The world, the universe and us

Weekly: Life on Mars; biggest dark energy discovery in decades; the mystery of dark oxygen


Listen Later

Episode 294

Markings discovered on rocks from Mars look to be good evidence that microbial life once existed on the Red Planet. NASA’s Perseverance rover spotted little speckles on rocks in part of Jezero crater, and minerals usually formed in the presence of water. New analysis suggests these markings also contain signs of organic compounds. Presented with the possibility of microbial Martians, can we now say Mars really did once have life?

Dark energy, the mysterious force thought to be driving the expansion of the universe, might be getting weaker. If it is, that completely upends our understanding of the universe - from one that’s getting bigger and bigger, to one that could eventually collapse in a “big crunch”.  Results from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) in Arizona may be the biggest discovery about dark energy we’ve had in 25 years.

Last year we had the controversial discovery that “dark” oxygen may be produced by metallic nodules on the seafloor. But it was widely contested and the exact mechanism unknown. But researchers in China now think they’ve figured out what’s going on - dark oxygen could be key to keeping deep sea creatures alive, with implications for life beyond Earth.

Chapters:

(00:31) Suggestions of past life on Mars

(7:42) Dark energy and how the universe might end

(11:56) Solving the mystery of dark oxygen

Hosted by Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet, with guests Jacob Aron and Michael Le Page.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

Video credit: Perseverance Explores the Jezero Crater Delta

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The world, the universe and usBy New Scientist

  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4

4.4

80 ratings


More shows like The world, the universe and us

View all
The Naked Scientists Podcast by The Naked Scientists

The Naked Scientists Podcast

599 Listeners

Science Weekly by The Guardian

Science Weekly

407 Listeners

5 Live Science Podcast by BBC Radio 5 Live

5 Live Science Podcast

109 Listeners

Science In Action by BBC World Service

Science In Action

341 Listeners

More or Less: Behind the Stats by BBC Radio 4

More or Less: Behind the Stats

899 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

955 Listeners

Ask the Naked Scientists by Dr Chris Smith

Ask the Naked Scientists

74 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,984 Listeners

In Our Time: Science by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Science

712 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

244 Listeners

Unexpected Elements by BBC World Service

Unexpected Elements

357 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

399 Listeners

Curious Cases by BBC Radio 4

Curious Cases

791 Listeners

CrowdScience by BBC World Service

CrowdScience

472 Listeners

New Scientist Escape Pod by New Scientist

New Scientist Escape Pod

1 Listeners

New Scientist Weekly by New Scientist

New Scientist Weekly

6 Listeners

New Scientist CultureLab by New Scientist

New Scientist CultureLab

6 Listeners

Uncharted with Hannah Fry by BBC Radio 4

Uncharted with Hannah Fry

114 Listeners