Astronomers have detected over 5000 exoplanets so far. Some of these are slightly bigger than Earth and are called Super-Earths. Now we have discovered that two of these Super-Earths are mostly made up of water. Please join astrophysicist Salman Hameed in this conversation about how we detect exoplanets.

For the video of this podcast: https://youtu.be/iZFHbv7GuwE

Our Sun is part of the Milky Way galaxy. But can there be stars without a galaxy? And if so, how do they get out of the galaxy? Over the past couple of decades, astronomers have started detecting inter-galactic stars, stars that reside in the space between galaxies. As it turns out, these stars can provide us with important information about the distribution of dark matter as well. Please join astrophysicist Salman Hameed to talk about these rogue stars in this episode of Kainaati Gup Shup.

For the video of this podcast: https://youtu.be/rDXBMTg2y_Q

We usually use light to learn about the universe. However, there is an exciting new field of neutrino astronomy that uses a small particle to get information about the heart of exploding stars or the conditions near a supermassive black hole. IceCube Neutrino Observatory uses 1 cubic kilometer of ice to detect neutrinos. Recently, it found 80 neutrinos coming from the galaxy, NGC 1068 (M77) and its supermassive blackhole. Please join astrophysicist Salman Hameed in exploring the ways astronomers use neutrinos in understanding objects in the universe.

For the video of this podcast: https://youtu.be/UwRp3vMmaEk

Humans are soon headed to the Moon again. Artemis I is going through its uncrewed test orbit around the Moon. But more than 50 years ago, humans first set eyes - not on the Moon - but on the Earth! The goal and focus of the Apollo program was, of course, to land humans on the Moon. However, it was the view of the whole Earth that really stole the show. In particular, the picture of the "Earthrise" taken by Apollo 8 astronauts on December 24, 1968, really transformed the way we look at our own planet. Please join astrophysicist Salman Hameed in this episode of Kainaati Gup Shup to talk about how the perceptions about our planet changed with the first images of the Earth and how should we think about the human-induced changes to our climate.

For the video of this podcast: https://youtu.be/sJQCBoiOTbw

"Pillars of Creation" is one of the most famous picture taken by Hubble Space Telescope. It is a part of the star forming region called, Eagle Nebula. As you may have expected, now James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has now taken a spectacular infrared picture of the same region. Please join astrophysicist Salman Hameed in exploring the processes responsible for creating these amazing columns of gas and dust.

For the video of this podcast: https://youtu.be/VSYAmdxgQjg

Looking at Saturn through a telescope is an amazing experience. The rings of Saturn are simply magnificent! But how did they form and are how long are they going to last? The recent Cassini spacecraft has provided insight into the origins of rings. Please join astrophysicist Salman Hameed in exploring the origins of Saturn's rings in this episode.

For the video of this podcast: https://youtu.be/Zs0p0jx0jUA

Sometime ago, NASA deliberately crashed a spacecraft into an asteroid. This asteroid, called Dimorphos, was not a threat to the Earth. However, this was mission, DART, was part of a planetary defense test, in case of a real threatening asteroid. Asteroids have of course crashed into Earth before, and one such asteroid was responsible for the extinction of dinosaurs. Please join astrophysicist Salman Hameed in exploring the threat of asteroids and why DART just crashed into Dimorphos in this episode.

For the video of this podcast: https://youtu.be/xUnRHBwNSGw

Striking headlines get your attention. This was the case with some news that may be James Webb Space Telescope has overturned the established idea of Big Bang. We are inundated with these type of sensational headlines about science. The problem is that they are mostly misleading. Please join astrophysicist Salman Hameed in exploring how to think critically about such stories, in this Kainaati Gupshup.

For the video of this podcast: https://youtu.be/VR3WRPNTWho

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is very good at detecting dust. This is because JWST works in the infrared, and dust glows in the infrared. Pictures of galaxies like the Cartwheel galaxy and the Stephan's Quintet show glowing dust. But why is there dust in the universe? This is a fascinating question and central to the origins of the Sun and the Earth as well. Please join astrophysicist Salman Hameed in exploring the origins of dust in this Kainaati Gup Shup.

For the video of this podcast: https://youtu.be/26n9SrDIAao

In 1974, astronomers used the Arecibo Observatory to send a message to a star cluster called M13. It is located 25,000 light years away. So if anyone is there, their response will get to us in 50,000 years!! So then what was really the point of sending that message? Plus what language do you use to communicate with aliens? Please join astrophysicist Salman Hameed in exploring these questions and more.

For the video of this podcast: https://youtu.be/4bTrmQTAywM