Join Anna in this episode of Astronomy Daily as she takes us on an exhilarating journey through the latest cosmic developments and discoveries that highlight humanity's ongoing relationship with the stars. Prepare for a fascinating exploration of stories that push the boundaries of our understanding of space.
Highlights:
- Tackling Space Debris: Discover how ClearSpace has successfully completed the second phase of the UK Space Agency's active debris removal mission. With promising technologies in place, this initiative aims to clean up defunct satellites in low Earth orbit, addressing the growing issue of space debris that threatens our orbital environment.
- Musk's Vision for Mars: Dive into Elon Musk's long-term perspective on why humanity must become a multi-planet species. His insights extend beyond immediate dangers, focusing on the Sun's inevitable expansion and the need for a backup plan for life on Earth.
- Ispace's Lunar Milestone: Get excited about the successful orbital insertion of Ispace's Resilience lunar lander, a significant step towards their landing attempt on the Moon. This mission represents a landmark achievement for private lunar exploration and showcases innovative technology in action.
- New Insights into the Fermi Paradox: Explore a fresh mathematical approach to the Fermi Paradox, offering new perspectives on why we haven't detected extraterrestrial civilizations despite the statistical likelihood of their existence. This study transforms silence into valuable data points regarding intelligent life in our galaxy.
- Unraveling Black Hole Mysteries: Learn about the enigmatic black hole system known as Ansky, which produces powerful X-ray bursts every 4.5 days. Thanks to NASA's NICER telescope, scientists are beginning to understand the mechanisms behind these extraordinary cosmic phenomena.
For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io (http://www.astronomydaily.io/) . Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
Chapters:
00:00 - Today's featured stories highlight humanity's ongoing relationship with the stars
02:17 - ClearSpace completes second phase of UK Space Agency's active debris removal mission
04:55 - Elon Musk recently offered a cosmic perspective on his Mars colonization ambitions
07:44 - Japanese company Ispace has successfully guided its Resilience lunar lander into orbit
10:22 - The Fermi paradox is one of astronomy's most fascinating conundrums
13:36 - An sky is the eighth known source of quasi periodic eruptions
16:26 - This week on Astronomy Daily we've looked at space debris removal technology
17:42 - This podcast includes the latest Astronomy Daily news ✍️ Episode References
ClearSpace Debris Removal
[UK Space Agency]( https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency) )
Elon Musk's Mars Colonization
[SpaceX]( https://www.spacex.com (https://www.spacex.com/) )
Ispace Lunar Mission
[Ispace]( https://www.ispace-inc.com (https://www.ispace-inc.com/) )
Fermi Paradox Insights
[University of New York]( https://www.nyu.edu (https://www.nyu.edu/) )
Ansky Black Hole System
[NASA NICER]( https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/nicer/main/index.html (https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/nicer/main/index.html) )
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily]( http://www.astronomydaily.io (http://www.astronomydaily.io/) /)
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-exciting-space-discoveries-and-news--5648921/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-exciting-space-discoveries-and-news--5648921/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) .
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/27020621?utm_source=youtube
00:00:00 --> 00:00:00 [Music]
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm Anna and
00:00:03 --> 00:00:04 I'm thrilled to bring you the latest
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 developments from across the cosmos on
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 this beautiful day. Today, we're
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 exploring a fascinating range of stories
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 that highlight humanity's ongoing
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 relationship with the stars. From
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 cleaning up our own orbital neighborhood
00:00:17 --> 00:00:19 to dreaming of interplanetary expansion,
00:00:19 --> 00:00:21 our species continues to push the
00:00:21 --> 00:00:24 boundaries of what's possible in space.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:25 We'll start with some promising news in
00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 the battle against space debris. Clear
00:00:28 --> 00:00:30 Space has just completed the second
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 phase of the UK space ay's active debris
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 removal mission, demonstrating
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 technology that could soon help us clean
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 up the growing problem of defunct
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 satellites in low Earth orbit. This is
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 crucial work as our orbital highways
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 become increasingly congested.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:48 Then we'll dive into Elon Musk's latest
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 comments about Mars colonization where
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 he takes an extraordinarily long view of
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 humanity's future. His perspective on
00:00:56 --> 00:00:57 why we need to become a multilanet
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 species might surprise you. It's not
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 just about immediate threats, but about
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 the sun's inevitable expansion hundreds
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 of millions of years from now. We also
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 have exciting news from the moon, where
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 the Japanese company iSpace has
00:01:10 --> 00:01:13 successfully placed its resilience lunar
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 lander into lunar orbit. This
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 achievement brings them one step closer
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 to a landing attempt scheduled for early
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 June, which would mark a significant
00:01:21 --> 00:01:24 milestone for private lunar exploration.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:25 The search for extraterrestrial
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 intelligence continues to fascinate
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 scientists and the public alike. We'll
00:01:30 --> 00:01:31 examine a new mathematical approach to
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 the famous Fairmy paradox that offers an
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 intriguing perspective on why we haven't
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 heard from alien civilizations yet
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 despite the statistical likelihood of
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 their existence.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 And finally, we'll explore a cosmic
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 mystery that astronomers are beginning
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 to unravel. A black hole system
00:01:49 --> 00:01:52 nicknamed Ansky is producing powerful
00:01:52 --> 00:01:55 X-ray bursts every 4.5 days, and NASA's
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 nicer telescope has helped scientists
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 determine what might be causing these
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 regular cosmic explosions. These stories
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 represent the cutting edge of our
00:02:04 --> 00:02:05 understanding of space and our place
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 within it. from the practical challenges
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 of orbital debris to the philosophical
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 implications of becoming a multilanetary
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 species. So, let's blast off into
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 today's cosmic
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 journey. First up, Clear Space has
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 reached a significant milestone in
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 tackling the growing challenge of space
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 debris. The company recently completed
00:02:25 --> 00:02:28 the second phase of the UK space ay's
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 active debris removal mission,
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 showcasing promising technologies
00:02:32 --> 00:02:33 designed to clean up our increasingly
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 cluttered orbital environment.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 During extensive mechanical testing,
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 Clear Space's robotic capture system
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 demonstrated its ability to withstand
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 the extreme forces experienced during
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 rocket launches. This is crucial since
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 any debris removal system must first
00:02:51 --> 00:02:52 survive the violent journey to space
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 before it can begin its cleanup mission.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:56 The company also made significant
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 progress with its image processing
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 algorithms, proving they can effectively
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 detect and track space debris. This
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 capability is essential for any mission
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 aiming to capture defunct satellites as
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 these systems must be able to identify
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 and monitor their targets with precision
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 in the challenging environment of space.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 Perhaps most impressively, Clear Space
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 successfully demonstrated proximity
00:03:20 --> 00:03:21 operations using a hardwarebased
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 spacecraft emulator. This simulates the
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 delicate dance of approaching and
00:03:26 --> 00:03:27 capturing a tumbling piece of space
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 junk, one of the most challenging
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 aspects of debris removal. Beyond the
00:03:32 --> 00:03:33 technical achievements, Clear Space
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 completed detailed programmatic
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 estimates that provide the UK space
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 agency with valuable insights for
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 planning future missions. This
00:03:41 --> 00:03:42 comprehensive approach is helping to
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 build a sustainable framework for
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 addressing the space debris problem. Ray
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 Fielding, who heads sustainability at
00:03:49 --> 00:03:52 the UK Space Agency, expressed delight
00:03:52 --> 00:03:53 at the successful completion of this
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 phase, noting that an exciting period of
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 innovation for space sustainability lies
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 ahead. The Clear Mission represents more
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 than just a debris removal project. It's
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 positioning the UK as a leader in the
00:04:05 --> 00:04:08 growing field of inorbit servicing.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 Clear space isn't working alone in this
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 endeavor. The company has assembled an
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 impressive team of partners including
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 critical software from Portugal, Spain's
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 Indra Demos, Plex from England, and
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 Spirit Aeros Systems based in Kansas.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 These collaborations are helping to
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 refine crucial technologies from
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 guidance and navigation algorithms to
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 specialized radar systems for rendevous
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 operations. The competition to lead in
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 space sustainability is heating up with
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 British subsidiaries of both Astroscale
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 and Clear Space vying for a UK space
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 agency contract to remove two defunct
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 satellites from low Earth orbit in 2026.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 This competitive approach is
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 accelerating innovation in a field that
00:04:50 --> 00:04:51 will become increasingly vital as our
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 reliance on satellite infrastructure
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 grows. Next up, some musings from Elon.
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 Elon Musk recently offered a cosmic
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 perspective on his Mars colonization
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 ambitions during an interview with Fox
00:05:03 --> 00:05:06 News host Jesse Waters. When asked about
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 his fixation on the red planet, Musk
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 framed his answer in terms of the
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 ultimate long-term survival of life
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 itself. That's one of the benefits of
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 Mars is life insurance for life
00:05:16 --> 00:05:19 collectively, Musk explained. His
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 reasoning goes far beyond immediate
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 threats like asteroids or nuclear war,
00:05:23 --> 00:05:26 extending to an inevitable astronomical
00:05:26 --> 00:05:29 reality. Eventually, all life on Earth
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 will be destroyed by the sun. The sun is
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 gradually expanding. And so, we do at
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 some point need to be a multilanet
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 civilization because Earth will be
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 incinerated.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 This isn't science fiction, but rather
00:05:41 --> 00:05:44 established astrophysics. Our sun, like
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 all stars, is gradually getting brighter
00:05:46 --> 00:05:49 and hotter as it ages. Musk estimates
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 that we have about 450 million years
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 before it gets so hot that life is
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 impossible on Earth. While that might
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 seem like an impossibly distant future,
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 Musk's point is that humanity should
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 begin the process of becoming
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 multilanetary now while we have the
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 opportunity.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 The timeline Musk references align with
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 scientific projections. In a few hundred
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 million years, the sun's increasing
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 luminosity will likely strip away
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 Earth's atmosphere and boil off our
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 oceans. The final death nail will come
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 about 5 billion years from now when our
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 sun expands into a red giant,
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 potentially engulfing Earth entirely.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 This existential perspective helps
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 explain the urgency behind SpaceX's
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 ambitious Starship development program.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 The massive fully reusable rocket system
00:06:35 --> 00:06:38 represents Musk's vision for making Mars
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 settlement economically feasible.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 Despite the vast time scale before Earth
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 becomes uninhabitable, developing the
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 capability to establish a
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 self-sustaining civilization on another
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 planet presents enormous technical
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 challenges that could take generations
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 to perfect. Starship has already flown
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 eight test missions with two launches in
00:06:57 --> 00:07:00 2025 showing partial success. During
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 these most recent flights, the
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 Superheavy booster performed well, but
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 the upper stage of the vehicle, called
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 ship, exploded less than 10 minutes into
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 flight. SpaceX is now preparing for a
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 ninth test flight, having already
00:07:13 --> 00:07:16 completed engine firing tests of both
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 stages. While critics might question the
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 practical value of focusing on such a
00:07:20 --> 00:07:23 distant threat when humanity faces more
00:07:23 --> 00:07:26 immediate challenges, Musk's perspective
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 represents a uniquely long-term vision
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 for our species. one that looks not just
00:07:30 --> 00:07:33 decades or centuries ahead, but hundreds
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 of millions of years into the future.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 It's a reminder that while Earth is our
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 home, the ultimate survival of life as
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 we know it may depend on our ability to
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 spread beyond
00:07:43 --> 00:07:46 it. In exciting lunar exploration news,
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 the Japanese company iSpace has
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 successfully guided its Resilience Lunar
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 lander into orbit around the moon. The
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 spacecraft achieved this crucial
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 milestone on May 6th after performing an
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 approximately 9-minute burn of its main
00:07:58 --> 00:08:01 thruster, the longest such maneuver by
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 the spacecraft to date. This orbital
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 insertion marks the seventh of 10
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 planned milestones for the Hakuto RM2
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 mission, which began with pre-launch
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 preparations back in January. The final
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 goal will be reaching a steady system
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 state on the lunar surface after
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 landing, which is scheduled for no
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 earlier than June 5th. Resilience took a
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 fascinating journey to reach lunar
00:08:22 --> 00:08:25 orbit. After launching on January 15th
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 spacecraft followed a fuelefficient, low
00:08:29 --> 00:08:32 energy trajectory that minimized
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 propulsion requirements. This path
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 included a lunar flyby on February 14th
00:08:36 --> 00:08:39 that took the craft an impressive 1.1
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 million km from Earth before it returned
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 to enter lunar orbit.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 The landing target is near the center of
00:08:45 --> 00:08:48 Mayor Fragoris, located at approximately
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 60° north latitude. While this remains
00:08:51 --> 00:08:54 the primary landing site, iSpace has
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 identified three alternative locations
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 if needed, all of which would support
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 landing attempts through June 8th.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 Resilience isn't traveling to the moon
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 empty-handed. The spacecraft carries
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 several technology demonstration
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 payloads from Japanese companies and a
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 Taiwanese university. There's even a
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 small model house called Moonhouse
00:09:12 --> 00:09:15 created by Swedish artist Mikuel Genberg
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 making the journey. Perhaps most
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 intriguing is the micro rover named
00:09:19 --> 00:09:22 Tenacious developed by iSpace's European
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 subsidiary. This small explorer will
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 venture around the landing site and
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 collect lunar regalith. Under an
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 agreement with NASA, ownership of this
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 moon dust will be transferred to the
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 space agency, representing an
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 interesting demonstration of lunar
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 resource utilization rights.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 This mission holds particular
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 significance for i space as it follows
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 their first lunar landing attempt in
00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 April 2023 which unfortunately ended in
00:09:46 --> 00:09:50 a crash due to a software problem. Takes
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 Hakamada iSpace's CEO expressed pride in
00:09:53 --> 00:09:56 the team's successful orbital insertion,
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 noting they leveraged operational
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 experience gained from their first
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 mission. The company already has
00:10:01 --> 00:10:04 ambitious plans for the future. Their
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 next lunar lander is being built by
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 their American subsidiary as part of
00:10:07 --> 00:10:10 NASA's commercial lunar payload services
00:10:10 --> 00:10:13 program scheduled for a 2026 launch.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 This will be followed by another
00:10:15 --> 00:10:18 Japanese-built lander in 2027, showing
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 space's commitment to establishing a
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 regular lunar
00:10:21 --> 00:10:25 presence. Next up, something to ponder.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 The Fairmy paradox is one of astronomy's
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 most fascinating conundrums. If our
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 galaxy contains billions of stars
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 similar to our sun, and many of these
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 stars have Earthlike planets that could
00:10:35 --> 00:10:38 support life, then where is everybody?
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 Given the age of our galaxy,
00:10:39 --> 00:10:42 approximately 13.6 billion years,
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 there's been ample time for intelligent
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 civilizations to develop and spread
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 throughout the Milky Way. Yet, we've
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 detected absolutely no evidence of their
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 existence.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:54 Named after physicist Enrico Fairmy,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 this paradox highlights a puzzling
00:10:56 --> 00:10:59 contradiction. In cosmic time scales, it
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 would take a technologically advanced
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 civilization just a few million years to
00:11:02 --> 00:11:05 colonize the entire Milky Way, a mere
00:11:05 --> 00:11:08 moment compared to the galaxy's age. So
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 why haven't we heard from anyone? A new
00:11:10 --> 00:11:13 study by mathematician Matthew Civi from
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 the University of New York is offering
00:11:15 --> 00:11:18 fresh insights into this cosmic silence.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 Rather than directly trying to solve the
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 paradox, Civil has developed a
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 mathematical model that assesses how
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 likely it would be for us to have
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 detected a signal by now if a certain
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 number of civilizations were
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 broadcasting. The model builds on the
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 famous Drake equation which estimates
00:11:35 --> 00:11:38 the number of active communicative
00:11:38 --> 00:11:41 extraterrestrial civilizations in our
00:11:41 --> 00:11:44 galaxy by multiplying several factors
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 from the rate of star formation to the
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 fraction of planets where intelligent
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 life develops and how long such
00:11:50 --> 00:11:53 civilizations might last. What's
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 particularly interesting about Civil's
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 approach is that it uses our lack of
00:11:57 --> 00:12:00 detection as a data point. If his model
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 suggests we should have a high
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 probability of detecting signals given
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 certain parameters, then our failure to
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 do so becomes meaningful information
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 that can help narrow down possible
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 values in the Drake equation. The
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 mathematics gets complex, but
00:12:13 --> 00:12:16 essentially Civil explores the geometric
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 aspects of signal detection and
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 calculates the probability of detecting
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 at least one signal. Under certain
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 reasonable assumptions, his model
00:12:24 --> 00:12:27 predicts a 99% chance of detecting at
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 least one signal if there's around one
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 civilization broadcasting per the Drake
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 equation parameters. This suggests that
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 the absence of detected electromagnetic
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 signals can place significant
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 constraints on how many technological
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 civilizations might exist. In other
00:12:42 --> 00:12:45 words, the silence itself is telling us
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 something important about life in our
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 galaxy.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 Despite being a basic model with certain
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 limitations, Civil's work shows that
00:12:52 --> 00:12:55 even a lack of results from SETI, the
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 search for extraterrestrial
00:12:56 --> 00:12:58 intelligence, can help rule out certain
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 combinations regarding the number and
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 lifespan of alien
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 civilizations. This approach transforms
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 non-detections from disappointing dead
00:13:06 --> 00:13:09 ends into valuable data points that
00:13:09 --> 00:13:12 refine our understanding of the cosmos.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 As SETI efforts continue and our models
00:13:14 --> 00:13:17 improve, we may increasingly be able to
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 use this cosmic silence to better
00:13:18 --> 00:13:20 understand the conditions that make
00:13:20 --> 00:13:22 intelligent life possible and the
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 factors that might limit its spread
00:13:24 --> 00:13:27 throughout the galaxy. The search for
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 extraterrestrial intelligence isn't just
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 about finding others. It's also a
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 profound way to better understand
00:13:33 --> 00:13:36 ourselves and our place in the universe.
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 Now, let's explore another cosmic
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 mystery that scientists are finally
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 beginning to crack. Astronomers have
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 been puzzling over a peculiar black hole
00:13:44 --> 00:13:47 system nicknamed Ansky that exhibits an
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 extraordinary phenomenon, powerful X-ray
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 bursts that repeat with remarkable
00:13:51 --> 00:13:55 regularity approximately every 4.5 days.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 What makes Ansky particularly
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 fascinating is that it's the eighth
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 known source of what scientists call
00:14:01 --> 00:14:05 quasi periodic eruptions or QPEs. But
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 Ansky isn't just another member of this
00:14:07 --> 00:14:10 rare club. It's breaking records. Not
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 only does it produce the most energetic
00:14:12 --> 00:14:15 X-ray outbursts among known QP sources,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 but each eruption lasts an astounding
00:14:17 --> 00:14:20 1.5 days, making it exceptional in both
00:14:20 --> 00:14:23 timing and duration. NASA's NICER, the
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 Neutron Star Interior Composition
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 Explorer, has been instrumental in
00:14:27 --> 00:14:30 unraveling this mystery. Mounted on the
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 International Space Station, Nicer
00:14:32 --> 00:14:35 observed ANSKY about 16 times daily from
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 May to July 2024, providing
00:14:37 --> 00:14:40 unprecedented monitoring of these X-ray
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 fluctuations. This frequent observation
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 schedule proved crucial in detecting and
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 analyzing the patterns of these
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49 eruptions. So, what's causing these
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 massive energy releases? The leading
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 theory suggests that QPEs occur in
00:14:53 --> 00:14:56 systems where a relatively small object
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58 repeatedly passes through the dis of gas
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 surrounding a super massive black hole.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 When this smaller body punches through
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 the disc, it drives out expanding clouds
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 of superheated gas that we observe as
00:15:06 --> 00:15:09 X-ray flares. A team led by researcher
00:15:09 --> 00:15:12 Johene Chakraorti from MIT has mapped
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 the rapid evolution of this ejected
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 material in unprecedented detail. Their
00:15:16 --> 00:15:19 findings are remarkable. Each impact
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 results in approximately a Jupiter's
00:15:20 --> 00:15:23 worth of mass being accelerated to about
00:15:23 --> 00:15:26 15% the speed of light. As this roughly
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 spherical bubble of debris expands
00:15:27 --> 00:15:30 outward, Nicer's capabilities allowed
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 scientists to measure both its size and
00:15:31 --> 00:15:34 temperature in real time. What makes
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 Ansky different from other QP systems
00:15:36 --> 00:15:39 may be the nature of its disc. Most QP
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 systems likely form when a super massive
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 black hole shreds a passing star,
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 creating a small disc very close to
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 itself. But experts like astrophysicist
00:15:47 --> 00:15:50 Lina Hernandez Garcia suggest Ansky's
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 disc is much larger, allowing it to
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 interact with objects farther away and
00:15:54 --> 00:15:57 creating the longer time scales we
00:15:57 --> 00:15:59 observe. Scientists plan to continue
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 observing Ansky as long as possible as
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 we're still just beginning to understand
00:16:03 --> 00:16:06 these fascinating eruptions. This
00:16:06 --> 00:16:08 research isn't just illuminating the
00:16:08 --> 00:16:10 behavior of black holes. It's also
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 helping prepare for future missions like
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 ISA's LISA, which will detect
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 gravitational waves from systems where
00:16:16 --> 00:16:19 low mass objects orbit much more massive
00:16:20 --> 00:16:22 ones, potentially transforming our
00:16:22 --> 00:16:25 understanding of these exotic cosmic
00:16:25 --> 00:16:28 phenomena. And that brings us to the end
00:16:28 --> 00:16:30 of today's cosmic journey. What an
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32 incredible collection of stories we've
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 explored together. From Clear Space's
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 advances in space debris removal
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 technology to Japan's resilience lunar
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 lander successfully entering orbit
00:16:40 --> 00:16:43 around the moon, we've contemplated Elon
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 Musk's long-term vision for Mars
00:16:45 --> 00:16:47 colonization as humanity's insurance
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 policy against the sun's eventual
00:16:49 --> 00:16:51 expansion, examined new mathematical
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 insights into the Fmy paradox, and
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 unraveled the mystery behind the
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 rhythmic X-ray outbursts from the black
00:16:57 --> 00:17:00 hole system Ansky. Each of these
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 developments represents another piece in
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04 our everexpanding understanding of the
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 universe. The challenges of cleaning up
00:17:06 --> 00:17:09 orbital debris, establishing a human
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 presence on other worlds, landing on the
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 lunar surface, searching for
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 extraterrestrial intelligence, and
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 deciphering the extreme physics around
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 black holes. All reflect humanity's
00:17:20 --> 00:17:23 boundless curiosity and determination to
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 explore beyond our planetary boundaries.
00:17:25 --> 00:17:27 I've been your host, Anna, and I want to
00:17:27 --> 00:17:29 thank you for joining me on Astronomy
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 Daily. If you're hungry for more space
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 and astronomy news, I invite you to
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 visit our website at
00:17:35 --> 00:17:37 astronomydaily.io, where you'll find our
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 constantly updating news feed with all
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 the latest developments across the
00:17:41 --> 00:17:44 cosmos. There you can also access our
00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 complete archive of past episodes if
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 you'd like to catch up on any stories
00:17:47 --> 00:17:49 you might have missed. Don't forget to
00:17:49 --> 00:17:51 subscribe to Astronomy Daily on Apple
00:17:51 --> 00:17:54 Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever
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00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 never miss an episode. The universe
00:17:58 --> 00:18:00 keeps evolving and so do our stories
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 about it. Until next time, keep looking
00:18:02 --> 00:18:04 up and wondering about our extraordinary
00:18:04 --> 00:18:07 cosmos. This has been Astronomy Daily
00:18:07 --> 00:18:20 and I'm Anna signing off.
00:18:20 --> 00:18:22 The stories
00:18:22 --> 00:18:27 [Music]
00:18:27 --> 00:18:30 told stories