Podcasts about Royal Astronomical Society

John A. Read is no stranger to reaching for the stars—both figuratively and literally. Fresh off earning his Master's in Space Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins (without an undergrad in engineering—yes, really), John joins Beth to explore his fascinating journey from finance to astrophysics, and from a $15 pharmacy telescope to founding Stargaze Nova Scotia, a public dark-sky observatory. Along the way, John shares how a spark of curiosity from a Chris Hadfield novel launched him into grad school, how he's helping democratize astronomy through smart telescopes and best-selling books, and why his family's space-inspired creative projects continue to inspire new generations of stargazers. Beth and John also explore the rapid evolution of space tech, investing in emerging space companies, and what celestial sights to look forward to this summer—including a can't-miss list of stellar showstoppers for both casual observers and seasoned skywatchers. About John A. Read: John is an award-winning astronomy author, YouTuber, and outreach educator whose books—including 50 Things to See with a Telescope—have helped thousands learn to stargaze. His company, Learn to Stargaze, creates accessible astronomy resources and experiences for all ages. John also leads Stargaze Nova Scotia and helps manage the historic Abbey Ridge Observatory, bringing the wonders of the cosmos to the public through tours, events, and online content. John's family is equally starry-eyed—his wife and daughter create space-themed art and poetry, including the first augmented-reality space poetry book inspired by a trip to orbit! Mentioned in this episode:

What would happen if planets collided at a snail's pace? How much of Avengers Endgame regarding time is scientifically acceptable? Why aren't stars closer together? And the team discuss a listener's theory to terra-form Mars.Want to support the show? Join The Supermassive Club for exclusive content, star-gazing forums and ad-free listening... supermassive.supportingcast.fmAnd keep adding to The Supermassive Mailbox with your pictures and questions for the team. Send them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow them on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the universe was stuck in an eternal cosmic Groundhog Day? Picture traveling backwards through time past the Big Bang only to discover you've looped right back to where you started - like a cosmic snake eating its own tail. Explore the mind-bending possibility that our entire universe repeats itself in endless cycles, where infinite copies of you exist scattered across millions of light years, all having this exact same conversation at different stages of cosmic evolution. Join cosmologist Niayesh Afshordi from the University of Waterloo and Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, and science communicator Phil Halper, fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, as they dive into Roger Penrose's controversial time loops and the heated scientific battles between cosmologists who engage in academic warfare. Discover the wild world where the universe literally forgets what's big and what's small, why some scientists think this cyclical cosmos is the answer to everything, while others call it pure fantasy - and why both camps might be having religious wars instead of scientific debates. This episode is based on Afshordi and Halper's new book "Battle of the Big Bang: The New Tales of Our Cosmic Origins" from University of Chicago Press, which explores these cosmic battles and 25 different Big Bang models: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/B/bo244963115.html --- Find out more about Gaby's science fiction short story! Here are the links for the anthology. The physical copy can be ordered here : https://www.neonhemlock.com/books/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention The ebook can be ordered here: https://www.neonhemlock.com/ebooks/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention

In this episode, Phoebe tells Annie all about Mary Somerville, a Scottish scientist, writer, and polymath who studied mathematics and astronomy, and in 1835 was elected the first female Honorary Member of the Royal Astronomical Society. Annie tells Phoebe all about Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, who flew a solo mission on Vostok 6 on June 16, 1963. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/chickstory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Start your stopwatches, set your timers, turn back your clocks because Izzie and Dr Becky are talking time. What is it? How, and why, do we measure it? And is time real or a human construct?!Izzie speaks with Anne Curtis at the National Physical Laboratory who works on one of the world's most accurate clocks, and editor Richard has been to the very heart of time itself in Greenwich with Finn Burridge at the Royal Observatory.The Supermassive Club is finally here. Join to support the show and for ad-free listening: https://supermassive.supportingcast.fm/The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Want to support the show? Join The Supermassive Club for exclusive content, star-gazing forums and ad-free listening... supermassive.supportingcast.fmAnd keep adding to The Supermassive Mailbox with your pictures and questions for the team. Send them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow them on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By most popular accounts, the universe started with a bang some 13.8 billion years ago. But what happened before the Big Bang? And how do we know it happened at all? Cosmologist Niayesh Afshordi and science communicator Phil Halper offer a tour of the peculiar possibilities: bouncing and cyclic universes, time loops, creations from nothing, multiverses, black hole births, string theories, and holograms. Incorporating insights from Afshordi's cutting-edge research and Halper's original interviews with scientists like Stephen Hawking, Roger Penrose, and Alan Guth, Afshordi and Halper compare these models for the origin of our origins, showing each theory's strengths and weaknesses and explaining new attempts to test these notions. But most of all, Afshordi and Halper show that this search is filled with wonder, discovery, and community—all essential for remembering a forgotten cosmic past. Niayesh Afshordi is professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Waterloo and associate faculty at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Ontario, Canada. His prize-winning research focuses on competing models for the early universe, dark energy, dark matter, black holes, holography, and gravitational waves. Phil Halper is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a science popularizer. He is the creator of the popular YouTube series Before the Big Bang, which has had several million views. His astronomy images have been featured in major media outlets including The Washington Post, the BBC, and The Guardian, and he has published several papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Einstein's general theory of relativity, plus some reasonable assumptions about the universe and what it's made of, has a remarkable implication: that as we trace cosmic evolution into the far past, we ultimately hit a singularity of infinite density and curvature, the Big Bang. Did that really happen? Einstein's theory is classical, after all, and the world is quantum. And whose to say what assumptions are reasonable? Niayesh Afshordi and Phil Halper have written a new book, Battle of the Big Bang: The New Tales of Our Cosmic Origins, that surveys all of the mind-bending possibilities.Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2025/05/26/316-niayesh-afshordi-and-phil-halper-on-the-big-bang-and-before/Support Mindscape on Patreon.Niayesh Afshordi received a Ph.D. in astrophysics from Princeton University. He is currently a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Waterloo, and associate faculty in the cosmology and gravitation group at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.Web sitePerimeter web pageWaterloo web pageGoogle scholar publicationsPhil Halper is a science communicator and a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. His astronomy images have been featured in major media outlets including The Washington Post, the BBC, and The Guardian, and he has published several papers in peer-reviewed journals.YouTube channel (Skydivephil)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This month's guests:Robert Massey, of the Royal Astronomical Society.Phyllis Gricus, Principal of Landscape Design Studio, LLC.Michael Calhoun, Conservationist and Advocate.Bill's News Picks:Las Vegas sphere owners reportedly want to build "mini spheres" in other cities, Megan Townsend, MixMag. Blue Light Influences Negative Thoughts of Self, Sleep. Swarms of satellites are harming astronomy. Here's how researchers are fighting back, Alexandra Witze, Nature. ‘Space Advertising' Could Outshine the Stars—Unless It's Banned First, Sharmila Kuthunur, Scientific American. Personal 24-hour light exposure pattern with obesity and adiposity-related parameters in school-aged children: a cross-sectional study based on compositional data analysis, Environmental Research. Subscribe:Apple PodcastSpotifyYoutubeTag Us and Share with a Friend:InstagramLinkedInTikTokFacebookConnect:Bill@LightPollutionNews.comJoin our Mailing ListSend Feedback Text to the Show!Support the showA hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible. For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That's $3 a month. If you like what we're doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter! Why Support Light Pollution News? Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests. Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer. Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic. About Light Pollution News: The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you. Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more! But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.

Dans un article qui vient d'être publié dans les Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, deux astrophysiciens japonais montrent, grâce à des simulations, que des étoiles supermassives de plus de 10 000 masses solaires peuvent se former dans des nuages de gaz déjà enrichis en métaux. Ces étoiles supermassives deviennent ensuite autant de graines de trous noirs supermassifs au bout d'un million d'année. Si trop de métaux sont présents, une fragmentation du gaz apparaît et donne lieu à la naissance d'amas globulaires... Source Formation of supermassive stars and dense star clusters in metal-poor clouds exposed to strong FUV radiationSunmyon Chon , Kazuyuki OmukaiMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 539 (3 May 2025)https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staf598 Illustrations Simulations de l'accrétion d'étoiles supermassives en fonction de leur métallicité (Chon & Omukai) Evolution de la masse des étoiles en fonction du temps et de la métallicité (Chon & Omukai) Kazuyuki Omukai et Sunmyon Chon

This month's guests:Robert Massey, of the Royal Astronomical Society.Phyllis Gricus, Principal of Landscape Design Studio, LLC.Michael Calhoun, Conservationist and Advocate.Bill's News Picks:As a lamp you wear a hat, Stefan Oberwalleney, RBB24. From fireflies to fish, light pollution is damaging the environment – what can we do about it?, Emma Charlton, World Economic Forum. How young salmon navigate a gauntlet of danger en route to the sea, Science Daily. This trend for lighting up gardens may seem an inviting one, but it needs to be done with care, Joanne Hunt, The Irish Times. Subscribe:Apple PodcastSpotifyYoutubeTag Us and Share with a Friend:InstagramLinkedInTikTokFacebookConnect:Bill@LightPollutionNews.comJoin our Mailing ListSend Feedback Text to the Show!Support the showA hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible. For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That's $3 a month. If you like what we're doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter! Why Support Light Pollution News? Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests. Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer. Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic. About Light Pollution News: The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you. Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more! But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.

This episode is a weighty one. Some might say massive. It's all about gravity. What is it? Why does it matter? Izzie and Dr Becky explore Einstein and Newton's different ideas on the subject, plus Izzie visits the Royal Society to see Isaac Newton's original manuscript for his works on gravity and the laws of motion. Special thank you to listener Hanna_m_e for suggesting this episode topic and to Professor Tessa Baker, at the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation at the University of Portsmouth, and to Keith Moore, head of collections at the Royal Society for appearing on the show. If you have a question for the team, or an episode suggestion, send them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production in partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gene and cohost Tim Swartz present a special appearance from veteran UFO researcher Chris Rutkowski, who offers a really check about the current state of research into the phenomenon. He has expansive credentials as an investigator and writer, including: contributing editor of International UFO Reporter and was the editor of the Swamp Gas Journal, an occasional Ufozine first published in 1978 when he was part of Decadent Winnipeg Fandom. He is a past-president of the Winnipeg Science Fiction Society and was part of the Winnipeg SF community that gathered Saturdays at the home of the legendary “first fan” Chester Cuthbert. He is also a past-president of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada — Winnipeg Centre and has degrees in science and education. Chris Rutkowski blogs at: uforum.blogspot.com. Rutkowski also has nine published books, including: Visitations? (1989); Unnatural History (1993); Mysterious Manitoba, co-authored with Dave Creighton and Brian Fidler (1997); Abductions and Aliens (2000); The Canadian UFO Report, co-authored with Geoff Dittman (2006); A World of UFOs (2008), I Saw It Too! (2009), The Big Book of UFOs (2010) and When They Appeared, co-authored with Stan Michalak (2019). His last book was Canada's UFOs — Declassified (2022), and he has been working on a new book.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-paracast-the-gold-standard-of-paranormal-radio--6203433/support.

Climb aboard The Supermassive Rocket, Izzie and Becky are (talking about) sending humans back to the moon. Joining them on their trip is European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer and Jacki Mahaffey, the Chief Training Officer for NASA's Artemis II mission. Plus, Dr Robert Massey, the Deputy Director of the Royal Astronomical Society, is there as well to answer your questions and share his top stargazing tips.For more supermassive astronaut episodes, here's our episode with Samantha Cristoforetti and another with Gene Cernan.Keep sending your questions to The Supermassive Podcast at podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on Instagram, @Supermassive Pod.The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is our universe inside a black hole? New evidence from JWST galaxy imagesNew images from the James Webb Space Telescope of distant galaxies could support a mind-bending idea: that our universe was born in a black hole. The images show more of these galaxies spin clockwise, than counterclockwise. Lior Shamir, a computational astrophysicist from Kansas State University, says that may mean our universe inherited the spin of the black hole we're currently living in, though he thinks its more likely that there's something wrong with how we're measuring objects in deep space. The study is published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Modern-day Antarctic explorers go where no-one has gone beforeCBC Reporter Susan Ormiston spent a month on the Canadian Navy ship HMCS Margaret Brooke as it took a team of 15 scientists on a research trip to Antarctica. She brings us the story of Kevin Wilcox, a researcher using an uncrewed sonar vehicle to map the previously inaccessible near-shore waters of the icy continent.Finding out what juvenile sea turtles do during their ‘lost years'Once baby sea turtles swim away from their natal beaches, they enter what marine biologists call their “lost years,” a time of critical growth spent wandering the open sea. A new study is filling in the picture of what they do during this time. The research, led by marine ecologist Katrina Phillips, involved playing a game of oceanic hide and seek to find and track over 100 sea turtles as they moved through the ocean. The work was published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.Concrete plans to transform cement production's CO2 waste into new building materialsCement production is responsible for five to eight per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions. A new study suggests that waste could be made into even more construction materials. Inspired by the way sea creatures build shells, Allesandro Rotto Loria — a civil and environmental engineer from Northwestern University — says they can use CO2 to boost the process to produce carbon-negative materials that could be used in materials like plaster, cement and as a replacement for sand in concrete. Their research is in the journal Advanced Sustainable Systems. A Dinosaur expert goes green — with a deep look at plant evolutionPaleontologist Riley Black has authored several books on dinosaurs. But she realized she had been neglecting the organisms that made dinosaurs – and all other animals – possible: plants. Her new book, When the Earth Was Green: Plants, Animals, and Evolution's Greatest Romance, looks at how plant fossils are telling the billion-years old tale of the evolution of complex life on Earth, from creating the oxygen that we breathe, to coaxing us out of the water and onto land, and even forming the forests that humans evolved in, which shaped our very anatomy from long arms and grippy toes.

Une équipe d'astrophysiciens chinois vient de trouver l'existence d'une corrélation entre la vitesse de rotation des trous noirs supermassifs et le taux de formation des étoiles dans leur galaxie hôte. Il existerait donc un lien étroit entre les caractéristiques du trou noir central et la croissance de la galaxie. Ils publient leur découverte dans les Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Source The relation between black hole spin and star formation in massive star-forming galaxiesYongyun Chen et al.Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 537, Issue 4, March 2025https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staf275 IllustrationsVue d'artiste d'une galaxie à noyau actif formant des étoiles (M. Kornmesser)

Scientists are recruiting elephant seals to learn more about the oceans' twilight zoneBelow about 200 metres there's still a lot going on in the ocean, but it's tremendously hard to observe and understand even with modern technology. Scientists from the University of California, Santa Cruz have maintained a long-term monitoring study of elephant seals. The team, including PhD candidate Allison Payne, has discovered they can use the seals as scientific sentinels, to help humans better understand the conditions of the dark deep sea. The research was published in the journal Science.A cave in Poland reveals a grisly history of stone-age cannibalismA detailed study of the remains of ten individuals who lived — and died — 18,000 years ago in Poland has revealed that they were butchered and probably eaten as the final act in a prehistoric conflict. Characteristic cut marks on their skulls and bones show that they were systematically de-fleshed, before their fragmented remains were tossed aside. This research was led by Francesc Marginedas, a PhD candidate at the Catalan Institute of Human Palaeo-ecology and Social Evolution in Tarragona, Spain.  Their research was published in Scientific Reports.Our ears are weird. Is that just because they're gills?Evolution tends to repurpose things, even as it massively transforms organisms outwardly. A fascinating example is the new finding that the unique cartilage in our external ears seems to have once been gill tissue from our ancient fish ancestors. Gage Crump from the University of Southern California made the discovery using a series of gene-editing experiments on zebrafish. The research was published in the journal Nature.Rabbits replenish their calcium by digesting their teethRabbit teeth constantly grow during the life of the rodents, which means they need calcium to regrow them. A new study suggests that one of the ways rabbits supply calcium for their teeth is by ingesting and recycling the tooth material that grinds off as they chew.  Dr. Johanna Mäkitaipale is a veterinary orthopedic surgeon and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki, Finland. She led this research that was published in The Veterinary Journal.Is dark energy dying? A new theory suggests that the universe has different time zonesFor more than two decades, cosmologists have been invoking the idea of a mysterious dark energy to explain observations that appeared to show an acceleration in the expansion of the universe. But more recent observations are adding weight to a different theory that does away with the dark energy. Ryan Ridden, an astronomer from the University of Canterbury, said the “timescape theory” suggests time simply runs differently in the large empty regions of the universe. Their study is in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Esta ecuación ayuda, por ejemplo, a calcular órbitas de objetos menores que podrían colisionar con la Tierra. Este cálculo también serviría para localizar galaxias y puede aprovecharse mucho mejor conforme la Humanidad logre colocar en el espacio telescopios más capaces y precisos. El descubrimiento ya ha sido publicado en la revista británica ‘Monthlly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society'. El primer científico que estudió este fenómeno fue Isaac Newton; le sucedió más adelante Albert Einstein.

Des astronomes viennent de publier la découverte d'une nouvelle radiogalaxie géante qui arbore des jets de plasma 32 fois plus grands que la taille de notre galaxie. Elle a été nommé « Inkathazo », qui signifie ‘problème' en Xhosa et en Zulu, tant il est difficile de comprendre cet objet avec la physique dont on dispose. La découverte est publiée dans Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Source A spatially resolved spectral analysis of giant radio galaxies with MeerKATKathleen Charlton et al.Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 537, Issue 1, February 2025,https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stae2543 Illustration La radiogalaxie Inkathazo (alias MGTC J100022.85+031520.4) (Kathleen Charlton et al.) Kathleen Charlton

Space Nuts Episode 487: Rethinking the Universe - Dark Energy, Comet Atlas, and Pluto's Moon MysteryJoin Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson as they welcome the newest member to the team and kick off the first episode of 2025 with groundbreaking discussions and cosmic revelations. This episode is packed with intriguing topics, including a revolutionary paper challenging our understanding of dark energy, a mesmerizing comet lighting up our skies, and a fresh perspective on how Pluto acquired its moon, Charon.Episode Highlights:- Dark Energy Debate: Explore the bold new paper suggesting the universe might not have dark energy and isn't expanding as we thought. Fred Watson and guest Professor Jonti Horner delve into the implications of this paradigm-shifting research and what it means for the future of cosmology.- Comet C/2024 G3 Atlas: Discover the celestial wonder of Comet Atlas, a once-in-160,000-year event. Learn about its journey close to the sun and how you can catch a glimpse of this spectacular comet in the night sky.- Pluto's Moon Charon: Uncover the fascinating story behind Pluto's largest moon, Charon. Jonti Horner explains the new theory of a gentle collision that might have led to Charon's capture, providing fresh insights into the dynamics of our solar system.- Astronomical Events of 2025: Get a sneak peek into the best celestial events to look forward to this year, including lunar eclipses and meteor showers.For more Space Nuts, including our continually updating newsfeed and to listen to all our episodes, visit our website. Follow us on social media at SpaceNutsPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music Music, Tumblr, Instagram, and TikTok. We love engaging with our community, so be sure to drop us a message or comment on your favourite platform.For more Space and Astronomy News Podcasts, visit our HQ at www.bitesz.com.If you'd like to help support Space Nuts and join our growing family of insiders for commercial-free episodes and more, visit spacenutspodcast.com/aboutStay curious, keep looking up, and join us next time for more stellar insights and cosmic wonders. Until then, clear skies and happy stargazing.00:00 - Andrew Dunkley returns to Space Nuts with Professor Fred Watson02:21 - Professor Jonti Horner is filling in for Fred for next month04:38 - New research suggests the universe has no dark energy and isn't expanding13:31 - Andrew Dunkley: The dark energy model fits the, uh, data better16:21 - C 2024 G3 Atlas was discovered in 202422:51 - Fred says people should look out for comet in the evening sky next week27:05 - This is an interesting story about how Pluto got its moon34:02 - The encounter between Theia and Pluto lasted 10 hours, Fred says36:43 - This year is absolutely terrible for eclipses of the sun40:09 - Andrew Dunkley: Thanks to Professor Fred Watson and Professor Jonti Horner✍️ Episode ReferencesUniversity of Southern Queensland[https://www.usq.edu.au/](https://www.usq.edu.au/)University of Canterbury[https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/](https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/)Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society[https://academic.oup.com/mnras](https://academic.oup.com/mnras)Dark Energy Survey[https://www.darkenergysurvey.org/](https://www.darkenergysurvey.org/)Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)[https://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/](https://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/)Space.com[https://www.space.com/](https://www.space.com/)Stellarium[https://stellarium.org/](https://stellarium.org/)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts--2631155/support.

SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 07Dark Matter's Role in Milky Way's Stellar StreamsNew research suggests that dark matter may have influenced the formation of the GD-1 stellar stream in the Milky Way. A study in the Astrophysical Journal Letters proposes that a core-collapsing, self-interacting dark matter subhalo could explain the unusual spur and gap features observed in the stream. This finding could deepen our understanding of dark matter's properties and its influence on the universe.Sun's Triple Solar Flare EruptionThe Sun has unleashed three significant X-class solar flares in a single day, with the first and third being X1.1 flares and the second an X1.5. These powerful eruptions, detected by NOAA's Solar Ultraviolet Imager, are part of the Sun's approach to solar maximum, the peak of its 11-year solar cycle. Solar flares can disrupt Earth's communications, power grids, and pose health risks to astronauts.Quadrantids Meteor Shower SpectacleThe Earth is experiencing the Quadrantids meteor shower, offering a dazzling display of shooting stars. Originating from the near-Earth asteroid 2003 EH1, the Quadrantids are best viewed from dark locations, with peak sightings expected in the Pacific region. Sky watchers can anticipate around 50 meteors per hour, with potential fireballs enhancing the spectacle.00:00 This is space time series 28 episode 7 for broadcast on 15 January 202500:46 New research proposes a self interacting dark matter subhalo could explain GD1 features04:24 The sun unleashed three significant X class solar flares on the same day07:19 Earth is experiencing one of its most spectacular meteor showers, the Quadrantids14:31 A quarter of the world's freshwater animals are at risk of extinction16:43 Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg admits that his fact checkers are dishonest20:28 CES has wrapped up in Las Vegas with lots of interesting gadgetswww.spacetimewithstuartgary.comwww.bitesz.com

SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 151*A New Perspective on the Moon's Aitken BasinRecent observations of the Moon's south pole reveal that the Aitken Basin crater is more circular than previously believed. This significant discovery challenges existing theories about its formation and has implications for future lunar missions, including NASA's Artemis program. The study, published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, suggests a more direct impact created the crater, offering potential access to deep lunar material for study.*Gravitational Wave Maps Unveil Hidden Cosmic StructuresAstronomers have developed the most detailed gravitational wave maps yet, revealing hidden black holes and cosmic structures. Using pulsar timing arrays, researchers have detected a background of gravitational waves across the universe. This groundbreaking research, reported in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, opens new avenues for understanding galactic evolution and the universe's history.*NASA's First Aircraft Accident Investigation on another planetNASA has conducted its first aircraft accident investigation on another planet following the crash of the Mars Ingenuity helicopter. The investigation revealed that the helicopter's navigation system struggled with the featureless Martian terrain, leading to a hard landing. Despite the crash, Ingenuity continues to provide valuable data for future Mars missions.00:00 This is space Time Series 27, Episode 151 for broadcast on 16 December 202400:47 New observations of the Moon's south pole have shown the Aitken Basin crater is circular05:04 Space astronomers have created the most detailed maps ever of gravitational waves across universe14:10 The Meerkat radio telescope is probably the best radio telescope at the moment18:52 NASA conducting first ever aircraft accident investigation on another planet24:11 Single mutation on H5N1 bird flu could make human infections more likely26:14 A recent study found journalists brains are suffering from poor executive functioningwww.spacetimewithstuartgary.comwww.bitesz.com

On this episode of Destination on the Left, I'm talking with eight industry professionals at OMCA Marketplace, held in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. These conversations emphasize the evolving nature of the travel industry driven by changes in traveler expectations, strategic international cooperation, and a strong focus on quality and convenience. In this episode, you'll hear from these travel industry professionals: Jeffrey Goldwasser: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-goldwasser-36264711/ Brittany Dykla: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-dykla-cpa-7a50b036/ Jennifer Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifernealmiller/ Karine Boudreau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karine-boudreau-722355205/ Marcy Barnes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcy-barnes-8b98092b/ Mary Ellen Hudson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-ellen-hudson-4807071b/ Ray DeNure: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-denure-7852805b/ Ben Rome: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benhrome/ Jeffrey Goldwasser – Sales Representative For Amaya Seating Jeffrey reflects on how many industry shows he attends each year and underscores the importance of networking outside the booths, such as in elevators, meals, or after-parties, where meaningful connections often occur. He also talks about supporting the “Women in Buses” initiative under the ABA, recognizing women's critical role in the bus industry. Jeffrey describes the OMCA Marketplace as “evolving,” appreciating the opportunity to meet new people and establish future business connections. Brittany Dykla – CFO Of Brilliant Edventures Brittany discusses the integral role of collaboration in tourism, which distinguishes it from other sectors where collaboration often requires additional encouragement. She notes the importance of leveraging the current travel boom for long-term growth through immersive, storytelling-driven experiences that feel exclusive to the group and resonate with younger generations. She loves the OMCA Marketplace, praising its collaborative, productive atmosphere! Jennifer Miller – Manager, Domestic Tourism From Visit Detroit We discuss the vibrant tourism offerings available in Metropolitan Detroit that help visitors enjoy the city's rich history and fun distillery scene. She highlights valuable cross-border collaborations with Windsor, Ontario, such as the Detroit Grand Prix and the Freedom Festival fireworks. Jennifer describes the OMCA Marketplace as “comfortable” with effective networking opportunities that help build valuable industry relationships. Karine Boudreau – Sales And Marketing Coordinator From Destination Moncton Dieppa Karine describes her first time attending the OMCA Marketplace as welcoming and says it's an excellent opportunity to make new contacts. She shares the increasing popularity of real-life experiences that revolve around food, leisure activities, and spending time outdoors such as the enchanted night walk that depicts the Acadian culture in the best possible way. Marcy Barnes – Market Development Specialist From Tourism New Brunswick Marcy identifies sustainability as a growing trend in the tour and travel sector for 2025, which includes practices like using reusable water bottles and alternative transportation methods. She mentions the advantage of taking longer trips to improve sustainability, reducing the need for multiple short flights throughout the year. Marcy uses a gardening analogy to emphasize the importance of relationship building at events like OMCA, comparing initial meetings to planting seeds and subsequent interactions to nurturing a relationship. Mary Ellen Hudson – Travel Trade From Fredericton Capital Region Tourism Mary Ellen highlights the growing interest in astrotourism, following significant astronomical events like the total eclipse observed in Fredericton. She mentions partnerships with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada to promote events such as star-watching and telescope observations, which cater to this upcoming trend. She describes the OMCA Marketplace as “fun,” leaning into the energetic and social nature of the travel industry event. Ray DeNure – Owner From DeNure Tours Ray discusses taking a long-term view of the industry, understanding the broader context, and integrating forward-looking strategies to sustain and grow the business while accommodating shifting travel behaviors and preferences. He emphasizes events like the OMCA Marketplace's positive role in making business connections and creating informal networking opportunities in social settings. Ben Rome – Director Of Communications And Brand From American Bus Association We discuss the resurgence of travel bookings and the increased numbers of solo travel and single-family travel. People now seem to be open to traveling to international destinations right now too, whereas over the past couple of years travel has mostly been land-based domestic travel. Ben also shares his experience of experiential travel demand and why younger people, particularly, are drawn to immersive travel as they want to be part of the story. We value your thoughts and feedback and would love to hear from you. Leave us a review on your favorite streaming platform to let us know what you want to hear more o​f. Here is a quick tutorial on how to leave us a rating and review on iTunes!

The Supermassive Team are investigating strange blasts of energy in space called Fast Radio Bursts. What are they and where do they come from? Dr Stuart Ryder from Macquarie University in Australia joins Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert to help explain.  Christmas Present Ideas  Astronaut Chris Hadfield's talk - A Journey into The Cosmos Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition at Royal Museums Greenwich Telescope SeeStar S50  Image stabilising binoculars Cosmos (book) from DK The Impossible Man by Patchen Barrs.  The Little Book of Cosmic Catastrophes by Sarah Webb The Night Sky Almanac for 2025 by Radmila Topalovic, Storm Dunlop and Wil Tirion Keep sending your brilliant questions and photos to podcast@ras.ac.uk or on Instagram @SupermassivePod. The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham

Octopus camouflage is incredibly hard workOctopuses have the remarkable ability to change their appearance in the blink of an eye – assuming new skin coloration and patterns for camouflage or communication. A new study in the journal PNAS has explored how much energy this takes, and it turns out transforming themselves is a workout harder than you'd ever get at the gym. Dr. Kirt Onthank is a professor of Biology at Walla Walla University and known as The Octopus Guy on social media.Bigger isn't better when it comes to dog brainsDog bodies and brain sizes vary enormously, but a new study comparing dogs' cognitive abilities and personalities with brain size reveals some surprises. The research, led by evolutionary biologist Ana Balcarcel, found that the biggest brains relative to their body sizes belong to the small, anxious, excitable companion dogs, while the trainable, obedient working breeds are not gifted when it comes to volume of brain tissue. The work was published in the journal Biology Letters.This universe is too sparse, this one's too dense, and this one? Well, it'll doOur universe might seem like it's perfectly tuned for life, but when it comes to the role dark energy plays in the emergence of life, it turns out that our universe might not be so special after all. A new study that simulated the development of hypothetical universes with different amounts of dark energy suggests the optimal amount of dark energy to enable the evolution of life is only one-tenth of the density in our universe. Daniele Sorini, a postdoctoral researcher at Durham University and his team published their work in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.  Why a smack on the lips might have come from a snack on a tickLip mashing is an oddity in the animal kingdom. Other than humans, few species have adopted the custom of pressing lips together as a signal of affection. A new theory for why humans kiss suggests it emerged from primate grooming practices, and the lip-lock has its roots in us slurping up parasites we've combed from a companion's fur. Dr. Adriano Lameira, an evolutionary psychologist at the University of Warwick published his new hypothesis in the journal Evolutionary Anthropology. Taking out our brains' trash may be key to maintaining a healthy brainSome scientists think it's possible that a host of neurological disorders, from Alzheimer's to Parkinson's, could be connected to problems with the way the brain rids itself of metabolic waste. A couple of recent studies in Nature are helping this longstanding puzzle about how this waste removal system works and what we might be able to do about it when it doesn't. A study published in Nature describes how synchronized electrical waves help flush the waste out when we sleep. Jonathan Kipnis, a neuroimmunologist from Washington University in St. Louis, said our neurons that are driving this waste removal system through what's known as the glymphatic system. A separate study of how gamma frequency stimulation, at 40 cycles per second, can kickstart gamma waves that are compromised in the brains of people with Alzheimer's. Li-Huei Tsai, a neuroscientist from MIT, said they found this stimulation flushes out beta-amyloid peptides in the brains of mice that would otherwise build up and form plaques which are the hallmark of diseased Alzheimer's brains.

Before December, the United Nations aims to have a global treaty in place covering efforts to limit global plastic production and pollution. In a paper in the journal Science, a team of scientists have used machine learning to estimate what happens by 2050 if we do nothing. But they have also found that the problem is solvable, with the right political will, and as marine ecologist Neil Nathan of UCSB points out, with surprisingly little new rules, waste could be reduced by 91%.Machine learning this week has also helped in the creation of Evo, a tool that has created a sort of chat-GPT for the language of life, DNA. Patrick Hsu, of the University of California at Berkeley is very optimistic that the power of this tool both to predict function and one day even design whole organisms is a foundational new approach. Migratory birds navigate vast distances without GPS. It's long been strongly suspected that they use the earth's magnetic field to find their way, but Richard Holland of Bangor University and colleagues have found nuance in the way they do, and publish their findings in Proceedings of the Royal Society B this week. Using electromagnetic cages they have fooled individual warblers into acting as if they were in Russia, whilst actually still being in Austria.Meanwhile, Daniele Sorini, a cosmologist at Durham University has been thinking about dark energy and the possibility of our existence. In a thought experiment wondering what changing the density of dark energy would do to the likelihood of our being here to even think about it. Slightly contrary to what many reason is the fine-tuning of universal constants to allow us, as intelligent observers, to exist, Daniele and colleagues calculate that actually our observed density of dark energy is not the most likely to allow intelligent life. If there are other universes in the multiverse, most observers would think there was much more dark energy than we do. You can read up about it in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, if you are an intelligent observer yourself.Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Alex Mansfield with Eliane Glaser Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth (Image: Plastic waste issues in Philippines. Credit: Daniel Ceng/Anadolu via Getty Images)

From pulsating stars to those with diamond cores, Izzie and Dr Becky are exploring weird and wonderful stars. What are the different types of stars in our universe? And what are the oddballs? Plus Dr Robert Massey is here for your top stargazing tips. With thanks to Professor Andrew Norton from the Open University for joining the team this episode. Keep sending your brilliant questions and photos to podcast@ras.ac.uk or on Instagram @SupermassivePod.  The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham

Izzie and Dr Becky complete their tour of the solar system with a trip to Mercury, the space spirograph (copyright: Dr Becky). Join them as they explore what we know about the planet so far and what ESA's current mission, BepiColombo, is hoping to find. Plus, Dr Robert Massey is on hand to answer your questions.  Special thanks to guests Dr David Rothery from the Open University and Dr Simon Lindsay from the University of Leicester.  Don't forget to send your questions to the team via podcast@ras.ac.uk or Instagram @SupermassivePod The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. 

Paul Hill and Dr. Jenifer “Dr. Dust” Millard host.  Damien Phillips, John Wildridge and Dustin Ruoff produce. Today we bring you two of the plenary sessions from the British Planetary Science Conference, 2024, hosted by Space Park Leicester and the National Space Centre on June 18-21, 2024.   - Dr. Aprajita Verma of the UK ELT Programme. - Dr. Steven G. Banham Research Fellow in planetary surface processes at the ICL.   The Space Park newsletter reports:  Dr. Jenifer Millard, Managing Editor at Fifth Star Labs, added: “I attended BPSC2024 not as a planetary scientist, but as an astronomer and science communicator, hoping to be inspired and learn beyond my field of expertise. … I'm delighted to say I was not disappointed by the event Space Park Leicester enabled. It was a fantastic few days of learning in a wonderful, encouraging and most importantly safe environment.” The conference was supported by the UK Space Agency, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Europlanet Society and the Royal Astronomical Society. A gallery of event images can be found here: https://www.space-park.co.uk/galleries/bpsc2024/   www.awesomeastronomy.com Bio: Awesome Astronomy explores the frontiers of science, space and our evolving understanding of the universe. Join Paul & Jeni for informative and fun astronomy programmes dedicated to space and astronomy news and monthly podcast extras covering hot topics and special interviews in the world of science and astronomy.   We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs.  Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can! Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to them too!  Every bit helps! Thank you! ------------------------------------ Do go visit http://www.redbubble.com/people/CosmoQuestX/shop for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness! http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations.  Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!) ------------------------------------ The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Planetary Science Institute. http://www.psi.edu Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org.

Episode: 2899 The Rise and Fall of Celestial Navigation As Seen Through the Development of the Sextant.  Today, the Vanishing Sextant.

Welcome to Astronomy Daily, the Podcast that brings you the latest news and updates from the world of space and astronomy. I'm your host, Anna, and today we have some exciting topics to cover, from the early signs of the sun's next solar cycle to a groundbreaking discovery by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover. There's a lot to discuss. We'll also delve into the recent findings on Jupiter's great red spot and get an update on Boeing's Starliner capsule. Whether you're a seasoned astronomer or just a space enthusiast, there's something here for everyone. So let's get started.First Signs of Solar Cycle 26 Detected: Scientists have detected the first rumblings of the next eleven-year solar cycle through sound waves within the sun, even though we're still halfway through the current one, Solar Cycle 25. This discovery, presented at the Royal Astronomical Society's national astronomy meeting, came from researchers at the University of Birmingham. Using internal sound waves, astronomers have pinpointed patterns of faster and slower rotating bands within the sun, known as solar torsional oscillation. Dr. Rachel Howe noted that a faint sign of the next solar cycle, Cycle 26, is now visible in the data, indicating that it will officially commence around 2030. This ongoing research aims to advance our knowledge of solar dynamics and prepare for the impacts of solar activity on Earth.- Curiosity Mars Rover's Groundbreaking Discovery: On May 30, NASA's Curiosity rover made a surprising discovery by driving over a rock and revealing yellow sulfur crystals, a sight never before seen on Mars. This find suggests new insights into Mars' geologic and hydrologic history. The rover has been exploring the Geddes Valis channel, uncovering various clues about the planet's past, including chemical interactions and water flows. Project scientist Ashwin Vasavada described the discovery as finding an oasis in the desert, highlighting its significance in understanding Mars' complex narrative.- Boeing's Starliner Capsule Update: Boeing is making strides in understanding the thruster issues that delayed the return of its Starliner capsule from the International Space Station. Engineers recently completed tests on a spare thruster, providing invaluable data for troubleshooting the problem. NASA's commercial crew program manager, Steve Stitch, emphasized the importance of these tests in ensuring a safe return for astronauts Butch Wilmore and SUNY Williams. Although there's no confirmed return date yet, the detailed analysis will guide the necessary adjustments before clearing Starliner for its journey home.- Jupiter's Great Red Spot Shrinking: Jupiter's Great Red Spot, the largest windstorm in the solar system, has been shrinking over the past century. A new study led by Caleb Kevinney from Yale University might shed light on why this is happening. Using 3D simulations, researchers discovered that smaller transient storms feed into the Great Red Spot, helping to sustain its size. This study has broader implications for understanding both Jovian and terrestrial weather systems, potentially improving our predictive capabilities for extreme weather events on Earth.Don't forget to visit our website at astronomydaily.io to sign up for our free daily newsletter and stay updated with the latest space news. Follow us on social media at AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, and TikTok to join our community of stargazers and space enthusiasts. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the universe.Become a supporter of this podcast: Support Astronomy Daily.www.bitesz.comShow our sponsor some love and do yourself a giant security favour at the smae time...visit Malwarebytes and see what you're missing out on. It's the one we use and recommend. Visit www.bitesz.com/malwarebytes for details.

Dr. Jo Dunkley is a Professor of Physics and Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton University and author of the book Our Universe: An Astronomer's Guide. Jo is a cosmologist, and her job is to study the universe. She conducts research to try to approximate how space behaves as a whole. This includes looking into space and taking measurements to determine how the universe began, what it's made of, how it's growing, and what is going to happen to it in the future. Physics and family are two of the major pieces in Jo's life. She loves spending time with her two daughters, while they run, draw, sing, and learn about space. She received her MSci with First Class Honors in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge and her PhD in Astrophysics from the University of Oxford. Afterwards, she conducted postdoctoral research and was subsequently a Visiting Research Fellow at Princeton University. Before joining the faculty at Princeton University, Jo served on the faculty at the University of Oxford. Over the course of her career, Jo has received numerous awards and honors including the Maxwell Medal from the Institute of Physics, the Royal Astronomical Society's Fowler Prize in Astronomy, the Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award, the Royal Society Wolfson Merit Award, and the Philip Leverhulme Prize from the Leverhulme Trust. She also shared the Gruber Foundation Cosmology Prize, a NASA Group Achievement Award, and most recently the Breakthrough Prize for Fundamental Physics with the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe team. In our interview, Jo speaks about some of her experiences in life and science.

In this month's bonus episode Izzie, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey tackle questions on pulsars, woo woo sounds from black holes, imperfect spheres and alien aurorae. Send your questions to: podcast@ras.ac.uk, and we're also on instagram @SupermassivePod.  The Supermassive podcast is produced by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham and is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society.

Modern astronomy is a job for professionals. Amateurs discover comets and make many other contributions. But most of the cutting-edge research is done by professional scientists using expensive telescopes and other equipment. In the not-so-distant past, though, many major discoveries were made by “gentleman astronomers” — rich men who built their own telescopes and shared a passion for the stars. That was especially true in Britain. There wasn’t much public money for telescopes, and only a handful of men made their living as full-time astronomers. In fact, the Royal Astronomical Society was dominated by amateurs — doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and industrialists who had the time, money, and desire to study the heavens. They built entire observatories — sometimes in England, sometimes in parts of the globe with better climates for skywatching. In 1845, William Parsons, the Earle of Rosse, built the largest telescope in the world at his estate in Ireland. Its mirror was six feet across, and the 60-foot tube was maneuvered by ropes, pulleys, and cranes. With this behemoth, Parsons drew beautiful sketches of galaxies, and suggested they were “cities of stars” beyond the Milky Way. And in 1846, beer baron William Lassell discovered Triton, the largest moon of the planet Neptune, with a telescope of his own design. We’ll have more about this “gentleman astronomer” tomorrow. Script by Damond Benningfield

With the rapid growth of new evidence from astronomy, space science and biology that supports the theory of life as a cosmic rather than terrestrial phenomenon, this book discusses a set of crucial data and pictures showing that life is still arriving at our planet. Although it could spark controversy among the most hardened sceptics this book will have an important role in shaping future science in this area.We are led to believe that modern science is free of all forms of irrational prejudice that plagued science over the centuries. In this book we document an instance when this is far from true in relation to the most fundamental aspects of biology — the question of the origin of life and its cosmic provenance. From the early 1980's evidence in favour of the theory of cosmic life and a version of panspermia, developed by Fred Hoyle and CW has grown to the point that its continued marginalisation, or even outright rejection, is a cause for serious concern. We present here the story of panspermia in which we ourselves have been directly involved…Milton Wainwright, BSc, PhD, FRAS was born in 1950 in the mining village of Fitzwilliam in the West Riding of Yorkshire. He obtained his BSc and PhD from Nottingham University, and after a short period as a National Research Council of Canada Research Fellow became lecturer in Environmental Microbiology at the University of Sheffield. Here, he taught and researched for forty-two years in the Departments of Microbiology and Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. He is an Honorary Professor at the Universities of Cardiff and Buckingham, UK, the University of Ruhuna, Sri, Lanka, and the Slavic University of North Macedonia; he is also a Visiting Professor of King Saud University, Riyadh, and one of the few biologists to be made a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He has published widely on the history of science, particularly on the germ theory, the history of antibiotics (notably penicillin) and alternative accounts of the history of natural selection and evolution. Nalin Chandra Wickramasinghe, MBE, BSc (Ceylon), MA, PhD, ScD (Cantab), Hon DSc (Sri Lanka, Ruhuna), Hon DLitt (Tokyo, Soka), FRAS, FRSA was born in 1939 in Sri Lanka. He commenced work in Cambridge on his PhD degree under the supervision of the late Sir Fred Hoyle, and published his first scientific paper in 1961 He was awarded a PhD degree in Mathematics in 1963 and was elected a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge in the same year. In the following year he was appointed a Staff Member of the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge where he remained until 1973. He was formerly a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge and Staff Member of the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge; Formerly Professor and Head of the Department of Applied Mathematics and Astronomy, Cardiff University, UK; Director of the Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, University of Buckingham, UK; Honorary Professor, University of Buckingham; Honorary Professor University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka; Honorary Professor, Sir John Kotelawala Defence University of Sri Lanka; Adjunct Professor, National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Sri Lanka. He has also held visiting Professorial appointment in the US, Canada and Japan and Sri Lanka over the past four decades. Professor Wickramasinghe has published over 350 papers in major scientific journals, some sixty in the journal Nature. Together with the late Sir Fred he pioneered the theory of cometary panspermia the evidence for which has become compelling over the past few years. Finally, he is also the author/co-author of over thirty-five books.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/earth-ancients--2790919/support.

In this episode, we travel to Vancouver, British Columbia, on the west coast of Canada. I chatted with Robert Conrad, president of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in Vancouver, to learn about some great ways to enjoy the night sky. I also share some super fun nighttime activities for those cloudy nights. Visit NightSkyTourist.com/96 for more information about this episode. CHECK OUT THESE LINKS FROM EPISODE 96: Royal Astronomical Society of Canada- Vancouver: https://rasc-vancouver.com/  Vancouver Astronomy Meetup Group: https://www.meetup.com/astronomy-131/  RASC-Vancouver Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rascvancouver/  RASC- Vancouver Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RASCVancouver  Whistler Astronomy Club Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/326912794079774  Light Pollution Map: https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/  Native Skywatchers Ojibwe Star Map: https://www.nativeskywatchers.com/resources.html  Stellarium: https://stellarium-web.org/  Clear Outside (cloud forecast & map): https://clearoutside.com/forecast/50.7/-3.52  Lost Souls of Gastown tours: https://forbiddenvancouver.ca/lost-souls-of-gastown-vancouver-tour/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw9IayBhBJEiwAVuc3fiEmwiWlrLBVCULeer9k4mARR5hBivOF49k9vwFiC_FbJwMDha0MlhoCMlEQAvD_BwE  Richmond Night Market: https://richmondnightmarket.com/  Stanley Park: https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/stanley-park.aspx  Grouse Mountain: https://www.grousemountain.com/  Capilano Suspension Bridge Park: https://www.capbridge.com/  Rate Night Sky Tourist with 5 stars on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. THANK YOU! FOLLOW NIGHT SKY TOURIST ON SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NightSkyTourist  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nightskytourist/  SPREAD THE WORD Help us reach more people by subscribing to the podcast, leaving a review, and sharing it with others. GET TO KNOW US MORE Visit NightSkyTourist.com to read our great blog articles, check out our resource page, and sign up for our newsletters. Our monthly newsletter has content that is exclusive for subscribers. SHARE YOUR QUESTION We want to hear your questions. They could even become part of a future Q&A. Record your question in a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us at Hello@NightSkyTourist.com. COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS Email us at Hello@NightSkyTourist.com.

Two of the most remarkable spacecraft ever launched are the stars of this month's episode: Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. Izzie and Dr Becky talk to Dr Jamie Rankin, the mission's current Deputy project scientist, and editor Richard gets to chat to Ann Druyan, the original Creative Director of the Golden Record project, who worked alongside her husband Carl Sagan. The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. 

Be careful what you say — a single phrase can define a legacy. Consider Frances Baily. He served four terms as president of the Royal Astronomical Society and compiled some of the most important star catalogs in history. But he's best known for five little words: “like a string of beads.” Baily was born 250 years ago today, in England. As a young man, he traveled to the wilds of North America, then joined the London Stock Exchange. He was especially good at the mathematical side of things, compiling guides about annuities and life insurance. He made a fortune, then retired in 1825 to spend all of his time on astronomy. Baily had already helped establish the forerunner of the royal society. He used his skills from his days in business to compile star catalogs — work that required a lot of tedious calculations. One of them was the leading publication of its time. In 1836, Baily watched a solar eclipse from Scotland. Just before the Sun vanished, he noticed little points of light around the edge of the Moon. Edmond Halley had seen the same thing more than a century earlier. Halley even explained those points: they're sunlight shining through gaps between lunar mountains and craters. To his fellow astronomers, Baily described them as “a row of lucid points, like a string of beads.” So today, the points are known as “Baily's beads” — insuring a bit of immortality for an insurance expert-turned-astronomer. Script by Damond Benningfield

Hosted by Chris Beckett & Shane Ludtke, two amateur astronomers in Saskatchewan. actualastronomy@gmail.com Our guest today is Peter Jedicke who was National President of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada from 2004 to 2006 and is now a Fellow of the RASC. He is also Honorary President of the RASC London Centre. His favourite astronomical topic, both astrophysically and as an observer, is globular clusters and co-authored the RASCC Observer's Handbook section on Star Clusters. Peter co-authors the Star Clusters section of the RASC Observer's Handbook. Lastly, Peter helped start the list of asteroid names with Canadian connections which will be our topic today but….   Let's  chat about globular star clusters since, as you pointed out Peter, it's best to focus on a narrow topic as the show time whips by!   * Helen B. Sawyer [Hogg], 1947. Out of Old Books-Catalogues of Nebulous Objects in the Eighteenth Century. Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Vol. 41, p. 265-273 Also: Helen B. Sawyer [Hogg], 1948. Astronomical Journal, Vol. 53, p. 117 * * What are Star Clusters? * - 2 types: OC and GC what is the diff…maybe we'll do Open Clusters another time. * - Age & Number of stars which equate to variations in CLs + magnitude, colour + number. * Where do they come from    * So what is a globular star cluster exactly?    * Why old-rich-symetrical-live in galactic halo?    * What are the differences in concentration and spectral classifications?    * What is it you enjoy about globulars?    * Variable stars in globular clusters    * Helen Sawyer Hogg & my one summer working as a "research assistant" at Western U.    * Something about where globular clusters fit in with cosmology. Age & role in galaxy mergers.    * How many have you observed?    * Where have you traveled to observe them?    * Which are your favourites?   We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs.  Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can! Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to them too!  Every bit helps! Thank you! ------------------------------------ Do go visit http://www.redbubble.com/people/CosmoQuestX/shop for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness! http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations.  Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!) ------------------------------------ The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Planetary Science Institute. http://www.psi.edu Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org.

Can wobbly planets have more than two solstices? Are we earthlings receding from the sun and the other planets? What is dark flow and why is it controversial? When stars die, is their energy lost forever?  Send your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on Instagram @SupermassivePod.  The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. 

On May 28, in the year 585 BCE, there was a total solar eclipse during a battle between the kingdoms of Media and Lydia. This eclipse had been predicted by Thales of Miletus, and it led to the ends of both the battle and the war. Maybe.  Research: "Thales of Miletus." Math & Mathematicians: The History of Math Discoveries Around the World, edited by Leonard C. Bruno, UXL, 2008. Gale In Context: Science, link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1669000047/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=941ff118. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024. "Thales." Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography, vol. 13, Charles Scribner's Sons, 2008, pp. 295-298. Gale In Context: U.S. History, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX2830904273/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=78008eeb. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024. Airy, G. B. “On the Eclipses of Agathocles, Thales, and Xerxes.” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, vol. 143, 1853, pp. 179–200. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/108561. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024. Batten, A. H. “The Saros Period and Halley's Comet.” Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Vol.76, NO. 4, P. 258, 1982. https://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1982JRASC..76..258B Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Thales of Miletus". Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Dec. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thales-of-Miletus. Accessed 20 March 2024. Cantor, Lea. “Thales – the ‘first philosopher'? A troubled chapter in the historiography of philosophy.” British Journal of the History of Philosophy. 2022, VOL. 30, NO. 5, 727–750. https://doi.org/10.1080/09608788.2022.2029347 Couprie, Dirk L. “How Thales Was Able to "Predict" a Solar Eclipse without the Help of Alleged Mesopotamian Wisdom.” Early Science and Medicine , 2004, Vol. 9, No. 4 (2004). https://www.jstor.org/stable/4130201 Downey, Ed. “Thales of Miletus.” Great Neck Publishing. 8/1/2017. Via EBSCO. Gershon, Livia. “How Astronomers Write History.” JSTOR Daily. 3/10/2024. https://daily.jstor.org/how-astronomers-write-history/ Leloux, Kevin. “The Battle of the Eclipse (May 28, 585 BC): A Discussion of the Lydo-Median Treaty and the Halys Border.” Polemos 19 (2016). https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/264738 Miguel Querejeta, ‘On the Eclipse of Thales, Cycles and Probabilities', Culture And Cosmos, Vol. 15, no. 1, Spring/Summer 2011, pp. 5–16. www.CultureAndCosmos.org Mosshammer, Alden A. “Thales' Eclipse.” Transactions of the American Philological Association (1974-2014). 1981, Vol. 111 (1981). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/284125 O'Grady, Patricia. “Thales of Miletus (c. 620 B.C.E.—c. 546 B.C.E.).” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. https://iep.utm.edu/thales/ Redlin, Lothar et al. “Thales' Shadow.” Mathematics Magazine , Dec., 2000, Vol. 73, No. 5 (Dec., 2000). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2690810 Stanley, Matthew. “Predicting the Past: Ancient Eclipses and Airy, Newcomb, and Huxley on the Authority of Science.” Isis, vol. 103, no. 2, 2012, pp. 254–77. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.1086/666355. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024. Worthen, Thomas. “Herodotus' Report on Thales' Eclipse.” Vol. 3, No. 7. May 1997. https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ElAnt/V3N7/worthen.html See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's International Dark Sky Week! ✨

Izzie and Dr Becky are venturing into interstellar space. What is it? Where is it? And what do we know about it?  With special thanks to Professor Martin Barstow from University of Leicester and Professor Chris Lintott from the University of Oxford. Chris' new book "Our Accidental Universe" is out now.  Check out the RAS's video on Pons Brooks here: https://ras.ac.uk/news-and-press/news/12ppons-brooks-how-and-when-see-devil-comet The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. 

Hosted by Chris Beckett & Shane Ludtke, two amateur astronomers in Saskatchewan. actualastronomy@gmail.com   Bio: Tim Doucette Tim believes that through education and awareness of the Universe, the world can become a better place. Through his passion for Astronomy and his photography, Tim shows us the beauty of the heavens. He was born blind with congenital cataracts. Later these cataracts were surgically removed along with the lenses of his eyes, Tim's unique eye condition leaves him legally blind but able to perceive colors in the Universe through a telescope that very few others can see.   Shortly after joining the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Tim discovered his unique eye condition. He set up an observatory in Moncton, New Brunswick where he found a love for sharing the night sky with others.   He and his family currently reside in his hometown of Quinan, NS and own and operate a successful astro tourism business. Working with the municipality and the Starlight Foundation (backed by UNESCO and the IAU), the area has received the first “Starlight Tourist Destination and Reserve” designation in North America.   https://www.deepskyeye.com/   * Welcome to the show Tim! * How did you get into astronomy? AND Can you share with us how you see the Universe differently? * What was your first instrument / telescope(s)? Tasco * Are the skies dark where you are in Quinan, Nova Scotia? * Tell us a little about your astro tourism business? (I saw the photos online and it looks like business is booming) * How did you get into running your business? * I was viewing the site, cabin, camp sites. * What telescopes & instruments? * How do you like the SW 16-inch dob? * What eyepieces work best for you?   The Counting Stars citizen science project: https://www.novascotiastarlight.com/countingstars Luxury Lodge mentioned: https://www.troutpoint.com/ Local Tourism: https://www.yarmouthandacadianshores.com/en/   We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs.  Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can! Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to them too!  Every bit helps! Thank you! ------------------------------------ Do go visit http://www.redbubble.com/people/CosmoQuestX/shop for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness! http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations.  Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!) ------------------------------------ The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Planetary Science Institute. http://www.psi.edu Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org.

What is cosmic dust? Could we reignite a dying Sun with a nuclear weapon? How do we know what galaxies stars are in, and can the JWST see streetlights on alien worlds? If you have a question for the Supermassive team, send them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod. The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. 

Izzie and Dr Becky are exploring shaky ground, whether that's on Earth, other planets and even on our neighbour the Moon. This month is all about quakes.  With special thanks to Mark Panning, the project scientist for NASA's InSight mission, and Dr Jess Johnson from the University of East Anglia. Join Izzie and the UK Space Education Office for Mars Day on Tuesday 5th March, sign up to the virtual event here.  Explore the North Tyneside Solar Trail and discover models representing planets from our solar system, 16 & 17 March 2024 The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. 

Do we see black hole mergers as a result of galaxy mergers? What did the night sky look like to the dinosaurs? Is a gas giant just a rocky planet with a huge and dense atmosphere? Do all orbits eventually end up in resonance?  The Supermassive Team is back with the first bonus episode for 2024! Send in your questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on Instagram, @SupermassivePod. The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. 

The Supermassive Podcast is back for 2024 and putting the "happy" in Happy New Year! What could be a cheerier start to the year than an episode about the End of the World… Astronomically speaking!? From supernova explosions, to super volcanoes, Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey are running through the checklist of big bad things that put our planet at risk. Special thanks goes to Professor Chris Impey from the University of Arizona and author of How It Ends, and Dr Mike Cassidy from the University of Birmingham. Things we promised we'd put in the show notes:  NASA worksheet - https://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/earth/10Page5.pdf Recent Betelgeuse paper - Saio et al. (2023; Betelgeuse in carbon fusion stage) - https://arxiv.org/pdf/2306.00287.pdf  Don't forget to leave us a review, send in your questions ,or share your astrophotography using podcast@ras.ac.uk or find us on Instagram @SupermassivePod.  The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for The Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. 

Hosted by Chris Beckett & Shane Ludtke, two amateur astronomers in Saskatchewan. actualastronomy@gmail.com * Our guest today is Peter Jedicke * I first met Peter when we served on the RASC National Council * Craige Levine, who is a past guest from last Spring, had moved to London Ont….   Bio: Peter was National President of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada from 2004 to 2006 and is now a Fellow of the RASC. He is also Honorary President of the RASC London Centre. His favourite astronomical topic, both astrophysically and as an observer, is globular clusters and co-authored the RASCC Observer's Handbook section on Star Clusters. Lastly,  Peter helped start the list of asteroid names with Canadian connections which will be our topic today but….   We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs.  Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can! Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to them too!  Every bit helps! Thank you! ------------------------------------ Do go visit http://www.redbubble.com/people/CosmoQuestX/shop for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness! http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations.  Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!) ------------------------------------ The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Planetary Science Institute. http://www.psi.edu Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org.

Can you be a serious scientist and believe in God, and even believe in miracles?   Tom Rudelius never thought much about God until his brother, a new convert to Christianity, challenged him to explore faith. Tom, now a rising young theoretical physicist based at Durham University in the UK made a journey to unexpected faith, through subsequent doubt and anxiety, and ultimately to a firmer, life-transforming allegiance to Jesus. Phil and Tom wrestle with creation and cosmic origins, the problem of evil and suffering, the compatibility of miracles with science and the plausibility of Jesus' resurrection. Phil Halper is an atheist, and Youtuber who's interviewed leading physicists from Stephen Hawking, Sir Roger Penrose to Alan Guth for his YouTube series Before the Big Bang. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and published several papers in peer reviewed journals on the Problem of Animal Suffering and has a new film on the subject which features other leading atheists such as Peter Singer and Alex O'Connor.   Taking on Phil is Tom Rudelius author of 'Chasing proof, finding science'. Fresh from post doctoral research at UC Berkeley Tom is now Assistant Professor, Mathematical & Theoretical Particle Physics at Durham University, UK. Tom completed his undergraduate work at Cornell, earned a doctorate in physics at Harvard, and has conducted postdoctoral research at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. His research focuses on string theory, quantum field theory, and early universe cosmology.   Phil Halper https://www.youtube.com/@skydivephil Tom Rudelius Website | Twitter | Instagram  • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101 • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate