Lightning on Mars: NASA's Perseverance rover has potentially captured the first direct evidence of lightning on Mars. Using its super-sensitive microphone, the rover recorded distinct crackling sounds, suggesting that electrical discharges may be caused by the planet's notorious dust storms. This discovery indicates that Mars has a more dynamic atmosphere than previously thought, raising excitement for future crewed missions.
Thanksgiving Crew Launch: A crew of three, including one NASA astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts, successfully launched to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz rocket. Their eight-month mission will involve overseeing a variety of scientific experiments and performing maintenance tasks, showcasing continued international cooperation in space.
ESA's Space Rider Announcement: The European Space Agency has announced the inaugural flight of its Space Rider vehicle, set for 2028. This reusable space plane will serve as an uncrewed robotic laboratory, conducting experiments in orbit and returning to Earth for refurbishment, marking a significant advancement in European space capabilities.
New Cosmic Discovery: The James Webb Space Telescope has detected a series of tiny red dots in deep space, leading to the hypothesis of a new class of objects dubbed "black hole stars." These entities would contain supermassive black holes at their cores, surrounded by dense gas, challenging our understanding of the early universe.
Understanding Venusian Winds: New research has uncovered that the extreme winds on Venus, which rotate 60 times faster than the planet itself, may be driven by a massive atmospheric tide caused by solar heating. This insight could enhance our understanding of the climate on Venus and tidally locked exoplanets.
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 and Avery signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and exploring the wonders of our universe.
✍️ Episode References
Perseverance Rover Lightning Detection
[NASA]( https://www.nasa.gov/ (https://www.nasa.gov/) )
International Space Station Crew Launch
[NASA]( https://www.nasa.gov/ (https://www.nasa.gov/) )
ESA's Space Rider Details
[European Space Agency]( https://www.esa.int/ (https://www.esa.int/) )
James Webb Space Telescope Discoveries
[NASA]( https://www.nasa.gov/ (https://www.nasa.gov/) )
Venus Atmospheric Research
[NASA]( https://www.nasa.gov/ (https://www.nasa.gov/) )
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) .
Sponsor Details:
Ensure your online privacy by using NordVPN . To get our special listener deal and save a lot of money, visit You'll be glad you did!
Become a supporter of Astronomy Daily by joining our Supporters Club. Commercial free episodes daily are only a click away... Click Here (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support)
Sponsor Details:
Ensure your online privacy by using NordVPN . To get our special listener deal and save a lot of money, visit You'll be glad you did!
Become a supporter of Astronomy Daily by joining our Supporters Club. Commercial free episodes daily are only a click way... Click Here (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support)
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/30342328?utm_source=youtube
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Hello and welcome to Astronomy Daily,
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 the podcast that brings you the
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 universe, one story at a time. I'm
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 Avery.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 >> And I'm Anna. It's great to have you
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 with us. We've got news stretching from
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 the rusty soil of Mars all the way to
00:00:14 --> 00:00:17 the deepest reaches of cosmic time.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:19 >> That's right. We'll be talking about
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 possible lightning on Mars, a new crew
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 arriving at the space station, Europe's
00:00:24 --> 00:00:27 nextgen reusable spacecraft, a potential
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 new kind of cosmic monster, and we'll
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 finally get an answer to what drives the
00:00:32 --> 00:00:35 furious winds of Venus.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 >> So, let's get started. Our first story
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 takes us to the red planet, where an old
00:00:39 --> 00:00:42 question might have a shocking new
00:00:42 --> 00:00:43 answer.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 >> Do tell. Avery, for decades, scientists
00:00:46 --> 00:00:48 have wondered if lightning could occur
00:00:48 --> 00:00:51 on Mars. Well, it seems NASA's
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 Perseverance rover may have finally
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 captured the first direct evidence.
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 >> Wow, really? After all this time, how
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 did it detect it? Was it a flash of
00:01:00 --> 00:01:01 light?
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 >> Not visually, but audibly. The rover's
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 super sensitive microphone, part of the
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 Super Cam instrument, recorded crackling
00:01:08 --> 00:01:11 sounds, faint pops and crackles that are
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 distinct from the usual Martian wind. It
00:01:14 --> 00:01:17 heard lightning. That's incredible. So,
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 what's causing these electrical
00:01:19 --> 00:01:20 discharges?
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 >> Scientists believe the primary suspect
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 is the planet's infamous dust storms.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 The friction between dust particles as
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 they're whipped around by the wind can
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 build up a significant static charge,
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 just like shuffling your feet on a
00:01:33 --> 00:01:33 carpet.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 >> Right. And eventually, that charge has
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 to go somewhere, resulting in a spark.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 >> Exactly. A miniature Martian lightning
00:01:41 --> 00:01:44 bolt. While the energy is likely much
00:01:44 --> 00:01:46 lower than a typical terrestrial
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 thunderstorm, it proves that Mars'
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 atmosphere is more electrically active
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 than we ever knew. So, Mars has more
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 dynamic and complex weather than we
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 previously thought. This just makes me
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 even more excited for future crude
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 missions. There's still so much to
00:02:01 --> 00:02:02 discover.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:03 >> I think you'll find you're not the only
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 one waiting for that step.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 >> Speaking of space travel, let's turn our
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 attention a little closer to home. On
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 Thanksgiving Day, a crew of three
00:02:12 --> 00:02:13 successfully launched to the
00:02:14 --> 00:02:15 International Space Station aboard a
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 Soyuse rocket.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 >> That's right. The crew consists of one
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 NASA astronaut and two Russian
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 cosminauts. It's a powerful symbol of
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 continued international cooperation in
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 space, even during complicated times
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 here on Earth.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 >> Absolutely. The space station has always
00:02:32 --> 00:02:33 been a beacon for that kind of
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 partnership. What's on the agenda for
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 their mission?
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 >> It's going to be a busy stay. They're
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 scheduled for an eight-month mission
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 during which they'll oversee a whole
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 range of scientific experiments. These
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 experiments cover everything from human
00:02:47 --> 00:02:50 biology and microgravity to material
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 science and Earth observation.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 >> Mhm. And I imagine a lot of maintenance
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 work too, keeping the 20 plus year old
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 station in good shape.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 >> Of course, there's always something to
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 fix or upgrade. They'll also be
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 preparing the station for the arrival of
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 new commercial modules and supporting
00:03:07 --> 00:03:10 spacew walks for hardware installation.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 It's a critical job to keep our outpost
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 in orbit running smoothly.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 >> Well, we wish them a safe and productive
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 mission up there.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 >> From the present of space flight to its
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 future. The European Space Agency or
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 issa has just announced a target date
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 for a very exciting project. The
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 inaugural flight of its space rider
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 vehicle is now set for 2028.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:36 >> Space rider, that's reusable space
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 plane, right? What makes it different
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 from other spacecraft out there?
00:03:40 --> 00:03:43 >> Think of it as an uncrrewed robotic
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 space laboratory. It's designed to
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 launch on a Vega C rocket, deploy a
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 multi-purpose cargo bay into orbit, and
00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 stay there for up to two months
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 conducting experiments automatically.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 So, it's essentially a freeflying
00:03:57 --> 00:03:58 science platform.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 >> Exactly. And here's the key part. After
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 its mission is complete, it will
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and land
00:04:05 --> 00:04:08 on a runway just like an airplane. The
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 vehicle and its payloads can then be
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 recovered, refurbished, and flown again.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 That's a huge step for Europe.
00:04:15 --> 00:04:17 Reusability is the name of the game for
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 making access to space more affordable
00:04:19 --> 00:04:21 and sustainable. Having their own
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 reusable vehicle opens up a lot of
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 possibilities for science and technology
00:04:25 --> 00:04:25 development.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 >> It really does. It will give European
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 scientists and companies a routine way
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 to run experiments in microgravity and
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 bring them back to Earth for analysis
00:04:35 --> 00:04:36 without relying on other launch
00:04:36 --> 00:04:40 providers. 2028 will be a year to watch.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 >> All right. Now, let's journey from low
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 Earth orbit out to the edge of the
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 observable universe. The James Webb
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 Space Telescope has found something
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 peculiar, and it might be a new class of
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 object we've never seen before.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 >> This is one of those stories that really
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 stretches the imagination. In some of
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 its deepest images of the early
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 universe, Web spotted a series of tiny,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 extremely red dots.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 >> Okay, tiny red dots in deep space. That
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 could be a lot of things. What's the
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 theory? Well, after ruling out more
00:05:12 --> 00:05:15 conventional explanations like distant
00:05:15 --> 00:05:18 red galaxies, a team of astrophysicists
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 has proposed a wild new idea. They think
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 these could be a new kind of cosmic
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 monster. Wo! They're calling them black
00:05:27 --> 00:05:30 hole stars. The idea is that at the core
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 of each of these objects is a super
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 massive black hole, but it's surrounded
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 by an incredibly dense massive shell of
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 gas that it's feeding on.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 >> So, it would look like a giant puffy
00:05:42 --> 00:05:45 star from the outside, but it's really a
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 black hole in disguise.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 >> That's the essence of it. This shell of
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 gas is so thick that it traps the light
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 from the accreting material, making the
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 object appear as a single reddish point
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 of light rather than a blazing quazar,
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 which is what we'd normally expect to
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02 see.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:03 >> That would be a gamecher for
00:06:03 --> 00:06:06 understanding how the very first super
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 massive black holes grew so big so fast
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 in the early universe.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 >> It certainly would. If this hypothesis
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 holds up, it means there could be a
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 hidden population of these growing black
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 holes that we've been completely missing
00:06:20 --> 00:06:24 until now. It's a testament to how JWST
00:06:24 --> 00:06:27 isn't just seeing farther. It's seeing
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 things in a whole new way.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:31 >> It really does make you wonder what else
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 is out there that we know nothing about.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 But let's hope it's not a case of
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 ignorance is bliss.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:40 >> You betcha. Okay, for our final story,
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 we come back to our own solar system, to
00:06:42 --> 00:06:45 Earth's evil twin sister planet, Venus.
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 We're talking about its hellish
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 atmosphere and the extreme winds that
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 whip around the planet.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:55 >> Ah, Venusian super rotation. This has
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 been a huge puzzle for decades. The
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 entire atmosphere rotates around the
00:07:00 --> 00:07:03 planet 60 times faster than the planet
00:07:03 --> 00:07:07 itself spins. How is that even possible?
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 Exactly. The mechanics have been a
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 mystery, but new research is pointing to
00:07:12 --> 00:07:16 a key driver. A massive atmospheric tide
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 fueled by the heat of the sun.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:21 >> An atmospheric tide like the ocean tides
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 on Earth.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 >> Similar in principle, but driven by
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 heat, not gravity. The sun intensely
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 heats the dense atmosphere on the day
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 side of Venus. This creates a huge
00:07:32 --> 00:07:36 planetwide thermal wave. As Venus slowly
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 rotates, this wave of hot expanding gas
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 travels around the planet, pushing the
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 atmosphere and maintaining those
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 incredible wind speeds.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 >> So, the daily cycle of heating and
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 cooling from the sun is constantly
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 pumping energy into the atmosphere,
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 keeping it spinning like a top.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 >> That's a perfect analogy. Previous
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 theories focused on other factors, but
00:07:58 --> 00:08:01 this research suggests this daily
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 thermal tide is a major contributor, if
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 not the primary one. It's a huge step
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 forward in understanding the climate of
00:08:08 --> 00:08:11 not just Venus, but potentially of
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 tidily locked exoplanets around other
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 stars.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 >> And that's all the time we have for
00:08:16 --> 00:08:19 today. From the crackle of Martian
00:08:19 --> 00:08:22 lightning to the roar of Venusian winds
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 and the silent mysteries of the early
00:08:24 --> 00:08:27 universe, it's been another incredible
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 time in astronomy.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:32 >> It certainly has. Thank you for joining
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 us on Astronomy Daily. We hope you'll
00:08:34 --> 00:08:37 subscribe and join us again next time as
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 we continue to explore the cosmos.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 You'll find us on all podcast platforms
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 or simply visit our website at
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 astronomydaily.io
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 io for details. Plus, you can catch up
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 on all the latest space news by checking
00:08:51 --> 00:08:54 out our constantly updating news feed.
00:08:54 --> 00:08:57 >> Until tomorrow then, this has been Avery
00:08:57 --> 00:09:11 >> and Anna wishing you clear skies.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 Stories told.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:22 [Music]