Why are jets coming out close to the central black holes of galaxies? What can be done to improve gender equity in the sciences? How can India and Pakistan cooperate in astronomy projects across the border? Please join in a conversation on these topics and more between Dr. Prajval Shastri and Salman Hameed. 

Video of this podcast is available at: 
https://youtu.be/ErYPNTBU3G8

What happens on the International Space Station (ISS) when a war breaks out on Earth? This is not just a scenario from science fiction film. Rather, this is happening right now. As Russia's war in Ukraine continues, there are two NASA astronauts, one German astronaut, and four Russian cosmonauts currently residing at the International Space Station. The station itself is a legacy of an unusual peace gesture in space in 1975 between the US and the then Soviet Union in Apollo-Soyuz mission. Please join astrophysicist Salman Hameed in exploring questions of war and peace in space. 

For video of this podcast, please visit here: https://youtu.be/Ey33cavsUuc

This podcast may be better seen as a video: https://youtu.be/TeBsGpw1cJ0
If you want to bet on the next big supernova, then I would suggest that name of Eta Carinae. It is one of the most massive stars in the Milky Way and had an enormous eruption in 1843. But now, a combination of images from the Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra, and Spitzer, we have an insight into what is happening with this star. Please join astrophysicist Salman Hameed in exploring one of the most interesting stars in the galaxy. 

There is growing evidence to suggest that Columbus was not the first European to cross the Atlantic ocean to get to North America. It seems that the Vikings had a settlement in what is now Canada around the year 1000. But when exactly? Now a solar storm can pinpoint the date when at least one Viking cut a tree there in 1021CE. Please join astrophysicist in exploring the way scientists figured out this date. 

For a video of this podcast, see here: https://youtu.be/sjuzAX0rGuY

How come there is an ocean on Jupiter's moon, Europa? Jupiter after all is five times further away than the Earth is from the Sun. It is not even close to the Habitable Zone. And yet, there is liquid water ocean there. In fact, the four large moons of Jupiter (Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto) are all fascinating places. Please join astrophysicist Salman Hameed in exploring the reasons why there is a liquid water ocean on Europa. 
Full video of this podcast is here: https://youtu.be/J_Fp3pPdDsU

How do we promote science fiction from the developing world? Do we expect that science fiction to be different? Five years ago, Tehseen Baweja c-founded a science fiction award named after Professor Abdus Salam. Here Salman Hameed and Tehseen Baweja have a conversation about the awards and more.
Also, please check out the Salam Awards page here: http://thesalamaward.com/
And check out a past winning story - The Puppet Master here: http://thesalamaward.com/winning-story-of-2019/

For the video, please visit: 
https://youtu.be/jq75mT2IWyI

What happened to the potentially ET signal from our nearest star, Proxima Centauri? The star is, of course, the closest to us and it has at least one roughly Earth-sized planet that also happens to be in its 'habitable zone'. All of this had heightened the intrigue from a signal that was detected in 2019 and announced in 2021. Please join astrophysicist Salman Hameed in exploring the followup to that signal and to see an example of good science when it comes to aliens. 

For the video, please visit: 
https://youtu.be/6YM1FLGJ5pI

For the first time, a space craft built by humans has flown close to the Sun. In April of 2021, Parker Solar Probe "touched" the Sun by entering its corona. But what does that even mean? Please join astrophysicist Salman Hameed in exploring some of the science that Parker is uncovering. 

For the video, please visit: 
https://youtu.be/gm4Z-tEWglc 

When did the first stars light up in the universe? When did the first galaxies form? Can we detect signatures of life on exoplanets? On December 22nd, James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)  is expected to be launched to answer some of these fundamental questions of humanity. Please join astrophysicist Salman Hameed in exploring why there is so much hype about this telescope and what kind of science it is expected to do. 

For a video of the podcast: 
https://youtu.be/YN9dpb7a17M

What will happen if we detect an alien signal? Who are the people who are taking a scientific approach to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI)? What do we know about the famous WOW! signal? Dr. Seth Shostak is a prominent scientist in this field and is a Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute. He has received Carl Sagan Award for the Popularization of Science and Klumpke Roberts Award for Astronomy Popularization. Here Salman Hameed and Dr. Shostak have a conversation about aliens. 

For the video of the podcast: 
https://youtu.be/UXIC6gCUDI4