Universe Today Podcast

By Fraser Cain

Space news, interviews, Q&As, and exclusive content from Universe Today.

Audio versions of Fraser Cain YouTube channel.... more

4.7

518518 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Universe Today Podcast:

How many episodes does Universe Today Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 1,411 episodes available.

Universe Today Podcast episodes:

July 15, 2025 [Q&A] Enforcement of Space Treaties, Mars vs O'Neil Cylinders, India's Space Ambitions
Can somebody really enforce any space treaties and do they make any sense? What's a better future, colonies on Mars or on giant rotating spaceships? What's India's space program been up to lately? And in Q&A+, would I take a one-way ticket to Mars?
🦄 Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Start
00:28 [Iamsick] Mars vs O'Neil cylinders
02:08 [busybillyb33] How enforceable is the Outer Space Treaty?
06:04 [Tarun Pulikanti] Thoughts on India's space station ambitions
08:23 [Doogle] How difficult is it to see the Orion Nebula?
10:21 [Larry Tilghmon] Why did Oumuamua leave our solar system so easily while we cannot?
11:58 [GTP_VEXD] What is a light year and why do we use them?
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/cya7EXYCBCo
📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
🎧 PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
[email protected]
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Support Universe Today Podcast
...more
17min
July 11, 2025 [Space Bites] Double Supernova // Impossible Rings // Dark Brown Dwarfs
A star detonated as a supernova, twice. Trump chooses his new NASA Administrator. Why deflecting asteroids is much more complex than we thought.And on Space Bites Plus, how your flight home could signal an alien civilization.
🚀 [Space Bites+] No ADS. BONUS Story. For FREE:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
👉 Vote for the best story here:
https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/community
00:00 Intro
00:19 Star detonated as supernova ... twice
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/a-star-detonated-as-a-supernova-twice
02:27 Rogue planet hiding in Hubble data
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/old-hubble-space-telescope-photos-unlock-the-secret-of-a-rogue-planet
03:44 Deflecting asteroids is harder than we thought
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/deflecting-asteroids-isnt-simple-according-to-new-data-from-dart
05:23 Dark matter in brown dwarfs
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/dark-matter-could-create-dark-dwarfs-at-the-center-of-the-milky-way
06:36 New interim NASA Administrator
https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/09/politics/sean-duffy-named-interim-nasa-administrator
07:38 2100+ Senior NASA Employees Gone
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/09/nasa-staff-departures-00444674?utm_campaign=FIRST+UP+2025-07-10&utm_content=China+s+increasingly+sophisticated+maneuvers+in+space&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ActiveCampaign
08:53 Vote results
https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/posts
09:22 "Impossible" rings of Quaoar
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/quaoars-atmosphere-doesnt-exist-and-its-rings-shouldnt
11:08 Hubble vs JWST
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/two-powerful-space-telescopes-are-better-than-one
12:10 Sprite from the ISS
https://x.com/Astro_Ayers/status/1940810789830451563
13:30 3I/Atlas from VLT
https://www.eso.org/public/videos/potw2527a/
14:35 Newsletter
https://www.universetoday.com/newsletter
15:48 Bonus story: signalling aliens about us
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/how-your-flight-home-could-be-broadcasting-earths-location-to-aliens
16:21 Huge Patreon Q&A
https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-questions-133776836
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/v1HQGRh-Wrw
📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
🎧 PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
[email protected]
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Support Universe Today Podcast
...more
20min
July 10, 2025 [Q&A] Dust VS Interstellar Travel, Nuclear Reactors on the Moon, My Favourite Lagrange Point
Will dust make interstellar travel impossible? Is Oumuamua unique in its weird cigar-like shape? How many nuclear reactors will we need on the Moon? And in Q&A+, does studying the Universe have no endgame? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A show.
🎁 [Q&A+] Same video. No YT ads. BONUS question. FREE:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
🚀 [Overtime] Even more Q&As:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Start
00:27 [@scottycartercom] My favourite planet and moon
00:51 [@Beedubz76] Are there any objects that are similar to Oumuamua?
03:52 [@askani21] Will dust make interstellar travel impossible?
06:29 [@fredjonestowns4213] How long until we reach Enceladus?
08:41 [HammmmerFan] How will society respond if we actually find evidence of alien life?

10:31 [@anniealexander9911] What's my favourite Lagrange point?
11:25 [@johnrasnic195] Will people put Moon bases in caverns?
12:31 [Encodedpr] How many nuclear reactors will we need on the Moon?
13:42 [@gangsterdaddy510] Data rates from distant spacecraft
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/kVUxqNkwyfI
📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
🎧 PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
[email protected]
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Support Universe Today Podcast
...more
19min
July 08, 2025 [Q&A] Vera Rubin & Planet 9 SPECIAL
Will there be a northern hemisphere version of Vera Rubin? Or maybe we can put one straight in space? Can Vera Rubin detect alien spacecraft if they ever visit? And if it finds planet 9, how fast will we be sending a mission there? And in Q&A+, how many planets will be out there if we reinstate Pluto as one? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A show.
🎁 [Q&A+] Same video. No YT ads. BONUS question. FREE:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
🚀 [Overtime] Even more Q&As:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Start
00:32 [@richardg1577] How do astronomers track newly discovered asteroids by Vera Rubin?
01:56 [@rodtolosa4594] Will Vera Rubin detect an alien spacecraft?
02:58 [@estraume] Are there plans for a Northern hemisphere version of Vera Rubin?

05:07 [skygunner777] Vera Rubin telescope but in space?
08:08 [@nigeldawson5960] How do they keep Vera Rubin's mirrors clean?
09:15 [@austinsapp5867] Could Planet 9 be geologically active?
11:26 [@kasieream1248] Would we be able to launch a mission to Planet 9?
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/rXl8k7DEhKw
📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
🎧 PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
[email protected]
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Support Universe Today Podcast
...more
19min
July 07, 2025 [Interview] Revealing the Secrets of Cosmic Dark Ages
What are the cosmic dark ages and what do we know about them? Why are the so hard to study? How can the Dark Age Explorer help with it and why does it need to go on the far side of the Moon? Finding out in this interview.
😍 [Interview+] Bonus Part. No YT ads.
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
🟣 Guest: Dr Christiaan Brinkerink
https://www.ru.nl/en/externals/services/radboud-radio-lab
📜 The Dark Ages Explorer (DEX): a filled-aperture ultra-long wavelength radio interferometer on the lunar far side
https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.03418
00:00 Intro
02:31 Cosmic dark ages
14:23 21cm line
19:03 Current instruments
25:00 Dark Ages Explorer
41:20 Science objectives
50:47 Working with EHT
58:09 Current obsessions
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/6OJhhPxzd5U
📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
🎧 PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
[email protected]
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Support Universe Today Podcast
...more
59min
July 04, 2025 [Space Bites] A THIRD Interstellar Object // Pack of Quasars // Tianwen-2 Looks Back
Astronomers have discovered a third interstellar object. NASA missions are getting prepared to be shut down. The most massive white dwarf has been found. And in Space Bites Plus, a capsule containing human remains and cannabis seeds crashes into the ocean.
🚀 [Space Bites+] No ADS. BONUS Story. For FREE:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
👉 Vote for the best story here:
https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/community
00:00 Intro
00:19 Third interstellar object
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/inbound-astronomers-discover-third-interstellar-object
03:01 NASA budget cuts
https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/07/trump-administration-moves-to-tighten-the-noose-around-nasa-science-missions/
05:17 Nancy Grace Roman telescope progress
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/roman-telescope-core-components-complete-vibration-testing
06:26 Exoplanet around a quiet red dwarf
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/gj-12-b-earth-sized-planet-orbiting-a-quiet-m-dwarf-star
08:13 Citizen scientists help observe exoplanet transit
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/worldwide-team-of-citizen-scientists-help-confirm-a-tricky-exoplanet
09:27 Vote results
https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/community
10:07 Chonkiest white dwarf
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/a-supermassive-white-dwarf-is-pulsating-rapidly-revealing-details-of-its-interior
12:00 Pack of quasars
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/a-dense-group-of-quasars-form-the-cosmic-himalayas
13:23 Tianwen-2 looks back
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/tianwen-2-looks-back-at-the-earth
14:44 More space news
15:51 Bonus story
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/4Bx96IKAfhs
📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
🎧 PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
[email protected]
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Support Universe Today Podcast
...more
20min
July 03, 2025 [Q&A] Absent Planets from Our Solar System, Interstellar Black Holes, Non-Conventional Theories
Which type of planet that's not in the Solar System is the most interesting? Can we detect an interstellar black hole? Should science journalists report about non-conventional science theories? And in our extended Q&A+ version, will the success of Vera Rubin stimulate building a northern hemisphere version of it?
🎁 [Q&A+] Same video. No YT ads. BONUS question. FREE:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
🚀 [Overtime] Even more Q&As:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Start
00:30 [SaekobusujimaESO] Can we launch an amateur telescope into space?
02:43 [No Thanks] What's my favourite type of planet absent from the Solar System?
04:15 [E Eliashar] Are we really alone in the Universe?
08:42 [Alisdair Condie] How can we be so special?
09:25 [Graham W] Could you detect an interstellar black hole if it passed in front of a star?
12:17 [Motion Theory] Should science journalists explore unconventional theories?
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/l2UJPZ_IhqA
📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
🎧 PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
[email protected]
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Support Universe Today Podcast
...more
21min
July 02, 2025 [Q&A] Confidence in SpaceX, New Pale Blue Dot, A Day on Gas Giants
Did the recent streak of Starship failures change my confidence is SpaceX's future success? How can we measure the rotation of gas giant planets? Is there a chance Voyagers can make another Pale Blue Dot image? And in our Q&A+ extended version, do we have a moral obligation to spread life in the Universe?
🎁 [Q&A+] Same video. No YT ads. BONUS question. FREE:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
🚀 [Overtime] Even more Q&As:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Start
00:28 [Tremolo Soul] Can we make another "Pale Blue Dot" image with Voyagers?
01:41 [Ammar] Can we still monitor Voyagers after they stop communicating?
03:24 [Blasty] Are science journals full of AI slop already?
05:14 [Vinny Contini] How do we measure the rotation of gas giant planets?
07:28 [wishmasterbrazen] Am I still confident about SpaceX after their last failures?
13:01 [churchdiscography] What's taking New Glenn so long?
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/M5n64Zly9BY
📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
🎧 PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
[email protected]
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Support Universe Today Podcast
...more
19min
June 27, 2025 [Space Bites] Vera Rubin's ONLINE // Huge LISA Update // Record-Breaking JWST Exoplanet
The first pictures from Rubin are finally here, construction begins on the LISA mission, Webb directly images a Saturn-sized exoplanet, and do pulsar have mountains? And in Space Bites+, a fast radio burst is coming from inside the Solar System.
🚀 [Space Bites+] No ADS. BONUS Story. For FREE:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
👉 Vote for the best story here:
https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain/community
00:00 Intro
00:22 Vera Rubin Observatory is ONLINE
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-first-pictures-from-vera-rubin-are-here
07:49 LISA construction begins
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/lisa-construction-begins
10:22 Webb images the lightest planet so far
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/webb-directly-images-a-saturn-sized-star-in-a-nearby-system
12:08 JWST should detect exoSaturns
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/rare-conditions-can-make-double-hot-jupiters
13:36 Hot Jupiters in binary systems
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/rare-conditions-can-make-double-hot-jupiters
14:51 Vote reuslts
15:24 Mountains on pulsars
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/pulsars-could-have-tiny-mountains
17:45 First light from CODEX
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/pulsars-could-have-tiny-mountains
19:07 Hakuto-R 2 aftermath
20:38 More space news
21:56 Bonus story
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/AMjRfS5PkLY
📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
🎧 PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
[email protected]
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Support Universe Today Podcast
...more
26min
June 26, 2025 [Q&A] SMBH Images, Primordial Gravitational Waves, Terraforming Tidally-Locked Planets
Does terraforming a tidally-locked planet make any sense? Are the images we got of our galaxy's supermassive black hole fake? Can we observe gravitational waves that came before the CMB? And in Q&A+ who is currently working on space elevators? Answering all these questions and more in this Q&A show.
🎁 [Q&A+] Same video. No YT ads. BONUS question. FREE:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
🚀 [Overtime] Even more Q&As:
https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
00:00 Start
00:31 [Poshact] What's the feasibility of terraforming a tidally-locked planet?
03:26 [Jay Drummond] Why it's okay for space companies to dump rockets into the ocean?
05:50 [Scott Smillie] Is the image of Sag A not real?

08:44 [Richard R] Do we expand the observable Universe if we launch a telescope 1 ly from Earth?
10:02 [michael blacktree] Can we observe gravitational waves before the CMB?
13:11 [Uğur E.] When do we start orbiting our SMBH after leaving the solar system?
15:06 [drZab] Should we be building a big spaceship in orbit?
📺 VIDEO VERSION
https://youtu.be/xXQs259LESw
📰 GUIDE TO SPACE Newsletter
No ads. Subscribe for FREE: https://universetoday.com/newsletter
🎧 PODCASTS
Universe Today: https://universetoday.fireside.fm/
Astronomy Cast: http://www.astronomycast.com/
📩 CONTACT FRASER
[email protected]
⚖️ LICENSE
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Support Universe Today Podcast
...more
21min

FAQs about Universe Today Podcast:

How many episodes does Universe Today Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 1,411 episodes available.

More shows like Universe Today Podcast

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science by The Planetary Society

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

1,330 Listeners

Astronomy Cast by Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay

Astronomy Cast

2,848 Listeners

The 365 Days of Astronomy by 365DaysOfAstronomy.org

The 365 Days of Astronomy

351 Listeners

Ask a Spaceman! by Paul M. Sutter

Ask a Spaceman!

803 Listeners

Space Nuts: Astronomy Insights & Cosmic Discoveries by Professor Fred Watson and Andrew Dunkley

Space Nuts: Astronomy Insights & Cosmic Discoveries

227 Listeners

SpaceTime: Your Guide to Space & Astronomy by Stuart Gary

SpaceTime: Your Guide to Space & Astronomy

293 Listeners

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating by Big Bang Productions Inc.

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

1,049 Listeners

Houston We Have a Podcast by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Houston We Have a Podcast

1,231 Listeners

Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe by iHeartPodcasts

Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

2,308 Listeners

The Supermassive Podcast by The Royal Astronomical Society

The Supermassive Podcast

279 Listeners

Why This Universe? by Dan Hooper, Shalma Wegsman

Why This Universe?

361 Listeners

This Week in Space (Audio) by TWiT

This Week in Space (Audio)

137 Listeners

Astrum Space by Astrum

Astrum Space

131 Listeners

The Astrophysics Podcast by Paul Duffell

The Astrophysics Podcast

54 Listeners

Crash Course Pods: The Universe by Crash Course Pods, Complexly

Crash Course Pods: The Universe

503 Listeners