Podcasts about Mullard Space Science Laboratory

GB2RS News Sunday, the 13th of July 2025   The news headlines: The RSGB announces speakers for its annual Convention in October Get involved with chasing awards this summer RSGB Regional Representatives elect a new Regional Forum Chair The RSGB is delighted to announce that the Keynote Speaker for its 2025 Convention will be Professor Lucie Green. She is a Professor of Physics and a Royal Society University Research Fellow at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory of the University College London. She has also presented many TV and radio programmes, including The Sky at Night and Stargazing Live. During her talk, Professor Green will provide an update on the proposed Moon-Enabled Sun Occultation Mission, which she is working on with fellow UK researchers. The project will enable the team to study the conditions that create solar storms, leading to improvements in forecasts of space weather on Earth. As well as releasing details of the Keynote Speaker, the RSGB has published a teaser of its Convention programme. This includes Neil Smith, G4DBN, who will share his experience of taking complex ideas and turning them into stories that connect with wider audiences. Many of you will be familiar with Neil from the popular BBC series “The Secret Genius of Modern Life”, for which he recreated a device invented by Leon Theremin. Bill Rothwell, G0VDE, will show you that DXpeditions don't always need to involve masses of equipment, and that one person can make a successful trip with only the luggage they carry. RSGB Propagation Studies Committee member Gwyn Griffiths, G3ZIL, will explore Travelling Ionospheric Disturbances, whilst Brian Coleman, G4NNS, will give you the latest update on the UK Meteor Radar System. Read the full list of confirmed speakers by going to rsgb.org/convention  and selecting the “RSGB 2025 Convention speakers” option from the right-hand menu. The RSGB 2025 Convention is taking place at Kents Hill Conference Centre between the 10th and 12th of October. Book your ticket now and join like-minded people for a fun-filled weekend. Set yourself a challenge this summer and get involved with awards chasing. The RSGB awards are open to everyone, whatever your age, licence level and personal interests. They encourage you to push yourself further, learn something new and can even help you to make tweaks to your station to maximise performance. If HF is your mode, then visit rsgb.org/awards  and get involved with the IARU Region 1 Award, which encourages you to make contacts with member countries. If VHF or UHF is your preference, then challenge yourself to the 50MHz Continents and Countries Award. Several Foundation awards are aimed at getting new licensees on the air and helping build confidence. For younger RSGB members, there are two awards designed to show the breadth that amateur radio offers. The RSGB Scouts, Cadets and Girlguiding Youth Champion, Samuel McCutchion, 2E1UEL, recently completed the Radio Surfer Award and shared his experience with us. Read how he got on by going to rsgb.org/award-stories  At a recent meeting of the RSGB Regional Forum, the RSGB Regional Representatives elected George Crawford, MM0JNL, as the Regional Forum Chair. George represents Scotland South and Western Isles as the Representative for Region 1. He got involved in amateur radio in 2020 and gained his Full licence by March 2021. George has also been a GB2RS Newsreader. Along with the rest of the Regional Team, George is keen to continue to help RSGB members and the wider amateur radio community, and to promote amateur radio and the Society at public events. He will be attending Kirriemuir Show on the 19th of July to showcase amateur radio to the agricultural and rural communities. You can hear more details about that in the Special Event News section of this week's GB2RS News. Last week, senior RSGB staff and some members of the RSGB Board met for two days to discuss the next implementation phase of the Society's strategy. The discussions covered several topics, including how to ensure the Society stays relevant to the modern radio amateur. Those discussions led to some initial plans for the next six months that focus on one or two clear goals. More details of the plans will be shared over the coming weeks, including in strategy updates and at the ‘Meet the Board' session at the RSGB Convention in October. Following the RSGB's attendance at Dayton and Friedrichshafen, it was also noted that the Society is held in high esteem around the world and that many other national societies are keen to learn from the RSGB's achievements. Ben, M7FRS and John, G0JDL, are hoping to be operating aeronautical mobile in a Cessna 172 for about an hour tomorrow, Monday the 14th, over the skies of Norfolk and Suffolk. The pair will be departing from Beccles Airfield at around midday. They will initially be on the 2m band FM calling frequency of 145.500MHz before changing frequency. As per the new licensing arrangements, they will be using less than 500mW. Listen out for them, as they'd love to get you in their log!  During this weekend's IARU HF World Championship, five stations will be active on the 80 to 10m bands using SSB and CW and tested under field conditions. They will be using the exact planned equipment for the WRTC 2026 event as a trial. The operating location will be a cluster of sites within the grounds of the Euston Estate in Suffolk. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS. There will be two awards available for chasers during this event, so listen out for the following callsigns: GB0WR, GB2WR, GB5WR, GB8WR and GB9WR. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/wrtctest The next in the popular 145 Alive series will take place on Sunday, the 20th of July, from 12 pm to 3 pm. The event will have over 40 stations and 1,000 participants from all over the UK and Ireland. To take part on the day, simply call into a local net and make contact with others. You can find more information, including details of the nets, the operators, their locations and operating frequencies on the 145 Alive Events Facebook page. And now for details of rallies and events The McMichael Radio and Electronics Rally and Car Boot Sale is taking place today, the 13th, at Oak Trees Event Field, Cocks Lane, Warfield, Bracknell, RG42 6JE. Traders are welcome from 8 am. The doors will be open for visitors from 9 am to 3 pm. The entrance fee is £4 per person. A trader's table costs £15 and this includes admission for two people. Humber Fortress DX Amateur Radio Club Rally will take place on Saturday, the 19th of July at Welwick Village Hall, North Lane, Welwick, HU12 0SH. The doors will be open from 10 am to 3 pm, and visitor entrance costs £3. Indoor tables are fully booked, but there is still outdoor space available at £5 per table. Please bring your own table. For more information, email rally@hfdxarc.com Bury St Edmunds Radio Rally will take place on Sunday, the 20th of July at Rougham Tower Museum, IP32 7QB. The doors open at 7 am for traders and 9.30 am for visitors. Refreshments are available from the Museum's cafeteria. Admission for visitors and car-booters costs £3 and £10 for traders. For more details, email secretary@bsears.co.uk The Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Radio Rally will take place on Sunday, the 20th of July at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors will be open from 10 am and admission costs £3. This is an indoor event, and ample free parking will be available. Over 50 tables of traders and special interest groups will be present. Booking a table costs £10. For more information, phone Steve, M5ZZZ on 07777 699 069 or email m5zzz@outlook.com Now the Special Event news On Saturday, the 19th of July, RSGB Region 1 Representative George, MM0JNL, will be hosting special event station GB4KAS at the Kirriemuir Show in Angus, Scotland, from 10 am to 5 pm. This new venture is intended to showcase the RSGB and amateur radio to the agricultural and rural community. It will also allow unlicensed guest operators to have some supervised radio operating time and, hopefully, have their first international radio contact. The station will be operating using SSB on the HF bands and FM on the 2m band. If you hear the operators on the air, give them a call! GB70RS is the special callsign helping to celebrate 70 years of the RSGB's News Service, GB2RS. This coming week, the callsign is being aired by Dave, G4IDF, on all bands from 80 to 6m, plus 4m and 2m, using SSB and FT8. If you hear Dave, give him a call! A special QSL card is available. See QRZ.com for more details. Now the DX news Eric, KV1J is active as FP/KV1J from Miquelon Island, NA-032, until tomorrow, the 14th. He is operating using CW, FT4, FT8 and SSB on the 80 to 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, Club Log's OQRS, eQSL or via Eric's home call, directly or via the Bureau. For more information visit QRZ.com Pierre, VK3KTB, is active as VY0ERC from the Eureka Amateur Radio Club station on Ellesmere Island, NA-008, until the 24th of July. He operates using CW, FT8 and SSB on various bands when time permits. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS and Logbook of the World. Now the contest news The IARU HF Championship started at 1200 UTC on Saturday, the 12th and ends at 1200 UTC today, Sunday, the 13th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and ITU Zone. The UK is in Zone 27. The GR2HQ Challenge also started at 1200 UTC on Saturday, the 12th and ends at 1200 UTC today, Sunday, the 13th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and ITU Zone. The UK is in Zone 27. Today, the 13th, the UK Microwave Group 24, 47, and 76GHz Contest runs from 0900 to 1700 UTC. Using all modes on 24 to 76GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Tuesday the 15th, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 16th, the RSGB 80m SSB Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Thursday the 17th, the RSGB 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Saturday the 19th, the RSGB 70MHz Trophy Contest runs from 1400 to 2000 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and the first two letters of your postcode. On Sunday the 20th, the RSGB International Low Power Contest runs from 0900 to 1600 UTC. Using CW on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and transmitter power. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 10th of July 2025 Last week was characterised by settled geomagnetic conditions, but a relatively low solar flux index. The Kp index hit 5.33 on the 6th and 7th of July but was otherwise around 1 or 2 for the rest of the week. These settled conditions were helpful to HF propagation, although the maximum usable frequency over a 3,000km path didn't get much above 21MHz. This is likely to be due to the HF summer doldrums, and we are unlikely to see it rise much more until September, once the F2 layer has switched to autumnal propagation conditions. Meanwhile, the solar flux index remained steadfastly in the range of 115 to 120. This is enough to provide fair propagation, but not enough to set new DX records! But there was DX to be worked, including T30TT in western Kiribati, on the 20 and 15m bands using the FT8 Fox and Hounds mode. Also, ZD7FT was operating on St Helena Island on the 17m band using SSB, and C94RRC was active on the 10m band from Mozambique using FT8. Laurie, G3UML on the CDXC Slack group, commented that there was a lot of DX around, including FP/KV1J on the 17m band using SSB on Miquelon Island. Additionally, TY5AD was on the 17m band using CW from Benin. And FY4JI was on the 17m band using SSB from French Guiana. Now the bad news. A very large solar coronal hole will begin to face Earth this weekend. A solar wind stream flowing from this zone is expected to reach Earth with the main influence occurring today, the 13th, and tomorrow, the 14th. If the Bz of the plasma cloud points south, we can expect disturbed geomagnetic conditions and a reduction in the maximum usable frequency, or MUF for short. NOAA predicts unsettled conditions, with a Kp index of 4 between the 15th and 16th of July. The solar flux index is expected to be in the range of 105 to 125 for the next week. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The hot weather continues to set the agenda in the short term. Something to note is that for VHF and UHF Tropo ducting, the ideal is for warm, dry air to sit on top of cool, moist air. These conditions are commonplace over the nearby seas as hot, dry air moves out across the coast to overlay the cool, moist air near the sea's surface. Think of the North Sea, English Channel, Irish Sea and Biscay as being very good Tropo paths in high summer. But the award goes to the Mediterranean, where very strong ducting conditions are pretty much a given if you happen to be sitting on an exotic holiday beach.  Back at home... if you live inland, then you will be out of luck during the heat of the day since there is no cool, moist surface air. But in the evening, as the ground cools and perhaps cool sea air moves inland, you could find yourself coupled into the Tropo conditions that those on the coast have been enjoying all day. In other words, for most of the country, Tropo will be better overnight and early morning. The other modes are worth checking of course, especially Sporadic-E, which is continuing to give some paths on most days, at least for digital modes, but also for those using SSB or CW.  Most days, there will be some direction available from the UK on the 10m band, and perhaps on the 6m band, with many online clusters to show you where the current paths are located. We really must get used to the idea that Sporadic-E can be very localised, and you will only know about it if someone calls CQ. If you do that, you may be surprised by how good conditions have been all along! Disturbed solar conditions should keep aurora as a possibility. Meteor scatter is often worth checking, with two showers peaking later in the month. The middle part of the coming week looks like turning more unsettled for a time, so rain scatter is also an option for the GHz bands. Moon declination is increasing again, reaching maximum on Tuesday, and path losses are falling. So, it's time to put the feeder back into the dish. 144MHz sky noise is moderate to start the week but decreasing to low after the weekend. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

American singer-songwriter John Grant is a musical titan as a front man of Czars and a hugely successful solo artist. He's also dueted with Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams and many more. John tells Harry of growing up in Canada, how to get sap from a tree, he duets with Gary and helps us learn all about Mars! Thank you to Dr Catherine Regan from the Mullard Space Science Laboratory for answering our questions! You can listen to John's new album and find out how to see him live at - johngrantmusic.com Get in touch: harry@arewethereyetpod.co.uk Website: www.harryhill.co.uk Instagram: @mrharryhill YouTube: @harryhillshow Producer Neil Fearn A 'Keep it Light Media' production All enquiries: HELLO@KEEPITLIGHTMEDIA.COM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's FINALLY happening. Izzie is letting Dr Becky have an entire episode about her favourite planet, Saturn.  Professor Geraint Jones from UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory tells the Supermassive Team about the Saturnian system. Plus, Professor John Zarnecki shares his experiences of being involved with the Cassini-Huygens mission. As, as always, Dr Robert Massey is on hand to take on listener questions and share his stargazing tips for the month.  The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for The Royal Astronomical Society by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. 

GB2RS News Sunday the 25th of December 2022   The news headlines: Coronation of King Charles III RSGB Elections New edition of RadCom Plus released   Season's greetings to all our listeners! Today's GB2RS news script will the final one of 2022. Today's news reading is optional, as the RSGB appreciates that not all newsreaders will be available as normal, but the script will be on the RGSB website so all can see it. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the newsreaders, who read the news on a variety of platforms, for their service to their fellow amateurs throughout the year. We'd also like to remind amateurs that there is a long-standing convention to listen for news broadcasts on Sundays before transmitting to allow news reading to go ahead without interference. Thank you to all those who listen on Sunday mornings, and the other times that the news is read, to those who call in afterwards to speak to the newsreaders, and to everyone who listens via various platforms. Please note, there will be no script prepared for broadcast on Sunday the 1st of January 2023 due to RSGB HQ being closed from 12.30pm on Friday the 23rd of December until 8.30am on Tuesday the 3rd of January 2023. Newsreaders may, of course, choose to run a net at their normal transmission time, but under their own callsign only. The RSGB is making plans to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and the Queen Consort in May 2023. The Coronation theme is looking towards the future while being rooted in our traditions, which the Society would like to incorporate in its celebrations. The UK has an ancient chain of fire-based beacons and the RSGB is considering ways that these might be used in the plans. As well as organising events for radio amateurs, this is a great opportunity to demonstrate amateur radio to the public and to gain publicity in the media. If you have any thoughts about how to use the fire beacon chain, or if you have ideas for activities on the Coronation theme that could be used as outreach to the public, please contact the RSGB Coronation Lead, Alan Messenger, G0TLK on special.projects@rsgb.org.uk Are you keen to see amateur radio thrive? Do you have the time and enthusiasm to support other radio amateurs and to help shape the RSGB of the future? If so, you still have the opportunity to be nominated in the RSGB elections. This year there are nine roles to be filled and the results will be announced at the Society's AGM in April 2023. An explanation of how to apply for the Nominated Board Director process, as well as the candidate packs and forms for President, Elected Board Director and Regional Representative, are all on the Society's website. The deadline for the Nominated Board Director role is the 3rd of January 2023 whilst the closing date for other roles is the 31st of January 2023. Find out more at rsgb.org/election The RSGB is pleased to announce that a new edition of RadCom Plus, Volume 7, Issue 1, is out now. RadCom Plus is the RSGB's digital technical supplement and RSGB Members can read it in HTML5 flipbook, PDF and ePub formats. This issue contains almost forty pages, including an article on an active dipole antenna and another on the construction of a portable dish for operating on the 23 and 13cm bands. RadCom Plus can be accessed via www.rsgb.org/radcom-plus The RSGB is releasing three more 2022 Convention videos between Christmas and New Year to give radio amateurs some great content to watch during the festive season. Dr Colin Forsyth from UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory gives a fascinating presentation about Space Weather, whilst Prof Norman Billingham, M0EBI talks about plastics for the radio amateur. Jim Bacon, G3YLA reviews what the 2020s have told us about Sporadic-E. The presentations will be published on three separate days so if you subscribe to the RSGB YouTube channel you will know when they're available. Go to youtube.com/theRSGB   And now for details of rallies and events The Yeovil Amateur Radio Club Rally will be held on Thursday the 29th of December at Davis Hall, Howell Hill, West Camel, Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 7QX. Doors will be open from 9.30am to 1pm and admission is £3. Free parking is available. The event will include bring and buy as well as 20 tables for traders. For more information contact Bob on 01963 440 167. The Lincoln Shortwave Club Winter Radio Rally will be held on Sunday the 29th of January at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. Doors open at 9.30am and entry is £2. Refreshments are available on site and talk-in is available on 145.375MHz. For more information email Graham via contact@m1dhv.co.uk The Canvey Rally will be held on the 5th of February at Cornelius Vermuyden School, Dinant Avenue, Canvey, Essex, SS8 9QS. The Rally is expected to be the usual hive of activity with plenty of traders and an indoor boot sale. Hot food and drinks will be available. Contact sears.enquiries@gmail.com for further information.  Now the Special Event News To celebrate the festive season, the Market Reef DX Association in Finland will be using special callsign OG1XMAS. The team will be active on all bands and modes until Monday the 26th of December. QSL via Logbook of the World, Club Log or directly to OH1NOA. Special callsign PD22SANTA will be active from The Netherlands until the 31st of December in celebration of the holiday season. QSL cards will not be issued but a certificate will be available for download. Celebrating the 15th anniversary of Summits On The Air France, special callsign TM15SOTA will be active until the 30th of December. QSL via eQSL. Throughout 2022, the BBC Amateur Radio Group has been celebrating the centenary of British broadcasting using the callsign GB100BBC. There is still time to catch the station on air, with the final day of operation being New Year's Eve. Between Christmas and the new year, operation will take place from the club headquarters shack located on the top floor of BBC Broadcasting House in central London. The team hope to work as many stations as possible to wrap up the year of special activity. Throughout the month of January 2023, Weston super Mare Radio Society will be operating GB4WSM in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Society's formation on the 3rd of January 1923.  Now the DX news Lester, W8YCM will be active as W8YCM/6Y from Jamaica, NA-097, until January 2023. QSL directly via his home callsign. Andre, ON7YK will be active in Bijilo, Gambia until the 24th of February 2023. He is available as C5YK on the 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m bands using SSB, CW and digital modes. QSL via eQSL, Logbook of the World or directly to his home callsign. Gerard, F2JD will be active as HR5/F2JD from Copan, Honduras until the 13th of March 2023. He will be operating using CW, SSB and digital modes on the HF bands. QSL via F6AJA, directly or via the Bureau.  Now the contest news The UK Six Metre Group Winter Marathon began on Thursday the 1st of December. The contest will run until the 31st of January 2023. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report and locator. On Monday the 26th of December, the Deutsche Amateur Radio Club Christmas Contest runs from 0830 to 1100UTC. Using CW and SSB on the 80 and 40m bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number. German stations also send their district or non-member code. Also on Monday the 26th of December, the 50MHz Christmas Contest runs from 1400 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. It's not a contest but the Worked All Britain Christmas Party runs from Monday the 26th of December to Friday the 6th of January. Using all bands and modes, the exchange is your Worked All Britain Book number. On Tuesday the 27th of December, the 70MHz Christmas Contest runs from 1400 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 28th of December, the 144MHz Christmas Contest runs from 1400 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 29th of December, the 432MHz Christmas Contest runs from 1400 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.  Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 22nd of December 2022 The solar flux index stayed around 150 over the last week, bringing some choice DX to the higher HF bands. However, solar flares continue to plague us, bringing short-lived band fade-outs at times. These have all been moderate C- and M-class flares. It is uncertain as to whether or not there will be an X-class flare soon. Meanwhile, try and work some Arctic Circle DX. Santa's broadcasting arm, Santa Radio, OF9X, will be active again, on all amateur radio bands, using CW, SSB and digital modes until the end of the year. On any band, from 10MHz and up, it should be fine to make contact with OF9X during the day, with 80m and 40m being ideal for night-time contact. The DX cluster is probably the best way to find where they are operating. NOAA predicts that the solar flux may decline slightly over the next week, perhaps going down to 125. But then it should rebound, maybe making it to 160 by the first week of January. Unfortunately, solarham.com is currently offline. Kevin, VE3EN, who produces the site, says that hopefully this downtime will be short-lived. Keep an eye on the URL as it remains one of the most useful sites for radio amateurs. And now the VHF and up propagation news There will be a very unsettled flavour to the Christmas propagation weather with many lows tracking across the country into the New Year. There will be spells of strong winds to provide a few nail-biting moments for antennas, but the main theme is for bands of rain and heavy showers. These will be capable of producing some rain scatter on the GHz bands on most days in one part of the country or another. Cold air will be present at times to give some snow scatter in places, although primarily over northern Britain. The chances of traditional high-pressure systems bringing some festive tropo are very low indeed with the nearest high displaced well away over southeast Europe. The solar conditions will doubtless be worth considering as a possible indicator of auroral propagation if the Kp index rises above about five or six. Mid-winter Sporadic-E, can surprise us over the period from now to roughly mid-January. A good example was shown on the Dourbes ionosonde on Monday the 19th of December when the Sporadic-E critical frequency reached 5.45MHz at 2300UTC and coincided with a jet stream nearby. There will be plenty of jet stream activity, so it is well worth checking the clusters. Don't be too fixed upon the usual times for Sporadic-E since these events tend to be driven by the timing of significant weather features. For meteor scatter enthusiasts, the Leonis Minorids are still active but past their maximum, so we await the Quadrantids to peak with a zenithal hourly rate of around 120 between the 3rd and 4th of January. Unlike other meteor showers that tend to stay at their peak for about two days, the peak period of the Quadrantids lasts only a few hours. Moon declination is rising, so Moon windows will continue to lengthen, and zenith angles increase, while EME path losses increase after Christmas Eve's perigee. 144MHz sky noise is low all week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss solar eclipses, some of life's most extraordinary moments, when day becomes night and the stars come out before day returns either all too soon or not soon enough, depending on what you understand to be happening. In ancient China, for example, there was a story that a dragon was eating the sun and it had to be scared away by banging pots and pans if the sun were to return. Total lunar eclipses are more frequent and last longer, with a blood moon coloured red like a sunrise or sunset. Both events have created the chance for scientists to learn something remarkable, from the speed of light, to the width of the Atlantic, to the roundness of Earth, to discovering helium and proving Einstein's Theory of General Relativity. With Carolin Crawford Public Astronomer based at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge and a fellow of Emmanuel College Frank Close Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford And Lucie Green Professor of Physics and a Royal Society University Research Fellow at Mullard Space Science Laboratory at University College London Producers: Simon Tillotson and Julia Johnson

Today is the UK Space Agency Mars Day, it celebrates the 6th anniversary of the launch of the first ExoMars mission, and a year since NASA's Perseverance rover started exploring Mars. In just three years' time NASA aims to return humans to the Moon as part of the Artemis Mission, and in just a decade it's onward to the surface of Mars – the tech and engineering may be ready, but are we? Being in space has well-documented negative effects on the body. But the effect of being in space on the brain has been studied less. In this podcast Dr Yvonne Couch, ARUK Research Fellow at University of Oxford hosts a discussion with three world leading experts to explore the effects of space travel on the brain. We're joined by Chris Mason, Professor of Genomics, Physiology, and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine, USA. Chris is one of the people behind the landmark Twins Study that followed identical twins Scott and Mark Kelly, while one spent a year on earth and the other spent a year in space – he works with NASA, runs multiple labs, and utilises computational and experimental methodologies to identify and characterise the essential genetic elements that guide the function of the human genome, with a particular emphasis on the elements that orchestrate the development of the human brain. Chris has also written a fantastic book ‘The Next 500 Years' about our future in space. Next we have Dr Iya Whiteley, Space Psychologist and Director of the Centre for Space Medicine at Mullard Space Science Laboratory, at University College London. Dr Whiteley works with the European Space Agency is a trained Astronaut Instructor and has published several papers about fatigue in astronauts. She helps develop tools to support crew autonomous operations in complex human spacecraft and works at the cutting edge of psychological support of astronauts going to the moon and mars. Iya is also the author of a new book titled “Toolkit for a Space Psychologist - to support astronauts in exploration missions to the Moon and Mars” Last by far from least we have the unstoppable Henrik Zetterberg, Professor of Neurochemistry and neurodegenerative disease expert at University College London and the University of Gothenburg. Henrik is a leading expert in fluid based biomarkers in dementia, and in 2020 he discovered a new method to detect the disease about two decades before significant symptoms are present. In this show he does an amazing job of keeping the show on track as we explore radiation, gravity, psychology, food, sleep and everything that makes astronauts ‘Super Human', or are they? The Next 500 Years – https://amzn.to/3t2iCV1 Toolkit for a Space Psychologist – https://amzn.to/3CGmTAE Twins Study - https://www.nasa.gov/twins-study More on Mars Day - https://marsday.org.uk/ -- You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

In this month's episode we turn our attention skyward, to the captivating world of space and specifically satellite technology. Humankind's fascination with the cosmos has never really waivered, but last year saw a resurgence in interest, after a 9 year absence, of a fully-reusable space vehicle and its first human crew; when Behnken and Hurley took off in the Dragon capsule atop the falcon 9 rocket. But the launch of satellites is often met with much less fanfare, yet we couldn't live our technology-driven lives and we certainly wouldn't have learnt about the wonders beyond our solar system without them. In fact, of the 104 successful space flights last year, 80% of them were to put satellite technologies into space. So what can we learn from these complex technologies? Useful Links: https://www.spacex.com/ https://www.nasa.gov/feature/amazing-earth-satellite-images-from-2020/ https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/ https://www.harwellcampus.com/space-cluster/   Helen's guests this month are both enthusiastic engineers working in different areas of the satellite technology industry. They are driven by their fascination for how they operate, communicate and how they are changing the way we preserve the universe. Helen chats with Christine Brockley-Blatt, Senior Project Manager at Mullard Space Science Laboratory and fellow of the IMechE. Chris has worked on Beagle 2; the British Mars Lander, and the SPIRE instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope which is due to launch in 2021. She is now the Project Manager of the VIS Instrument on the Euclid Space Telescope. Chris took time out of her day to talk to Helen about building satellites and how her 14 years of dedication to the recently launched Solar Orbiter will tell us more about the physics of our sun than ever before. Useful Links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/mssl/ http://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Solar_Orbiter https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-satellite-propulsion-test-facility-to-propel-uk-into-new-space-age   Mike Lawton is an electronic & electrical engineer and serial space technology entrepreneur. He certainly knows a thing or two about squeezing large satellite structures into small spaces and has built an award-winning business innovating deployable assemblies for the satellite industry, such as solar panel arrays, antennas and boom systems. His motivation is to challenge tried and tested techniques by creating lighter, less complex and lower cost systems for satellite manufacturers. Helen talks to Mike about solar array origami, the problems with space debris and how engineers are finding ways to re-use old satellites while still in space. https://oxford.space/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtBYjYwkVm0KdpRwtA7kcVA/videos https://www.imeche.org/news/news-article/space-agency-announces-1m-fund-for-ideas-to-tackle-space-debris   We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode or about your experiences, interest or work in Space & Satellite Technology. If you would like to get in touch email us at podcast@imeche.org You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org   

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss solar eclipses, some of life’s most extraordinary moments, when day becomes night and the stars come out before day returns either all too soon or not soon enough, depending on what you understand to be happening. In ancient China, for example, there was a story that a dragon was eating the sun and it had to be scared away by banging pots and pans if the sun were to return. Total lunar eclipses are more frequent and last longer, with a blood moon coloured red like a sunrise or sunset. Both events have created the chance for scientists to learn something remarkable, from the speed of light, to the width of the Atlantic, to the roundness of Earth, to discovering helium and proving Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity. With Carolin Crawford Public Astronomer based at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge and a fellow of Emmanuel College Frank Close Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford And Lucie Green Professor of Physics and a Royal Society University Research Fellow at Mullard Space Science Laboratory at University College London Producers: Simon Tillotson and Julia Johnson

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss solar eclipses, some of life’s most extraordinary moments, when day becomes night and the stars come out before day returns either all too soon or not soon enough, depending on what you understand to be happening. In ancient China, for example, there was a story that a dragon was eating the sun and it had to be scared away by banging pots and pans if the sun were to return. Total lunar eclipses are more frequent and last longer, with a blood moon coloured red like a sunrise or sunset. Both events have created the chance for scientists to learn something remarkable, from the speed of light, to the width of the Atlantic, to the roundness of Earth, to discovering helium and proving Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity. With Carolin Crawford Public Astronomer based at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge and a fellow of Emmanuel College Frank Close Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford And Lucie Green Professor of Physics and a Royal Society University Research Fellow at Mullard Space Science Laboratory at University College London Producers: Simon Tillotson and Julia Johnson

Holly Ridings is the first woman to be NASA's chief flight director. She was appointed in 2018 and is responsible for missions to the International Space Station, the Orion spacecraft and commercial spacecraft. She is also in charge of the Artemis programme - named after Apollo's twin sister - which will land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before and potentially lead to further missions to Mars. She is responsible for 32 flight directors who are overseeing human spaceflight at the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. How do you know if you’re fit enough psychologically to go into space? What do you need to do to survive in such close quarters with other people? When it comes to Mars, the focus is often on how to get there: the rockets, the engines, the fuel. But upon arrival, what will it actually be like? Jane speaks to Kate Greene author of “Once Upon a Time I Lived On Mars” and to Dr Iya Whiteley, Director of the Centre for Space Medicine at Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London. What are the jobs for women in space? Vinita Marwaha Madill is founder of Rocket Women which aims to inspire women around the world and provide advice on working in the space and technology industries. And finally, what is the cultural significance of space and the moon to us? It is the site of so much folklore, myth and legends and has spawned countless books, films and songs. Looking up at the stars is a trope of romance – but it also a reminder of how small and insignificant our own lives are – seen against the life of the cosmos. For that reason many ask – should we even be going to the moon or Mars? Jane discusses this with the folksinger Karine Polwart who is writing a new theatre piece called “The Only Light Was Stars” and Dr. Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian who is a driector, member of the SETi Institute, Vice-Chair of The Committee for the Cultural Utilisation of Space and director and founder of the International Space Orchestra in NASA. Presenter: Jane Garvey Producer: Clare Walker

This week the boys are joined by Joel Abraham, a PhD candidate currently at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory working on the NASA (yes THE NASA) parker Solar probe and the european space agency (ESA) Solar orbiter. together we discussed all things space, from space weather to electromagnetic pulses, from space plasma to area 51, there was even some talk of death stars and the number of lions required to "beat up" the sun!  as always please like, share and enjoy! if you want to get in touch just follow us on: @podcastverbal on twitter @verbalreasoningpodcast on instagram  or simply search for the verbal reasoning podcast on Facebook!  

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the flow of particles from the outer region of the Sun which we observe in the Northern and Southern Lights, interacting with Earth's magnetosphere, and in comet tails that stream away from the Sun regardless of their own direction. One way of defining the boundary of the solar system is where the pressure from the solar wind is balanced by that from the region between the stars, the interstellar medium. Its existence was suggested from the C19th and Eugene Parker developed the theory of it in the 1950s and it has been examined and tested by a series of probes in C20th up to today, with more planned. With Andrew Coates Professor of Physics and Deputy Director in charge of the Solar System at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London Helen Mason OBE Reader in Solar Physics at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Fellow at St Edmund's College And Tim Horbury Professor of Physics at Imperial College London Producer: Simon Tillotson

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the flow of particles from the outer region of the Sun which we observe in the Northern and Southern Lights, interacting with Earth's magnetosphere, and in comet tails that stream away from the Sun regardless of their own direction. One way of defining the boundary of the solar system is where the pressure from the solar wind is balanced by that from the region between the stars, the interstellar medium. Its existence was suggested from the C19th and Eugene Parker developed the theory of it in the 1950s and it has been examined and tested by a series of probes in C20th up to today, with more planned. With Andrew Coates Professor of Physics and Deputy Director in charge of the Solar System at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London Helen Mason OBE Reader in Solar Physics at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Fellow at St Edmund's College And Tim Horbury Professor of Physics at Imperial College London Producer: Simon Tillotson

This is the 15th episode of a podcast mini-series to accompany FLOP 13 Stories of Failure, a free exhibition at the UCL Octagon Gallery open from 21 October 2019 to 10 April 2020. The exhibition has been commissioned by UCL Culture and curated by Thomas Kador (UCL Arts & Sciences). It shines a spotlight on a topic that most of us rather avoid and not talk about and investigates (through 13 stories) what happens when things go wrong. The FLOPCAST series comprises 15 different voices, all experts in their fields, discussing some of the objects on display at the exhibition to tell these stories of failure. The intention is that the podcasts can be accessed both while people are looking at the exhibits and independently without having visited the exhibition. In this 15th episode Drs Gillian Watson and Barry Hancock, from the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, discuss the failed launch of Ariane 5 flight 501 in 1996.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the planet Venus which is both the morning star and the evening star, rotates backwards at walking speed and has a day which is longer than its year. It has long been called Earth’s twin, yet the differences are more striking than the similarities. Once imagined covered with steaming jungles and oceans, we now know the surface of Venus is 450 degrees celsius, and the pressure there is 90 times greater than on Earth, enough to crush an astronaut. The more we learn of it, though, the more we learn of our own planet, such as whether Earth could become more like Venus in some ways, over time. With Carolin Crawford Public Astronomer at the Institute of Astronomy and Fellow of Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge Colin Wilson Senior Research Fellow in Planetary Science at the University of Oxford And Andrew Coates Professor of Physics at Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London Produced by: Simon Tillotson and Julia Johnson

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the planet Venus which is both the morning star and the evening star, rotates backwards at walking speed and has a day which is longer than its year. It has long been called Earth’s twin, yet the differences are more striking than the similarities. Once imagined covered with steaming jungles and oceans, we now know the surface of Venus is 450 degrees celsius, and the pressure there is 90 times greater than on Earth, enough to crush an astronaut. The more we learn of it, though, the more we learn of our own planet, such as whether Earth could become more like Venus in some ways, over time. With Carolin Crawford Public Astronomer at the Institute of Astronomy and Fellow of Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge Colin Wilson Senior Research Fellow in Planetary Science at the University of Oxford And Andrew Coates Professor of Physics at Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London Produced by: Simon Tillotson and Julia Johnson

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the planet Venus which is both the morning star and the evening star, rotates backwards at walking speed and has a day which is longer than its year. It has long been called Earth’s twin, yet the differences are more striking than the similarities. Once imagined covered with steaming jungles and oceans, we now know the surface of Venus is 450 degrees celsius, and the pressure there is 90 times greater than on Earth, enough to crush an astronaut. The more we learn of it, though, the more we learn of our own planet, such as whether Earth could become more like Venus in some ways, over time. With Carolin Crawford Public Astronomer at the Institute of Astronomy and Fellow of Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge Colin Wilson Senior Research Fellow in Planetary Science at the University of Oxford And Andrew Coates Professor of Physics at Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London Produced by: Simon Tillotson and Julia Johnson

The Polar Opposite No one knows why the Earth's magnetic North and South poles swap. But polar reversals have happened hundreds of times over the history of the Earth. John Turk emailed curiouscases@bbc.co.uk to ask, “when is the next pole swap due and what will happen to us?” Featuring Prof Lucie Green from Mullard Space Science Laboratory and Dr Phil Livermore from the University of Leeds. Plus, astronaut Terry Virts, author of The View from Above, describes his experiences of a strange magnetic glitch in the earth's magnetic field, known as The Bermuda Triangle of Space. The World That Turns "Why does the Earth spin?" asks Joe Wills from Accra in Ghana. Hannah quizzes cosmologist Andrew Pontzen about the birth of the Solar System. BBC weatherman John Hammond describes the curious things that would happen if the Earth spun the opposite way. Send your questions to: curiouscases@bbc.co.uk Picture: The Earth reflecting light from the sun whilst aboard the International Space Station, Credit: Alexander Gerst / ESA via Getty Images Producer: Michelle Martin

No one knows why the Earth's magnetic North and South poles swap. But polar reversals have happened hundreds of times over the history of the Earth. So, asks John Turk, when is the next pole swap due and what will happen to us? Hannah turns to astronomer Lucie Green from Mullard Space Science Laboratory to discover how the earth's magnetic field protects us from the ravages of space. And Adam consults geophysicist Phil Livermore from the University of Leeds to find out if, and when, we're facing a global apocalypse. Plus astronaut Terry Virts, author of The View from Above, describes his experiences of a strange magnetic glitch in the earth's magnetic field, known as The Bermuda Triangle of Space, which could help us prepare for the next event. Presenters: Hannah Fry, Adam Rutherford Producer: Michelle Martin.

Feature Guest: Ravi Desai It was recently reported that Saturn’s moon Titan harbours complex chemistry the likes of which we’ve never before seen in our solar system. On today’s episode of The Star Spot, the leader of the discovery Ravi Desai explains the implication of discovering these building blocks of life on a world that many are now calling the most habitable location beyond Earth. Current in Space Good news from Tony. The ocean worlds of Europa and Enceladus will be prime targets for the James Webb Space Telescope. Then Dave tells us how we finally mapped the surface of a second star - only to learn how little we know about our own sun’s fate. And finally Maya with the weather report: it’s raining diamonds in the outer solar system! About Our Guest Ravi Desai is PhD Candidate in Space Physics at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory at University College London. He is a member of the Cassini Science Team and Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.

With performance, presentation, music and discussion, Lucie Green and Simon Barraclough look at the different ways of understanding "a thing so simple a thing as a star". Poet Simon Barraclough, whose series Sunspots is the culmination of four years of writing, travelling, researching and obsessing over the Sun, and Lucie Green, author of 15 Million Degrees: journey to the centre of the Sun, and Professor of Physics and Royal Society University Research Fellow based at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, UCL’s Department of Space and Climate Physics. The first of Little Atoms' Two Cultures autumn events series took place at Waterstones flagship store in Piccadilly, London, on 14 September 2016. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In a programme exploring light, Anne McElvoy is joined by Ann Wroe - who has walked the South Downs for her latest book considering painters including Ravilious and Samuel Palmer. Prof. Lucie Green has written a journey to the centre of the sun. The fluorescent creations of Dan Flavin the post war American artist go on show at Birmingham's Ikon Gallery curated by director Jonathan Watkins. And in Blackpool - home of the Illuminations - the Grundy Art Gallery is adding to its collection of light works – curator Richard Parry explains. Dan Flavin: It is What It Is and It Ain't Nothing Else runs at the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham from 13th April to 26th June.Six Facets Of Light by Ann Wroe is out now. She is also the author of Pilate: The Biography of an Invented Man.15 Million Degrees - A Journey to the Centre of the Sun is written by Dr Lucie Green, solar physicist at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory at UCL.Producer: Torquil MacLeod

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the planet Saturn with its rings of ice and rock and over 60 moons. In 1610, Galileo used an early telescope to observe Saturn, one of the brightest points in the night sky, but could not make sense of what he saw: perhaps two large moons on either side. When he looked a few years later, those supposed moons had disappeared. It was another forty years before Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens solved the mystery, realizing the moons were really a system of rings. Successive astronomers added more detail, with the greatest leaps forward in the last forty years. The Pioneer 11 spacecraft and two Voyager missions have flown by, sending back the first close-up images, and Cassini is still there, in orbit, confirming Saturn, with its rings and many moons, as one of the most intriguing and beautiful planets in our Solar System. With Carolin Crawford Public Astronomer at the Institute of Astronomy and Fellow of Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge Michele Dougherty Professor of Space Physics at Imperial College London And Andrew Coates Deputy Director in charge of the Solar System at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory at UCL.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the planet Saturn with its rings of ice and rock and over 60 moons. In 1610, Galileo used an early telescope to observe Saturn, one of the brightest points in the night sky, but could not make sense of what he saw: perhaps two large moons on either side. When he looked a few years later, those supposed moons had disappeared. It was another forty years before Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens solved the mystery, realizing the moons were really a system of rings. Successive astronomers added more detail, with the greatest leaps forward in the last forty years. The Pioneer 11 spacecraft and two Voyager missions have flown by, sending back the first close-up images, and Cassini is still there, in orbit, confirming Saturn, with its rings and many moons, as one of the most intriguing and beautiful planets in our Solar System. With Carolin Crawford Public Astronomer at the Institute of Astronomy and Fellow of Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge Michele Dougherty Professor of Space Physics at Imperial College London And Andrew Coates Deputy Director in charge of the Solar System at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory at UCL.

Simon Barraclough was poet-in-residence at UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory in 2014. Laboratorio, a collection of poems from scientists and poets, has resulted from the residency. In this podcast, Simon chats about the intersection of poetry and space science and reads some highlights from the anthology. Further info: http://blogs.rmg.co.uk/rog/2015/10/30/laboratorio-poems-from-the-mullard-space-science-laboratory/ Photo credit: Simon Barraclough

Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham hear from the Rosetta mission's Flight Director, Andrea Accomazzo, about choosing a landing site on comet 67P - plus Apollo astronaut and last man on the Moon, Gene Cernan, on the spacewalk from hell. Dr Lucie Green from the Mullard Space Science Laboratory and the lab's poet in residence, Simon Barraclough, are the lively studio guests. Expect space poetry, scientific insight and a song about photons. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham hear from the Rosetta mission's Flight Director, Andrea Accomazzo, about choosing a landing site on comet 67P - plus Apollo astronaut and last man on the Moon, Gene Cernan, on the spacewalk from hell. Dr Lucie Green from the Mullard Space Science Laboratory and the lab's poet in residence, Simon Barraclough, are the lively studio guests. Expect space poetry, scientific insight and a song about photons. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham hear from the Rosetta mission's Flight Director, Andrea Accomazzo, about choosing a landing site on comet 67P - plus Apollo astronaut and last man on the Moon, Gene Cernan, on the spacewalk from hell. Dr Lucie Green from the Mullard Space Science Laboratory and the lab's poet in residence, Simon Barraclough, are the lively studio guests. Expect space poetry, scientific insight and a song about photons. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Unmanned robotic missions are essential for understanding the planets within our solar system. Current missions comprise of gentle landings combined with rovers to explore the local region. Due to the expense of such missions, and their sometimes unsuitability as scientific outposts, UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory is developing Planetary Penetrators, which aim to land on planets at very high speed, penetrating the planet and implanting equipment just below the surface. This lecture will discuss the engineering difficulties of ensuring delicate instrumentation remains intact and operable after such high impact; and will highlight the biggest hurdle of all - convincing the space agencies to adopt the equipment in the first place! With a whole solar system waiting to be explored, in 40 minutes this talk will describe the UK Penetrator Programme - where we've been, what we've achieved and the opportunities for the future.

Unmanned robotic missions are essential for understanding the planets within our solar system. Current missions comprise of gentle landings combined with rovers to explore the local region. Due to the expense of such missions, and their sometimes unsuitability as scientific outposts, UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory is developing Planetary Penetrators, which aim to land on planets at very high speed, penetrating the planet and implanting equipment just below the surface. This lecture will discuss the engineering difficulties of ensuring delicate instrumentation remains intact and operable after such high impact; and will highlight the biggest hurdle of all - convincing the space agencies to adopt the equipment in the first place! With a whole solar system waiting to be explored, in 40 minutes this talk will describe the UK Penetrator Programme - where we've been, what we've achieved and the opportunities for the future.