Podcasts about Southwest Research Institute

Dr. Al Grauer hosts. Dr. Albert D. Grauer ( @Nmcanopus ) is an observational asteroid hunting astronomer. Dr. Grauer retired from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006. travelersinthenight.org From February 2026. Today's 2 topics: - In an area which is about 1/400th of the entire sky, the NASA Kepler spacecraft has discovered 30 Earth like planets which are likely to have liquid water on their surfaces orbiting distant stars. These planets are likely to represent a tiny sample of the habitable planets which exist in the Milky Way. In spite of our efforts to find them, the question remains where are the alien civilizations? In a recent talk given at the Division of Planetary Sciences meeting Dr. Alan Stern of the Southwest Research Institute suggests that perhaps the majority of worlds with biology and intelligent civilizations exist on interior water ocean worlds where their existence is hidden by the thick layers of rock and ice which separate them from the hostile vacuum of space.   - Eighteen hours before my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Rose Matheny first spotted 2017 UJ2, a small space rock with our Schmidt telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona it had passed less than the Earth's diameter from the surface of our planet. Rose was able to discover this Smart Car sized space rock after it moved out of the Sun's glare. At this point it was about the Moon's distance from her and was traveling away at 3.4 mi/s. After Rose posted her discovery observations on the Minor Planet Center's Near Earth Object Confirmation page, for the next 24 hours it was tracked by telescopes in Spain, Illinois, and Arizona.   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 94: SwRI Barrier Crash Testing by Southwest Research Institute

Episode 93: Exploring Large Language Models by Southwest Research Institute

In this episode, host Michelia Mason, head librarian at the Southwest Research Institute, welcomes Kristi Park, executive director of the Texas Digital Library, to celebrate the organization's 20th anniversary and explore its impact on scholarly communication. Kristi discusses how the Texas Digital Library helps academic institutions expand access to research, digital collections, educational resources, and research data through shared infrastructure and collaboration. The conversation also examines the evolving role of libraries in an era of open access, federal data-sharing requirements, and artificial intelligence, while highlighting the importance of ethical innovation, digital preservation, and member-driven partnerships.Libraries Transform Texas is produced by Association Briefings.

A landmark day in space news: the Vera Rubin Observatory officially begins its ten-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time, NASA reveals it may send a spare nuclear-powered Mars rover to the Moon's south pole, Blue Origin shows off its rebuilt launch pad a month after the New Glenn explosion, Rocket Lab strikes an $8 billion deal to acquire Iridium, a brief Swift/LINK scrub update, and scientists hold the first-ever summit on sending humans to Titan. 1. Rubin Observatory Begins Its Ten-Year Cosmic Movie The NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory officially began the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) on June 30, 2026, following a months-long commissioning process after handover from construction to operations last October. Rubin's 8.4-metre Simonyi Survey Telescope, fitted with the largest digital camera ever built (3,200 megapixels), will scan the entire southern sky every few nights for the next decade, producing a new image roughly every 40 seconds. Each area of sky will be revisited around 800 times over the survey's ten years, generating up to 7 million nightly alerts and around 10 terabytes of data per night. The final dataset is expected to contain billions of objects. Source: NOIRLab / SLAC / Rubin Observatory press release, June 30, 2026   2. Swift/LINK: Scrubbed, Retargeted for Tonight The launch of Katalyst Space's LINK servicing spacecraft — riding the final Pegasus XL rocket to rendezvous with NASA's Swift Observatory — was scrubbed Tuesday, June 30, due to unfavourable weather over Kwajalein Atoll. The next attempt is targeted for July 1 at 9:43 p.m. local Kwajalein time (5:43 a.m. EDT). Source: NASA Science blog, June 30, 2026   3. NASA's Moon Base Update: PROMISE Rover & New Lander Contracts NASA awarded roughly $590 million across Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace and Intuitive Machines for four new CLPS lander missions targeted for late 2028, delivering science and technology demonstration payloads to the Moon. NASA is also considering repurposing an engineering development unit of its Mars Perseverance/Curiosity rovers as a new lunar rover named PROMISE (Polar Rover for Observation, Mapping, and In-Situ Exploration), powered by a radioisotope generator for operation in permanently shadowed polar craters. Source: NASA news release and briefing, June 30, 2026   4. Blue Origin Reveals Its Rebuilt Launch Pad One month after a New Glenn rocket exploded during a static-fire test at Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 36A on May 28, Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp announced the company will rebuild the pad in a new 'horizontal/vertical hybrid' configuration rather than recreating the original. Reconstruction has begun, with Blue Origin targeting a return to flight before the end of 2026. Early analysis points to the aft section of the first stage as the source of the anomaly, though the investigation continues. Source: Blue Origin company statement / SpaceNews / CNBC, June 30, 2026   5. Rocket Lab's $8 Billion Bid for Iridium Rocket Lab announced a definitive agreement to acquire satellite communications operator Iridium Communications in a cash-and-stock deal valued at approximately $8 billion — $54 per share, a 24.1% premium. The deal combines Rocket Lab's launch and satellite manufacturing business with Iridium's 66-satellite L-band constellation and 2.5 million-plus subscriber base, aiming to create a vertically integrated space company. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2027. Source: Rocket Lab / Iridium joint announcement, June 29, 2026   6. Mapping Humanity's Next Giant Leap — to Titan The first-ever Humans to Titan Summit was held June 11–12 in Boulder, Colorado, gathering planetary scientists and engineers to explore the concept of a future crewed mission to Saturn's largest moon. Organised by Amanda Hendrix of the Planetary Science Institute and hosted by the Southwest Research Institute, the summit addressed spacesuits, habitats, transportation and Titan's extreme cold, ahead of NASA's robotic Dragonfly mission, targeted to launch no earlier than 2028. Source: Space.com / Leonard David, June 30, 2026Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-the-latest-space-news--5648921/support.Sponsor Details:Ensure your online privacy by using NordVPN. To get our special listener deal and save a lot of money, visit www.bitesz.com/nordvpn. You'll be glad you did!Become a supporter of Astronomy Daily by joining our Supporters Club. Commercial free episodes daily are only a click way... Click HereThis episode includes AI-generated content.

On April 30, 2026, we met with Dr. Courtney Rouse from the Southwest Research Institute. We discussed approaches to designing machine learning methods for neuroscience data analysis.Guest:Courtney Rouse, Senior Research Engineer, Southwest Research Institute, San AntonioParticipating:Erick Olivares, Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, UT San AntonioHost:Charles Wilson, Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, UT San AntonioThanks to James Tepper for original music.

In 2006, a vote by the International Astronomical Union determined that Pluto was no longer a planet. The decision sparked a heated public debate, and many planetary scientists disagreed with kicking Pluto out of the planet club.  Twenty years later, Pluto is back in the news: NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said he wants to make Pluto great again by declaring it… a planet again. And he's urging President Trump to do so by executive order. Why does this Plutonian debate keep rearing its head? And does the president have the power to do that? To answer those questions and more, Host Ira Flatow talks with planetary scientists and Pluto champions Amanda Bosh and Alan Stern.  Guests: Dr. Amanda Bosh is the executive director of the Lowell Observatory in Arizona, where Pluto was first discovered. Dr. Alan Stern is the vice president at the Southwest Research Institute and principal investigator of the New Horizons mission to Pluto. Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

A key question about the early history of the Solar System is whether the giant planets formed roughly at the distances from the Sun they presently occupy, or, as some theories predict, much closer to the Sun. The discovery of other solar systems with radically different configurations of planets has made this question more pressing, since it appears that the configuration of the Solar System might be atypical. In the podcast, Hal Levison explains why the Trojan asteroids of Jupiter offer us the best opportunity to discriminate between the various models of Solar System evolution. And that is why a spacecraft called Lucy is now well on its way to a rendezvous with these asteroids. Hal Levison is the Principal Investigator of the Lucy mission. He studies the dynamics of astronomical objects and, in particular, the formation and long-term behavior of solar system bodies. He is one of the original proponents of the Nice model (named after the city where it was conceived), a scenario that proposes the migration of the giant planets from an initial compact configuration closer to the Sun to their present positions. He is Chief Scientist in the Department of Space Sciences at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado.

Could a single ancient impact have briefly transformed one of the Solar System’s darkest moons into a cryovolcanic world? When Voyager 2 flew past Uranus in 1986, it captured the only close-up images we have of Umbriel, a heavily cratered, charcoal-dark satellite long considered geologically inactive. But one feature stands out: a bright ring inside the 131-kilometer-wide Wunda crater. In this episode, Sarah Al-Ahmed speaks with Adeene Denton, NASA postdoctoral program fellow at the Southwest Research Institute, about her team’s new study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. Using shock physics simulations, Denton and her colleagues reconstruct the impact that formed Wunda crater to determine what Umbriel’s interior must have been like at the time. Their modeling explores whether impact-induced cryovolcanism can explain the bright deposits observed on the crater floor. Then, in What’s Up, Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society, joins Sarah to break down one of the key mechanisms that keeps icy moons from freezing solid, tidal heating driven by orbital resonance. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-cryovolcanism-on-umbrielSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're going back to the Moon. The planned March 2026 launch of Artemis II is the first crewed mission to the moon since 1972. Historic as it is, it isn't the only lunar event creating a stir at NASA. Two seismometers are to be delivered to Schrödinger's Crater in a mission called The Farside Seismic Suite, in which the instruments will measure moonquakes and record the possible impact of asteroid 2024 YR4 on lunar surface. Meanwhile, studies of the sun are heating up. The so-called PUNCH mission, a four-satellite constellation that will create an image of the sun's corona and solar winds, may help us better understand what drives solar storms and how we can protect Earth from their energetic blasts. Guests:  Eugene Cernan – Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison "Jack" Schmitt – Geologist and Apollo 17 astronaut Andrew Rivkin – Planetary astronomer at the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University Ceri Nunn – Lunar seismologist and planetary scientist, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Ryan French – solar physicist, at the Laboratory for Atmospheric & Space Physics, Boulder, Colorado, and author of “Space Hazards: Asteroids, Solar Flares and Cosmic Threats” Craig DeForest – Heliophysicist, Southwest Research Institute, principal investigator on NASA's  PUNCH mission Featuring music by Dewey Dellay and Jun Miyake Big Picture Science is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on Big Picture Science. You can get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're going back to the Moon. The planned March 2026 launch of Artemis II is the first crewed mission to the moon since 1972. Historic as it is, it isn't the only lunar event creating a stir at NASA. Two seismometers are to be delivered to Schrödinger's Crater in a mission called The Farside Seismic Suite, in which the instruments will measure moonquakes and record the possible impact of asteroid 2024 YR4 on lunar surface. Meanwhile, studies of the sun are heating up. The so-called PUNCH mission, a four-satellite constellation that will create an image of the sun's corona and solar winds, may help us better understand what drives solar storms and how we can protect Earth from their energetic blasts. Guests:  Eugene Cernan – Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison "Jack" Schmitt – Geologist and Apollo 17 astronaut Andrew Rivkin – Planetary astronomer at the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University Ceri Nunn – Lunar seismologist and planetary scientist, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Ryan French – solar physicist, at the Laboratory for Atmospheric & Space Physics, Boulder, Colorado, and author of “Space Hazards: Asteroids, Solar Flares and Cosmic Threats” Craig DeForest – Heliophysicist, Southwest Research Institute, principal investigator on NASA's  PUNCH mission Featuring music by Dewey Dellay and Jun Miyake Big Picture Science is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on Big Picture Science. You can get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In an area which is about 1/400th of the entire sky, the NASA Kepler spacecraft has discovered 30 Earth like planets which are likely to have liquid water on their surfaces orbiting distant stars. These planets are likely to represent a tiny sample of the habitable planets which exist in the Milky Way. In spite of our efforts to find them, the question remains where are the alien civilizations? In a recent talk given at the Division of Planetary Sciences meeting Dr. Alan Stern of the Southwest Research Institute suggests that perhaps the majority of worlds with biology and intelligent civilizations exist on interior water ocean worlds where their existence is hidden by the thick layers of rock and ice which separate them from the hostile vacuum of space. We know that in our solar system alone the moon of Jupiter Europa, Saturn's moon Enceladus, and perhaps several other small worlds are likely to have oceans of nutrient rich liquid water covered by a thick layer of rock and ice. We also know that Whales and Dolphins have larger brains than humans, communicate with each other, and exhibit other forms of intelligence. Advanced civilizations existing in ice covered seas may know little of the greater Universe, may find it difficult to consider transporting enough water to travel beyond their worlds, and may not think that it is possible to communicate with others of their kind who are similarly hidden under miles and miles of radiation absorbing ice and rock.

Welcome to Astronomy Daily! Today we explore the new lunar space race as SpaceX shifts focus from Mars to the Moon, Europe establishes its Moonport company, and NASA continues Artemis II preparations. Plus, scientists solve the mystery behind auroras, explain Uranus's radiation anomaly from 1986, and SpaceX returns to flight after a brief stand-down.Join hosts Anna and Avery for your daily dose of space and astronomy news!---### Featured Stories**[00:00] Introduction**Your hosts Anna and Avery preview today's Moon-focused episode**[01:15] SpaceX Pivots from Mars to Moon**- Elon Musk announces strategic shift to lunar settlement- Moon city achievable in under 10 years vs 20+ for Mars- Launch windows: Moon every 10 days vs Mars every 26 months- Alignment with Trump's space policy and Artemis program- Mars plans delayed but not abandoned (5-7 year timeline)- History of Musk's changing Mars predictions**[05:30] Europe's Moonport Ambitions**- German aerospace company OHB establishes European Moonport Company- Consolidating lunar mission activities and future infrastructure- Involvement in ESA's Argonaut lander and Gateway ESPRIT module- Moon base concept developed with Munich Airport International- European funding commitments at ESA Ministerial Council- Italy leads Moon exploration funding at €284 million**[09:45] NASA Artemis II Progress Report**- Technicians replace seals after hydrogen leak detection- Tail service mast umbilical repairs and testing- Operational changes for next wet dress rehearsal- Extended countdown hold times for troubleshooting- Crew training continues: Wiseman, Glover, Koch, Hansen- March launch window still under consideration**[13:00] Aurora Power Source Discovered**- International team solves decades-old mystery- Alfvén waves act as natural particle accelerators- Analysis of Van Allen Probes and THEMIS mission data- Universal model applicable to other planets- Collaboration between HKU and UCLA researchers- Applications for Jupiter, Saturn, and exoplanet studies**[15:30] Uranus Radiation Mystery Solved**- Voyager 2's 1986 anomaly explained after 40 years- Co-rotating interaction region (CIR) supercharged radiation belts- Comparative analysis with Earth's space weather events- Southwest Research Institute breakthrough- Implications for future Uranus orbiter missions- Similar applications for Neptune studies**[18:00] SpaceX Falcon 9 Returns to Flight**- Successful Starlink launch from Vandenberg after 5-day stand-down- 25 satellites deployed to orbit (Group 17-33)- Booster 1088 completes 13th flight with successful landing- February 2nd upper stage anomaly explained- Gas bubble prevented deorbit burn- FAA clearance after corrective actions implemented- Starlink constellation exceeds 9,600 active satellites- SpaceX's 15th launch of 2026Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.Sponsor Details:Ensure your online privacy by using NordVPN. To get our special listener deal and save a lot of money, visit www.bitesz.com/nordvpn. You'll be glad you did!Become a supporter of Astronomy Daily by joining our Supporters Club. Commercial free episodes daily are only a click way... Click HereThis episode includes AI-generated content.

On February 5, 2026 we met with Dr.Jonathan Bohmann to learn about the structure and function of acetylcholinesterase, the extracellular enzyme that controls the strength and time course of neurotransmitter at cholinergic synapses. He explained how computational models of molecular structure is be used to understand the functional properties of the enzyme and to design drugs that can modify its action.Guest:Jonathan Bohmann, Scientist, Southwest Research Institute, San AntonioParticipating:Jenny Hsieh, Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, UTSAHost:Charles Wilson, Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, UTSA

Episode 87: Superheroes, Anime and STEM by Southwest Research Institute

Episode 86: 2025 Rewind by Southwest Research Institute

In this episode, host Michelia Mason, head librarian at the Southwest Research Institute, sits down with Andrea Schorr, associate director of resource management at the UT San Antonio Health Science Center Libraries, for a deep dive into transformative agreements and their growing role in scholarly publishing. Andrea breaks down how these agreements shift subscription dollars toward open access, what implementation looked like on her campus, and why clear communication with faculty is essential for success. She shares the early challenges such as navigating workflows, addressing misconceptions about open access, and building trust; as well as the turning points that led to increased faculty engagement. The conversation also highlights the power of cross-campus collaboration, the substantial cost savings achieved, and how new federal open-access policies are reshaping the future of research publishing.Libraries Transform Texas is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, Ryan and Henry welcome Paul Depmore for an in-depth discussion tracing his path from the U.S. Marine Corps into commercial and national-level calibration work. Paul shares how his experience evolved through Southwest Research Institute, Transcat, Morehouse, and Applied Technical Services, leading to later support of U.S. Navy calibration programs. Key discussion points include: Transitioning from military to civilian metrology roles Early mentorship and lab culture Piston-gauge and dead-weight tester practices Differences between ASTM E4 / E74 and ISO 376 / 7500 calibrations Managing primary-pressure standards and effective-area verification Collaboration among commercial labs, NIST, and Navy facilities Communication, documentation, and supporting new technicians

In this episode, host Michelia Mason, head librarian at Southwest Research Institute, sits down with Bryant Moore, first-year experience librarian at Texas A&M University–San Antonio, to explore the unique world of first-year experience librarianship. Bryant shares his path from working as an undergraduate library assistant to leading initiatives that help new students thrive. He discusses the vital role these librarians play in teaching research skills, connecting students to campus resources, and creating welcoming spaces. The conversation also touches on his day-to-day responsibilities—like instruction and outreach—as well as challenges such as tackling “library anxiety” and collaborating across departments. At its core, the episode highlights the importance of building relationships and fostering belonging for first-year students.Libraries Transform Texas is produced by Association Briefings.

# Discover Uranus's Newly Found Moon with The Space Cowboy PodcastJourney to the far reaches of our solar system in this captivating episode of The Space Cowboy Podcast as host "The Space Cowboy" reveals NASA's groundbreaking discovery: a brand-new moon orbiting Uranus. Learn how the James Webb Space Telescope's powerful infrared capabilities detected this tiny celestial body—just 6 miles across—that had remained hidden for decades despite previous exploration missions.This exciting episode details how scientists from NASA and the Southwest Research Institute used Webb's Near-Infrared Camera to capture this elusive moon (currently designated S/2025 U1), expanding Uranus's known satellite family to 29. Discover the moon's unique position within Uranus's complex ring system and what this finding reveals about the chaotic history of the ice giant's orbital environment.Perfect for space enthusiasts, astronomy buffs, and anyone fascinated by cutting-edge science, this episode showcases how modern technology continues to unveil secrets in our cosmic backyard. Listen as The Space Cowboy expertly guides you through the technical achievements behind this discovery while explaining its significance for our understanding of planetary formation and evolution.Subscribe now to stay informed about the latest astronomical discoveries and space exploration news with The Space Cowboy's thoughtful, accessible approach to cosmic wonders.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

Earth's Magnetic Field Mystery Solved: Discover groundbreaking research from ETH Zurich and the Southern University of Science and Technology in China that sheds light on how Earth's protective magnetic field formed billions of years ago. This study challenges previous theories and reveals that a completely liquid core could generate a stable magnetic field, crucial for the development of life on our planet.- Farewell to NASA's Barry Butch Wilmore: Join us as we honor NASA astronaut Barry Butch Wilmore, who is retiring after an impressive 25-year career. We reflect on his remarkable achievements, including time spent aboard the ISS and his contributions to space exploration, as well as his inspiring outlook on the wonders of the cosmos.- NASA's Commercial Space Station Strategy Shift: Explore NASA's bold new plans for commercial space stations as they prepare for a post-ISS era. Acting Administrator Sean Duffy announces significant changes to the approach for low Earth orbit platforms, aiming to ensure a continuous human presence in space despite budget constraints.- Europa's Hydrogen Peroxide Mystery Unraveled: Delve into the latest findings from scientists at the Southwest Research Institute regarding the unexpected presence of hydrogen peroxide on Jupiter's moon Europa. This research may have profound implications for the moon's habitability and offers insights into its subsurface ocean's chemistry.For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music Music, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.Thank you for tuning in. This is Avery and Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.✍️ Episode ReferencesEarth's Magnetic Field Research[ETH Zurich](https://ethz.ch/en.html)Barry Butch Wilmore's Career Highlights[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)NASA's Commercial Space Station Strategy[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)Europa's Hydrogen Peroxide Research[Southwest Research Institute](https://www.swri.org/)Astronomy Daily[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.

On July 14, 2015, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft made its historic flyby of Pluto, transforming our understanding of this distant world. Ten years later, we’re celebrating that iconic moment and the mission that made it possible. We begin with Alan Stern, principal investigator of the New Horizons mission, who reflects on the mission’s origins, its most surprising discoveries, and what comes next as New Horizons continues its journey through the Kuiper Belt. Then we check in with Adeene Denton, NASA postdoctoral program fellow at the Southwest Research Institute, who just returned from the “Progress in Understanding the Pluto System: 10 Years After Flyby” conference held at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Adeene shares highlights from the event, which brought together scientists to explore new results from New Horizons, JWST, Hubble, and ground-based observatories on Pluto, Charon, and the broader Kuiper Belt. Finally, Planetary Society Director of Government Relations Jack Kiraly joins us with a major update on the ongoing fight to protect NASA science from devastating budget cuts. And don’t miss What’s Up with our Chief Scientist, Bruce Betts. We’re talking Arrokoth, the most distant Kuiper Belt object New Horizons visited after Pluto. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-new-horizons-pluto-flyby-10th-anniversarySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, the White House posted an executive order which details the administration's intent to stop ‘dangerous gain-of-function research'. We talk to Gigi Gronvall, an immunologist and biosecurity expert at Johns Hopkins University who fears the timing and added bureaucracy could stop all sorts of important biosciences unnecessarily, and that the order is somewhat ideologically driven.Also, Nasa's Juno mission has provided data on the most powerful volcanic event ever recorded, which took place on the planet Io, one of Jupiter's moons. Hellish Io, squeezed as it is by the immense gravity of Jupiter, has not been observed from its poles before in this manner. Last week at EGU25, Science in Action got to speak with the mission's principal investigator, Scott Bolton of Southwest Research Institute.Still on Jupiter's moons, we also ask whether there could there be life on Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa? Scientists believe their glaciated oceans may harbour conditions suitable for life. Also at the EGU meeting were Jonathan Lunine, chief scientist at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Lab, and Athena Coustenis, director of research at the Paris Observatory in Meudon.Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Alex Mansfield with Tabby Taylor-Buck Production co-ordinator: Josie Hardy(Photo: Clinical support technician extracts viruses from swab samples. Credit: Jane Barlow/Getty Images)

Em seu segundo encontro com um asteroide, a sonda espacial Lucy da NASA observou de perto um fragmento de formato único de um asteroide que se formou há cerca de 150 milhões de anos. A sonda começou a enviar imagens coletadas enquanto voava a aproximadamente 960 km do asteroide Donaldjohanson em 20 de abril de 2025.O asteroide já havia sido observado apresentando grandes variações de brilho ao longo de um período de 10 dias, então algumas das expectativas da equipe de Lucy foram confirmadas quando as primeiras imagens mostraram o que parecia ser um binário de contato alongado (um objeto formado pela colisão de dois corpos menores). No entanto, a equipe ficou surpresa com o formato peculiar do pescoço estreito que conecta os dois lóbulos, que se assemelha a duas casquinhas de sorvete aninhadas.“O asteroide Donaldjohanson tem uma geologia extremamente complexa”, afirma Hal Levison, pesquisador principal de Lucy no Southwest Research Institute, em Boulder, Colorado. “À medida que estudamos as estruturas complexas em detalhes, elas revelarão informações importantes sobre os blocos de construção e os processos de colisão que formaram os planetas do nosso Sistema Solar.”A partir de uma análise preliminar das primeiras imagens disponíveis coletadas pelo gerador de imagens L'LORRI da sonda espacial, o asteroide parece ser maior do que o estimado originalmente, com cerca de 8 km de comprimento e 3,5 km de largura em seu ponto mais largo. Neste primeiro conjunto de imagens de alta resolução enviadas pela sonda espacial, o asteroide completo não é visível, pois é maior do que o campo de visão do gerador de imagens. A equipe levará até uma semana para baixar o restante dos dados do encontro da sonda espacial; esse conjunto de dados fornecerá uma imagem mais completa da forma geral do asteroide.Assim como Dinkinesh, o primeiro alvo de sobrevoo do asteroide Lucy, Donaldjohanson não é um alvo científico primário da missão Lucy. Conforme planejado, o sobrevoo de Dinkinesh foi um teste de sistema para a missão, enquanto este encontro foi um ensaio geral completo, no qual a equipe conduziu uma série de observações densas para maximizar a coleta de dados. Os dados coletados pelos outros instrumentos científicos do Lucy, o gerador de imagens coloridas e o espectrômetro infravermelho L'Ralph e o espectrômetro infravermelho térmico L'TES, serão recuperados e analisados ​​nas próximas semanas.A sonda Lucy passará a maior parte do restante de 2025 viajando pelo cinturão principal de asteroides. Lucy encontrará o primeiro alvo principal da missão, o asteroide troiano de Júpiter, Eurybates, em agosto de 2027.“Estas primeiras imagens de Donaldjohanson demonstram mais uma vez a tremenda capacidade da sonda Lucy como motor de descoberta”, disse Tom Statler, cientista do programa da missão Lucy na sede da NASA em Washington. “O potencial para realmente abrir uma nova janela para a história do nosso sistema solar quando Lucy chegar aos asteroides troianos é imenso.”

Our guest today is Dr. Simone Marchi, Institute Scientist in the Solar System Science & Exploration Division at the Boulder office of Southwest Research Institute. Dr. Marchi is the Deputy Principal Investigator for NASA's Lucy mission.  Lucy will be the first space mission to explore a population of small bodies known as the Trojan asteroids, … Continue reading "The Lucy Mission"

You may have heard of Tom Slick, the man who financed many early expeditions in search of Sasquatch both the in US and internationally. But did you know he was also a scientist, military man, inventor, philanthropist, and much more? Learn the strange, fascinating and tragically short history of Thomas Baker Slick Jr. with Heather Moser, Mark Matzke and guest host Aaron Deese.  Email - Monsteropolis@smalltownmonsters.com   SHOW NOTES Monsteropolis: Tom Slick   Welcome back, you lawless knaves.    READER MAIL - got at least one - HERE IT IS, from our friend Christine! — Hi Guys,   First of all, congratulations on the success of your 10th anniversary Kickstarter!  I can't wait to see your new films, especially The Siege of Ape Canyon and The Kinderhook Creature.   I listened with interest to the Monsteropolis episode where you described the changing nature of the appearance of the Wendigo in popular culture from an emaciated human being to one with antlers and a stag's skull. In the fall last year I became aware of the legend of the Leshy of pagan Slavic culture through an excellent YA novel called "Where the Dark Stands Still" by Polish writer A.B. Poranek. When I googled the Leshy I was astounded to see images of what I recognised as the Wendigo. So this got me thinking - is there a Slavic influence at play here too? Perhaps this is something you could look in to!    I am really looking forward to the book and film regarding the Wendigo which I understand may come out next year. I have been fascinated by the Wendigo since reading Algernon Blackwood's novella and there is one passage in particular that always sticks in my mind:   "And soon after he slept, the change of wind he had divined stirred gently the reflection of the stars within the lake. Rising among the far ridges of the country beyond Fifty Island Water, it came from the direction in which he had stared, and it passed over the sleeping camp with a faint and sighing murmur through the tops of the big trees that was almost too delicate to be audible. With it, down the desert paths of night, though too faint, too high even for the Indian's hair-like nerves, there passed a curious, thin odor, strangely disquieting, an odor of something that seemed unfamiliar—utterly unknown."   Christine   (your biggest Scottish fan who lives in Germany

Jupiter's Trojan asteroids lead and follow the giant planet around the Sun occupying stable locations where Jupiter and the Sun's gravity balance each other. Humans have discovered only a tiny fraction of the million of them larger than one kilometer or about 3,300 feet in diameter that are suspected to exist. Upon NASA's selection of the Lucy mission, Dr. Harold Levison of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado commented “Because the Trojans are remnants of the primordial material that formed the outer planets, they hold vital clues to deciphering the history of the solar system. Lucy, like the human fossil for which it is named, will revolutionize the understanding of our origins.”

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S03E232Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go-to source for the latest developments in space and Astronomy. I'm your host, Anna, and today we have a captivating array of stories from the space frontier.Highlights:- SpaceX's Mysterious RRT1 Mission: Delve into the intrigue surrounding SpaceX's enigmatic RRT1 mission from Cape Canaveral, which was scrubbed due to high winds. With sparse details and a mysterious payload, speculation abounds in the space community.- China's Satellite Ambitions: Explore China's successful launch of the High Speed Laser Diamond Constellation test system, marking a significant advancement in their space capabilities and paving the way for future mega constellation projects.- NASA's Moon to Mars Update: Discover NASA's comprehensive update to their Moon to Mars architecture, highlighting the use of nuclear fission for Mars missions and new lunar infrastructure plans.- Exomoons in Binary Star Systems: Investigate groundbreaking research from Tufts University on the potential existence of moons orbiting planets in binary star systems, offering new possibilities for habitable worlds.- PUNCH Mission to Study the Sun: Get ready for NASA's PUNCH mission, set to launch in 2025, which will provide unprecedented 3D views of the sun's corona and its transformation into the solar wind.- Virgin Galactic's Italian Expansion: Learn about Virgin Galactic's plans to operate their suborbital space planes from Italy, marking a significant step towards global space tourism.- Astronaut Ingenuity on the ISS: Marvel at NASA astronaut Don Pettit's homemade star tracker aboard the ISS, enabling stunning space photography of the cosmos.For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Sign up for our free Daily newsletter to stay informed on all things space. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, TikTok, and Tumblr. Share your thoughts and connect with fellow space enthusiasts.Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.✍️ Episode ReferencesSpaceX[https://www.spacex.com/](https://www.spacex.com/)NASA[https://www.nasa.gov/](https://www.nasa.gov/)Tufts University[https://www.tufts.edu/](https://www.tufts.edu/)Virgin Galactic[https://www.virgingalactic.com/](https://www.virgingalactic.com/)Southwest Research Institute[https://www.swri.org/](https://www.swri.org/)Astronomy Daily[https://astronomydaily.io/](https://astronomydaily.io/)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-the-podcast--5648921/support.

這个烏影景色 就是冥王星暗暝彼半爿。遮是一个暗淡 koh 遙遠 ê 世界。這張予人讚嘆 ê 太空視角內底，太陽 to̍h tī 49 億公里遠（差不多是 4.5 光時遠）ê 所在。這張相片是 飛足遠 ê 新視野號太空船 tī 2015 年 7 月 翕 ê。彼陣 ê 太空船離冥王星 2 萬 1 千公里遠，差不多是伊 ùi 離冥王星 上近彼位飛--出去 ê 19 分鐘後。這个 Kuiper 帶 ê 成員有戲劇性 ê 外形。Ùi 這張相片來看，咱知影冥王星 霧霧 ê 大氣層其實是蔫蔫，而且實在是 有夠複雜 ê。Tī 這張相片頂懸彼个月眉形 ê 晨昏區景色 內底，有南部地區 ê 窒素冰原，這馬叫做 Sputnik 平原，嘛有 坎坎坷坷、有水冰 ê Norgay 山脈。 ——— 這是 NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day ê 台語文 podcast 原文版：https://apod.nasa.gov/ 台文版：https://apod.tw/ 今仔日 ê 文章： https://apod.tw/daily/20241116/ 影像：NASA, Johns Hopkins Univ./APL, Southwest Research Institute 音樂：P!SCO - 鼎鼎 聲優：阿錕 翻譯：An-Li Tsai (TARA) 原文：https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241116.html Powered by Firstory Hosting

On October 14, NASA launched Europa Clipper, its largest planetary mission spacecraft yet. It's headed to Jupiter's icy moon Europa, which could have a giant ocean of liquid water hidden under its icy crust. And where there's water, scientists think there may be evidence of life. The spacecraft is equipped with nine different instruments and will complete nearly 50 flybys of Europa, scanning almost the entire moon.SciFri producer Kathleen Davis talks with Dr. Padi Boyd, NASA astrophysicist and host of the agency's podcast “Curious Universe,” about the launch and the excitement at NASA. Then, Ira checks in with two scientists who are working on the mission about what they're excited to learn: Dr. Ingrid Daubar, planetary scientist at Brown University and a Europa Clipper project staff scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory; and Dr. Tracy Becker, planetary scientist at Southwest Research Institute and a deputy principal investigator for the ultraviolet spectrograph on the Europa spacecraft.Transcript for this segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

Southwest Research Institute provides testing and problem solving for applications that literally reach from deep sea to deep space (and everything in between). Amongst all of that, the Tribology department at SwRI has been helping professional racing teams solve problems for years. During this in-depth episode, Dr. Peter Lee from SwRI shares his experiences and reveals some cutting edge new coating technology. #engine #pistonrings #ford #dyno #dynotested #nascar

Dr Robin Canup,  Vice President, Solar System Science and Exploration Division of Southwest Research Institute, here to explain "The Origin of the Moon" with Tom Ackerman Debbie Monterrey. Graham Chapel at 7pm tonite on the campus of Washington University.

Jupiter's innermost Galilean moon, Io, is peppered with volcanos that are erupting almost all the time. In this episode, Scott Bolton, Principal Investigator of the Juno mission to Jupiter, describes what we're learning from this space probe. Since its arrival in 2017, its orbit around the giant planet has progressively shifted to take it close to Jupiter's moons and rings. In December 2023 and February 2024, it flew by Io, approaching within a distance of only 1,500 km. This enabled it to capture high-resolution imagery of its constantly changing surface, including hitherto unseen regions near its poles. As discussed in the podcast, Juno is equipped with a microwave instrument that enables it to look slightly below the moon's surface into its lava lakes, as well as a suite of magnetometers to study Jupiter's giant magnetosphere and its remarkable interaction with Io. Bolton's research focuses on Jupiter and Saturn and the formation and evolution of the solar system. Prior to the Juno mission, he led a number of science investigations on the Cassini, Galileo, Voyager, and Magellan missions. He is Director of the Space Sciences Department at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas.

Dive into the cosmos with SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 52, as we traverse the stellar seas to discover a groundbreaking revelation: stardust from a supernova, harboring secrets from a newly identified type of star. An extraordinary find in an ancient meteorite has led scientists to a hydrogen-burning supernova, a stellar phenomenon only recently recognized by astronomers. This episode sheds light on how a tiny particle, a relic from a star that perished before our solar system's birth, is providing invaluable insights into the cosmos' intricate workings.The voyage of discovery doesn't end there. Rejoice in NASA's triumph as the venerable Voyager 1 spacecraft reestablishes contact after months of silence, sending clear data across the vast expanse from the very edge of interstellar space. The episode also celebrates the successful ascent of New Zealand's Electron rocket, which lofted NASA's innovative solar sail satellite, set to harness the gentle push of sunlight for propulsion.Join us as we delve into these celestial tales and more, including the profound implications of presolar grains on our understanding of the universe, the dynamic environments that shape star and planet formation, and the technological marvels that continue to expand humanity's reach into the void.For a journey through time and space that captivates and educates, tune in to SpaceTime with Stuart Gary. Embrace the enigma of the stars and become part of a community that looks beyond our world to the wonders that await.Support the show and access ad-free episodes at https://www.spreaker.com/show/spacetime. Follow our interstellar conversations on Twitter @stuartgary, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Join us as we unravel the fabric of the universe, one episode at a time.This episode is brought to you by NordPass. As you navigate the celestial pathways, secure your digital life with a password manager you can trust. Visit www.bitesz.com/nordpass for a special offer.For more space news, listen to Astronomy Daily the Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts, or stream from www.astronomydaily.io.This week's guests include: Phil Bland, from Curtin's School of Earth and Planetary Sciences Amir Caspi from the Southwest Research Institute in San Antinio Texas   And our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics  

Agradece a este podcast tantas horas de entretenimiento y disfruta de episodios exclusivos como éste. ¡Apóyale en iVoox! 27k27 cv - Se han hecho múltiples propuestas para naves espaciales interceptoras que podrían ponerse al día con futuros objetos interestelares, estudiarlos e incluso realizar un retorno de muestras (como el Comet Interceptor de la ESA ). En un nuevo artículo de un equipo del Southwest Research Institute, Alan Stern y sus colegas estudiaron posibles conceptos y recomendaron una misión robótica de sobrevuelo de objetos interestelares especialmente diseñada, llamada Interstellar Object Explorer. Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has updated its out-of-service criteria. The changes go into effect on Monday, April 1. Kerri Wirachowsky, CVSA's director of inspection programs, explains what changes were made and why. And Lewie Pugh argues that the people still have the power in our nation's capital – but they have to harness it to make change come about. He'll tell us the best and easiest way to do that. Also, what is the fuel of the future in the trucking industry? Two researchers are working on a project that looks at hydrogen combustion as an option. 0:00 – Update to out-of-service criteria 10:00 – Burning hydrogen one option for future truck engines 39:55 – Who has the power in D.C.?

The sun is currently ramping up to hit the peak of its 11-year activity cycle. In the past few days, powerful solar eruptions have sent a stream of particles towards Earth which are set to produce spectacular auroras in both hemispheres. But these kinds of geomagnetic storms can also have less appealing consequences. Madeleine Finlay speaks to Dr Lisa Upton, a solar scientist at the Southwest Research Institute, about how the mysterious inner workings of the sun create space weather, how solar events can significantly disrupt Earth's infrastructure, and whether we are prepared for the worst-case scenario. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

A research organization in Texas says that the trucking fuel of the future may not be fuel cells or electricity – it may be hydrogen combustion. Also, six states have been considering changes to their rules for idling by trucks and other vehicles. And some other states are looking at expanding truck parking, while one wants to increase fines for illegal truck parking. 0:00 – Newscast  10:00 – A different kind of hydrogen-fueled truck engine 39:55 – States eye changing idling rules

A team co-led by the Southwest Research Institute has made a groundbreaking discovery, revealing evidence of hydrothermal or metamorphic activity on the icy dwarf planets Eris and Makemake in the Kuiper Belt. The lead author of this research, Chris Glein, joins Planetary Radio to explain. But our journey doesn't stop there. We dive into the newly reformed US Planetary Science Caucus with The Planetary Society's top space policy experts, Casey Dreier and Jack Kiraly. Our senior communications adviser, Mat Kaplan, celebrates a monumental achievement in space exploration — the successful landing of Intuitive Machine's Odysseus spacecraft on the lunar surface. And don't miss the latest installment of What's Up with Bruce Betts, our chief scientist, as he shares a new random space fact. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-eris-and-makemakeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's safe to say we all would love a chance to fly to space, but there's wanting to reach space and then ACTUALLY launching into space. This week, as we hit Episode 100, we welcome back Dr. Alan Stern of the Southwest Research Institute to tell us exactly what it's like to fly on a private spaceplane. Alan, a planetary scientist and principal investigator of NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto and beyond, launched on a suborbital spaceflight in November 2023 on Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity space plane. He'll dish on what that experience is like, what it promises for future space science, and more. We also discussed Intuitive Machines' private Odysseus moon lander's farewell, a new air leak on the International Space Station, and when SpaceX may launch its Crew-8 mission to the ISS. Headlines: Odysseus Moon Lander Incident: Intuitive Machines' lander successfully touched down on the moon but tipped over and broke a leg upon landing. Despite this mishap, the mission achieved many firsts and exceeded expectations. International Space Station (ISS) Air Leak: An update on a minor but increasing air leak in the Russian segment of the ISS, detailing efforts to pinpoint and fix the leak to ensure crew safety. SpaceX Crew-8 Mission Delays: Overview of the delayed SpaceX Crew-8 mission to the ISS, due to weather concerns and scheduling conflicts with the Odysseus moon lander launch. Main Topic: Dr. Alan Stern's Virgin Galactic Flight Dr. Alan Stern's Background: Stern recounts his lifelong passion for space exploration, his involvement in over 30 NASA and European Space Agency missions, and his recent suborbital spaceflight with Virgin Galactic. The Experience of Spaceflight: Stern describes the flight as the best workday ever, detailing the rocket's ascent, time in microgravity, and the camaraderie among the crew. He also mentions successfully completing all nine objectives of the flight. Future of Commercial Spaceflight: Discussion on the potential of commercial spaceflight to transform space science by making suborbital and orbital missions more accessible and affordable. Stern emphasizes the importance of human-led experiments in space and predicts a future where booking a spaceflight could be as common as booking an airline ticket. Risk and Reward of Space Travel: Stern shares his perspective on the risks associated with space travel, comparing it to the early days of aviation and expressing optimism for the future safety and normalization of space exploration. New Horizons Update: Alan talks on the New Horizons extended mission to study Kuiper Belt objects through 2028/2029. The Kuiper Belt structure itself continues to reveal its vast scale. Host: Tariq Malik Guest: Alan Stern Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT

It's safe to say we all would love a chance to fly to space, but there's wanting to reach space and then ACTUALLY launching into space. This week, as we hit Episode 100, we welcome back Dr. Alan Stern of the Southwest Research Institute to tell us exactly what it's like to fly on a private spaceplane. Alan, a planetary scientist and principal investigator of NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto and beyond, launched on a suborbital spaceflight in November 2023 on Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity space plane. He'll dish on what that experience is like, what it promises for future space science, and more. We also discussed Intuitive Machines' private Odysseus moon lander's farewell, a new air leak on the International Space Station, and when SpaceX may launch its Crew-8 mission to the ISS. Headlines: Odysseus Moon Lander Incident: Intuitive Machines' lander successfully touched down on the moon but tipped over and broke a leg upon landing. Despite this mishap, the mission achieved many firsts and exceeded expectations. International Space Station (ISS) Air Leak: An update on a minor but increasing air leak in the Russian segment of the ISS, detailing efforts to pinpoint and fix the leak to ensure crew safety. SpaceX Crew-8 Mission Delays: Overview of the delayed SpaceX Crew-8 mission to the ISS, due to weather concerns and scheduling conflicts with the Odysseus moon lander launch. Main Topic: Dr. Alan Stern's Virgin Galactic Flight Dr. Alan Stern's Background: Stern recounts his lifelong passion for space exploration, his involvement in over 30 NASA and European Space Agency missions, and his recent suborbital spaceflight with Virgin Galactic. The Experience of Spaceflight: Stern describes the flight as the best workday ever, detailing the rocket's ascent, time in microgravity, and the camaraderie among the crew. He also mentions successfully completing all nine objectives of the flight. Future of Commercial Spaceflight: Discussion on the potential of commercial spaceflight to transform space science by making suborbital and orbital missions more accessible and affordable. Stern emphasizes the importance of human-led experiments in space and predicts a future where booking a spaceflight could be as common as booking an airline ticket. Risk and Reward of Space Travel: Stern shares his perspective on the risks associated with space travel, comparing it to the early days of aviation and expressing optimism for the future safety and normalization of space exploration. New Horizons Update: Alan talks on the New Horizons extended mission to study Kuiper Belt objects through 2028/2029. The Kuiper Belt structure itself continues to reveal its vast scale. Host: Tariq Malik Guest: Alan Stern Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT

It's safe to say we all would love a chance to fly to space, but there's wanting to reach space and then ACTUALLY launching into space. This week, as we hit Episode 100, we welcome back Dr. Alan Stern of the Southwest Research Institute to tell us exactly what it's like to fly on a private spaceplane. Alan, a planetary scientist and principal investigator of NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto and beyond, launched on a suborbital spaceflight in November 2023 on Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity space plane. He'll dish on what that experience is like, what it promises for future space science, and more. We also discussed Intuitive Machines' private Odysseus moon lander's farewell, a new air leak on the International Space Station, and when SpaceX may launch its Crew-8 mission to the ISS. Headlines: Odysseus Moon Lander Incident: Intuitive Machines' lander successfully touched down on the moon but tipped over and broke a leg upon landing. Despite this mishap, the mission achieved many firsts and exceeded expectations. International Space Station (ISS) Air Leak: An update on a minor but increasing air leak in the Russian segment of the ISS, detailing efforts to pinpoint and fix the leak to ensure crew safety. SpaceX Crew-8 Mission Delays: Overview of the delayed SpaceX Crew-8 mission to the ISS, due to weather concerns and scheduling conflicts with the Odysseus moon lander launch. Main Topic: Dr. Alan Stern's Virgin Galactic Flight Dr. Alan Stern's Background: Stern recounts his lifelong passion for space exploration, his involvement in over 30 NASA and European Space Agency missions, and his recent suborbital spaceflight with Virgin Galactic. The Experience of Spaceflight: Stern describes the flight as the best workday ever, detailing the rocket's ascent, time in microgravity, and the camaraderie among the crew. He also mentions successfully completing all nine objectives of the flight. Future of Commercial Spaceflight: Discussion on the potential of commercial spaceflight to transform space science by making suborbital and orbital missions more accessible and affordable. Stern emphasizes the importance of human-led experiments in space and predicts a future where booking a spaceflight could be as common as booking an airline ticket. Risk and Reward of Space Travel: Stern shares his perspective on the risks associated with space travel, comparing it to the early days of aviation and expressing optimism for the future safety and normalization of space exploration. New Horizons Update: Alan talks on the New Horizons extended mission to study Kuiper Belt objects through 2028/2029. The Kuiper Belt structure itself continues to reveal its vast scale. Host: Tariq Malik Guest: Alan Stern Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT

Huge Kuiper Belt discovery! With James Webb astronomers were able to see that Eric and Makemake show signs of geothermal activity. How exactly did that happen? Figuring out with Dr Christopher Glein, Lead Scientist at Southwest Research Institute.

Huge Kuiper Belt discovery! With James Webb astronomers were able to see that Eric and Makemake show signs of geothermal activity. How exactly did that happen? Figuring out with Dr Christopher Glein, Lead Scientist at Southwest Research Institute.

Matthew Herron, MS, PE, CSP, CPE joins us for a conversation on engineering and safety. Matt is currently the Lead Safety Engineer at Southwest Research Institute, a BCSP Ambassador, and the ASSP Region III Vice President. We discuss how an engineering mindset emphasizes prevention through design. Matt also gives advice on how to communicate with all levels of an organization and how to find mentorship for new safety professionals. February 18-24, 2024 is Engineers Week, with this year's theme being, "Welcome to the Future" - we think this episode is a perfect introduction to kick off Engineers Week and to encourage others to consider STEM fields! Engineers Week | National Society of Professional Engineers (nspe.org) To celebrate Engineer's Week (EWeek) the ASSP Engineering Practice Specialty is offering a special promo code to join the Engineering Practice Specialty for FREE!!! Promo Code: 242ENGPS Offer: 1 Free Engineering Practice Specialty ($20 value) and for those new to ASSP, the $25 App Fee is waived ($45 total value). Dates Valid: February 1, 2024 – March 31, 2024 Article that Matt mentions during the episode: "Keeping Employees Alive and Well" by Farman A. Moayed

This week on Planetary Radio, we are revisiting one of the biggest recent headlines in planetary science, the detection of Phosphorus in the oceans of Saturn's moon Enceladus. Phosphorus is a key ingredient for life on Earth, and this discovery marks the first time it has been found in an ocean off of Earth. Chris Glein, a lead scientist at the Southwest Research Institute, joins us to discuss the discovery and its implications for the search for life. Then Bruce Betts returns for What's Up. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-revisiting-phosphorus-on-enceladusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Space News Podcast. SpaceTime Series 26 Episode 133 *Do the remains of an ancient planet lie deep within Earth Back in the 1980s, geophysicists discovered two continent-sized blobs of unusual material buried deep within the Earth's mantle. Now, a new study reported in the journal Nature suggests that they're the remnants of the ancient planet Theia which collided with Earth four and a half billion years ago creating the Moon. *Lucy's first asteroid encounter discovers a new moonlet NASA's Lucy spacecraft has just completed its first asteroid encounter flying by the small main belt asteroid 152830 Dinkinesh – discovering that it's a binary. *Venus had Earth-like plate tectonics billions of years ago Venus, may have once had tectonic plate movements similar to those believed to have occurred on early Earth. *The Science Report A new study has found a link between cell phone usage and semen quality. Warnings that the impacts of marine heatwaves on marine life may be worse deep down in our oceans. The 2022 Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai volcanic eruption depleted 5% of the ozone layer. Skeptics guide to another finding bigfoot claim This week's guests includes: Lucy Mission principal investigator Hal Levison from the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio Texas And Lucy Mission deputy principal investigator Cathy Olkin also from the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio Texas And our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics Science writer Jonathan Nally Listen to SpaceTime on your favorite podcast app with our universal listen link: https://spacetimewithstuartgary.com/listen and access show links via https://linktr.ee/biteszHQ Additionally, listeners can support the podcast and gain access to bonus content by becoming a SpaceTime crew member through www.bitesz.supercast.com or through premium versions on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Details on our website at https://spacetimewithstuartgary.com For more SpaceTime and show links: https://linktr.ee/biteszHQ If you love this podcast, please get someone else to listen to. Thank you… To become a SpaceTime supporter and unlock commercial free editions of the show, gain early access and bonus content, please visit https://bitesz.supercast.com/ . Premium version now available via Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more podcasts visit our HQ at https://bitesz.com This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/2458531/advertisement

From Jan 18, 2022. Recent observations of twelve different stellar streams around the Milky Way have revealed the effects of dark matter, similar to how lights on a Christmas Tree reveal the shape of the tree in dark. Plus, globular clusters, volcanoes, and an interview with Dr. Cathy Olkin from the Southwest Research Institute's Lucy mission.   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.

For decades, all the planets of the solar system had been reconnoitered—except Pluto. That last planetary body had been seen, at best, as just a faint smudge by the Hubble Space Telescope. Then, in 2015, the New Horizons spacecraft sped by Pluto, sending back a swath of exciting images and science data, transforming our view of the planet. It subsequently visited the Kuiper Belt object Arrakoth and may rendezvous with another, more distant body—or not. NASA's new budget seems to spell the end of active science for New Horizons, something that does not sit well with the program's Principal Investigator, Dr. Alan Stern. Join Alan as he speaks with us about this very exciting project and what it may take to keep it alive. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Alan Stern Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: GO.ACILEARNING.COM/TWIT

Phosphorus, a key ingredient for life on Earth, has been detected in the ocean of Saturn's moon Enceladus. This discovery marks the first time phosphorus has been found in an ocean off of Earth. Chris Glein, a lead scientist at the Southwest Research Institute, joins Planetary Radio to talk about the discovery and its implications for the search for life. Then Bruce Betts shares what's up in the night sky this week. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2023-phosphorus-in-enceladus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.