WEBVTT 0 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:03.120 Avery: Hello and welcome to Astronomy Daily, 1 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:05.360 the podcast that brings you the latest news 2 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:08.280 from across the cosmos. I'm your host, Avery. 3 00:00:08.280 --> 00:00:10.880 Anna: And I'm Ana. It's great to be with you 4 00:00:11.280 --> 00:00:14.000 today, Avery. We'll be looking at a swarm of 5 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:16.560 asteroids that could cross Earth's path. 6 00:00:16.880 --> 00:00:19.520 China's latest mission to the Tiangong Space 7 00:00:19.520 --> 00:00:22.520 Station, and a major rocket test from blue 8 00:00:22.520 --> 00:00:23.120 origin. 9 00:00:23.200 --> 00:00:25.840 Avery: We'll also dive into a fascinating new theory 10 00:00:25.840 --> 00:00:28.680 about the Fermi paradox and why we might 11 00:00:28.680 --> 00:00:31.520 not be seeing advanced alien civilizations. 12 00:00:31.980 --> 00:00:34.100 And finally, we'll cover the European Space 13 00:00:34.100 --> 00:00:36.860 Agency's ambitious new plan to keep space 14 00:00:36.940 --> 00:00:38.060 safe for everyone. 15 00:00:38.300 --> 00:00:40.540 Anna: It's a lot to cover, so let's get started. 16 00:00:40.940 --> 00:00:43.580 Avery: Alright, our first story is one that hits 17 00:00:43.580 --> 00:00:46.420 close to home. A new study is focusing 18 00:00:46.420 --> 00:00:49.340 on something called the Taurid Resonance 19 00:00:49.340 --> 00:00:52.210 Swarm. Anna, this sounds a little ominous. 20 00:00:52.290 --> 00:00:54.370 What exactly are we talking about here? 21 00:00:54.850 --> 00:00:57.650 Anna: Well, the Taurids are an annual meteor 22 00:00:57.650 --> 00:01:00.570 shower, but this SWORD swarm is a specific 23 00:01:01.050 --> 00:01:03.530 dense cluster of celestial bodies 24 00:01:03.850 --> 00:01:06.250 within that broader stream of debris. 25 00:01:06.570 --> 00:01:08.850 The concern and the focus of this new 26 00:01:08.850 --> 00:01:11.450 research is that this swarm's orbit could 27 00:01:11.450 --> 00:01:13.530 intersect with Earth's in the future. 28 00:01:14.410 --> 00:01:16.661 Avery: So a, higher potential for impact events. 29 00:01:17.061 --> 00:01:18.741 What are the researchers recommending? 30 00:01:19.301 --> 00:01:22.021 Anna: They're not sounding a five alarm fire just 31 00:01:22.021 --> 00:01:24.661 yet. Instead they're emphasizing the need for 32 00:01:24.661 --> 00:01:27.461 enhanced monitoring and for bolstering our 33 00:01:27.461 --> 00:01:29.941 planetary defense strategies. It's about 34 00:01:29.941 --> 00:01:32.321 understanding the risk more clearly. 35 00:01:32.721 --> 00:01:35.481 Avery: Right? Proactive observation. The study 36 00:01:35.481 --> 00:01:37.361 mentions a couple of specific years. 37 00:01:37.601 --> 00:01:40.081 2032 and 2036. 38 00:01:40.481 --> 00:01:42.001 What's the significance there? 39 00:01:42.401 --> 00:01:44.961 Anna: Those are identified as prime opportunities 40 00:01:45.041 --> 00:01:47.721 for targeted surveys. During those 41 00:01:47.721 --> 00:01:50.281 years, the orbital mechanics will give us a 42 00:01:50.281 --> 00:01:52.601 much better vantage point to observe the 43 00:01:52.601 --> 00:01:55.561 swarm, map out the objects within it, and get 44 00:01:55.561 --> 00:01:58.481 a more accurate assessment of any potential 45 00:01:58.481 --> 00:01:58.881 threat. 46 00:01:59.691 --> 00:02:02.011 Avery: So this is a call to get our best telescopes 47 00:02:02.011 --> 00:02:03.771 ready for some crucial work in the next 48 00:02:03.771 --> 00:02:06.771 decade. A classic case of good science giving 49 00:02:06.771 --> 00:02:09.051 us the foresight we need to stay safe. 50 00:02:09.371 --> 00:02:12.251 Anna: Exactly. And staying safe is always 51 00:02:12.251 --> 00:02:13.051 a good idea. 52 00:02:13.691 --> 00:02:16.531 Avery: Now moving from potential threats to definite 53 00:02:16.531 --> 00:02:18.971 triumphs, let's talk about human spaceflight. 54 00:02:19.211 --> 00:02:22.011 China has successfully launched its 10th crew 55 00:02:22.011 --> 00:02:23.851 to the Tiangong Space Station. 56 00:02:24.741 --> 00:02:27.461 Anna: That's right, avery. The Shinzo 21 57 00:02:27.461 --> 00:02:30.421 mission is now on its way. And by the time 58 00:02:30.421 --> 00:02:32.461 listeners hear this, they should have 59 00:02:32.461 --> 00:02:35.261 arrived. The crew consists of three 60 00:02:35.261 --> 00:02:37.901 taikonauts, and it's a mission with a few 61 00:02:37.901 --> 00:02:39.061 interesting milestones. 62 00:02:39.421 --> 00:02:41.311 Avery: I saw that one of the crew members is the 63 00:02:41.311 --> 00:02:43.751 youngest person China has ever sent to space. 64 00:02:44.391 --> 00:02:47.231 Anna: Yes, just 32 years old. It 65 00:02:47.231 --> 00:02:50.231 shows a new generation of space explorers is 66 00:02:50.231 --> 00:02:53.231 taking flight. And they have a very Busy 67 00:02:53.231 --> 00:02:56.211 schedule ahead. The mission plan includes 68 00:02:56.211 --> 00:02:59.091 27 new scientific experiments to 69 00:02:59.091 --> 00:03:00.371 be conducted on the station. 70 00:03:00.931 --> 00:03:03.861 Avery: 27. That's a heavy workload. Anything 71 00:03:03.941 --> 00:03:05.861 particularly noteworthy in that list? 72 00:03:06.741 --> 00:03:09.621 Anna: One experiment that stands out is a study 73 00:03:09.621 --> 00:03:12.501 on rodent mammals in orbit. This 74 00:03:12.501 --> 00:03:15.301 kind of biological research is fundamental to 75 00:03:15.301 --> 00:03:18.021 understanding how microgravity affects 76 00:03:18.181 --> 00:03:21.091 complex living organisms over time. We 77 00:03:21.161 --> 00:03:23.521 which is crucial for planning long duration 78 00:03:23.521 --> 00:03:26.441 missions to the moon or Mars, of course. 79 00:03:26.921 --> 00:03:28.841 Avery: And the launch itself was remarkably 80 00:03:28.841 --> 00:03:29.881 efficient, wasn't it? 81 00:03:30.281 --> 00:03:33.081 Anna: Extremely. The launch was flawless. And 82 00:03:33.081 --> 00:03:36.041 the spacecraft is on a fast track trajectory. 83 00:03:36.361 --> 00:03:38.961 It's expected to rendezvous and dock with the 84 00:03:38.961 --> 00:03:41.481 Tiangong Space Station in a record 85 00:03:41.481 --> 00:03:43.081 setting. Three and a half hours. 86 00:03:43.801 --> 00:03:46.241 Avery: Three and a half hours. That's faster than 87 00:03:46.241 --> 00:03:48.561 some cross country flights. It's incredible 88 00:03:48.561 --> 00:03:51.321 to see that process become so refined. A 89 00:03:51.321 --> 00:03:53.201 huge success for the Chinese space program. 90 00:03:54.241 --> 00:03:56.521 Next up, we have some exciting news from the 91 00:03:56.521 --> 00:03:58.481 commercial space industry here in the U.S. 92 00:03:58.961 --> 00:04:01.561 blue Origin has hit a major milestone with 93 00:04:01.561 --> 00:04:03.601 its massive New Glenn rocket. 94 00:04:04.401 --> 00:04:06.801 Anna: Yes, this is a big step forward for them. 95 00:04:07.281 --> 00:04:09.761 They successfully completed a 40 second 96 00:04:09.841 --> 00:04:12.561 static fire test of the New Glenn's first 97 00:04:12.561 --> 00:04:15.441 stage. This involves firing up the seven 98 00:04:15.521 --> 00:04:18.060 BE4 engines while the rocket is 99 00:04:18.060 --> 00:04:19.900 securely bolted to the launch pad. 100 00:04:20.220 --> 00:04:22.900 Avery: The final big dress rehearsal before an 101 00:04:22.900 --> 00:04:25.700 actual launch. And this first launch has a 102 00:04:25.700 --> 00:04:27.340 very important payload. 103 00:04:27.820 --> 00:04:30.780 Anna: It does. This test is a crucial milestone 104 00:04:30.780 --> 00:04:33.420 for the upcoming launch of NASA's Escapade 105 00:04:33.420 --> 00:04:36.140 mission. New Glenn's inaugural flight is 106 00:04:36.140 --> 00:04:39.020 slated to carry these twin spacecraft which 107 00:04:39.020 --> 00:04:41.780 are designed to orbit Mars and study its 108 00:04:41.780 --> 00:04:43.180 unique magnetosphere. 109 00:04:43.781 --> 00:04:46.621 Avery: Sending a NASA planetary science mission on 110 00:04:46.621 --> 00:04:49.141 the very first flight of a new rocket. 111 00:04:49.301 --> 00:04:50.981 That's a huge vote of confidence. 112 00:04:51.621 --> 00:04:54.381 Anna: It certainly is. And in the spirit of 113 00:04:54.381 --> 00:04:56.941 reusability, Blue Origin will also be 114 00:04:56.941 --> 00:04:59.261 attempting to recover the first stage booster 115 00:04:59.261 --> 00:05:01.901 after launch. They'll land it on a drone ship 116 00:05:01.901 --> 00:05:02.901 out in the Atlantic. 117 00:05:03.141 --> 00:05:05.541 Avery: I heard they gave the booster a special name 118 00:05:05.541 --> 00:05:06.421 for this mission. 119 00:05:06.661 --> 00:05:09.501 Anna: They did. In a wonderful nod to Star wars. 120 00:05:09.501 --> 00:05:12.261 The booster is named Never tell me the odds. 121 00:05:13.371 --> 00:05:15.731 Avery: That's brilliant. You have to appreciate the 122 00:05:15.731 --> 00:05:18.331 humor. Let's hope the odds are ever in its 123 00:05:18.331 --> 00:05:18.811 favor. 124 00:05:19.291 --> 00:05:21.051 Anna: Can't you just see the meetings where they 125 00:05:21.051 --> 00:05:23.371 come up with these names? A bit of space fun. 126 00:05:24.651 --> 00:05:27.531 Avery: Okay, for our next story, we're shifting 127 00:05:27.531 --> 00:05:30.171 from the practical to the highly theoretical. 128 00:05:30.411 --> 00:05:32.131 We're talking about one of the biggest 129 00:05:32.131 --> 00:05:34.811 questions in all of science, the Fermi 130 00:05:34.811 --> 00:05:37.771 paradox. The famous question of where 131 00:05:37.771 --> 00:05:38.571 is everybody? 132 00:05:39.141 --> 00:05:41.341 Anna: It's a question that has puzzled scientists 133 00:05:41.341 --> 00:05:44.261 for decades. Given the sheer number of stars 134 00:05:44.261 --> 00:05:47.181 and planets, the universe should be teeming 135 00:05:47.181 --> 00:05:49.701 with technological life. Yet we see no 136 00:05:49.701 --> 00:05:52.261 evidence of it. A New study proposes an 137 00:05:52.261 --> 00:05:54.661 answer it calls the Radical Mundanity 138 00:05:54.661 --> 00:05:55.301 principle. 139 00:05:55.621 --> 00:05:58.421 Avery: Radical Mundanity? It sounds like the 140 00:05:58.421 --> 00:06:01.061 opposite of science fiction. What's the idea? 141 00:06:01.701 --> 00:06:03.741 Anna: The principle suggests that we might be 142 00:06:03.741 --> 00:06:06.421 making a flawed assumption. We assume that 143 00:06:06.421 --> 00:06:09.101 technological civilizations will inevitably 144 00:06:09.101 --> 00:06:11.441 progress to super adv. Advanced levels, 145 00:06:11.681 --> 00:06:14.561 building Dyson spheres, colonizing galaxies, 146 00:06:14.561 --> 00:06:15.281 and so on. 147 00:06:15.761 --> 00:06:17.881 Avery: Right. Things that would be pretty easy to 148 00:06:17.881 --> 00:06:18.881 spot from a distance. 149 00:06:19.361 --> 00:06:22.361 Anna: Exactly. Radical Mundanity proposes that 150 00:06:22.361 --> 00:06:24.681 this kind of super advancement might not be 151 00:06:24.681 --> 00:06:26.961 possible, or that it's just not a path 152 00:06:26.961 --> 00:06:29.561 civilizations take. Instead, they might hit 153 00:06:29.561 --> 00:06:32.521 technological plateaus or face existential 154 00:06:32.521 --> 00:06:34.561 crises that prevent them from becoming 155 00:06:34.641 --> 00:06:36.001 galactic superpowers. 156 00:06:36.571 --> 00:06:38.731 Avery: So they could be out there, but they're just 157 00:06:38.971 --> 00:06:41.451 quieter, harder to detect because they aren't 158 00:06:41.451 --> 00:06:43.291 rearranging star systems for energy. 159 00:06:44.011 --> 00:06:46.051 Anna: That's the conclusion of the study. It 160 00:06:46.051 --> 00:06:48.131 suggests there might be a modest number of 161 00:06:48.131 --> 00:06:50.091 civilizations out there with technology 162 00:06:50.251 --> 00:06:52.771 levels that are only modestly higher than our 163 00:06:52.771 --> 00:06:55.371 own. Their technosignatures would be far 164 00:06:55.371 --> 00:06:56.891 fainter and harder to find. 165 00:06:57.291 --> 00:06:59.491 Avery: That's a really humbling thought. It changes 166 00:06:59.491 --> 00:07:01.691 the search from looking for gods to looking 167 00:07:01.691 --> 00:07:04.231 for peers. It makes the silence of the 168 00:07:04.231 --> 00:07:06.271 universe feel a bit less absolute. 169 00:07:06.751 --> 00:07:09.191 Anna: For our final story today, let's look at how 170 00:07:09.191 --> 00:07:11.311 we are working to protect our corner of the 171 00:07:11.311 --> 00:07:13.951 galaxy. The European Space Agency, or 172 00:07:13.951 --> 00:07:16.711 esa, is significantly expanding its 173 00:07:16.711 --> 00:07:18.031 space safety program. 174 00:07:18.750 --> 00:07:20.551 Avery: This sounds like a great idea from the 175 00:07:20.551 --> 00:07:21.951 Europeans. Tell me more. 176 00:07:22.591 --> 00:07:25.391 Anna: This is a really important initiative. Space 177 00:07:25.391 --> 00:07:28.311 is an environment with a lot of hazards, both 178 00:07:28.311 --> 00:07:31.171 natural and man made. ESA is taking a 179 00:07:31.171 --> 00:07:33.291 comprehensive approach to counter threats 180 00:07:33.291 --> 00:07:35.771 like asteroids, powerful solar storms, 181 00:07:35.931 --> 00:07:38.491 and the growing problem of space debris. 182 00:07:38.891 --> 00:07:41.171 Avery: Let's break that down. What are some of the 183 00:07:41.171 --> 00:07:42.491 key missions involved? 184 00:07:43.211 --> 00:07:45.651 Anna: On the space weather front, a cornerstone 185 00:07:45.651 --> 00:07:48.331 mission is Vigil. It will be a dedicated 186 00:07:48.331 --> 00:07:50.731 observatory positioned to give us advanced 187 00:07:50.731 --> 00:07:53.131 warnings of potentially dangerous solar 188 00:07:53.131 --> 00:07:55.211 flares and coronal mass ejection. 189 00:07:56.021 --> 00:07:58.461 Avery: Critical for protecting satellites and even 190 00:07:58.461 --> 00:08:01.061 power grids on Earth and for planetary 191 00:08:01.061 --> 00:08:01.541 defense. 192 00:08:02.021 --> 00:08:04.421 Anna: They are continuing with the HERA mission, 193 00:08:04.501 --> 00:08:07.061 which will study the aftermath of NASA's dart 194 00:08:07.061 --> 00:08:09.821 impact. And they're developing a new mission 195 00:08:09.821 --> 00:08:12.421 called Ramses, which is a rapid 196 00:08:12.421 --> 00:08:14.821 response interceptor concept for asteroids. 197 00:08:15.301 --> 00:08:17.901 Avery: Okay, that covers the natural threats, but 198 00:08:17.901 --> 00:08:20.261 what about the junk we've created ourselves? 199 00:08:20.661 --> 00:08:23.301 Anna: That's arguably the biggest part of the new 200 00:08:23.301 --> 00:08:26.291 strategy. The the program is heavily focused 201 00:08:26.291 --> 00:08:29.291 on active debris cleanup missions. But 202 00:08:29.291 --> 00:08:32.211 even more importantly, ESA is pushing 203 00:08:32.211 --> 00:08:35.011 for what it calls a zero debris approach for 204 00:08:35.011 --> 00:08:37.851 all future satellites. The goal is 205 00:08:37.851 --> 00:08:39.571 to stop adding to the problem. 206 00:08:40.290 --> 00:08:42.300 Avery: A, leave no trace policy for space. 207 00:08:42.860 --> 00:08:45.660 That's fantastic. It's absolutely essential 208 00:08:45.660 --> 00:08:47.660 if we want to ensure that space remains 209 00:08:47.660 --> 00:08:49.980 usable and safe for generations to come. 210 00:08:50.850 --> 00:08:51.810 Anna: Amen to that. 211 00:08:52.290 --> 00:08:54.170 Avery: And that's all the time we have for today's 212 00:08:54.170 --> 00:08:57.130 episode of Astronomy Daily. From asteroids in 213 00:08:57.130 --> 00:08:59.410 our neighborhood to the grandest cosmic 214 00:08:59.410 --> 00:09:01.450 questions, there's always something new to 215 00:09:01.450 --> 00:09:01.890 discover. 216 00:09:02.610 --> 00:09:05.370 Anna: It really demonstrates the incredible range 217 00:09:05.370 --> 00:09:07.890 of activity and research happening in space 218 00:09:07.890 --> 00:09:09.570 science every single day. 219 00:09:10.210 --> 00:09:12.450 Avery: A huge thank you for tuning in. For more 220 00:09:12.450 --> 00:09:14.250 details on all the stories we discussed 221 00:09:14.250 --> 00:09:16.080 today, please visit our website at, 222 00:09:16.030 --> 00:09:18.740 astronomydaily.IO until next 223 00:09:18.740 --> 00:09:20.100 time. I'm Avery. 224 00:09:20.580 --> 00:09:23.140 Anna: And I'm Anna. Keep looking up.