Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Astronomy news and scientist interviews • Space missions, telescopes, instrumentation • Exoplanets, astrobiology, technosignatures • Solar System moons, asteroids, comets, planetary defense • Black holes, gravitational waves, cosmology, early Universe observations
This podcast covers current developments in astronomy and space science through a mix of news roundups and interviews with researchers involved in recent discoveries and major projects. Hosted by two academic astronomers, it regularly moves between Solar System exploration, observational breakthroughs, and wider questions in astrophysics and cosmology, often explaining what new measurements mean and what uncertainties remain.
A major thread is space missions and instrumentation: lunar and Mars spacecraft, asteroid and comet missions, journeys to Jupiter’s moons, and the rollout of new observatories and surveys. Discussions frequently highlight how new capabilities—large cameras, X‑ray satellites, infrared and radio facilities, and gravitational-wave detectors—change what can be measured, from planetary atmospheres to the earliest galaxies. The show often connects engineering and operations to science outcomes, including how observatories are commissioned, upgraded, and affected by issues such as satellite constellations and space sustainability.
Across the astrophysics side, topics commonly include black holes and their role in galaxy evolution, energetic transients such as tidal disruption events and unusual supernovae, cosmic rays, and fast radio bursts. Cosmology also appears prominently, including tensions between different measurements of the Universe and the use of probes like the cosmic microwave background to test models of dark matter, dark energy, and cosmic expansion.
Planetary science and astrobiology are recurring themes, with attention to Venus, Mars, icy moons, and exoplanets. The podcast examines how scientists infer composition and habitability from spectroscopy and other remote observations, while emphasizing caveats around tentative biosignatures and alternative explanations. It also touches on public participation and the broader scientific ecosystem, including amateur contributions, learned societies, career paths, and the real-world context that can shape international collaboration in space.
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Episodes:
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Northern Lights, New Camera, Cosmological Action
2024-May-25
53 minutes
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Dust to dust
2024-Apr-19
42 minutes
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XRISM and Matter's Final Screams
2024-Feb-13
49 minutes
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2023 Review and 2024 look-ahead
2024-Jan-02
23 minutes
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The "What the Heck" Particle
2023-Dec-20
21 minutes
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Planet Bashing and Dipsticks of the Universe
2023-Nov-21
46 minutes
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Life, but not as we know it?
2023-Oct-04
20 minutes
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National Astronomy Meeting - part 2
2023-Aug-21
30 minutes
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NAM 2023
2023-Jul-19
60 minutes
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Tidal Transients
2023-Jun-01
44 minutes
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From exploding rockets to burping galaxies
2023-May-04
30 minutes
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Black Holes: Saviours of the Universe?
2023-Apr-06
56 minutes
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Staring at the Dawn of Time - part 2
2023-Mar-12
30 minutes
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Staring at the Dawn of Time - part 1
2023-Feb-16
41 minutes
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Happy Birthday JWST
2022-Dec-23
42 minutes
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The Future of Space Exploration
2022-Dec-01
22 minutes
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On board with DART
2022-Nov-03
27 minutes
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Gravitational Field Trip - part 2
2022-Sep-12
37 minutes
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Gravitational Field Trip - part 1
2022-Aug-04
48 minutes
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Amateur Advances
2022-Jul-02
33 minutes
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Space Environmentalism
2022-Jun-02
52 minutes
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Routine Spaceflight?
2022-May-05
21 minutes
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Shadow of War
2022-Mar-31
28 minutes
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Venus resurfaces
2022-Mar-03
28 minutes
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Radio repeater
2022-Feb-07
41 minutes
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Mysterious travellers bearing gifts
2021-Dec-30
33 minutes
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The Cosmic Webb
2021-Dec-06
48 minutes
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Lucy in the Sky with Trojans
2021-Nov-04
41 minutes
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Supernova Detective Story
2021-Sep-30
22 minutes
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It's the Small Things - Exomoons
2021-Sep-08
32 minutes
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Herding Megacomets
2021-Jul-30
34 minutes
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Cosmic Developments
2021-Jul-01
28 minutes
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Learned Societies and Society Learning
2021-Jun-02
47 minutes
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Revisting Venus
2021-Apr-29
24 minutes
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Catching a Shooting Star
2021-Mar-30
38 minutes
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Astrobiology and Technosignatures
2021-Mar-03
37 minutes
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The Martian Triple
2021-Feb-02
50 minutes
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Review of the decade and Galactic dynamics
2020-Dec-31
26 minutes
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Watery Worlds and Tumbling Telescopes
2020-Nov-28
38 minutes
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Asteroid Tagging and Stellar Spaghettification
2020-Oct-29
30 minutes
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It's (Almost) Never Aliens
2020-Sep-14
23 minutes
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Black holes - too big and too small
2020-Sep-03
42 minutes
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Solar Orbiter: Not Suitable for Vegetarians
2020-Jul-30
33 minutes
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Mass Gaps and Radio Bursts
2020-Jul-02
41 minutes
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SmallSpark
2020-Jun-04
26 minutes
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Hubble at 30
2020-May-01
50 minutes
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Isolation Space
2020-Apr-03
28 minutes
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Out with the old, in with the new
2020-Feb-27
35 minutes
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Dimming stars, Galactic waves and misbehaving gas clouds
2020-Jan-31
25 minutes
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What the future holds
2019-Dec-29
27 minutes
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Stellar Explosions and Interstellar Visitors
2019-Nov-28
35 minutes
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Interstellar Comets, black holes and gravitational waves
2019-Oct-31
41 minutes
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Habitable zones, Lunar landers and Interstellar interlopers
2019-Sep-26
19 minutes
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Lunar Gateways, Belching Black Holes and Warped Galaxies
2019-Sep-03
24 minutes
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Robotic Explorers
2019-Aug-01
38 minutes
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The slowly spinning Sun, Starlink and Spiral Surprises
2019-Jun-28
37 minutes
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Bonus: Herschel 10 years on
2019-May-30
52 minutes
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Biomarkers, near-misses and anniversaries
2019-May-30
25 minutes
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Engine failures to event horizons
2019-Apr-30
20 minutes
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Flying space-shrapnel and a misbehaving Universe
2019-Apr-02
53 minutes
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Hopping spacecraft and Rosalind the Rover
2019-Mar-01
40 minutes
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Cartwheeling snowmen and raining rings
2019-Jan-31
28 minutes
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2018: a year in space
2018-Dec-30
17 minutes
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Kepler's Legacy
2018-Nov-29
31 minutes
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Changing with the times
2018-Nov-01
32 minutes
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Vulcans, dust storms, and Water on Mars
2018-Sep-27
40 minutes
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Parking near the Sun
2018-Aug-30
27 minutes
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Icy Moons and Ice Cubes
2018-Jul-25
44 minutes
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Organics, asteroids and Nobel Prize winners
2018-Jun-28
26 minutes
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Bonus: In conversation with a Nobel Prize Winner
2018-Jun-27
71 minutes
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Missions to Mars and plumes from Europa
2018-May-31
24 minutes
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Exoplanet Missions and EWASS roundup
2018-Apr-25
35 minutes
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Remembering Stephen Hawking
2018-Mar-28
39 minutes
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March Bonus: Stephen Hawking's Theories
2018-Mar-28
18 minutes
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Tumbling Space Cucumbers and 5000 sols on Mars
2018-Feb-28
55 minutes
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Glitterballs, habitable exoplanets and supermassive stars
2018-Jan-31
34 minutes
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Planetary Response Network and 2017 Review
2017-Dec-30
43 minutes
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The Star That Would Not Die
2017-Nov-29
29 minutes
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Gravity and Light
2017-Oct-25
27 minutes
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Cassini’s Grand Finale
2017-Oct-03
29 minutes
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Totally Eclipsed
2017-Aug-31
40 minutes
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Stars, Supernovae and Geysers
2017-Aug-02
39 minutes
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Gravitational Waves and Life from Venus?
2017-Jul-01
27 minutes
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Cassini’s Grand Finale
2017-May-31
40 minutes
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The Astronomer Royal and Potatoes on Mars
2017-Apr-24
31 minutes
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TRAPPIST-1 and other stories
2017-Mar-27
36 minutes
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Backyard Worlds
2017-Feb-28
30 minutes
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Star Attractions
2017-Jan-30
26 minutes
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Assassin Supernova
2016-Dec-19
33 minutes
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the GLEAM Survey
2016-Nov-28
41 minutes
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Rosetta & OSIRIS-Rex
2016-Sep-26
27 minutes
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Proxima b
2016-Aug-26
19 minutes
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Mission Juno
2016-Jul-28
28 minutes
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The Origins of Black Holes
2016-Jun-30
22 minutes
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New worlds
2016-May-26
32 minutes
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Interplanetary explorers
2016-Apr-29
24 minutes
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to Mars – and Beyond!
2016-Mar-31
23 minutes
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the Voice of Einstein
2016-Feb-25
36 minutes
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2015 round-up and Tim Peake
2015-Dec-19
27 minutes
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Einstein’s Revolution
2015-Nov-28
32 minutes
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Water on Mars – Again!
2015-Oct-29
25 minutes
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AstroCamp and Galaxies
2015-Sep-28
31 minutes
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In conversation with Mark McCaughrean
2015-Aug-27
33 minutes
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New Horizons at Pluto
2015-Jul-30
33 minutes
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Radio astronomy close-up
2015-Jun-28
26 minutes
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Solar System round-up
2015-May-28
18 minutes
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End of the Messenger
2015-Apr-30
30 minutes
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Pythagoras’ Trousers: Making the Invisible, Visible
2015-Apr-02
29 minutes
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Eclipses and the nature of Gravity
2015-Mar-26
21 minutes
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Solar Eclipses and Planck results
2015-Feb-26
34 minutes
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Beagle 2, and the “Year of the Dwarf Planet”
2015-Feb-04
16 minutes
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ExoMars
2014-Dec-19
22 minutes
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Adventures of Philae
2014-Nov-27
27 minutes
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MAVEN to Mars
2014-Nov-05
25 minutes
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in conversation with Alastair Reynolds
2014-Aug-18
29 minutes
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National Astronomy Meeting 2014
2014-Jun-30
21 minutes
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Cambridge Science Festival and Gravitational Waves from Inflation
2014-Apr-01
27 minutes
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Asteroids, supernovae and National Astronomy Week
2014-Feb-28
16 minutes
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