Universe Today Podcast
Universe Today Podcast

Universe Today Podcast

Fraser Cain

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Episodes

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Public feed with [Space Bites+], [Q&A+], [Interview+] and other episodes. Free for everyone.

Recent Episodes

[Space Bites+] Comet Interceptor Accelerated // Artemis II SLS Rollout // Nuclear Lunar Race
JAN 23, 2026
[Space Bites+] Comet Interceptor Accelerated // Artemis II SLS Rollout // Nuclear Lunar Race
<html><p>Artemis II rolls out to the launch pad, Europe’s comet interceptor mission could fly a little earlier, NASA is racing to build a nuclear reactor for the Moon, and in Space Bites+, bacteriaphages evolved in space learn to kill bacteria in new ways.</p><p>Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube <a href="https://youtu.be/o9kb5caf7vw" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/o9kb5caf7vw</a></p><ul><li><p>00:00 Intro </p></li><li><p>00:19 Comet Interceptor Accelerated <a href="https://spacenews.com/esas-comet-interceptor-mission-moves-up-launch/" target="_blank">https://spacenews.com/esas-comet-interceptor-mission-moves-up-launch/</a> </p></li><li><p>02:11 Artemis II Rollout <a href="https://www.universetoday.com/articles/nasa-enters-final-preparations-for-artemis-ii-mission" target="_blank">https://www.universetoday.com/articles/nasa-enters-final-preparations-for-artemis-ii-mission</a> </p></li><li><p>04:14 Chang'e-6 Samples <a href="https://www.universetoday.com/articles/analysis-of-change-6-samples-addresses-mysteries-about-the-far-side-of-the-moon" target="_blank">https://www.universetoday.com/articles/analysis-of-change-6-samples-addresses-mysteries-about-the-far-side-of-the-moon</a> </p></li><li><p>05:50 Moon Reactor Race <a href="https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-2030-race-for-a-moon-reactor" target="_blank">https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-2030-race-for-a-moon-reactor</a> </p></li><li><p>08:08 Vote results <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/posts" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/posts</a> </p></li><li><p>08:31 Potential Ocean Habitability of Enceladus <a href="https://www.universetoday.com/articles/enceladus-plumes-may-hold-a-clear-clue-to-ocean-habitability" target="_blank">https://www.universetoday.com/articles/enceladus-plumes-may-hold-a-clear-clue-to-ocean-habitability</a> </p></li><li><p>10:33 Helix Nebula <a href="https://www.universetoday.com/articles/gazing-into-the-eye-of-sauron-with-the-jwst" target="_blank">https://www.universetoday.com/articles/gazing-into-the-eye-of-sauron-with-the-jwst</a> </p></li><li><p>11:48 Lupus-3 <a href="https://www.universetoday.com/articles/hunting-for-t-tauri-stars-in-a-dark-cloud" target="_blank">https://www.universetoday.com/articles/hunting-for-t-tauri-stars-in-a-dark-cloud</a> </p></li><li><p>12:43 Galaxy Evolution <a href="https://www.yorku.ca/news/2025/12/18/canadian-astronomers-use-webb-to-uncover-milky-ways-turbulent-youth-through-galactic-twins/" target="_blank">https://www.yorku.ca/news/2025/12/18/canadian-astronomers-use-webb-to-uncover-milky-ways-turbulent-youth-through-galactic-twins/</a> </p></li><li><p>14:50 More space news </p></li><li><p>17:00 My new smart telescope</p></li></ul><p></p></html>
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20 MIN
[Q&A+] When Did Dark Matter Appear, Excitement About TRAPPIST-1, Contributing to Astronomy
JAN 22, 2026
[Q&A+] When Did Dark Matter Appear, Excitement About TRAPPIST-1, Contributing to Astronomy
<html><p>Which space object would I want to see with my own eyes? Can you meaningfully contribute to science without an Astronomy degree? Has dark matter always been around? And in Q&amp;A+, my weird relationship with Venus as a planet.</p><p>BONUS QUESTION STARTS AT 17:39</p><p>Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube:</p><p>Here's a link to the full, unedited livestream: <a href="https://youtube.com/live/SiGmJkeCPl8?feature=share" target="_blank">https://youtube.com/live/SiGmJkeCPl8?feature=share</a></p></html>
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22 MIN
[Interview+] We Were Wrong About Europa’s Sub-Surface Ocean
JAN 22, 2026
[Interview+] We Were Wrong About Europa’s Sub-Surface Ocean
<html><p>Europa is considered one of the most promising places in the solar system to look for extraterrestrial life. But new studies suggest that we were wrong. That the sub-surface ocean is most probably uninhabitable and lifeless. Why is it so and what does it mean for future missions and search for life? Finding out in this interview. </p><p>BONUS PART STARTS AT 43:02</p><p>🟣 Guest: Dr. Paul Byrne <br/><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/theplanetaryguy.bsky.social" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/theplanetaryguy.bsky.social</a> </p><p>📜 Europa May Be Lifeless and Unihabitable After All <a href="https://www.universetoday.com/articles/europa-may-be-lifeless-and-unihabitable-after-all" target="_blank">https://www.universetoday.com/articles/europa-may-be-lifeless-and-unihabitable-after-all</a></p><p>Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: <a href="https://youtu.be/Sj3JwQde-b8" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/Sj3JwQde-b8</a></p><ul><li><p>00:00 Intro </p></li><li><p>00:57 Why life could exist on Europa </p></li><li><p>10:48 Details of the research </p></li><li><p>17:57 Potential conditions for life </p></li><li><p>23:52 Crushing hopes </p></li><li><p>30:21 What it means for other sub-surface ocean worlds </p></li><li><p>36:30 The emotional response </p></li><li><p>43:02 Venus updates </p></li><li><p>56:32 Current obsessions </p></li><li><p>01:02:35 Final thoughts</p></li></ul><p></p></html>
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64 MIN
[Q&A+] AI Writing Science Papers, Private Space Science, Targets for ELT
JAN 21, 2026
[Q&A+] AI Writing Science Papers, Private Space Science, Targets for ELT
<html><p>Has AI already written any good science papers? Which are the primary targets for the Extremely Large Telescope? Which is scarier, finding aliens or not finding them? And in Q&amp;A+, what happens if you keep feeding a black hole forever?</p><p>BONUS QUESTION STARTS AT 16:54</p><p>Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: <a href="https://youtu.be/55VE01fptAM" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/55VE01fptAM</a></p><p>Here's a link to the full, unedited livestream: <a href="https://youtube.com/live/SiGmJkeCPl8?feature=share" target="_blank">https://youtube.com/live/SiGmJkeCPl8?feature=share</a></p></html>
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23 MIN
[Interview+] Building LISA, Humanity's Biggest Telescope
JAN 19, 2026
[Interview+] Building LISA, Humanity's Biggest Telescope
<html><p>Gravitational waves revolutionised Astronomy. But LIGO, VIRGO and KAGRA only operate in one spectrum. To detect longer waves we need bigger telescopes. Much bigger. Ones that don't fit on Earth. That is where LISA comes in, which will be humanity's biggest telescope.</p><p>🟣 Guest: Dr. Stefano Vitale </p><p>Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: <a href="https://youtu.be/AUS8A9J3d5g" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/AUS8A9J3d5g</a></p><ul><li><p>00:00 Intro </p></li><li><p>02:43 The evolution of gravitational wave search </p></li><li><p>05:33 Proving the concept with LISA Pathfinder </p></li><li><p>15:34 What will LISA see? </p></li><li><p>31:09 What are the next steps for LISA? </p></li><li><p>43:17 What happens after LISA? </p></li><li><p>50:02 Current obsessions </p></li><li><p>51:43 Final Thoughts</p></li></ul><p></p></html>
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53 MIN