SpaceTime with Stuart Gary

SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 11 Ancient Water on Mars and the Birth of the Universe's Lights Scientists have uncovered two sets of ancient wave ripples on Mars, revealing evidence of long-dried ponds and lakes that once existed on the Red Planet. Discovered by NASA's Curiosity rover, these ripples, formed approximately 3.7 billion years ago, indicate that shallow bodies of water were open to the Ma...

SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 10 Gaia's Sky Scanning Completion and Mid Infrared Flare from Sagittarius A* The European Space Agency's Gaia spacecraft has completed its sky scanning phase, marking a monumental achievement in astronomical missions. Over the past decade, Gaia has transformed our understanding of the Milky Way by mapping the positions and characteristics of billions of stars. This miss...

SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 09 Starship's Fiery End and Blue Origin's New Glenn Debut SpaceX's Starship experienced a dramatic explosion during its seventh test flight, marking both success and setback. While the super heavy booster was successfully caught by the launch tower's chopstick arms, the Starship upper stage exploded during ascent. Despite the fiery end, the mission demonstrated signific...

SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 08 Origins of Fast Radio Bursts Unveiled Astronomers have pinpointed the source of fast radio bursts, specifically linking them to magnetars, a type of highly magnetic neutron star. This breakthrough, reported in Nature, was achieved by analysing the scintillation of FRB2022 1022A, indicating its proximity to a magnetar within 10,000 kilometres. This discovery sheds lig...

SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 07 Dark Matter's Role in Milky Way's Stellar Streams New research suggests that dark matter may have influenced the formation of the GD-1 stellar stream in the Milky Way. A study in the Astrophysical Journal Letters proposes that a core-collapsing, self-interacting dark matter subhalo could explain the unusual spur and gap features observed in the stream. This finding c...

SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 06 Formation of Pluto-Charon Binary System A new study reveals that the formation of the Pluto-Charon dwarf planet binary system may mirror that of the Earth-Moon system. The research, published in Nature Geoscience, suggests that both systems feature a secondary body significantly large in comparison to the primary, unlike other moons in our solar system. The findings...

SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 05 Volcanic Activity on Mars New research suggests recent volcanic activity on Mars, with eruptions possibly occurring within the last 50,000 years. This discovery, based on satellite observations, highlights a mysterious dark deposit in Elysium Planitia, indicating explosive volcanism. The findings could mean Mars is still volcanically active, raising possibilities of...

SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 04 Challenging the Existence of Dark Energy A groundbreaking study from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand is challenging the long-held belief in dark energy, suggesting that the universe's expansion might not require this enigmatic force. The research proposes the "timescape" model, which accounts for variations in cosmic expansion rates by considering differe...

SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 03 Parker Solar Probe's Historic Journey NASA's Parker Solar Probe has made history by becoming the fastest man-made object, surviving a record-breaking close approach to the Sun's surface. The probe, travelling at an unprecedented speed of 155,520 kilometres per hour, flew just 6.1 million kilometres above the Sun, providing invaluable data to help scientists understan...

SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 02 Liquid Water on Mars: A Mirage? A new study casts doubt on the existence of liquid water on Mars, challenging previous assumptions about recurring slope lineae and the potential for brine pools. Researchers argue that the Martian environment's low temperature and pressure make it unlikely for liquid water to exist, even in the form of salty brines. The findings quest...

SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 01 Webb Telescope Confirms Hubble Tension The James Webb Space Telescope has confirmed the Hubble Tension, challenging the current understanding of cosmic theory. New observations reveal that the Universe is expanding faster now than during its early years, suggesting gaps in our understanding of cosmic physics. The study, led by Adam Rees and Thomas Barber, confirms th...

SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 157 NASA's Parker Solar Probe Touches the Sun NASA's Parker Solar Probe has made history by becoming the first spacecraft to touch the Sun. The probe, weighing 685 kilogrammes, flew within 6.1 million kilometres of the solar surface, achieving unprecedented speeds of over 692 kilometres per hour. This milestone marks a significant step in understanding solar phenomena a...

SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 156 Superflares: A Century-Long Threat? A new study warns of the potential for our Sun to unleash superflares, with the threat estimated at once per century. These massive eruptions could engulf the Earth, challenging our understanding of solar behaviour. Evidence from other sun-like stars suggests that such violent solar events may be more common than previously though...

SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 155 *Discovery of a New Class of Cosmic X-Ray Astronomers have identified a new class of cosmic X-ray source, potentially originating from a novel type of nova event. The study, published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, reveals 29 unusual objects in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. These objects displayed unexpected behaviours, such as long-duration X-ray ou...

SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 154 * The Moon's Age: A New Perspectiv e New research suggests the Moon may be much older than previously believed. Evidence indicates the Moon's crust underwent extensive remelting around 4.35 billion years ago, obscuring its true age. This study proposes the Moon could be as old as 4.53 billion years, challenging past estimates and offering a new understanding of its...

SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 153 * The Mysterious Origins of Martian Minerals A new study suggests that some Martian minerals may have formed in liquid carbon dioxide rather than water. While traditional views link Mars' dry river channels to past water presence, this research indicates that under ancient Martian conditions, liquid CO2 could have been a significant factor in shaping the planet's ge...

SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 152 * Martian Dust Storms: A New Understanding A groundbreaking study reveals the triggers behind Mars' infamous planet-wide dust storms. Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder suggest that relatively warm and sunny days could initiate these massive storms. Presented at the American Geophysical Union's 2024 meeting, the findings could pave the way for forec...

SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 151 * A New Perspective on the Moon's Aitken Basin Recent observations of the Moon's south pole reveal that the Aitken Basin crater is more circular than previously believed. This significant discovery challenges existing theories about its formation and has implications for future lunar missions, including NASA's Artemis program. The study, published in Earth and Plane...

SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 150 * Venus: A Lifeless World New research has debunked the long-standing theory that Venusmight have once been habitable. Despite being Earth's sister planet, a study of its atmospheric chemistry reveals that Venus has always been too dry to support oceans, making it an inhospitable world throughout its history. These findings, published in Nature Astronomy, have signi...

SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 149 * Did Earth's Oceans Come from Comets? New research suggests that Earth's oceans may have originated from comets, reigniting the debate about the origins of Earth's water. Recent observations of Comet 67P reveal a similar molecular signature to Earth's oceans, challenging previous findings and suggesting Jupiter family comets could have contributed to Earth's water...

SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 148 * Another Delay for NASA's Artemis Moon Mission NASA has announced a delay in the launch of its Artemis 2 manned Moon mission, now rescheduled for April 2026. Originally planned for September 2025, the delay is due to concerns about the Orion spacecraft's heat shield. This postponement also affects the timeline for Artemis 3, which aims to return humans to the lunar...

SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 147 * A Cosmic Glimpse into the Universe's Past Astronomers have witnessed a rare supernova, 2023 UFX, offering insights into the early universe. This unusual stellar explosion involved a metal-poor red supergiant star, providing clues about the cosmic conditions when the universe began. The study, led by Michael Tucker from Ohio State University, reveals how early supe...

SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 146 * Supernova's Potential to End the Dark Matter Search Astronomers are eagerly awaiting a nearby supernova that could finally solve the mystery of dark matter. A new study suggests that axions, hypothetical particles, could be discovered within seconds of a supernova's gamma-ray burst. The Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope might detect these gamma rays, offering insigh...

SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 145 * Unveiling the Mysteries of Uranus and Neptune A new study reveals that Uranus and Neptune, the ice giants of our solar system, may have layered interiors composed of water, methane, and ammonia, similar to oil and water that do not mix. This discovery could explain their unique magnetic fields, previously a mystery to scientists. The research, led by Burkhard Milt...

SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 144 * Young Exoplanet Challenges Planet Formation Theories Astronomers have discovered an exoplanet, Taade 1b, that is just 3 million years old, challenging our current understanding of the speed at which planets form. This young planet, orbiting its star every seven Earth days, offers a unique glimpse into the early stages of planetary formation. The study, led by Madi...