00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Anna: Hello, and welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 your host, Anna. Uh, get ready to dive into
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 the latest cosmic happenings. Today we're
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 exploring how astronomers have located the
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 universe's missing matter. We'll also discuss
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 an intriguing theory about the Big Bang
00:00:13 --> 00:00:16 originating from a black hole and how
00:00:16 --> 00:00:17 artificial solar eclipses are helping
00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 scientists study the sun. Plus, we've got
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 updates on the Axiom mission delay, the
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 Project Kuiper launch, and a roundup of
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 upcoming launches from around the globe. So
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 buckle up. It's going to be an exciting
00:00:29 --> 00:00:30 journey through space news.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 let's get started with a big story. One of
00:00:33 --> 00:00:34 the universe's biggest mysteries seems to
00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 have been solved. That is, where's all the
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 missing ordinary matter? Astronomers using
00:00:39 --> 00:00:42 fast radio bursts, those brief intense
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 flashes of radio waves from distant galaxies
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 have managed to map out where about three
00:00:47 --> 00:00:49 quarters of the universe's normal matter has
00:00:49 --> 00:00:52 been hiding. And guess what? It's
00:00:52 --> 00:00:55 floating in the vast spaces between galaxies,
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 forming like an invisible cosmic web.
00:00:58 --> 00:00:59 This is a pretty big deal because it's the
00:00:59 --> 00:01:02 first time scientists have actually created a
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 detailed census of where all the universe's
00:01:04 --> 00:01:07 ordinary matter is located. These fast
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 radio bursts act kinda like cosmic
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 flashlights. You see, different wavelengths
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 of radio waves travel at slightly different
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 speeds through ionised gas. So by measuring
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 how much each burst slowed down, scientists
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 could calculate the total amount of matter
00:01:21 --> 00:01:24 the signal encountered. One cool finding
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 is this cosmic thermostat effect, where
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 supermassive black holes and exploding stars
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 blast gas out of galaxies, preventing them
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 from accumulating too much matter. This
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 research also gives us an independent
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 measurement of the universe's ordinary matter
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 content, which agrees with predictions from
00:01:42 --> 00:01:45 the cosmic microwave background and Big Bang
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 nucleosynthesis. All in all, it's a
00:01:48 --> 00:01:49 major step forward in understanding the
00:01:49 --> 00:01:52 structure and composition of the universe.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 Okay, next up, we're diving into some mind
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 bending stuff about the Big Bang. There's
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 a new theory floating around that suggests
00:02:00 --> 00:02:02 the Big Bang wasn't actually the beginning of
00:02:02 --> 00:02:05 everything, but rather the result of a
00:02:05 --> 00:02:08 gravitational collapse inside a massive black
00:02:08 --> 00:02:11 hole. Get your head around that one. Now,
00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 the standard model of cosmology, which is
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 based on the Big Bang and cosmic inflation,
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 has been pretty successful. But it does leave
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 some questions unanswered. For example, the
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 Big Bang model starts with a singularity,
00:02:23 --> 00:02:26 which is basically a point of infinite
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 density where the laws of physics break down.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:31 And to explain the universe's large scale
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33 structure, physicists came up with cosmic
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 inflation, which is this idea that the early
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 universe rapidly expanded. And let's not
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 forget dark energy, which is Supposed to
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 explain the accelerating expansion we see
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 today. So this new model, it kind
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 of looks inward instead of outward. Instead
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 of starting with an expanding universe, it
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 considers what happens when a really dense
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 collection of matter collapses under gravity.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 Think about stars collapsing into black
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 holes. The math shows that as we approach
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 a potential singularity, the size of the
00:03:02 --> 00:03:05 universe changes. And this collapsing cloud
00:03:05 --> 00:03:08 of matter can actually bounce, Rebounding
00:03:08 --> 00:03:11 outward into a new expanse expanding phase.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 And get this, this bounce naturally produces
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 those two phases of accelerated expansion,
00:03:17 --> 00:03:20 inflation and dark energy. One of the
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 cool things about this model is that it makes
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 testable predictions. It predicts a
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 small but non zero amount of positive
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 spatial curvature, Meaning the universe isn't
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 exactly flat, but slightly curved. So if
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 future observations confirm this, it could be
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 a hint that our universe really did emerge
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 from a bounce inside a black hole. Spooky,
00:03:41 --> 00:03:41 right?
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 And now let's talk about artificial solar
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 eclipses. The European Space Agency, or
00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 esa, has been pulling off some pretty cool
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 stuff with its Proba 3 mission. They've
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 managed to create the first artificial solar
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 eclipses Using two satellites flying in
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 really precise formation. We're talking about
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 satellites that are flying just 492ft
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 apart from with their positioning accurate to
00:04:05 --> 00:04:06 within a millimetre. That's like the
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 thickness of your fingernail. One satellite
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 blocks the sun just like the moon does during
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 a natural solar eclipse, While the other one
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 aims its telescope at the corona, which is
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 the sun's outer atmosphere. This is a
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 total game changer for scientists because it
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 lets them study the corona for hours on end.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 The longest eclipse they've managed so far
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 lasted five hours, and they're hoping to get
00:04:30 --> 00:04:31 up to six hours Once they start doing
00:04:31 --> 00:04:34 scientific observations in July. What's super
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 cool is that these artificial eclipses give
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 scientists a much better view of the corona
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 without needing any special image processing.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 They're anticipating producing about two
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 solar eclipses per week, which will give them
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 over a thousand hours of totality during the
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 mission. That's way more than what you get
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 from natural solar eclipses. And
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 because the sun blocking disc and the
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 telescope are on two different satellites, it
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 gives scientists a better look at the part of
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 the corona that's closest to the sun.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 Alright, next up, a quick update regarding
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 the Axiom Space Axe 4 mission to the
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 International Space Station. NASA says the
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 private astronaut mission could launch to the
00:05:12 --> 00:05:15 ISS as soon as June 19th as it works
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 to understand an air leak on M, the Russian
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 segment of the station. Though Roscosmos has
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 claimed the leak is fixed, Fingers crossed,
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 they finally get going. This time. I'LL keep
00:05:25 --> 00:05:25 you informed.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:29 Now, turning our attention back to Earth, or
00:05:29 --> 00:05:32 rather low Earth orbit. Amazon's second
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 Project Kuiper launch has been delayed again.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 Yeah, the launch, which was set to happen
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 from the Florida coast, had to be postponed
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 because of an engineering observation of an
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 elevated purge temperature within the booster
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 engine. So the Atlas V rocket
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 was supposed to carry 27 satellites into
00:05:48 --> 00:05:51 orbit, which would bring Amazon's total
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 constellation size to 54 satellites.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 The goal of the mission is to provide fast,
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 reliable Internet to customers all around the
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 world. So it looks like we'll have to wait a
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 little bit longer to see these satellites
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 join the Kuiper constellation.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 Okay, next up, let's dive into this massive
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 Launch Roundup from NASASpaceflight.com
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 We've got a whole bunch of launches scheduled
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 from all over the globe this week. First up,
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 SpaceX is planning five Falcon 9 missions.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 Yes, five, that includes a rideshare. And the
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 Axiom Mission 4 crewed mission, hopefully,
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 which has, as I reported earlier, been
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 delayed a few times. Now, there's Also the
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 Angara A5 rocket launch from Russia. And
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 get this, the last ever flight of Japan's H2A
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 rocket is also on the schedule. I know. End
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 of an era, right? Plus, we have a Chinese
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 launch and a Blue Origin crewed suborbital
00:06:41 --> 00:06:44 launch to look forward to. In a June
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 14 statement, NASA said it is working with
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 axiom space and SpaceX on reviewing launch
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 opportunities for the AXE 4 mission, with the
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 earliest such opportunity on June 19th.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 So let's break it down a bit. A couple of the
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 Falcon 9 launches are set to take off from
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 Vandenberg Space Force Base in California,
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 while the other three are launching from
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 Florida. The New Shepard launch, which is,
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 you know, the one with the crew, is going to
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 be flying from West Texas. And that
00:07:12 --> 00:07:15 Angara launch, well, it's carrying an
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 unknown payload from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 in Russia. Super Mysterious
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 Rocket Lab also announced an electron launch
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 from New Zealand. And the ULA
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 K02 mission is scheduled as well. It's going
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 to be a Busy week. The H2A
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 that's launching the GOSAT GW Earth
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 Observation Satellite. It's designed to
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 monitor greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 and methane and. And to measure the total
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 amount of Earth's water, too. It's kind of
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 sad to see it go, but the H3 family is taking
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 over. So onward and upward, right M.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 And that's a wrap for today's Space News on
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 Astronomy Daily. Thanks so much for tuning
00:07:52 --> 00:07:55 in. I'm Anna and it's been a blast, bringing
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 you all the latest space and astronomy news.
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 If you want to keep up with everything that's
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 happening beyond our world, make sure to
00:08:01 --> 00:08:04 visit our website at astronomydaily IO.
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00:08:22 --> 00:08:25 skies, everyone. And remember to keep looking
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 up. I'm out of here. See you next time.