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Ep. 276: XMM-Newton

The Earth’s atmosphere keeps us alive and blocks x-ray radiation from reaching the surface. In order to understand the universe at the higher energy levels you need to launch a space telescope like the European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton Telescope. Let’s learn about the telescope named for the famous scientist.

Weekly Space Hangout - Oct 25 2012

This week we talk about the discovery of a planet around Alpha Centauri, a flash from the Milky Way supermassive black hole, an afterburner jet from a black hole, new space debris in low Earth orbit, the smallest yet observed supermassive black hole, and thirty two fish delivered to the ISS. Show More Summary

Announcing our Mobile App: Phases of the Moon

Check out the new mobile app from Universe Today, called "Phases of the Moon". It's a beautiful and functional mobile experience for both Android and iPhone, showing the current state of the Moon as well as rise/set times and more. Support your favourite site and learn about space - at the same time.

The neuroscience of sexual attractions

A recent edition of radio programme KERA Think has a fantastic discussion on development and the neuroscience of sexual attraction in its many forms. The programme is a discussion with Simon LeVay, a neuroscientist who raised a lot of eyebrows by finding differences in the brain structure of gay and straight men in a 1991 [...]

The whale that talked like a human

The noise sounds like the kind of "dum-diddy-dah" tune folks might sing to themselves while they're strolling along the beach — but it's actually the voice of a white beluga whale, mimicking human conversation by blurping air through its blowhole. The strange case …

Ep. 275: Isaac Newton, Pt. 1

Isaac Newton has been called "the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived." That sounds about right. He unlocked our modern understanding of gravity and laws of motion, dabbled in optics, philosophy... even alchemy. He was also known to have a bit of a difficult personality. Let's find out everything we can about Isaac Newton.

Ep. 274: Vesta

There’s some topics on Astronomy Cast that we wait until we are good and ready, until the science is all in. The Dawn mission has completed it’s mapping operations at asteroid Vesta and it’s now moving on to Ceres. This gives us a great opportunity to take a detailed look at this amazing asteroid, report on the science findings, and give you a preview of what’s coming next.

Podcast: IOT: Hannibal

In Our Time With Melvyn Bragg: IOT: Hannibal 11 Oct 12.

Ep. 273: Solutions to the Fermi Paradox

In Episode 24 we presented the concept of the Fermi Paradox. In short: Where are all the aliens? Today we’re going to examine the theoretical solutions to this problem. Maybe they’re out there, but just don’t want to talk to us. Maybe it’s too hard to communicate? Maybe there are no other civilizations. Show More Summary

Weekly Space Hangout - Oct 4 2012

This week we talk about, an ancient stream bed on Mars, the 55th anniversary of Sputnik launch, the Square Kilometer Array in Australia, a strange cold layer on Venus, and the most precise measurement of the universe's expansion. We are joined by Nancy Atkinson, Amy Shira Teitel, and Nicole Gugliucci. Hosted by Fraser Cain.

Weekly Space Hangout - Sep. 27 2012

This week we talk about the possibility that comet ISON will be the brightest ever, new picture of Phobos returned by Curiosity Rover, an anticipated date for record setting skydive, Hubble extreme deep field survey, first test of Grasshopper by SpaceX, plans for a base beyond the Moon, and a paddleboat mission to Titan in initial planning stage. Show More Summary

Weekly Space Hangout - Sep. 20 2012

This week we talk about Warp Drive research at NASA, Neil Armstrong burial at sea, Curiosity Rover looking at a pyramid shaped rock, Phobos eclipse as seen from Mars, and the oldest-youngest galaxy. We are joined by Jason Major, Nicole Gugliucci, Amy Shira Teitel, Nancy Atkinson, and Ian O'Neill. Hosted by Fraser Cain.

Ep. 272: Abiogenesis

The Theory of Evolution provides a rich explanation for why we see the diversity of life here on Earth. There are so many lines of evidence, from genetic drift to the fossil record. But how did life start? How did things go from a collection...Show More Summary

Duke Graduate Student Unlocks ‘Mystery of the Lost Sonata’

A work once attributed to the celebrated composer Felix Mendelssohn turns out to have been by his sister. Finding the manuscript to prove it was a separate detective story.

Coiney Lawyer Caught on Tape

.I have never met Peter Tompa, so it was with great interest that I listened to his oral presentation here.http://coop.ca4.uscourts.gov/OAarchive/mp3/11-2012-20120919.mp3Photo: Avvo

How the FBI spreads DIYBio

Audio Time Machine: Aldo Leopold’s Birds, Circa 1940

Close your eyes, open your ears and hear the sounds that greeted famed naturalist Aldo Leopold on a June morning in 1940. Using his fastidious notes and contemporary birdsong recordings, researchers have recreated a dawn soundscape heard by Leopold outside the rural Wisconsin shack where he wrote A Sand County Almanc, a bible of modern environmentalism.

Ep. 271: Who Does What in Space and Astronomy

In past, if you looked up into the sky, you were an astronomer. But everything has gotten so complicated. Now we have astrophysicists, and cosmologists, planetary geologists, and even exobiologists. Who does what, and how do they all interact with one another. If you want to go into space research as a career, which one should you choose?

John Dryden's translation of the 3rd Book of Lucretius: Against the Fear of Death

Inspired by Stephen Greenblatt's book The Swerve, I've had a go at reading John Dryden's excellent verse translation of Lucretius' thoughts on the fear of death (themselves derived from Epicurus) 17:25: click on the link below for the audio to...

Ep. 270: Inertia

An object at rest tends to stay at rest. An object in motion tends to stay in motion. Isaac Newton dismantled the traditional idea that objects would tend to slow down over time, and described the concept of inertia: the amount an object will resist changes in its motion.