00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your source for
00:00:03 --> 00:00:05 the latest space and astronomy news. I'm
00:00:05 --> 00:00:06 Anna.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 Avery: And I'm Avery. Thanks for joining us on this
00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 Saturday, January 31, 2026.
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 Anna: We've got a fascinating lineup today covering
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 everything from NASA's Artemis programme
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 updates to groundbreaking discoveries in the
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 search for life beyond Earth. Avery, what's
00:00:22 --> 00:00:23 on the agenda?
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 Avery: Well, Anna, uh, we're kicking things off with
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 some news from NASA's Artemis 2 mission.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 There's been a delay in critical testing due
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 to some unexpected weather challeng. Then
00:00:32 --> 00:00:35 we'll dive into Blue Origin's strategic shift
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 as they pause their space tourism programme
00:00:37 --> 00:00:38 for at least two years.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 Anna: After that, we're looking up at some truly
00:00:41 --> 00:00:44 cosmic million mile per
00:00:44 --> 00:00:47 hour winds racing through colliding galaxies
00:00:47 --> 00:00:50 and a mysterious object sending powerful
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 signals across space that has astronomers
00:00:52 --> 00:00:53 scratching their heads.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 Avery: We'll also explore some surprising findings
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 about Tatooine style planets orbiting
00:00:58 --> 00:01:01 binary stars. And wrap up with an exciting
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 discovery. Scientists have detected a
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 molecule critical to life in interstellar
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 space for the very first time.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 Anna: Quite the journey today. Let's get started.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:12 Avery: Ready when you are.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 Anna: Alright, Avery, let's start with NASA's
00:01:15 --> 00:01:18 Artemis programme. I understand old man
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 Winter has thrown a wrench into their testing
00:01:20 --> 00:01:20 schedule.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 Avery: He certainly has, Anna. Uh, NASA has been
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 forced to delay a critical fueling test for
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 the Artemis 2 mission due to below freezing
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 temperatures at Kennedy Space Centre in
00:01:30 --> 00:01:32 Florida. The wet dress rehearsal was
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 originally scheduled for January 27,
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 but those unexpected cold temperatures put it
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 on ice, so to speak.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 Anna: I see what you did there. But seriously, what
00:01:42 --> 00:01:45 exactly is this wet dress rehearsal and why
00:01:45 --> 00:01:46 is it so important?
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 Avery: Great question. The wet dress rehearsal is
00:01:49 --> 00:01:52 essentially a full practise run of launch day
00:01:52 --> 00:01:55 procedures minus the actual launch. The team
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 loads the massive Space Launch System rocket
00:01:57 --> 00:02:00 with over 700 gallons of super
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 Oxygen propellants runs through all the
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 countdown procedures and then drains
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 everything back out. It's the ultimate dress
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 rehearsal before the real show.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 Anna: So they're basically making sure all the
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 plumbing works and everyone knows their roles
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 when the clock is ticking down. What happened
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 with the weather that caused the delay?
00:02:20 --> 00:02:23 Avery: Well, Florida experienced some unusually cold
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 conditions. We're talking about freezing
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 temperatures that persisted for several days.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 The problem is that loading these cryogenic
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 propellants in freezing conditions creates
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 additional safety risks and potential
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 technical issues. NASA's priority is always
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 safety first. So they made the call to
00:02:39 --> 00:02:39 postpone.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 Anna: Smart move. When are they planning to try
00:02:42 --> 00:02:42 again?
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 Avery: The Space Launch System is now set to roll
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 out to launch pad 39B on February
00:02:47 --> 00:02:50 5, with the wet dress rehearsal rescheduled
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 for February 8, this means the Artemis 2
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 launch is now no earlier than April 2026,
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 which is a shift from the previous March
00:02:58 --> 00:02:59 target.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 Anna: For our listeners who might not be following
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 every detail of Artemis, remind us what makes
00:03:04 --> 00:03:05 Artemis 2.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 Avery: Hannah? Artemis 2 is absolutely
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 historic. This will be the first crewed
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 mission beyond low Earth orbit in over 50
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 years. Basically, since the Apollo programme
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 ended. Four astronauts will fly around the
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 moon, testing all the systems and procedures
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 that will eventually support landing
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 astronauts back on the lunar surface during
00:03:26 --> 00:03:27 Artemis 3.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 Anna: It's wild to think we haven't sent humans
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 beyond Earth orbit in five decades.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:34 Who's on the crew?
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 Avery: The crew includes NASA astronauts Reid
00:03:36 --> 00:03:39 Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch,
00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 Jeremy Hansen. Victor Glover will make
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 history as the first person of colour to
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 travel beyond low Earth orbit. And Christina
00:03:49 --> 00:03:52 Koch will become the first woman to do so.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 Anna: That's incredible. Even with this delay,
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 April 2026 is right around the corner. The
00:03:58 --> 00:03:59 wait is almost over.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 Avery: Absolutely. And honestly, a few weeks delay
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 to ensure everything is perfect is well worth
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 it when you're pioneering the return of human
00:04:07 --> 00:04:08 deep space exploration.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 Anna: Speaking of human spaceflight, let's shift
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 gears to Blue Origin. They're making some
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 significant changes to their programme,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 aren't they, Avery?
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 Avery: They sure are, Anna. Blue Origin has
00:04:20 --> 00:04:21 announced they're hitting pause on their New
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 Shepard space tourism flights for at least
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 two years. This is a major strategic shift
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 as they refocus their resources on NASA's
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 Artemis programme and the development of
00:04:31 --> 00:04:32 their lunar lander.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 Anna: Two years is a substantial pause.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 What's driving this decision?
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 Avery: It all comes down to their Blue Moon lunar
00:04:39 --> 00:04:42 lander programme. Blue Origin won a contract
00:04:42 --> 00:04:45 from NASA worth potentially up to $3.6
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 billion to develop a human landing system for
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 the Artemis missions. They're planning an
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 uncrewed demonstration mission to the moon in
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 2028, and that's requiring a
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 massive concentration of their engineering
00:04:57 --> 00:04:58 talent and resources.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 Anna: So they're essentially choosing moon landings
00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 over suborbital tourism flights. That seems
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 like a pretty clear indication of where they
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 see the bigger opportunity.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 Avery: Exactly. And it's worth noting that Blue
00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 Origin has already conducted eight successful
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 New Shepard tourism flights since July
00:05:15 --> 00:05:18 2021, carrying 43 people
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 past the Karman Line, the internationally
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 recognised boundary of space at 100
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 kilometres altitude. So they've proven the
00:05:25 --> 00:05:26 concept and the technology.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 Anna: I remember the excitement around those early
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 flights. What exactly will passengers
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 experience on a New Shepard flight?
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 Avery: It's a roughly 11 minute journey where
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 passengers experience about three minutes of
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 weightlessness at the top of the arc. The
00:05:40 --> 00:05:43 capsule has massive windows, the largest ever
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 flown in space, giving spectacular views of
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 Earth's curvature and the blackness of space.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 It's suborbital, meaning you go up and come
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 right back down, but you definitely cross
00:05:53 --> 00:05:54 into space.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 Anna: And this pause is specifically for the
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 tourism programme. What about other New
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 Shepard missions?
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 Avery: Good distinction, Anna. New, uh, Shepard will
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 continue flying cargo and research missions.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 Blue Origin has committed to conducting at
00:06:07 --> 00:06:10 least two cargo flights each year during this
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 tourism pause. These missions carry
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 scientific experiments and payloads for
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 various customers, including NASA.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 Anna: What about their ticket sales? I imagine
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 people have already paid for future flights.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 Avery: Yes, and Blue Origin says they'll be
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 contacting customers who've already purchased
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 tickets to discuss their options. They
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 haven't specified how many people are
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 affected, but they've emphasised this is a
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 temporary pause, not an end to the programme.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 Anna: It's interesting timing, isn't it? Just as
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 several companies are getting into the space
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 tourism business, Blue Origin is stepping
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 back, at least temporarily.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 Avery: It really shows you the scale of the lunar
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 lander challenge. Building a spacecraft that
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 can safely land humans on the moon and return
00:06:51 --> 00:06:54 them to lunar orbit is orders of magnitude
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 more complex than a suborbital tourism op.
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 Blue Origin is betting their future on, um,
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 being a key player in the new era of space
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 exploration.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:05 Anna: And with that NASA contract potentially worth
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 $3.6 billion, it's not
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 hard to see why they're prioritising it.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 Avery: Exactly. This is Blue Origin's moonshot, both
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 literally and figuratively. If they can
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 deliver a successful lunar lander, it
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20 positions them as a major player in the new
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 era of space exploration.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 Anna: From human space exploration to cosmic
00:07:25 --> 00:07:25 phenomena.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 Let's talk about something happening on a
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 scale that's almost impossible to comprehend.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 Avery, tell us about these million mile per
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 hour winds racing through space.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 Avery: Anna. Uh, this is absolutely mind blowing.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 Astronomers have discovered cosmic winds
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 travelling at over 1.1 million miles per
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 hour. That's roughly 500 kilometres per
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 second, racing through what they're calling a
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 magnetic superhighway between two colliding
00:07:52 --> 00:07:52 galaxies.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 Anna: A magnetic superhighway in space?
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 That sounds like something out of science
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 fiction. Where is this happening?
00:08:00 --> 00:08:03 Avery: This incredible phenomenon is occurring in
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 a system called
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 IC1623, which is
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 actually two galaxies in the process of
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 merging together. Located about
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 275 million light years
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 from Earth in the constellation Cetus,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 these galaxies are in the late stages of a
00:08:21 --> 00:08:24 cosmic collision and it's creating some
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 extraordinary physics.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 Anna: Walk us through what's actually happening
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 here. How do galaxies colliding create these
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 super fast winds.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 Avery: When galaxies merge, their gravitational
00:08:35 --> 00:08:38 interactions trigger massive bursts of star
00:08:38 --> 00:08:41 formation. We're talking thousands of stars
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 being born. These newborn stars live
00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 fast and die young, creating powerful
00:08:46 --> 00:08:49 stellar winds and supernova explosions. All
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 of this activity generates enormous amounts
00:08:52 --> 00:08:55 of energy that drives material outward at
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 incredible speeds.
00:08:56 --> 00:08:59 Anna: And the magnetic superhighway, what
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 role does that play?
00:09:01 --> 00:09:04 Avery: Here's where it gets really fascinating. The
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 team from the University of Hertfordshire
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 discovered that magnetic fields are actually
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 channelling these winds, creating what they
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 call a superhighway that connects the two
00:09:13 --> 00:09:16 galactic cores. Think of it like a
00:09:16 --> 00:09:19 cosmic interstate highway system. But instead
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 of cars, you've got superheated gas
00:09:21 --> 00:09:24 screaming along at speeds that make Earth's
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 fastest spacecraft look like they're standing
00:09:26 --> 00:09:26 still.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:30 Anna: That's an amazing image. How did they
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 detect something like this?
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 Avery: They used the Atacama Large Millimetre Array,
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 ALMA in Chile, which is specifically designed
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 to observe cold gas and dust in the universe.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:43 What they found was unexpected. The magnetic
00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 field structure doesn't just randomly radiate
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 outward like many galactic winds do.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 Instead, it's highly organised, creating
00:09:51 --> 00:09:54 this directed pathway between the galactic
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 centres.
00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 Anna: Why is this discovery so significant? What
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 does it tell us about galaxy evolution?
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 Avery: This is crucial for understanding how
00:10:03 --> 00:10:06 galaxies grow and evolve. These powerful
00:10:06 --> 00:10:09 outflows, what astronomers call feedback,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:12 can actually regulate star formation by
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 expelling the gas and dust that would
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 otherwise collapse to form new stars.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 It's like a pressure release valve for
00:10:18 --> 00:10:21 galaxies. Too much star formation can blow
00:10:21 --> 00:10:24 away the material needed to make more stars,
00:10:24 --> 00:10:27 which can eventually slow down or even halt
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 a, uh, galaxy's growth.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:31 Anna: So galaxies regulate their own growth through
00:10:31 --> 00:10:34 these winds. That's a pretty elegant self
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 limiting system.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 Avery: It really is. And what makes
00:10:38 --> 00:10:41 IC1623 particularly interesting
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 is that we're seeing this process in action
00:10:43 --> 00:10:46 during a, uh, galaxy merger. When
00:10:46 --> 00:10:49 galaxies collide, we see the most extreme
00:10:49 --> 00:10:51 versions of these processes. The most intense
00:10:51 --> 00:10:54 star formation, the most powerful winds,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:57 the strongest magnetic fields. It's like
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 watching galaxy evolution and fast forward.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 Anna: What do we think the fate of
00:11:01 --> 00:11:04 IC1623 will be?
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 Avery: Eventually, these two galaxies will
00:11:06 --> 00:11:09 completely merge into a single larger
00:11:09 --> 00:11:12 galaxy. The current burst of star formation
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 will eventually exhaust much of the available
00:11:14 --> 00:11:17 gas. And what we're looking at now, this
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 spectacular phase of cosmic winds and
00:11:19 --> 00:11:22 magnetic highways will fade. But the
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 combined galaxy will carry the imprint of
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 this violent event in its structure and
00:11:26 --> 00:11:29 stellar populations for billions of years to
00:11:29 --> 00:11:29 come.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 Anna: It's humbling to think that we're witnessing
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 something that takes millions of years to
00:11:34 --> 00:11:37 play out. Just captured in a snapshot.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:40 Avery: Absolutely. And every time we point our
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 telescopes at merging galaxies, we learn
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 something new about the forces shaping the
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 universe's largest structures.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 Anna: Speaking of pointing our telescopes at the
00:11:49 --> 00:11:52 universe and finding surprises, Avery, we
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 need to talk about this mysterious object
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 that's been sending powerful signals across
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 the galaxy. The headline says it's
00:11:58 --> 00:12:01 unlike anything we have seen before.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:04 Avery: That's not just hype, Anna. Astronomers have
00:12:04 --> 00:12:07 discovered something truly a
00:12:07 --> 00:12:10 cosmic object that's periodically sending out
00:12:10 --> 00:12:13 intense radio signals, and it doesn't
00:12:13 --> 00:12:16 fit into any category of known astronomical
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 phenomena. It's one of those discoveries that
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 makes you rethink what you thought you knew.
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 Anna: Okay, you've got my attention.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 What exactly are we dealing with here?
00:12:25 --> 00:12:28 Avery: The object sends out extremely bright
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 radio pulses that last about 30 to
00:12:30 --> 00:12:33 300 seconds. That's up to five minutes
00:12:33 --> 00:12:36 per pulse. And these pulses occur roughly
00:12:36 --> 00:12:39 every 2.9 hours with remarkable
00:12:39 --> 00:12:42 regularity. What makes this so unusual is
00:12:42 --> 00:12:45 the combination of that long period and the
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 duration of the pulses themselves.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:50 Anna: When you say it doesn't fit known categories.
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 What are the usual suspects for objects that
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 send out regular signals like this?
00:12:54 --> 00:12:57 Avery: Great question. The two most common sources
00:12:57 --> 00:13:00 of periodic radio signals are pulsars
00:13:00 --> 00:13:03 and magnetars. Pulsars are
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 rapidly spinning neutron stars that sweep
00:13:05 --> 00:13:08 beams of radiation across space like a, uh,
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 cosmic lighthouse. But they typically pulse
00:13:10 --> 00:13:13 on the order of milliseconds to seconds,
00:13:13 --> 00:13:16 not hours. And their individual pulses are
00:13:16 --> 00:13:19 brief, usually milliseconds, not minutes.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:22 Anna: So this object is pulsing way too slowly to
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 be a normal pulsar.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:26 Avery: Exactly. And the pulses last far too
00:13:26 --> 00:13:29 long. Magnetars, which are neutron
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 stars with incredibly powerful magnetic
00:13:31 --> 00:13:34 fields, can sometimes produce longer period
00:13:34 --> 00:13:37 signals than regular pulsars. But even they
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 don't typically operate on a three hour cycle
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 with multi minute pulse durations.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 Anna: Have astronomers proposed any theories about
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 what this could be?
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 Avery: There are a few possibilities being
00:13:47 --> 00:13:50 investigated. One idea is that it could be a
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 white dwarf in a binary system, which is two
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 stars orbiting each other, where one is a
00:13:54 --> 00:13:57 white dwarf remnant. The interaction between
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 the two stars can potentially generate these
00:13:59 --> 00:14:02 periodic radio emissions. Another possibility
00:14:02 --> 00:14:05 is that we're seeing some kind of unusual
00:14:05 --> 00:14:08 magnetar or pulsar that operates
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 differently than the ones we studied before.
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 Anna: When was this object discovered and how?
00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 Avery: The discovery was made using radio telescope
00:14:15 --> 00:14:18 observations. And what's particularly
00:14:18 --> 00:14:20 intriguing is that the signals are powerful
00:14:20 --> 00:14:23 enough to be detected across vast distances.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 The exact distance to this object is still
00:14:25 --> 00:14:28 being determined, but the fact that we can
00:14:28 --> 00:14:30 detect such clear periodic signals
00:14:30 --> 00:14:33 suggests it's either relatively close in
00:14:33 --> 00:14:36 cosmic terms or it's Putting out tremendous
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 amounts of energy.
00:14:37 --> 00:14:40 Anna: This reminds me of those fast radio bursts
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 we've heard about. Brief, intense radio
00:14:42 --> 00:14:45 signals from across the universe. Is this
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 related?
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 Avery: That's a natural comparison, Anna. Um, but
00:14:48 --> 00:14:51 fast radio bursts FRBs are different.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 They're much briefer, Typically lasting
00:14:53 --> 00:14:56 milliseconds. Though some do repeat.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:59 This object's behaviour is more periodic and
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 predictable, with much longer pulse
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 durations. It's almost like comparing a
00:15:03 --> 00:15:06 strobe light to a slowly rotating
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 searchlight.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 Anna: What's the next step for studying this
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 mysterious object?
00:15:10 --> 00:15:12 Avery: Astronomers will be conducting follow up
00:15:12 --> 00:15:15 observations across multiple wavelengths. Not
00:15:15 --> 00:15:18 just radio, but also optical X ray and
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 potentially others. They want to determine
00:15:20 --> 00:15:23 exactly where it is, Measure its properties
00:15:23 --> 00:15:26 in detail, and hopefully identify what type
00:15:26 --> 00:15:29 of object it is. Sometimes you need multiple
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 types of observations to build a complete
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 picture.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:34 Anna: Do discoveries like this happen often where
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 we find something that just doesn't fit our
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 existing models?
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 Avery: More often than you might think. Actually,
00:15:40 --> 00:15:43 the universe keeps surprising us. Every
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 major improvement in our observing technology
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 reveals new phenomena we didn't predict.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:51 Radio astronomy in particular has a history
00:15:51 --> 00:15:53 of unexpected discoveries. Pulsars
00:15:53 --> 00:15:56 themselves were a complete surprise when they
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 were first detected in 1967.
00:15:58 --> 00:16:01 Anna: Could this turn out to be a whole new class
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 of astronomical objects?
00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 Avery: That's definitely possible. If follow up
00:16:05 --> 00:16:08 observations confirm that this truly doesn't
00:16:08 --> 00:16:11 fit into any existing category, it could
00:16:11 --> 00:16:14 indeed represent something new. Of course, it
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 might also turn out to be an extreme example
00:16:16 --> 00:16:19 of a known type of object just operating in a
00:16:19 --> 00:16:22 regime we haven't observed before. Either
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 way, it's expanding our understanding of
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 what's possible in the universe.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:28 Anna: I love that we're still finding things that
00:16:28 --> 00:16:30 make astronomers say we've never seen
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 anything like this before.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:34 Avery: Me too, Anna. Um, it reminds us how much we
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 still have to learn about the cosmos.
00:16:36 --> 00:16:39 Anna: Sticking with unexpected discoveries, let's
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41 talk about planets that orbit two suns.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:44 Tatooine style worlds. Avery. I understand
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 these aren't as rare as scientists once
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 thought.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 Avery: That's right, Anna. Uh, new research is
00:16:49 --> 00:16:51 challenging our assumptions about
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 circumbinary planets. That's the technical
00:16:53 --> 00:16:56 term for planets that orbit both stars in a
00:16:56 --> 00:16:59 binary system. It turns out these Star
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 wars style worlds might be more common than
00:17:01 --> 00:17:04 we previously believed, Especially around
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 certain types of binary stars.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:09 Anna: Before we dive into the findings, let's set
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 the stage.
00:17:09 --> 00:17:12 How common are binary star systems in the
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 first place?
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 Avery: Binary systems are actually incredibly
00:17:15 --> 00:17:18 common, Anna. Uh, roughly half of all sun
00:17:18 --> 00:17:21 like stars exist in binary or multiple
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 star systems. So we're not talking about a
00:17:23 --> 00:17:26 rare cosmic curiosity here. Binaries
00:17:26 --> 00:17:29 are a fundamental component of the galaxy's
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 stellar population.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:33 Anna: And we have discovered actual circumbinary
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 planets already. Right. This isn't just
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 theoretical.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:39 Avery: Absolutely. NASA's Kepler Space
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 Telescope discovered the first confirmed
00:17:41 --> 00:17:44 circumbinary planets back in 2011,
00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 and we've found several more since then.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:49 These are real worlds orbiting two suns,
00:17:49 --> 00:17:52 just like Luke Skywalker's home planet. But
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 the question has always been, how common are
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 they?
00:17:55 --> 00:17:57 Anna: So what does this new research tell us?
00:17:57 --> 00:18:00 Avery: The study found that circumbinary planets
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 appear to be particularly common around what
00:18:02 --> 00:18:05 are called equal mass binaries, systems
00:18:05 --> 00:18:07 where both stars are roughly the same size
00:18:07 --> 00:18:10 and mass. In these systems, the stable
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 orbital zone where planets can form and
00:18:12 --> 00:18:15 survive, might actually be more favourable
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 than astronomers previously calculated.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:20 Anna: Why would having two equal mass stars make it
00:18:20 --> 00:18:22 easier for planets to form?
00:18:22 --> 00:18:24 Avery: It has to do with gravitational stability.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 When you have two stars of similar mass,
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 their gravitational influence on the
00:18:29 --> 00:18:31 surrounding disc of planet forming material
00:18:31 --> 00:18:34 is more balanced and predictable. There's
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 less chaotic variation in the gravitational
00:18:36 --> 00:18:39 forces acting on the disc. Which means there
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 are stable regions where material can
00:18:41 --> 00:18:43 accumulate and grow into planets.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:46 Anna: What about unequal binary systems? One big
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 star and one small one.
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 Avery: Those systems can still host circumbinary
00:18:50 --> 00:18:53 planets, but the dynamics are more complex.
00:18:53 --> 00:18:56 The larger star dominates gravitationally,
00:18:56 --> 00:18:58 and the smaller star creates additional
00:18:58 --> 00:19:00 perturbations that can make certain orbital
00:19:00 --> 00:19:03 regions unstable. It doesn't mean planets
00:19:03 --> 00:19:05 can't form, but the stable zones might be
00:19:05 --> 00:19:07 more limited or located at different
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 distances.
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 Anna: This has implications for the search for
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 habitable worlds, doesn't it?
00:19:13 --> 00:19:15 Avery: Very much so. If circumbinary planets
00:19:15 --> 00:19:18 are more common than we thought, especially
00:19:18 --> 00:19:21 in equal mass binaries, that increases the
00:19:21 --> 00:19:23 overall number of potential planetary
00:19:23 --> 00:19:25 environments in the Galaxy. Some of these
00:19:25 --> 00:19:27 could potentially be in the habitable zone,
00:19:27 --> 00:19:30 the region where liquid water could exist on
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 a planet's surface.
00:19:31 --> 00:19:33 Anna: Although I imagine having two suns would
00:19:33 --> 00:19:35 complicate the climate situation
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 significantly.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:39 Avery: You're absolutely right. The climate on a
00:19:39 --> 00:19:41 circumbinary planet would be fascinatingly
00:19:41 --> 00:19:44 complex. You'd have variations in heating
00:19:44 --> 00:19:46 depending on the orbital positions of both
00:19:46 --> 00:19:49 stars relative to the planet. Some times of
00:19:49 --> 00:19:51 the year, both suns might be on the same side
00:19:51 --> 00:19:54 of the sky, providing intense combined
00:19:54 --> 00:19:56 heating. Other times they'd be on opposite
00:19:56 --> 00:19:59 sides, creating more balanced illumination.
00:19:59 --> 00:20:01 Anna: How did researchers arrive at these
00:20:01 --> 00:20:03 conclusions about circumbinary planet
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 frequency?
00:20:04 --> 00:20:07 Avery: They combined observational data from
00:20:07 --> 00:20:09 telescope surveys with sophisticated computer
00:20:09 --> 00:20:12 modelling of how planets form in binary star
00:20:12 --> 00:20:15 systems. By simulating thousands of different
00:20:15 --> 00:20:18 scenarios with various binary configurations,
00:20:18 --> 00:20:20 they could identify patterns about which
00:20:20 --> 00:20:23 systems are most likely to host planets.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:26 Anna: Are there any specific systems astronomers
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 are now targeting for follow up observations?
00:20:28 --> 00:20:31 Based on these findings, the research
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 definitely.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:34 Avery: Points to equal mass binaries as high
00:20:34 --> 00:20:36 priority targets for planet hunting
00:20:36 --> 00:20:39 campaigns. Missions like NASA's upcoming
00:20:39 --> 00:20:41 Nancy Grace Roman Telescope and continuing
00:20:41 --> 00:20:44 observations from ground based facilities
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 will be keeping a close eye on these systems.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:49 Every new circumbinary planet we discover
00:20:49 --> 00:20:51 helps refine our models.
00:20:51 --> 00:20:54 Anna: It's exciting to think those iconic twin
00:20:54 --> 00:20:56 sunset scenes from Star wars might be more
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 common in the universe than we realised.
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 Avery: It really is, Anna. Um, the universe keeps
00:21:01 --> 00:21:03 proving that the reality can be just as
00:21:03 --> 00:21:06 spectacular as science fiction, Sometimes
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 even more so.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:10 Anna: And for our final storey today, Avery, we're
00:21:10 --> 00:21:12 talking about a discovery that touches on one
00:21:12 --> 00:21:15 of astronomy's biggest questions. The search
00:21:15 --> 00:21:17 for life beyond Earth. Scientists have
00:21:17 --> 00:21:20 detected a molecule critical to life in
00:21:20 --> 00:21:23 interstellar space for the first time. Tell
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 us about this breakthrough.
00:21:24 --> 00:21:27 Avery: This is genuinely exciting, Anna. Uh, for the
00:21:27 --> 00:21:30 first time ever, astronomers have detected
00:21:30 --> 00:21:33 ethylenamine, a molecule that plays a
00:21:33 --> 00:21:35 crucial role in forming cell membranes
00:21:35 --> 00:21:38 floating in the vast spaces between stars.
00:21:38 --> 00:21:41 This discovery has profound implications for
00:21:41 --> 00:21:43 how we think about the building blocks of
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 life in the universe.
00:21:44 --> 00:21:47 Anna: Let's start with the basics. What exactly is
00:21:47 --> 00:21:50 ethyl enamine and why is it so important to
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 life?
00:21:51 --> 00:21:53 Avery: Ethylenamine is an organic molecule that's a
00:21:53 --> 00:21:56 key component of phospholipids, which are the
00:21:56 --> 00:21:59 primary building blocks of cell membranes.
00:21:59 --> 00:22:01 Think of cell membranes as the walls and
00:22:01 --> 00:22:04 gates of cells. They define the boundary
00:22:04 --> 00:22:07 between the inside and outside of a cell and
00:22:07 --> 00:22:09 control what goes in and out. Without
00:22:09 --> 00:22:12 molecules like ethylenamine, you can't build
00:22:12 --> 00:22:14 functional cell membranes. And, uh, without
00:22:14 --> 00:22:17 cell membranes, you can't have cells as we
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 know them.
00:22:18 --> 00:22:21 Anna: Though this is truly fundamental to life, at
00:22:21 --> 00:22:23 least life as we understand it. Where was
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 this molecule detected?
00:22:25 --> 00:22:27 Avery: The discovery was made in a molecular cloud,
00:22:28 --> 00:22:31 one of these vast cold regions of space where
00:22:31 --> 00:22:33 gas and dust accumulate and where new
00:22:33 --> 00:22:36 stars and planetary systems eventually form.
00:22:37 --> 00:22:39 These clouds are essentially stellar
00:22:39 --> 00:22:41 nurseries. And finding life, building
00:22:41 --> 00:22:43 molecules there suggest that the ingredients
00:22:43 --> 00:22:46 for life might be getting incorporated into
00:22:46 --> 00:22:48 planetary systems right from the start.
00:22:48 --> 00:22:51 Anna: How do scientists actually detect specific
00:22:51 --> 00:22:54 molecules in interstellar space? I imagine
00:22:54 --> 00:22:56 you can't exactly collect a sample.
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 Avery: Great question. They use radio
00:22:59 --> 00:23:02 spectroscopy. Every molecule has a unique
00:23:02 --> 00:23:04 spectroscopic signature. Think of it like a,
00:23:04 --> 00:23:07 uh, molecular fingerprint. Different
00:23:07 --> 00:23:09 molecules absorb and emit light at specific
00:23:09 --> 00:23:12 wavelengths. Radio telescopes can detect
00:23:12 --> 00:23:14 these signatures, allowing astronomers to
00:23:14 --> 00:23:17 identify what molecules are present in
00:23:17 --> 00:23:19 distant clouds, even though those clouds are
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 trillions of miles away.
00:23:21 --> 00:23:24 Anna: We've found other organic molecules in space
00:23:24 --> 00:23:26 before, haven't we? What makes this discovery
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 special?
00:23:27 --> 00:23:30 Avery: You're absolutely right, Hannah. Astronomers
00:23:30 --> 00:23:32 have detected more than 200 different
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 molecules in interstellar space, including
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 amino um, acids and sugars. But
00:23:37 --> 00:23:40 ethylnamine is special because of its direct
00:23:40 --> 00:23:43 connection to cell membrane formation. It's
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45 one thing to find amino um, acids, the
00:23:45 --> 00:23:47 building blocks of proteins, but finding a
00:23:47 --> 00:23:49 molecule that's essential for creating the
00:23:49 --> 00:23:52 actual structure of cells takes us another
00:23:52 --> 00:23:55 step closer to understanding how life's
00:23:55 --> 00:23:57 fundamental architecture might arise.
00:23:57 --> 00:24:00 Anna: Does this discovery change our thinking about
00:24:00 --> 00:24:02 where the building blocks of life come from?
00:24:02 --> 00:24:05 Avery: It definitely supports the hypothesis that
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 many of life's essential molecular
00:24:07 --> 00:24:10 ingredients aren't created on planets after
00:24:10 --> 00:24:13 they form, but rather arrive from space.
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 We already know that meteorites deliver
00:24:16 --> 00:24:19 organic compounds to planets. We found amino
00:24:19 --> 00:24:21 acids in meteorites that have fallen to
00:24:21 --> 00:24:23 Earth. This discovery suggests that
00:24:23 --> 00:24:26 even more complex life related molecules
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 could be delivered from space.
00:24:28 --> 00:24:31 Anna: Though in a sense, the raw materials for
00:24:31 --> 00:24:33 life might be common throughout the galaxy.
00:24:34 --> 00:24:36 Avery: That's the tantalising possibility this
00:24:36 --> 00:24:39 raises. If molecules like ethanolamine can
00:24:39 --> 00:24:42 form in the harsh conditions of interstellar
00:24:42 --> 00:24:45 space, then these building blocks might be
00:24:45 --> 00:24:47 present in molecular clouds throughout the
00:24:47 --> 00:24:49 galaxy. Every time a new planetary
00:24:49 --> 00:24:52 system forms, it could be inheriting these
00:24:52 --> 00:24:54 pre made components of life.
00:24:54 --> 00:24:56 Anna: This doesn't mean life is automatically
00:24:56 --> 00:24:58 everywhere though, right? Having the
00:24:58 --> 00:25:00 ingredients doesn't guarantee you'll bake the
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 cake.
00:25:01 --> 00:25:04 Avery: Exactly. This is about potential and
00:25:04 --> 00:25:07 possibility. Having the molecular building
00:25:07 --> 00:25:09 blocks is necessary for life, but it's not
00:25:09 --> 00:25:12 sufficient. You still need the right
00:25:12 --> 00:25:14 conditions for those molecules to assemble
00:25:14 --> 00:25:17 into functioning biological systems. The
00:25:17 --> 00:25:20 right temperature, pressure, energy sources,
00:25:20 --> 00:25:23 solvents like liquid water, and probably a
00:25:23 --> 00:25:25 host of factors we don't fully understand
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 yet.
00:25:26 --> 00:25:28 Anna: What are the next steps for this kind of
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 research?
00:25:29 --> 00:25:31 Avery: Astronomers will be looking for ethanolamine
00:25:31 --> 00:25:34 and similar molecules in other molecular
00:25:34 --> 00:25:36 clouds to see how widespread they are.
00:25:36 --> 00:25:38 They'll also be searching for even more
00:25:38 --> 00:25:40 complex organic molecules that might be
00:25:40 --> 00:25:43 precursors to biological chemistry.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:46 Every molecule we find helps us piece
00:25:46 --> 00:25:48 together the storey of how inanimate
00:25:48 --> 00:25:50 chemistry transitions to the chemistry of
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 life.
00:25:51 --> 00:25:54 Anna: It's remarkable to think that the membrane
00:25:54 --> 00:25:56 surrounding every cell in our bodies might
00:25:56 --> 00:25:58 have had their chemical ancestors floating
00:25:58 --> 00:26:00 between the stars billions of years ago.
00:26:01 --> 00:26:03 Avery: It really is Anna, uh, it connects us to the
00:26:03 --> 00:26:06 cosmos in a very tangible way. We're
00:26:06 --> 00:26:09 not just made of stardust in an abstract
00:26:09 --> 00:26:12 sense. The actual molecular machinery
00:26:12 --> 00:26:14 of life may have origins that predate Earth
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 itself.
00:26:16 --> 00:26:18 Anna: What a perfect note to end today's episode on
00:26:18 --> 00:26:21 a reminder that we're part of a universe wide
00:26:21 --> 00:26:23 chemistry experiment that's been running for
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 billions of years.
00:26:25 --> 00:26:27 Avery: Well, that wraps up another day of space and
00:26:27 --> 00:26:29 astronomy news. From NASA's Artemis
00:26:29 --> 00:26:32 preparations to the discovery of life's
00:26:32 --> 00:26:34 building blocks floating between the stars,
00:26:34 --> 00:26:37 the universe continues to amaze and inspire.
00:26:38 --> 00:26:40 Anna: It really does. Thanks so much for joining us
00:26:40 --> 00:26:43 today, everyone. Remember, you can find us at
00:26:43 --> 00:26:45 astronomydaily.IO for full episode
00:26:45 --> 00:26:47 transcripts and additional content.
00:26:47 --> 00:26:49 Avery: And don't forget to follow us on social media
00:26:49 --> 00:26:52 astrodailypod for daily updates
00:26:52 --> 00:26:54 and space news throughout the week.
00:26:54 --> 00:26:57 Anna: Until next time, keep looking up
00:26:57 --> 00:26:59 clear skies, everyone.
00:26:59 --> 00:27:01 Avery: Astronomy Day
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 Storeys be told.
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 Anna: Love.
00:27:10 --> 00:27:12 Avery: Storey soul.
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 Hmm.