have presented. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E20: The Lost Meteroties of Antarctica Update (Katie Joy)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2020 35:39


    This week, Dr. Katie Joy gives us an update about this years UK meteorite hunting expedition in Antarctica. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E19: Understanding metal from across the Solar System (Tom Harvey)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2020 33:29


    This week Tom Harvey talks metal fragments and what they tell us about impacts on different planetary bodies. Follow us on Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm / Facebook: @earthsolarsystem / Instagram: earthandsolarsystem / Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com

    S2E18: From Red Giants to Chondrites? (Helen Grant)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2020 25:15


    This week Helen Grant talks to us about stellar dust clouds and finding volatile elements in primitive meteorites. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S2E17: How did continents form? (Marc Alban Millet)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2020 29:47


    This week Marc Alban Millet talks to us about some of the geochemical tools we can use to understand continental crust formation. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S2E16: International Women in Science Special

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2020 41:31


    You're listening to The Cosmic Cast! This week, Marissa Lo, Rhian Jones, Aimee Smith, and Margaret Hartley celebrate International Women is Science! The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S2E15: Understanding Solar Wind (Mark Nottingham)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2020 29:16


    This week, we Dr. Mark Nottingham talks to us about how the lunar reoglith can tell us about how Solar wind has changed over geological time. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S2E14: Giving our first conference talks! (Hosts)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2020 29:21


    This week, we share the highlights of the conferences we attended this month. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S2E13: Q&A Christmas special (Just the Hosts)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2019 37:58


    This week, the team tackle your questions in this holiday special The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S2E12: The stories museum collections tell (David Gelsthorpe)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2019 36:00


    This week, David Gelsthorpe talks to us about what curation is like in the best museum in the north west of England. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S2E11: Crystal Size Distribution!!! (Sam Bell)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2019 28:48


    You're listening to The Cosmic Cast! This week, Sam Bell talks to us about how the size and shape of crystals in a lava flow tells us about its eruptive history. Sam uses a range of lab techniques to study samples of mare basalt collected by the Apollo 15 mission. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S2E10: Ocean crust on land!? (Elliot Carter)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2019 29:52


    This week, we Elliot Carter talks to us about understanding how slithers of oceanic crust ended up on land The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S2E9: Meteorite hunting in the Atacama desert (Romain Tartèse)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2019 29:38


    This week, we are joined once again by Dr. Romain Tartèse who is talking his recent field trip to the Atacama desert hunting for meteorites The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S2E8: Watching volcanoes from space (Cat Hayer)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2019 34:08


    This week, Cat Hayer talks about how we use satellites to monitor volcanic eruption. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S2E7: Exploring Exoplanets (Amaury Triaud)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2019 27:19


    This week, Amaury Triaud talks about some of the challenges in exploring exoplanets You can read more about this work here: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1811074116 The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S2E6: Hunting ancient magnetic fields (Rich Taylor)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2019 33:24


    This week, Rich Taylor talks about trying to find evidence of a magnetic field during the Hadean period. You can read more about this work here: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1811074116 The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S2E5: Volcano Gas (Matt Varnam)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2019 41:38


    This week, Matt Varnam talks about what life is like as volcanologist in the field. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S2E4: The Rivers of Mars

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2019 28:58


    This week, Ricci Bahia talks about how we know so much about Martian rivers! The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S2E3: Tracking volcanic ash around the world (Ben Esse)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2019 29:52


    This week, Ben Esse talks about why we monitor volcanoes and what life in the field is like. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S2E2: How to make a planet in the lab (Eleanor Jennings)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2019 36:41


    This week, Dr. Eleanor Jennings talking about how we can study the deep earth by creating extreme pressures in a lab. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S2E1: Space Bubbles (Just the Hosts)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2019 23:35


    We catch up with what we got up to over the summer! The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S1E23: Q&A Spicy Edition

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2019 34:12


    This week we tackle some of your questions again, this time while eating some hot-wings! The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S1E22: The lost meteorites of Antarctica (Geoff Evatt & Andy Smedley)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2019 58:58


    This week Dr Geoff Evatt and Dr. Andy Smedley update us on how the Antarctic meteorite project is going. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S1E21: Living on the Moon? (Just the Hosts)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2019 27:06


    This week we chat about some of the outreach events we are attending this summer. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S1E20: Rock Squashing (Dr. David Neave)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2019 32:24


    his week Dr David Neave talks about what happens when you squash a rock! The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S1E19: Why are noble gases SO great? (with Prof. Fin Stuart)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2019 30:01


    This week Prof. Fin Stuart talks about his favorite noble gases! The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S1E18: Recent water on Mars? (Just the Hosts)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2019 28:07


    This week we discuss how zircons from Mars indicate that water was on the surface of Mars as recently as ~250 million years ago. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S1E17: Making Moon rocks in the lab!? (with Dayl Martin)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2019 35:41


    This week Dayl Martin talks about ESA's curation facilities and about some of the challenges in making lunar and martian rock simulants. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S1E16: Don't look behind the rocks at Meteor Crater! (with Fran McDonald)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2019 30:56


    This week ESA's Fran McDonald talks about visiting Meteor crater and what she gets up to at ESA. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S1E15: Opening the secret stash of Moon rocks (with Nat Curran)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2019 27:10


    This week Nat Curran talks about what it's like working for NASA. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S1E14: Digging on the Moon (with Gunter Just)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2019 32:55


    This week we talk to Gunter Just about some of the engineering problems associated with digging on the Moon. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S1E13: Q&A Special (Just the Hosts)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2019 31:44


    This week we tackle the fantastic questions submitted by you! The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S1E12: Were we all wrong!? Rethinking the Moon's crust (Just the Hosts)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2019 35:42


    This week John talks about how our views of lunar crustal formation is changing. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

    S1E11: Hot magmas in cold Iceland (with Emma Waters)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2019 38:00


    This week, 2nd Year PhD candidate Emma Waters talks about why the halogens are important for understanding crustal recycling in the mantle. The Cosmic Cast is brought to you from the Earth and Solar System team at the University of Manchester. Follow us: Twitter: @earthsolarsystm. Facebook: @earthsolarsystem Instagram: earthandsolarsystem Blog: earthandsolarsystem.wordpress.com/

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