Spacetime With Stuart Gary

Join us for SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 77, where we explore the latest cosmic discoveries and advancements in space exploration.First, astronomers have discovered the earliest known pair of quasars in the process of merging. Reported in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, this discovery represents the earliest known merger of supermassive black holes, occurring just 900 million years after the Big Bang. This period, known as the cosmic dawn, is crucial for understanding the formation of the first stars and galaxies and the epoch of reionization.Next, NASA's Mars Perseverance rover has discovered oddly textured, popcorn-like rocks in a formation known as Bright Angel. These rocks suggest the presence of groundwater in Mars' past, and mission managers plan to conduct detailed exploration to uncover their origins.Finally, new insights into the Milky Way's supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, have been presented at the 244th meeting of the American Astronomical Society. Using decades of x-ray data, astronomer

Join us for SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 76, where we delve into the latest groundbreaking discoveries in planetary science and astronomy.First, scientists have uncovered evidence that fresh water existed on Earth about 4 billion years ago, pushing back the timeframe for the potential emergence of life by 500 million years. This discovery, based on zircon crystal analysis from the Jack Hills formation in Western Australia, challenges the long-held belief that Earth was entirely covered by oceans at that time. The study's findings suggest that fresh water and land masses existed much earlier, setting the stage for life to flourish.Next, new research indicates that the rotation of Earth's inner core has slowed down compared to the planet's surface. This discovery, reported in the journal Nature, shows that the inner core began to decelerate around 2010, moving slower than the Earth's mantle and crust for the first time in decades. The implications of this change are still being explored, but it may ultimately af

Join us for SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 75, where we explore the latest cosmic events and scientific advancements shaping our understanding of the universe.First, we delve into how Mars lit up during last month's spectacular solar storm. These solar events provided astronomers with unprecedented data, revealing the impact of solar flares and coronal mass ejections on the Red Planet. We discuss the implications for future human missions to Mars and the potential radiation exposure astronauts might face.Next, unexpected differences have been discovered in the thickness of the Milky Way galaxy's disk. New observations reveal that the inner part of the disk is only half as thick as the outer part, challenging our understanding of the galaxy's structure and evolution.Finally, scientists have developed a new atlas dealing with space health, covering the broad-ranging molecular changes and DNA damage experienced during spaceflight. This research is crucial for preparing for long-term lunar and Martian missions.Follo

Join us for SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 74, where we explore the latest cosmic discoveries and advancements in space exploration.First, astronomers have discovered water frost on the solar system's tallest volcanoes, including Olympus Mons on Mars. This groundbreaking find challenges existing ideas about the red planet's climate dynamics and suggests the presence of water frost near the Martian equator for the first time. The study, led by Domus Valentinus, reveals that this frost is incredibly thin, likely only 100th of a millimeter thick, and consists of at least 150,000 tons of water that cycles between the surface and the atmosphere during the cold seasons.Next, we delve into the European Space Agency's Proba-3 mission, which aims to study the sun's outer atmosphere or corona. This innovative mission involves two spacecraft flying in formation to create an artificial solar eclipse, allowing for sustained study of the sun's faint coronal atmosphere. The mission will launch aboard an Indian PSLV rocket from

Join us for SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 73, where we delve into the latest cosmic discoveries and advancements shaping our understanding of the universe.First, astronomers have developed a new theory of dark matter to explain the mysterious dwarf galaxy Crater 2. Despite its proximity at 383,000 light-years from Earth and its large size—making it the fourth largest satellite galaxy orbiting the Milky Way—Crater 2 has a surprisingly low surface brightness and velocity dispersion. This has led scientists to propose the self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) theory, which may better account for the galaxy's unusual properties.Next, new research dismisses the idea of a lake under the Martian south polar ice cap. Instead, it suggests that the bright radar reflections previously interpreted as liquid water are likely due to resolution interference between radio waves. This finding, based on computer simulations, challenges the notion of subsurface liquid water on Mars.Finally, we highlight the development of a new day

Join us for SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 72, where we uncover the latest cosmic discoveries and scientific advancements.First, astronomers have discovered that a tiny moonlet orbiting the main belt asteroid Dinkinesh is actually two little moons melded together. Known as contact binaries, these moonlets could provide fresh insights into the complex processes behind planetary formation and evolution. We delve into the details of this fascinating discovery made by NASA's Lucy spacecraft.Next, we discuss the possibility of an underground ocean on Saturn's moon Mimas. Scientists speculate that as Mimas's orbital eccentricity decreased, its icy shell may have melted and thinned, leading to the formation of a subsurface ocean. This finding could have significant implications for our understanding of the Saturnian system.Finally, we highlight NASA's launch of its second pre-fire satellite into orbit aboard Rocket Lab's Electron rocket. These satellites are designed to study how much heat the Arctic and Antarctic are

Join us for SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 71, where we delve into the latest cosmic events and technological advancements reshaping our understanding of the universe.First, we discuss NASA's announcement that the Hubble Space Telescope will begin winding back its science programme due to ongoing issues with its gyroscopes. This decision marks a significant transition for the historic observatory, which has revolutionised astronomical discovery since its launch in 1990.Next, we cover the long-awaited launch of Boeing's Starliner, which has finally taken a crew to the International Space Station. This milestone paves the way for Starliner to join SpaceX's Dragon in transporting crews to the orbiting outpost under NASA's commercial crew programme.Finally, we highlight NASA's OSIRIS Apex spacecraft's survival after a close encounter with the sun. This mission is essential for its upcoming rendezvous with the asteroid Apophis in 2029.Follow our cosmic conversations on X @stuartgary, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.

Join us for SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 70, where we delve into the latest cosmic events and groundbreaking discoveries shaping our understanding of the universe.First, we explore SpaceX's Starship, the world's largest and most powerful rocket, which has successfully completed its fourth test flight. This historic mission is a significant step towards developing a colonial transport ship capable of carrying 100 people or 150 tonnes of supplies to the moon, Mars, and beyond. We dive into the details of the launch, the hot staging manoeuvre, and the successful splashdown.Next, we discuss China's latest lunar lander, which has successfully touched down on the far side of the moon. This mission aims to collect samples from the lunar South Pole's Aitken basin, providing valuable insights into the moon's formation and evolution.Finally, we highlight the arrival of three new Australian-built satellites in Japan, destined for launch to the International Space Station. These satellites are part of Curtin University's

Join us for SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 69, where we uncover the latest cosmic revelations and scientific advancements.First, we delve into a groundbreaking discovery by the Webb Space Telescope, which has identified the most distant galaxy ever observed. Located a staggering 290 million years after the Big Bang, this galaxy offers unprecedented insights into the universe's infancy and the formation of its earliest stars and galaxies. We explore the methods and implications of this discovery, including the galaxy's surprising brightness and the presence of dust and ionized gas.Next, we discuss the announcement of a massive new collection of exoplanet discoveries. NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has confirmed 120 new exoplanets and identified six new candidates, bringing the total number of known exoplanets to over 6000. These findings offer a rich database for studying planetary properties and environments, particularly those that may harbor life.Finally, we highlight new X-ray observation

Join us for SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 68, where we explore the latest cosmic discoveries and technological advancements shaping our understanding of the universe.First, we uncover new evidence suggesting that Venus is volcanically active. By analysing data from NASA's Magellan radar, scientists have identified two volcanoes on Venus that erupted in the early 1990s. This discovery adds to the growing body of evidence that Venus may be far more volcanically active than previously thought.Next, we discuss the discovery of a new kind of volcanic eruption on Earth. Researchers have identified a unique eruption mechanism at Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, describing it as a "stomp rocket" eruption driven by sudden pressure increases as the ground collapses.Finally, we look forward to the maiden flight of the European Space Agency's new Ariane 6 rocket, now slated for next month. This launch marks a significant milestone in Europe's space exploration capabilities.00:00 This is spacetime series 27, episode 68 for broadca

Join us for SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 67, where we delve into the latest cosmic events and groundbreaking discoveries shaping our understanding of the universe.First, we discuss the return of last month's powerful solar storms. The active sunspot region AR 364, now renumbered as AR 3697, has reappeared, bringing with it more geomagnetic storms and spectacular solar flares. We explore the intricate dynamics of solar flares and coronal mass ejections, and their profound impacts on Earth's technology and atmospheric phenomena.Next, we look forward to the upcoming test flight of the world's largest and most powerful rocket, SpaceX's Starship, scheduled for June 5. This mission is crucial for NASA's Artemis III plans to return humans to the lunar surface by 2026. We delve into the details of the mission and the technological advancements that make Starship a cornerstone for future space exploration.Finally, we uncover archaeological evidence proving that ancient Britons constructed standing stone monuments with

Join us for SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 66, where we delve into the latest cosmic discoveries and technological challenges shaping our understanding of the universe.First, we explore a glitch aboard the BepiColombo spacecraft bound for Mercury. The joint ESA-JAXA mission faced a sudden issue with its thrusters, impacting its journey towards the innermost planet. Despite the setback, mission control has restored 90% of the spacecraft's thrust capabilities, ensuring BepiColombo's arrival at Mercury for its next gravity assist.Next, we turn our attention to Venus, where BepiColombo's fleeting visit has unveiled surprising insights into the planet's atmosphere. Observations reveal that carbon and oxygen ions are escaping Venus's upper layers at speeds sufficient to overcome the planet's gravity, offering new clues about atmospheric loss mechanisms.Finally, we discuss new evidence explaining the mysterious phenomenon of stars that suddenly vanish without the usual supernova explosion. This complete stellar collaps

Join us for SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 65, where we uncover the latest cosmic revelations and scientific advancements.First, we delve into the intriguing new features discovered in high-resolution images of Jupiter's icy moon Europa. Captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft, these images reveal signs of plume activity and ice shell disruption, providing clues about the moon's subsurface ocean and its potential to support life.Next, we explore a groundbreaking model explaining the formation of free-floating planets. Recent findings suggest that gravitational perturbations in dense star clusters could eject giant planets, leading them to orbit each other as they drift through interstellar space.Finally, we report on NASA's Perseverance rover, which has collected its 24th rock sample on Mars. This new sample, rich in carbonate and silica, holds promise for understanding the Red Planet's ancient habitability and potential signs of past life.00:00 This is SpaceTime Series 27, Episode 65, for broadcast on 29 May 202400:

Join us for SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 64, where we delve into the latest cosmic discoveries and technological advancements shaping our understanding of the universe.First, we explore new research uncovering the origins of sunspots and their formation closer to the Sun's surface than previously thought. Scientists are now examining the complex interactions of magnetic fields and plasma within the Sun, providing fresh insights into the solar dynamo that drives these phenomena.Next, we turn our attention to Mars, as NASA and ESA announce a groundbreaking joint mission set to launch in 2028. This mission will utilise the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover, equipped with advanced instruments to drill deep beneath the Martian surface in search of signs of life, potentially rewriting our understanding of the Red Planet's habitability.Finally, we discuss innovative solutions in the battle against space junk. From hunter-killer satellites equipped with plasma guns to ground-based laser systems, scientists are developin

Venture into the cosmic depths with SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 63, where we unearth some of the universe's most ancient stars hiding in the halo of our very own Milky Way. These celestial elders, dubbed SAS stars, are remnants from a time when galaxies were just beginning to coalesce, offering a unique window into the universe's formative years. With their discovery, we edge closer to unraveling the mysteries of galaxy formation and the evolution of the cosmos.Next, we embark on a journey alongside Europe's JUICE spacecraft, now one year into its monumental eight-year voyage to the icy moons of Jupiter. This mission promises to probe the potential habitable environments beneath the moons' frozen crusts and could redefine our search for extraterrestrial life within our solar system.Finally, we witness Russia flexing its spacefaring muscles with the test launch of the new heavy-lift Angara A-5 rocket, aiming to usher in a new era for Russian space exploration and retire the venerable Proton rockets.Join us on

Set sail through the cosmic seas with SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 62, as we chart a course to a newly discovered Earth-sized exoplanet orbiting an ultra-cool red dwarf star just a stone's throw away in the galactic neighborhood. The discovery of Speculos-3b, a mere 55 light-years from Earth, stirs intrigue with its eternal days and nights due to likely tidal locking, offering a unique glimpse into the conditions of potentially habitable worlds around the most common stellar inhabitants of our galaxy.We then drift to the Milky Way's outskirts, where a stellar slow lane has been uncovered, challenging assumptions about the mass and dark matter content at the heart of our galactic home. This revelation, derived from Gaia and APOGEE data, suggests a lighter core and less dark matter than previously believed, sending ripples through our understanding of the cosmos.Our voyage continues as we seek to uncover dark matter's elusive influence on stellar streams with the help of the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory. T

Embark on a celestial odyssey with SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 61, where we witness the Sun unleash its most powerful solar flare in nearly two decades, sparking a series of geomagnetic storms that dazzled the skies with extraordinary auroras. The flare, an enormous X8.7 class eruption, marked the pinnacle of a week of solar ferocity, with the Earth enduring a bombardment that produced northern and southern lights visible far beyond their usual latitudes.We then delve into the mysteries of Earth's magnetotail, where NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale mission has observed unusual substorms that could reshape our understanding of magnetic reconnection and its role in auroral phenomena.Finally, we plunge into the depths of the sea with China's construction of the deep-sea neutrino telescope, TRIDENT, designed to scan the cosmos for neutrinos and unlock the secrets of cosmic rays and the extreme universe.Join us on SpaceTime with Stuart Gary for an exploration of these awe-inspiring events and more, as we traverse

Journey through the cosmic tapestry with SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 60, where we unearth the echoes of creation by discovering one of the most ancient stars ever seen in another galaxy. This remarkable find could lead us to the elusive first generation of stars that illuminated the universe from darkness to the dawn of clarity. These celestial ancestors, born from the pure elements of the Big Bang, were behemoths that lived fast and died young, leaving behind the building blocks of everything we know.The episode then shifts focus to the Hubble Space Telescope's latest challenge, as it enters safe mode due to a gyroscope glitch. Despite the setback, the iconic observatory's legacy of over three decades of celestial observations remains unshaken as NASA seeks a solution.Next, we launch into the story of Snoopy, a CubeSat deployed from the International Space Station. This six-unit CubeSat embarks on a mission to measure soil moisture and improve agricultural yields by harnessing signals from commercial satelli

Embark on an interplanetary journey with SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 59, where we unravel the enigmatic atmosphere of Venus and its waterless environment. Discover the startling new study that suggests Venus lost its water reserves to space, leaving it with a mere fraction of Earth's water despite their similar origins. The episode dives into the complex chemical reactions in Venus's atmosphere that may have turned a once Earth-like planet into a scorching, inhospitable world.Next, we explore the innovative ideas NASA is considering for future lunar logistics, including a magnetic railroad system designed to transport materials across the Moon's surface. This system could revolutionize the way we build and sustain lunar bases, pushing the boundaries of off-world construction and resource utilization.The episode then shifts to the launch of a cutting-edge satellite from the International Space Station. This new eye in the sky aims to provide early warnings of volcanic eruptions by detecting trace gases, a game

Embark on a cosmic expedition with SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 58, where we delve into the mysteries of Earth’s ancient magnetic field and its role in the diversification of life. Join us as we explore a pivotal period over half a billion years ago when a weakening magnetic shield may have paved the way for a dramatic increase in atmospheric oxygen, fostering the rise of complex organisms and setting the stage for human evolution.The episode then accelerates into the realm of supermassive black holes, whose voracious energy output is revealed to be even more influential than once thought. With the help of the Webb Space Telescope, scientists uncover the hidden power of black holes to rapidly quench star formation, effectively turning vibrant galaxies into cosmic graveyards.Finally, we witness the ambitious ascent of China’s Chang'e 6 lunar sample return mission, aiming to harvest the first-ever samples from the far side of the Moon. This daring venture could provide unprecedented insights into the Moon's enig