Space News Today

Friday SpaceTime 20261009 Series 29 Episode 121 The mysterious star cluster discovered hidden deep in Milky Way's disk Astronomers have discovered a strange star cluster hidden in the crowded galactic plane disk region of the Milky Way galaxy some 32,800 light-years away. The truth about Nazi Germany’s infamous nuclear bomb project The Manhattan Project was not just a quest to build a nuclear bomb; it was a quest to build a bomb before Nazi Germany completed theirs. The chronic need for dark skies The Royal Astronomical Society is demanding urgent action to address the damage light pollution is doing to astronomy, human health, biodiversity and the natural environment. The Science Report Kids exposed to adversities in childhood face worse outcomes in life when reaching adulthood. The more ultra-processed foods you eat the higher your risk of heart conditions, diabetes, and cancer. Endangered species of sea cucumber can live for more than 100 years. Study claims albums are more likely than singles to drop out of music charts and then re-enter them. Skeptics guide to Ohio’s growing big foot population. Our Guest This Week GRACE FO Project Scientist Frank Webb from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena California GRACE FO Project Scientist Phil Morton from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena California GRACE FO Project Scientist Michael Watkins from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena California NASA Moon Base project manager Carlos Garcia-Galan Ray Allensworth from Firefly Aerospace Nick Newell Voyager Lunar Systems Ryan Stephan NASA Moon Base Blue Origin’s John Couluris Courtney Adegglen NASA Moon Base Trent Martin Intuitive Machines Adam Schlesinger NASA Moon Base Dr Tanya Hill, Senior Curator of Astronomy at the Melbourne Planetarium Our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics 🌏 Get Our Exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ www.bitesz.com/nordvpn (http://www.bitesz.com/nordvpn) . The discounts and bonuses are incredible! And it’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! ✌ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-with-stuart-gary--2458531/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-with-stuart-gary--2458531/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) . Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/35673987?utm_source=youtube

Monday SpaceTime 20261005 Series 29 Episode 119 Starship test flight 14 achieves orbit The world’s largest and most powerful rocket SpaceX’s Starship superheavy has successfully achieved orbital insertion during its latest test flight out of Texas. How Earth’s weather changes the planet’s centre of gravity A new study shows that changing seasonal weather patterns like snowfall, monsoons and oceans shift Earth's centre of mass every year. Work about to begin on the world’s first orbital power station The United States is moving forward with plans to build an orbital solar power station to beam energy down to the Earth’s surface . The Science Report The main reason why men are more likely to get cancer than women. The U.S. military follows Israel’s lead and starts deploying high-energy laser weapons. A new study shows that countries with more cats tend to be happier. Scientists have finally created a blue rose. Skeptics guide to common myths Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-with-stuart-gary--2458531/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-with-stuart-gary--2458531/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) . Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/35673879?utm_source=youtube

Wednesday SpaceTime 20261007 Series 29 Episode 120 NASA adds new science investigations for Moon Base NASA has added payload suites for three new lunar scientific investigations as part of efforts paving the way for humanity’s first Moon Base. The new secrets on the Martian north pole revealed A new study has found that the Martian north pole is less dusty than previously thought. NASA and Boeing provide an update on the troubled Starliner spacecraft NASA has provided an update on Boeing’s trouble plagued Starliner CST-100 spacecraft. The Science Report Every 10% increase in emergency room occupancy leads to a one percent increase in death rates. Scientists unsure about the true threat status of one in three Australian bird species. New evidence suggesting there are hidden chambers in the tomb of Tutankhamun. Kids who own smartphones by the age of 12 more likely to have eating disorder symptoms/ Alex on Tech: New windows updates, and Albanese’s 1984 big brother legislation kills free speech. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-with-stuart-gary--2458531/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-with-stuart-gary--2458531/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) . Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/35673880?utm_source=youtube

SpaceTime 20261002 Series 29 Episode 118 A lost galaxy hiding deep inside the Milky Way Astronomers have discovered a group of 20 stars deep inside the Milky Way which may once have been part of another galaxy. NASA to launch a far infrared space telescope NASA has announced a new mission using a far infrared space telescope to explore the history and evolution of the universe. NASA discovers a huge new crater on the Moon NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft has discovered a huge new asteroid impact crater on the Moon. SkyWatch October The Alpha Centauri star system, The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, and no less than three meteor showers are among the highlights of the October night skies on Skywatch. Our Guest This Week Nina Lanza from the Los Alamos National Laboratory Justin Maki from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena California. Our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics 🌏 Get Our Exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ www.bitesz.com/nordvpn (http://www.bitesz.com/nordvpn) . The discounts and bonuses are incredible! And it’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! ✌ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-with-stuart-gary--2458531/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-with-stuart-gary--2458531/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) . Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/35638833?utm_source=youtube

SpaceTime 20260930 Series 29 Episode 117 NASA names Dragonfly’s landing site on Titan NASA has identified the landing site where its Dragonfly rotocopter will first touchdown on the surface of the Saturnian Moon Titan. New clues about the Moon’s ancient magnetic field from the far side A new study claims that just like the present day Earth, the Moon once had a geodynamo driven magnetic field. Why galaxies in the early universe are so weird A new study suggests that the first galaxies in the universe looked a bit weird because their stars generated weaker stellar winds compared to those we see today. The Science Report A common chemical in plastics linked to the development of autism and ADHD. Recent slowing of Antarctic ice sheet loss caused by issues thousands of kilometres away. Study shows Shakespeare’s works are more complicated than most other European plays. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-with-stuart-gary--2458531/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-with-stuart-gary--2458531/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) . Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/35638632?utm_source=youtube

SpaceTime 20260928 Series 29 Episode 116 Discovery of the Milky Way's first microblazar Astronomers have discovered their first ever microblazar in the Milky Way and observations suggest it’s generating the fastest particles ever detected in the galaxy. Early Mars rocks reveal at least three separate water episodes A new study shows the region of the red planet now being explored by NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover has undergone at least three separate interactions with Martian liquid water. Starship about to launch on its first orbital flight The countdown is underway for today’s first orbital test flight for SpaceX’s Starship superheavy. The world’s largest and most powerful rocket will undertake six orbits during the mission aiming for an altitude of around 275 kilometres. The Science Report A new study claims they type of sleep you’re getting is influencing your risk of disease. 12 hundred genetic variants linked to personality may also influence health, wealth, work and love life. The Antarctic OZONE hole has reached one of its smallest sizes since the early 1990s. Scientists discover a new species of cat – the first in over a century. Skeptics guide to the psychology of seeing ghosts. Our Guest This Week Nina Lanza from the Los Alamos National Laboratory Justin Maki from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena California. Our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics 🌏 Get Our Exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ www.bitesz.com/nordvpn (http://www.bitesz.com/nordvpn) . The discounts and bonuses are incredible! And it’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! ✌ If you’d like to support the podcast and gain access to bonus content by becoming a SpaceTime crew member, you can do just that through The Big Bang editions on Patreon, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Details on the Support page on our website https://www.bitesz.com/show/spacetime/support/ (https://www.bitesz.com/show/spacetime/support/) Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/35638584?utm_source=youtube

Sponsor Link: This episode of Space Nuts is brought to you with the support of NordVPN .. To check out special money saving deal , visit www.nordvpn.com/spacenuts (https://www.nordvpn.com/spacenuts) Space Nuts: Q&A on Radial Velocity, Dark Matter, and Angular Momentum In this engaging Q&A episode of Space Nuts, hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson tackle a variety of intriguing listener questions, ranging from the complexities of radial velocity in exoplanet detection to the mysteries of dark matter and angular momentum in black holes. Join them as they explore these cosmic conundrums with their characteristic wit and expertise. Key topics - Hussein from Yemen asks about the radial velocity method for detecting exoplanets, prompting a discussion on how astronomers can isolate individual planets from the combined gravitational effects of multiple bodies. - Martin from Maryland raises a thought-provoking question on the potential to harness dark energy for space flight, leading to an exploration of the feasibility of accelerating spacecraft to near-light speeds. - Peter from Sweden inquires about the angular momentum of matter falling into black holes, sparking a conversation on whether this matter retains its momentum or needs to shed some energy before crossing the event horizon. - Andrew and Fred Watson also touch on the ongoing search for Planet Nine and the importance of surveying exoplanets for understanding the universe's structure and potential for life beyond Earth. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to the Q&A format and listener questions 01:20 - Hussein's question about radial velocity and exoplanets 10:30 - Martin's inquiry on harnessing dark energy for space travel 18:45 - Peter's question about angular momentum and black holes 26:00 - Discussion on the significance of ongoing exoplanet surveys 32:15 - Closing thoughts and listener engagement Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts-astronomy-insights-cosmic-discoveries--2631155/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts-astronomy-insights-cosmic-discoveries--2631155/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) . Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/35480198?utm_source=youtube

SpaceTime Series 29 Episode 115 A comet older than the Sun Astronomers have found new clues about the origin of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS suggesting it’s more than twice as old as the Sun and solar system. The nearby “Super Earth” that might be a candidate for life Astronomers have taken a closer look at a nearby exoplanet finding it may be more Earth-like than previously thought. A new way to study the birth of the universe Scientists have discovered a new way to create quark gluon plasma – the first matter in the universe. The Science Report The number of women testing positive for gonorrhoea doubles over the past decade. New study shows people taking medicinal marijuana are far worse drivers. The growing problem of human pollution now present over the entire planet. The discovery of a half-billion-year-old fossil has rewritten the origin story of starfish Skeptics guide to the four flavours of aliens Our Guest This Week Professor Bill Collins from Curtin University Our regular guests: Alex Zaharov-Reutt from techadvice.life Tim Mendham from Australian Skeptics 🌏 Get Our Exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ www.bitesz.com/nordvpn (http://www.bitesz.com/nordvpn) . The discounts and bonuses are incredible! And it’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! ✌ If you’d like to support the podcast and gain access to bonus content by becoming a SpaceTime crew member, you can do just that through The Big Bang editions on Patreon, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Details on the Support page on our website https://www.bitesz.com/show/spacetime/support/ (https://www.bitesz.com/show/spacetime/support/) For more SpaceTime and show links: https://linktr.ee/biteszHQ (https://linktr.ee/biteszHQ) Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/35441243?utm_source=youtube

Perseverance drove to the edge of an ancient Martian lake expecting a beach and found the inside of a volcano — rock that water has been through at least three separate times. Europe's Jupiter probe comes home on Monday night and crosses Australia in a fully dark sky. Two teams, using two completely different techniques, both find something hiding inside the most famous planetary system we have ever photographed — and an Australian instrument is in the middle of one of them. Plus: heavy water in an interstellar comet, and what it says about the star that made it. In this episode · LEAD — Three floods at the crater's edge. Candice Bedford (Purdue) and colleagues publish in Communications Earth & Environment: the Margin Unit at Jezero is igneous, not sedimentary, and records at least three distinct episodes of water — CO₂-rich groundwater making carbonate ridges, then silica associated with the lake, then a later hot-water event leaving fluorite veins. Habitability context, not a biosignature. · Juice returns. ESA confirms the third Earth gravity assist for 28 September — closest approach 11:45 UTC over the Indian Ocean, bending the trajectory ~20° and adding ~3.5 km/s. The spacecraft crosses Australia north-east to north-west 15–30 minutes earlier, in full darkness. · HR 8799. Two preprints in two weeks point at a fifth, inner planet — one from archival JWST aperture-masking data (~7 au, a few Jupiter masses), one from Gaia astrometry (2–3 au, 10–14 Jupiter masses). They do not obviously describe the same object. Neither is peer-reviewed. · 3I/ATLAS. A modelling paper explains the high deuterium-to-hydrogen ratio measured in March as consistent with formation around a low-metallicity — meaning old — star. · Quick hit: Starship Flight 14 still targeting 28 September; Crew-13 still 'no earlier than early October' on NASA's own page; Albania signs the Artemis Accords as the 73rd country. · Skywatch: the equinox as an instant rather than a date, the Juice pass over Australia, Venus and Mercury for the south, Mars and Jupiter before dawn for the north, and Saturn heading into opposition. Sources and further reading · Bedford, C. C. et al., 'Lake- and groundwater-associated alteration of the olivine-rich Margin unit in Jezero crater, Mars', Communications Earth & Environment (2026). DOI 10.1038/s43247-026-03997-9 · NASA/JPL, 'NASA Discovery Reveals Complex Water Systems on Early Mars', 21 September 2026. · ESA, 'Juice to fly past Earth for third gravity assist', 21 September 2026. · Nguyen, J. S. et al., 'A Candidate Innermost Fifth Planet In the HR 8799 System Revealed By JWST NIRISS Aperture Masking Interferometry', arXiv:2609.10507. · Lagrange, A.-M. et al., 'A fifth companion in the HR 8799 system revealed by Gaia', arXiv:2609.20996 (submitted to Nature Astronomy). · Furuya, K., Cordiner, M., Bockelée-Morvan, D. et al., arXiv:2609.12370. · NASA OIIR, 'NASA Welcomes Albania as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory', 21 September 2026. Skywatch figures computed in-session with PyEphem 4.2.1 for Sydney, Los Angeles, New York and London. Times are local unless marked UTC. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts-astronomy-insights-cosmic-discoveries--2631155/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts-astronomy-insights-cosmic-discoveries--2631155/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) . Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/35420202?utm_source=youtube

Perseverance drove to the edge of an ancient Martian lake expecting a beach and found the inside of a volcano — rock that water has been through at least three separate times. Europe's Jupiter probe comes home on Monday night and crosses Australia in a fully dark sky. Two teams, using two completely different techniques, both find something hiding inside the most famous planetary system we have ever photographed — and an Australian instrument is in the middle of one of them. Plus: heavy water in an interstellar comet, and what it says about the star that made it. In this episode · LEAD — Three floods at the crater's edge. Candice Bedford (Purdue) and colleagues publish in Communications Earth & Environment: the Margin Unit at Jezero is igneous, not sedimentary, and records at least three distinct episodes of water — CO₂-rich groundwater making carbonate ridges, then silica associated with the lake, then a later hot-water event leaving fluorite veins. Habitability context, not a biosignature. · Juice returns. ESA confirms the third Earth gravity assist for 28 September — closest approach 11:45 UTC over the Indian Ocean, bending the trajectory ~20° and adding ~3.5 km/s. The spacecraft crosses Australia north-east to north-west 15–30 minutes earlier, in full darkness. · HR 8799. Two preprints in two weeks point at a fifth, inner planet — one from archival JWST aperture-masking data (~7 au, a few Jupiter masses), one from Gaia astrometry (2–3 au, 10–14 Jupiter masses). They do not obviously describe the same object. Neither is peer-reviewed. · 3I/ATLAS. A modelling paper explains the high deuterium-to-hydrogen ratio measured in March as consistent with formation around a low-metallicity — meaning old — star. · Quick hit: Starship Flight 14 still targeting 28 September; Crew-13 still 'no earlier than early October' on NASA's own page; Albania signs the Artemis Accords as the 73rd country. · Skywatch: the equinox as an instant rather than a date, the Juice pass over Australia, Venus and Mercury for the south, Mars and Jupiter before dawn for the north, and Saturn heading into opposition. Sources and further reading · Bedford, C. C. et al., 'Lake- and groundwater-associated alteration of the olivine-rich Margin unit in Jezero crater, Mars', Communications Earth & Environment (2026). DOI 10.1038/s43247-026-03997-9 · NASA/JPL, 'NASA Discovery Reveals Complex Water Systems on Early Mars', 21 September 2026. · ESA, 'Juice to fly past Earth for third gravity assist', 21 September 2026. · Nguyen, J. S. et al., 'A Candidate Innermost Fifth Planet In the HR 8799 System Revealed By JWST NIRISS Aperture Masking Interferometry', arXiv:2609.10507. · Lagrange, A.-M. et al., 'A fifth companion in the HR 8799 system revealed by Gaia', arXiv:2609.20996 (submitted to Nature Astronomy). · Furuya, K., Cordiner, M., Bockelée-Morvan, D. et al., arXiv:2609.12370. · NASA OIIR, 'NASA Welcomes Albania as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory', 21 September 2026. Skywatch figures computed in-session with PyEphem 4.2.1 for Sydney, Los Angeles, New York and London. Times are local unless marked UTC. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-latest-space-news--5648921/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-latest-space-news--5648921/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) . Sponsor Details: Ensure your online privacy by using NordVPN . To get our special listener deal and save a lot of money, visit You'll be glad you did! Get the best secure and private email on the planet. Stop your Government, google and who knows who else spying on every email you write. Do what we did and use ProtonMail. They beleive in privacy and there are no ads in their business model...yet they still provide a free forever service. Check them out and get out special deal at www.astronomydaily.io/protonmail (https://www.astronomydaily.io/protonmail) Become a supporter of Astronomy Daily by joining our Supporters Club. Commercial free episodes daily are only a click way... Click Here (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support) This episode includes AI-generated content. Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/35404220?utm_source=youtube