The Space Between is one of the top astronomy podcasts in the world, and for that matter, the universe, by Kolby Van Camp with Dawson Wagner. We explore astronomy, cosmology, astrophysics, and more while asking questions about the final frontier with astronomical experts.
Order a "What the Fractal?" t-shirt now! Explore The Space Between Astronomy Podcast merch store:https://the-space-between-podcast.printify.me/---In this episode of The Space Between, we sit down with astrophotographer, filmmaker, and YouTuber Helena Cochrane to explore how art, science, and storytelling collide under the night sky. From her first steps into astrophotography to her journey as a film student, Helena has built a unique voice in science communication, blending cinematic visuals, personal perspective, and educational outreach.We talk about the challenges of imaging the heavens from the often-cloudy landscapes of Scotland, the creative crossover between film and astrophotography, and the ways YouTube has allowed her to connect with a global audience hungry for both beauty and knowledge. Along the way, we dig into the role of storytelling in science: how framing the cosmos through narrative makes astronomy more accessible, inspiring, and fun for people everywhere.Expect an engaging conversation full of insights on creativity, communication, and the joy of sharing the stars, where lenses, landscapes, and laughter all come together.---JOIN OUR LIVE SHOW ON EVERY FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH AT THIS LINK!https://riverside.fm/studio/kolby-van-camps-studio-eMegKFollow us on Instagram! https://instagram.com/spacebetweenpodJoin our Discord!https://discord.gg/YkMtpMsytuOrder Kolby's new album! https://kolbyvancamp.hearnow.com/portraits-volume-ii---Helena's links:Subscribe to her YouTube channel!https://www.youtube.com/@HelenasAstrophotographyJoin her Discord!https://discord.com/invite/N3yaPxyH3gFollow her on Instagram and Facebook!https://www.instagram.com/helenas_astrohttps://www.facebook.com/HelenaAstrophotographyJoin her Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/helenasastro
Order a "What the Fractal?" t-shirt now! Explore The Space Between Astronomy Podcast merch store:https://the-space-between-podcast.printify.me/---In this episode of The Space Between, we explore a bold new frontier in digital infrastructure: data centers in space. As the world's appetite for computing power skyrockets, fueled by AI, cloud services, and ever-expanding networks, traditional data centers are hitting limits on land, water, and energy. The solution some scientists and entrepreneurs propose? Lift the cloud above the clouds.We examine the technical promise and pitfalls of orbital data centers: abundant solar power and radiative cooling in the vacuum of space versus the harsh realities of radiation, latency, and orbital debris. From Europe's ASCEND project to startups like Starcloud and Axiom Space's station-based plans, we trace how quickly this idea is shifting from sci-fi concept to funded prototypes.But it's not all efficiency and green promises. We dig into the environmental tradeoffs, the risk of “sky pollution” for astronomy, and the legal gray zones of data sovereignty beyond Earth. Alongside that, we unpack the week's wilder headlines: alien embryos from meteorites in Panama and a fake comet hoax named C/2025 Q2 ZTF, and ask how to separate real innovation from viral distraction.Expect a conversation that blends cutting-edge tech, climate urgency, and cosmic perspective, where sustainability, skepticism, and the stars all intersect.Articles:ChatGPT Deep Research on orbital data centers:https://chatgpt.com/s/dr_68d0eeade4b881918f9b8cff86b79ce9Primary sources about the P/2025 Q2 (PANSTARRS) comet:https://www.cobs.si/comet/2657/https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=c%2F2025%20q2https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K25/K25R67.htmlOfficial Starcloud website:https://www.starcloud.com/Starcloud whitepaper:https://starcloud.com/wp/---JOIN OUR LIVE SHOW ON EVERY FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH AT THIS LINK!https://riverside.fm/studio/kolby-van-camps-studio-eMegKFollow us on Instagram! https://instagram.com/spacebetweenpodOrder Kolby's new album! https://kolbyvancamp.hearnow.com/portraits-volume-ii
In this episode of The Space Between, we explore a breakthrough in cosmological modeling: the Web-Halo Model, developed by Dr. Sam Brieden and his team. For decades, cosmologists have relied on the halo model to describe how matter clumps together in the universe, but it struggled to capture the messy middle ground between isolated galaxies and vast cosmic structures.The Web-Halo Model goes further, folding in the sheets and filaments of the cosmic web itself. Instead of treating haloes as standalone dark matter “bubbles,” WHM describes them as substructures within filaments and sheets — a hierarchy that mirrors how the universe actually forms. The result is a parameter-free model that matches simulations with unprecedented precision, providing sharper tools for interpreting sky surveys like Euclid, Rubin, and DESI.We discuss why this matters for extracting information from weak gravitational lensing, what it means to move closer to first-principles cosmology, and how language and metaphor help bridge the gap between abstract theory and public understanding. Expect a conversation that blends astrophysics, philosophy, and the future of how we map the universe's scaffolding.---Articles:Web-Halo Model (WHM): Accurate non-linear matter power spectrum predictions without free parametersFollow Dr. Brieden on X here!---JOIN OUR LIVE SHOW ON EVERY FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH AT 9p CENTRAL TIME (GMT-5) AT THIS LINK!https://riverside.fm/studio/kolby-van-camps-studio-eMegKFollow us on Instagram! https://instagram.com/spacebetweenpodOrder Kolby's new album! https://kolbyvancamp.hearnow.com/portraits-volume-ii
In this episode of The Space Between, we dive headfirst into one of the hottest debates in modern cosmology: the true age of the universe and what new data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) means for our understanding of cosmic expansion. Headlines are screaming “crisis” and claiming the universe is expanding at two different speeds—so what's fact, what's speculation, and what's just sensational storytelling?We explore the “Hubble Tension,” the discrepancy between early-universe and late-universe measurements of cosmic expansion, and why JWST's confirmation of Hubble's data is such a big deal. At the same time, we break down how the science gets spun in the media—why articles about “two universes” or “multiple speeds” of expansion may capture clicks, but miss the nuance of what astronomers are actually saying.Expect a blend of astrophysics, philosophy, and some critical media literacy as we ask: how should we talk about cosmic uncertainty without losing public trust in science?---Articles:The unthinkable confirmed - James Webb and Hubble prove that the universe is expanding at two different speeds, throwing cosmology into crisisNew measure of the universe's expansion suggests resolution of a conflictNASA's Webb, Hubble Telescopes Affirm Universe's Expansion Rate, Puzzle PersistsWebb telescope confirms the universe is expanding at an unexpected rate---JOIN OUR LIVE SHOW ON EVERY FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH AT 9p CENTRAL TIME (GMT-5) AT THIS LINK!https://riverside.fm/studio/kolby-van-camps-studio-eMegKFollow us on Instagram! https://instagram.com/spacebetweenpodOrder Kolby's new album! https://kolbyvancamp.hearnow.com/portraits-volume-ii
In this episode of The Space Between, Kolby, Dawson, and special guest Bernie Michaels dive into the hidden patterns of chaos and the strange gravitational dance of black holes. Bernie, a self-proclaimed chaos math savant, unpacks how tiny changes can lead to cosmic-scale consequences — from galaxies colliding to the unpredictable orbits that shape the universe.We explore whether black holes act like strange attractors, how fractals might be written into the very fabric of spacetime, and whether the universe's most terrifying objects might also be the birthplace for all life as we know it. Along the way, we wrestle with questions of order versus disorder, philosophy versus physics, and whether humanity's own chaotic minds mirror the cosmos.It's a conversation that swings between hard science, big-picture wonder, and playful curiosity. Buckle up — the void is stranger (and more beautiful) than it seems.---JOIN OUR LIVE SHOW ON SEPTEMBER 7 AT 7p CENTRAL TIME (GMT-5) AT THIS LINK!https://riverside.fm/studio/kolby-van-camps-studio-eMegKFollow us on Instagram! https://instagram.com/spacebetweenpodOrder Kolby's new album! https://kolbyvancamp.hearnow.com/portraits-volume-ii
Far from Earth, the Moon presents explorers with an unforgiving puzzle: two weeks of searing daylight followed by two weeks of frozen night. For any future habitat, this isn't just an inconvenience—it's a survival crisis. How do you keep the lights on, the air flowing, and the water unfrozen when the Sun disappears for 354 hours at a time?In this episode of The Space Between, Kolby and Dawson explore a surprising solution: thermoelectric power. By harnessing the Moon's brutal extremes—searing heat by day and deep cold by night—engineers are discovering ways to turn temperature swings into electricity. Could this ancient effect, the Seebeck phenomenon, be the hidden key to powering humanity's next great frontier?From South Korean simulations to NASA-backed “thermal wadis” carved from lunar soil, we dig into the science, the innovation, and the strategy behind building a self-sustaining lunar base. How does thermoelectric power stack up against solar farms and nuclear reactors? Is it a clever backup—or the seed of a truly independent lunar energy grid?And perhaps most important of all: what does mastering lunar night survival teach us about living beyond the Moon—on Mars, or in the deep cold of interplanetary space?---ChatGPT Deep Research: https://chatgpt.com/s/dr_68abed4419888191b73dbde78972918fUniverse Today article:https://www.universetoday.com/articles/simulation-of-a-thermoelectric-power-generation-system-with-multiple-heat-storage-for-lunar-habitatKyle Hill, Lia Incident:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3GYg7Y_W7s---Follow us on Instagram! https://instagram.com/spacebetweenpodOrder Kolby's new album! https://kolbyvancamp.hearnow.com/portraits-volume-ii
Far beyond the orbit of Pluto lies a silent frontier—the frozen edge of the solar system, where light fades, and time seems to stretch. In this episode of The Space Between, Kolby and Dawson explore the discovery of 2023 KQ14, an ancient, distant object nicknamed Ammonite. It's one of only a handful of known sednoids, mysterious celestial bodies that may be untouched relics from the solar system's formation 4.5 billion years ago.What makes Ammonite special? Its orbit is so stable, so distant, and so strange that it may challenge the very way we model the outer solar system. Could this object be the missing clue in the Planet Nine debate? Or is it evidence of something even more ancient; something fossilized into the gravitational architecture of our solar system itself?---ChatGPT Deep Research: https://chatgpt.com/s/dr_689eb892a0248191af6fc7bcb46044e7Clyde Tombaugh: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clyde_Tombaugh ---Follow us on Instagram! https://instagram.com/spacebetweenpodOrder Kolby's new album! https://kolbyvancamp.hearnow.com/portraits-volume-ii
In this episode of The Space Between, Kolby and Dawson dive headlong into the extraordinary cosmic guests gracing our solar system in 2025—starting with 3I/ATLAS, the third confirmed interstellar object ever observed. Is it a comet from a forgotten star system older than our own… or, as some have (controversially) speculated, an alien probe with a cloaked mission? We break down the hard science, the wild theories, and everything in between as this icy wanderer makes its high-speed fly-by of the Sun.Then, we turn our gaze outward—way outward—to Ammonite (2023 KQ14), a newly discovered sednoid lurking beyond Pluto's orbit. With a path untouched for billions of years, Ammonite could be a fossilized remnant of the solar system's chaotic birth... or the key to cracking the mystery of Planet Nine. Either way, it's turning heads and rewriting the map of the solar system's edge.---ChatGPT Deep Research: https://chatgpt.com/s/dr_689eb892a0248191af6fc7bcb46044e7YouTube Clip: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/G6eqH0mYfUMSkyLive 3I/ATLAS: 3I/ATLAS: A Month-by-Month Observing Guide | TheSkyLive---Follow us on Instagram! https://instagram.com/spacebetweenpodPre-order Kolby's new album! https://kolbyvancamp.hearnow.com/portraits-volume-ii
In this episode of The Space Between, Kolby and Dawson explore the cosmic family tree hiding in plain sight: the Orion Nebula, the Pleiades, and the Hyades. New research suggests these iconic star clusters aren't just neighbors in the night sky—they're snapshots of the same stellar system at different stages of life. From baby stars to fading elders, we dive into how clusters form, drift, and evolve, and what that says about the nature of change in the universe. Along the way, we tackle a mind-bending listener question: can black holes give birth to entire universes? And if so, are we just living in someone else's cosmic nesting doll? --- Article 1: https://phys.org/news/2025-07-astronomers-capture-birth-planets-baby.html Article 2: https://phys.org/news/2025-07-orion-nebula-pleiades-hyades-common.html --- Follow us on Instagram! https://instagram.com/spacebetweenpod Pre-order Kolby's new album! https://kolbyvancamp.hearnow.com/portraits-volume-ii Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The VLA and NRAO approved our content for release! Enjoy the second of a small series of interviews we conducted with scientific personnel this last March at the VLA and the NRAO. Kolby and Dawson sit down with the Associate Director of the NRAO, Dr. Patricia Henning, to discuss the workings of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and the Very Large Array.
The VLA and NRAO approved our content for release! Enjoy the first of a small series of interviews we conducted with scientific personnel this last March at the VLA and the NRAO. Kolby, Dawson, and Ben sit down on-site with NRAO STEAM Education Manager and Visitor Experience and Guided Tour Manager for the VLA, Summer Ash, to discuss the workings of the telescope, her favorite projects she's been a part of, and the way the VLA operates.
Kolby and Dawson break down a recent development where two astronauts are potentially being left on the International Space Station for a significant period of time due to a technical malfunction, plus a really cool public initiative that the European Space Agency has put together to engage the public in astronomy. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spacebetweenpod/support
Kolby and Dawson discuss fungi in space, its durability, NASA's plans for how it can be used, and whether a hypothesis that it provides access to a deeper level of understanding to the universe. Copyright © Kolby Van Camp 2024, All Rights Reserved --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spacebetweenpod/support
Kolby and Dawson fire up season 3 with some space news about caves on the moon, the technology needed to explore further into our solar system, and Space X's newest missile launch. Copyright © Kolby Van Camp 2024, All Rights Reserved --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spacebetweenpod/support
Hey all. We so appreciate your support over these strange last nine months. The times have changed, the expectations in our lives have changed, and we just want to get back to the basics. You have been awesome for a long time - and we want to keep connecting with you. No frills, no monetization, just two dudes keeping it real and talking in the Space Between. Much love, we will see you soon. - Kolby and Dawson --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spacebetweenpod/support
Kolby, Dawson, and Ben recap their trip to the Very Large Array. Keep up with all our content on Patreon! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spacebetweenpod/support
Kolby and Dawson discuss the latest in the American governmental findings regarding UAPs and the conflicting messaging it sends. Join our Patreon!
Kolby and Dawson react to the Odysseus lander falling over on the moon. To view the full video, subscribe to our Patreon!
Kolby and Dawson break down the recent landing of Odysseus on the moon, the expansion of inter-solar technology, and what that means for the future of humanity. Join our Patreon here!
Kolby and Jimmy enjoy a little bit of a relax day with Dawson out of the country and discuss planets, exoplanets, movies, and more. Check out our website, Patreon, socials, and more!
Kolby and Dawson discuss radio telescopes, their upcoming trip to the Very Large Array and the wonders of the Event Horizon Telescope. Check out our website, Patreon, socials, and more!
Kolby and Dawson sit down with one of the UK's most prominent astrophotographers, Josh Dury - AKA Starman - to discuss his recent success, frequent collaborations with the BBC, dark sky activism, and what it takes to make it as a professional photographer of the night sky. Check out our website, Patreon, socials, and more!
Kolby and Dawson sit down with one of the most prominent YouTube astrophotographers in the world, Trevor Jones from AstroBackyard, to discuss astrophotography, being a YouTuber, astronomy, and making a living out of your passions. Check out our website, Patreon, socials, and more!
Kolby updates the fanbase on why there has been a hiatus of episodes in the last few weeks and provides updates for the future. We aren't going anywhere, we promise!
Kolby and Dawson sit down with 2006 Nobel Laureate in Physics and the senior astrophysicist for the James Webb Space Telescope through NASA, Dr. John Mather, to discuss JWST, putting telescopes in orbit around the solar system, the Fermi Paradox, and so much more, here on The Space Between. Check out our website, Patreon, socials, and more!
Kolby and Dawson break down recent developments with AI and machine learning, how that is and could impact the space industry, and whether we as a civilization have been looking for extraterrestrial intelligence in the wrong place all along. Check out our website, Patreon, socials, and more!
Kolby and Dawson sit down with prominent astrophotographer and light pollution reduction advocate, Bettymaya Foott. Bettymaya's photography has been featured in the Los Angeles Times and National Geographic. She is also a key representative for the DarkSky Initiative organization which advocates for the reduction of light pollution around the world. Check out our website, Patreon, socials, and more!
Kolby and Dawson break down the power of telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Giant Magellan Telescope and their ability to "travel back in time" using simple physics to see the dim and distant past at the beginning of the universe. Check out our website, Patreon, socials, and more!
Kolby and Dawson sit down with associate professor of physics at Kansas State University, Dr. Lado Samushia, to discuss his expertise in dark matter and dark energy and the research he is conducting in the field of cosmology. Check out our website, Patreon, socials, and more!
Kolby and Dawson break down the latest space news as NASA drops their much-anticipated findings on UAPs (unidentified anomalous phenomena), and two alleged "alien mummies" were displayed to the Mexican government. Check out our website, Patreon, socials, and more!
Kolby and Dawson break down the latest on news from Mars relating to the building blocks of life, India's mission to the moon, and let's be honest: did Pluto really deserve the demotion? Check out our website, Patreon, socials, and more!
Kolby and Dawson break down how scientists are experiencing the universe in a new way through a process called sonification, as well as discussing the new reflection nebula that Nico Carver (see episode #2!) discovered this week. Check out our website, Patreon, socials, and more!
Kolby and Dawson break down a fascinating theory from Nobel Prize winning physicist Sir Roger Penrose regarding the idea that our universe is constantly being reborn and could potentially be inside of a black hole. Check out our website, Patreon, socials, and more!
Kolby and Dawson break down the history of the Space Race, what does it mean today, should space exploration be privatized, and the implications of becoming a Type 1 Civilization. Check out our website, Patreon, socials, and more!
In today's episode, Kolby and Dawson break down the insane interstellar objects that are quasars, blazars, and pulsars. That, plus science news about a potential nearby supernova and the reality that not all infinities are the same size as other infinities should get your science itch scratched this Saturday. Check out our website, Patreon, socials, and more!
Kolby sits down with prominent YouTuber and astrophotographer, Nico Carver, of the channel Nebula Photos to discuss astrophotography, the wonders of exploring the night sky, and successful YouTubing on a niche topic. Check out our website, Patreon, socials, and more!
Kolby sits down with Columbia University professor Dr. David Kipping to discuss some of David's fascinating ideas and papers on exomoons, turning the earth into a telescope, and whether or not life exists beyond us, somewhere in the space between. Check out our website, Patreon, socials, and more!
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