Cosmic Brew

In this episode of Cosmic Brew, we explore light pollution—what it is, how it impacts astronomy, wildlife, and human health, and what we can do about it. From confused moths and off-course birds to sea turtle hatchlings lured away from the ocean and disrupted human sleep cycles, the effects of artificial lightingstretch far beyond the night sky. But the good news? With smarter lighting choices, we...

The Euclid mission is opening an extraordinary new window on the Universe by delivering images of more than 10 million galaxies, allowing scientists to study how cosmic structure has evolved over the last 10 billion years. By mapping galaxies across time, Euclid helps us probe the mysterious 95% of the Universe made up of dark matter and dark energy, the unseen forces shaping how galaxies form and...

In this episode, we explore the recent discovery of 3I/ATLAS, a comet traveling through our solar system from another star. As the third known interstellar object, it offers a rare chance to study materials from beyond our stellar neighborhood. Detected by NASA’s ATLAS program in Chile, this cosmic traveler reminds us how much we still have to learn about other planetary systems — and the importan...

In this episode, we break down Einstein’s mind-bending theory of relativity and explore how it affects something as everyday as your phone. You’ll learn why time doesn’t tick the same for everyone, how speed and gravity can mess with your clock, and why your GPS wouldn’t work without Einstein’s equations.    More about different effects on GPS accuracy, including special and General relativity htt...

The Vera Rubin Observatory has begun operations in Chile, aiming to photograph the entire southern sky every four days with an ultra-powerful telescope and a 3,200-megapixel camera. Named after pioneering astronomer Vera Rubin, the observatory will help track asteroids, monitor changing celestial objects, and discover billions of galaxies — offering new clues about the universe’s structure, dark m...

In this episode of Cosmic Brew, we dive into the discovery of a possible new dwarf planet at the edge of our solar system, nicknamed 2017 OF201. We explore what makes a dwarf planet different from a regular planet, revisit the story of Pluto’s controversial reclassification, and learn how astronomers used clever algorithms and massive datasets to spot this tiny, faraway world. With an orbit that t...

In this episode, we explore Titan — Saturn’s largest moon and one of the most Earth-like worlds in the solar system. With its thick atmosphere, lakes of liquid methane, and potential for hosting life, Titan could even serve as a future energy reserve. Want more? Learn about the Cassini-Huygens mission by NASA and ESA: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/cassini/ Discover NASA’s upcoming Dragonfly mis...

We delve into these mysterious giants: What exactly are black holes? Are they really black? And if they are… how can we see them? Want to learn more? Explore NASA’s page on black holes: https://science.nasa.gov/universe/black-holes Watch Neil deGrasse Tyson’s not-so-quick Q&A:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK1QciF-t5k  — What happens if you fall into a black hole? Are they really black, or...