Walkabout the Galaxy

What role has Jupiter played in the existence of our warm and cosy home planet? Has it been bravely using its gravity to keep the inner solar system calm, or did we luck out and escape getting hurtled out of the solar system or dashed to bits in a giant collision? We'll discuss new research that explores exoplanetary systems with multiple large planets and whether habitable planets can co-exist with them. And within our own planet we learn about iron snow at the core mantle boundary and its effects on our magnetic field. Join us for all this cool stuff, plus space news and trivia.

New analysis of Cassini data suggests more complex hydrocarbons are part of Enceladus's global sub-surface ocean. We discuss the prospects for life on this tiny moon. The JWST continues to deliver scientific bonanzas, now providing direct observations of globular clusters in very distant galaxies, helping us understand these enigmatic and ancient structures. Join us to explore these mysteries and for space news and special down quark holiday-themed space trivia.

At Pluto's frigid temperatures, even what we breathe is frozen. This can give rise to unusual cryovolcanism, and new research suggests a super cryovolcano tens of kilometers across on the ninth planet (yes, we went there). Speaking of super things, we also review the argument that we are located in a cosmological supervoid and whether than can explain some of the mysteries surround the Hubble constant. Join us for all that, space news, trivia and more.

The second most energetic cosmic ray (really a particle) ever observed smashed into the Earth a couple of years ago, raising more questions about the origins of these incredibly energetic particles. Solar wind particles meanwhile smash into the planets, and now a green glow from Mars' atmosphere has been observed by one of the many spacecraft exploring the red planet. We also discuss a surprising exoplanet discovery, moon trivia, space news and more.

The astroquarks are joined by Dr. Erika Nesvold, astrophysicist and author of "Off Earth: Ethical Questions and Quandaries for Living in Outer Space" to explore some of the surprising problems people need to think about when going to space. We're busy littering already, but that's just the tip of the asteroid. Join us for a discussion of some of the trickier issues of space exploration, space news, and gravitational wave trivia. The only place you can find that lineup is on Walkabout the Galaxy.

JWST data confirm early formation of supermassive black holes, less than 500 million years after the big bang. This early formation suggests these monsters start off very large and form with the initial formation of the galaxy. We also take a closer look at the exciting results from the Lucy spacecraft's flyby of the asteroid Dinkinesh and its surprising moon. Join us for all this, space news, and top quark trivia.

The Lucy spacecraft had its first asteroid encounter, revealing Dinkinesh to be a binary asteroid. In cosmology, a new simulation with a terrible acronym leaves the "S8 Tension" intact. Models of the expansion of the universe starting with our observations of the cosmic microwave background are in disagreement (tension) with observations of the actual distribution of superclusters of galaxies. Are there errors that haven't been uncovered, or perhaps new physics? Join us for our thoughts on these and other news in space, and some literally mind-blowing trivia.

New research suggests that Venus, Earth's twin gone bad, may have started off with tectonic plate activity, like Earth. This will help us understand the evolution of Earth-like planets and why they become hothouses like Venus. Our other planetary next-door neighbor, Mars, may have a deep molten magma ocean, revealed thanks to a fortuitous meteoroid impact on the planet whose shaking was recorded by Mars Insight. Join us for these insights, space news, and more.

Fast Radio Bursts are back, this time providing a crucial measurement of the amount of normal matter in the universe. Top quark Jim Cooney explains how the interaction of light from very distant gamma ray bursts reveals the otherwise invisible matter sprinkled in the intergalactic void. Somewhat closer to home, JWST is providing tantalizing glimpses of the composition of extrasolar planets, a technique that may one day discover alien life. Join us for these and other discoveries, space news, and podcast trivia.

Images of the distant Kuiper Belt Object Arrokoth add more weight to the pebble accretion model of planetesimal formation via the streaming instability. If that sounds strange, then you'll really love the story about comparing Fast Radio Burst statistics to earthquakes. This study suggests that these energetic bursts of radiation may be produced by quakes on neutron stars. Join us for these stories, space news, and space history trivia.