00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Hello and welcome to Astronomy Daily,
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 the podcast bringing you the biggest
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 news from across the cosmos. I'm your
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 host, Avery.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 >> And I'm Anna. It's great to be with you
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 today. Avery, we're talking about a
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 threat to one of Earth's best windows to
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 the universe, some big reveals from Blue
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 Origin, and a star that's singing a
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 strange cosmic song.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 >> That's right. Plus, we'll dive into why
00:00:25 --> 00:00:29 time literally moves faster on Mars and
00:00:29 --> 00:00:31 a fascinating new idea for building
00:00:31 --> 00:00:35 Martian homes using bacteria. Let's
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 start with that story from Earth, Anna.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 It sounds pretty serious.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:42 >> It is. We're talking about Chile's
00:00:42 --> 00:00:44 Otakama Desert, home to the Paranol
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 Observatory and the Very Large
00:00:46 --> 00:00:48 Telescope. It's one of the best places
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 on the planet for astronomy because of
00:00:50 --> 00:00:54 its clear, dark, and stable skies.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 >> An absolutely critical location for
00:00:57 --> 00:00:58 science.
00:00:58 --> 00:01:01 >> Exactly. But now that's under what some
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 top scientists, including a Nobel
00:01:03 --> 00:01:06 laureate, are calling an imminent
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 threat. A massive renewable energy
00:01:08 --> 00:01:11 project is planned for a site nearby.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 While green energy is vital, the scale
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 of this project has astronomers deeply
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 concerned.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 >> So, what are the specific worries? Is it
00:01:20 --> 00:01:21 just light pollution?
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 >> That's a big part of it. The project
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 could brighten the night sky, kick up
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 dust that obscures faint objects, and
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 the heat could disrupt the stable
00:01:30 --> 00:01:32 atmosphere that makes imaging so sharp.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 >> Wow. So, it's a triple threat to
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 visibility. It's a tough situation, a
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 conflict between two positive goals,
00:01:41 --> 00:01:44 advancing sustainable energy and
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 protecting our ability to explore the
00:01:48 --> 00:01:48 universe.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 >> It is the open letter from the
00:01:51 --> 00:01:53 scientific community isn't trying to
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 stop the project, but to raise the alarm
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 and work with the developers to find a
00:01:57 --> 00:02:00 solution that mitigates these impacts.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 Hopefully, a compromise can be found.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 It's a truly delicate balance.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 Are there any specific technical
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 solutions being discussed? I imagine
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 it's more complex than just asking them
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 to build it somewhere else. We're
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 talking about things like specialized
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 light shielding or perhaps operational
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 agreements to limit dust creating
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 activities during critical observation
00:02:25 --> 00:02:26 windows at night.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 >> Precisely. They're suggesting technical
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 solutions like advanced dust
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 suppression, special lighting to
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 minimize sky glow, and even pausing
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 industrial activity based on observatory
00:02:37 --> 00:02:38 schedules.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 >> Let's hope so.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 From a project threatening our view of
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 space, let's turn to one that's actively
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 building our way into it. Blue Origin
00:02:48 --> 00:02:49 has been making some serious
00:02:50 --> 00:02:51 announcements.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 >> Mhm. They've been very busy. Fresh off a
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 successful New Shepard launch, they
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 pulled the curtain back on a lot of new
00:02:57 --> 00:02:58 hardware.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 >> They sure have. First, they unveiled the
00:03:00 --> 00:03:03 Blue Moon Mark1 robotic lander scheduled
00:03:03 --> 00:03:07 to fly by 2026. It's the precursor to
00:03:07 --> 00:03:11 the crude lander for NASA's Aremis 5
00:03:11 --> 00:03:12 mission.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:15 >> Right. This is their cargo version. It's
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 designed to test the landing systems and
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 deliver payloads to the lunar surface
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 ahead of the astronauts. They also
00:03:21 --> 00:03:22 announced a more powerful version of
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 their new Glen rocket. Right.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 >> That's right. The 9 x4
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 variant. But what really caught my eye
00:03:29 --> 00:03:30 were the other two announcements. They
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 revealed details on something called
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 Blue Ring, which is essentially a space
00:03:36 --> 00:03:39 tug. It can host payloads, refuel other
00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 spacecraft, and basically act as a
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 logistics vehicle in Earth orbit and
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 beyond. A space tug makes sense for
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 building out in space infrastructure.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:52 And what was the last one? Something for
00:03:52 --> 00:03:53 Mars.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 >> Exactly. A new deployable aerobre
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 technology like a giant parachute
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 using a planet's atmosphere to slow a
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 spacecraft for future Mars missions. It
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 shows they're thinking about the entire
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 ecosystem of space exploration.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 >> And that's a huge piece of the puzzle.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 We hear a lot about launching things,
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 but not as much about what happens once
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 they're up there. A versatile platform
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 like Blue Ring could be used for
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 satellite servicing, refueling, or maybe
00:04:23 --> 00:04:24 even tackling the growing problem of
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 orbital debris. Right.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 >> Exactly. The long-term vision is a
00:04:28 --> 00:04:31 sustainable SIS lunar economy. We're
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 talking about a future where space isn't
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 just a destination, but a domain for
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 industry and commerce. A vehicle like
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 Blue Ring could refuel satellites,
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 giving them a new lease on life, move
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 infrastructure into place for future
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 space stations, or even act as a mobile
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 data relay. It transforms orbital space
00:04:50 --> 00:04:54 from a passive location into a dynamic
00:04:54 --> 00:04:55 workspace.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 >> It's an ambitious road map. Speaking of
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 ambitious missions, NASA's test
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 satellite, the transiting exoplanet
00:05:02 --> 00:05:05 survey satellite, has helped uncover a
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 fascinating cosmic mystery. It's about a
00:05:08 --> 00:05:11 star that's singing a very strange song
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 >> singing. Tell me more. Are we talking
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 about vibrations?
00:05:16 --> 00:05:19 >> In a way, yes. Astronomers detected star
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 quakes from a red giant. These seismic
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 waves caused the stars brightness to
00:05:23 --> 00:05:26 vary, which is how test detected them.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:29 This star is orbiting a black hole known
00:05:29 --> 00:05:32 as Gaia BH2.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 >> Okay, a red giant and a black hole.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 That's already an interesting pair. So,
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 what's so strange about the star quakes?
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 >> Well, the data revealed a couple of odd
00:05:42 --> 00:05:46 things. First, the star is spinning way
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 faster than a red giant should. They
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 tend to slow down as they expand.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 Second, its chemical composition is
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 weird. It seems to be relatively young,
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 but it's made of very ancient materials.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 It's low in heavy elements.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 >> Young, but made of old stuff and
00:06:04 --> 00:06:08 spinning too fast. That doesn't add up.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 What's the theory?
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 >> The leading hypothesis is a dramatic
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 one. That this star is actually two
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 stars that merged. A cosmic merger would
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 explain both the strange chemical mix
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 and its high spin rate.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 >> It really is. And the fact that they
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 could deduce all this from tiny
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 fluctuations in starlight is incredible.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 This field of astroysmology
00:06:30 --> 00:06:33 studying star quakes is like listening
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 to the inside of a star with a
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37 stethoscope. It's revealing details we
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 could never see directly.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 >> It's a perfect example of multi-m
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 missission astronomy. Gaia provided the
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 position and motion while test provided
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 the internal diagnostics. Combining the
00:06:48 --> 00:06:51 data let them piece together a hidden
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 history.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:56 from cosmic collisions to cosmic clocks.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 And I saw a story that sounds like it's
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 straight out of science fiction.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 Apparently, time itself moves at a
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 different speed on Mars.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 >> It does. And it's not science fiction.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 It's just pure Einstein. Based on
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 calculations from his theory of general
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14 relativity, time on Mars passes slightly
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 faster than it does here on Earth.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 >> How much faster are we talking? Am I
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 going to age noticeably quicker if I
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 move to Mars?
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 >> Hardly. The difference is a tiny
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 fraction of a second per day. It comes
00:07:26 --> 00:07:29 down to relativistic effects. Mars'
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 weaker gravity and slower orbit mean
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 time passes slightly faster there
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 relative to us.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 >> Okay, so I won't need extra anti-aging
00:07:37 --> 00:07:41 cream. I believe the figure is 477
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 micros seconds a day. That sounds small,
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 but I bet it adds up when you're dealing
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 with high precision technology. That's
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 the critical point. Just like our GPS
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 satellites, future Martian missions will
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 need to account for this time dilation
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 for synchronized communications and
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 navigation. It's fundamental for our
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 interplanetary future.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 >> It really puts into perspective how
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 interconnected everything is at that
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 level of physics. Does this also mean
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 we'd need a separate time standard for
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 Mars? Something like coordinated Mars
00:08:10 --> 00:08:13 time, similar to UTC on Earth?
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 >> That's exactly what space agencies are
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 working on. A defined Martian time
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 standard is essential for mission
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 coordination. Without it, every mission
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 would be using its own reference frame,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 leading to chaos. It's not just about
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 convenience. It's about safety and
00:08:27 --> 00:08:30 precision. Imagine trying to coordinate
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 a landing while your orbiter and ground
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 control are seconds out of sync.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 Establishing a common clock that
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 accounts for the relativistic drift is a
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 foundational step before we can have
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 rovers, orbiters, and future human bases
00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 all working in perfect sync. It's a
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 complex problem of interplanetary
00:08:47 --> 00:08:50 timekeeping that has to be solved.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 >> Speaking of our interplanetary future,
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 let's talk about actually living on
00:08:54 --> 00:08:57 Mars. Our final story today is about a
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 really innovative approach to
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 construction on the red planet using
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 what scientists call insitu resource
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 utilization. Right. The idea of living
00:09:05 --> 00:09:08 off the land, it's far too expensive to
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 launch everything we'd need from Earth.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 So, we have to use what's already on
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 Mars.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 >> Exactly. And this new proposal is
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 brilliant. It suggests using Martian
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 soil or regalith mixed with two specific
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 types of Earth bacteria to create
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 building materials.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:27 >> Bacteria as cement mixers. How would
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 that work?
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 >> It's a two-part system. The first
00:09:30 --> 00:09:34 bacterium, sporoscina pasteuri, creates
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 calsy, a powerful binding agent. When
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 mixed with Martian soil, it creates a
00:09:39 --> 00:09:42 solid concrete-like material, bio
00:09:42 --> 00:09:42 concrete.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:45 >> That's incredible. So, you can create
00:09:45 --> 00:09:48 bricks and foundations right there. What
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 about the second bacteria?
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 >> That's where it gets even better. The
00:09:51 --> 00:09:54 second one, caracosidaxis,
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 is a type of cyanobacteria.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:59 Its superpower is photosynthesis. It
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 would be engineered to take in the
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 Martian atmosphere, which is mostly
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 carbon dioxide, and sunlight, and
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 produce oxygen as a byproduct.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:10 >> So, you get building materials and a
00:10:10 --> 00:10:13 life support system in one package. One
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 set of microbes builds your house, and
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 the other helps you breathe inside it.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 >> That's the concept. It's a truly elegant
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 solution that integrates construction
00:10:21 --> 00:10:24 and life support. We are essentially
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 using nature's own nanotechnology to
00:10:26 --> 00:10:29 solve monumental engineering challenges
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 light years from home. It's still in the
00:10:31 --> 00:10:34 early stages of course with huge hurdles
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 around planetary protection and ensuring
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 these microbes perform as expected in
00:10:38 --> 00:10:41 the harsh Martian environment. But it's
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 this kind of creative biological
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 engineering that might just make living
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 on Mars a reality. Turning the planet's
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 own resources into a sustainable
00:10:49 --> 00:10:53 habitat. Okay, that's a gamecher. But
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 what about the conditions on Mars? We're
00:10:55 --> 00:10:58 talking about extreme cold, low
00:10:58 --> 00:11:01 atmospheric pressure, and intense
00:11:01 --> 00:11:04 radiation. Can these Earthbased bacteria
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 actually survive there long enough to do
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 their jobs?
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 >> That's the focus of the research. One of
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 the bacteria is an extramaphile,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 incredibly tough and radiation
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 resistant. The plan is to use them in
00:11:15 --> 00:11:18 shielded bioreactors to create building
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 materials in a controlled environment.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:23 >> And what a future that would be. And
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 that brings us to the end of today's
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 episode of Astronomy Daily. From
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 protecting our view of the stars in
00:11:29 --> 00:11:32 Chile to listening to their songs and
00:11:32 --> 00:11:35 even planning our homes among them, it's
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 been quite a journey.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 >> Thanks for tuning in. Join us again
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 tomorrow as we continue to explore the
00:11:40 --> 00:11:43 universe. Until then, keep looking up.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:46 Sunny day
00:11:46 --> 00:11:54 stories told
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 stories