Astronomy Daily | Space News: S04E69
In this illuminating episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna guides you through a series of remarkable discoveries that expand our understanding of the universe. From the detection of oxygen in the most distant galaxy to revolutionary advancements in telescope technology, this episode is a treasure trove of cosmic insights that will leave you in awe.
Highlights:
- Oxygen in the Distant Galaxy: Dive into the groundbreaking discovery of oxygen in galaxy Jades GSZ14.0, the farthest galaxy ever observed, which reveals unexpected maturity in the early universe. This finding challenges existing models of galaxy formation and evolution, showcasing the remarkable capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope and ALMA.
- Supernovae and Mass Extinctions: Explore the intriguing theory that supernova explosions may have contributed to mass extinction events on Earth. New research suggests that nearby supernovae could have stripped our atmosphere of its ozone layer, exposing life to harmful radiation and leading to catastrophic consequences.
- Revolutionary Telescope Technology: Uncover the innovative new flat lens designed by engineers at the University of Utah, which could revolutionize astronomical observations. This lightweight lens promises to replace traditional bulky optics, making advanced imaging more accessible and practical for both professional and amateur astronomers.
- Extraordinary Nova Explosion: Learn about the recurrent nova LMCN1968.12A in the Large Magellanic Cloud, which shines nearly 100 times brighter than the sun during its eruptions. This nova's unique characteristics offer valuable insights into the behavior of cosmic explosions and their potential connections to supernovae.
- Venus's Inferior Conjunction: Get ready for Venus's upcoming inferior conjunction, where it will pass between Earth and the Sun. While this event may not provide dramatic visuals, it offers a valuable opportunity for astronomers to refine their understanding of celestial mechanics and planetary movements.
- Theoretical Dyson Swarms: Delve into the ambitious concept of Dyson swarms, hypothetical megastructures that advanced civilizations might build around stars. This study highlights the delicate balance between technological advancement and environmental preservation, raising important questions about our future energy needs.
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.
00:00 - Welcome to Astronomy Daily
01:05 - Discovery of oxygen in distant galaxy
10:30 - Supernovae and mass extinction theory
17:00 - Revolutionary telescope lens technology
22:15 - Extraordinary nova explosion insights
27:30 - Venus's inferior conjunction
32:00 - Theoretical Dyson swarms and energy needs
✍️ Episode References
Oxygen in Distant Galaxy
[NASA]( https://www.nasa.gov (https://www.nasa.gov/) )
Supernovae and Extinction Events
[Research Study]( https://www.example.com (https://www.example.com/) )
Revolutionary Telescope Technology
[University of Utah]( https://www.utah.edu (https://www.utah.edu/) )
LMCN1968.12A Observations
[Astronomy Journal]( https://www.example.com (https://www.example.com/) )
Venus's Inferior Conjunction
[Adler Planetarium]( https://www.adlerplanetarium.org/ (https://www.adlerplanetarium.org/) )
Dyson Swarms Research
[Science Direct]( https://www.sciencedirect.com/ (https://www.sciencedirect.com/) )
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily]( http://www.astronomydaily.io/ (http://www.astronomydaily.io/) )
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Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/26208222?utm_source=youtube
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 hello and welcome to astronomy daily I'm
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 Anna your Cosmic companion as we explore
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 the wonders of the universe together
00:00:07 --> 00:00:08 today's episode is packed with
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 discoveries that remind us just how vast
00:00:10 --> 00:00:13 and mysterious our Cosmos really is from
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 oxygen found in the most distant Galaxy
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 ever observed to evidence suggesting
00:00:17 --> 00:00:19 supern noi may have triggered mass
00:00:19 --> 00:00:21 extinctions right here on Earth we're
00:00:21 --> 00:00:22 covering the full spectrum of
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 astronomical Fascination and that's just
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 the beginning we'll also explore
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 revolutionary new telescope technology
00:00:30 --> 00:00:31 that could transform how we see the
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 stars examine an extraordinary Nova
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 explosion that outshines our sun a 100
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 times over and discuss Venus's current
00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 Celestial positioning as it passes
00:00:40 --> 00:00:43 between Earth and our Star Plus we'll
00:00:43 --> 00:00:45 delve into the theoretical realm with a
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 fascinating new study on Dyson swarms
00:00:47 --> 00:00:49 those hypothetical Mega structures that
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 advanced civilizations might build
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 around their stars and the startling
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 impact they could have on planetary
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 environments the universe continues to
00:00:57 --> 00:01:00 surprise us at every turn challenging
00:01:00 --> 00:01:01 our understanding and expanding our
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 Cosmic perspective whether you're a
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 seasoned Stargazer or just curious about
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 what lies beyond our atmosphere I
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 promise you'll find something to Marvel
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 at in today's Roundup of astronomical
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 news so get comfortable as we embark on
00:01:15 --> 00:01:16 this 25 minute Journey Through the
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 cosmos exploring the latest
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 breakthroughs discoveries and
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 theoretical Frontiers that are shaping
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 our understanding of space from the
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 earliest moments of our universe to the
00:01:26 --> 00:01:27 potential future of advanced
00:01:28 --> 00:01:29 civilizations we're covering it all on
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 on today's episode of astronomy
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 daily in a discovery that's pushing the
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 boundaries of what we thought we knew
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 about the early Universe astronomers
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 have detected oxygen in the most distant
00:01:41 --> 00:01:44 Galaxy ever observed this isn't just any
00:01:44 --> 00:01:46 finding it's the farthest detection of
00:01:46 --> 00:01:49 oxygen ever made by Humanity giving us a
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 glimpse into Cosmic conditions when the
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 universe was just a cosmic toddler the
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 Galaxy in question designated with the
00:01:56 --> 00:02:00 rather unwieldy name Jades gsz
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 140 was spotted by the James web Space
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 Telescope earlier this year what makes
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 this discovery so remarkable is that the
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 light from this galaxy has taken about
00:02:10 --> 00:02:14 13.4 billion years to reach us that's a
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 journey spanning 98% of our universe's
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 13.8 billion-year
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 lifetime but here's where things get
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 really interesting this ancient Galaxy
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 contains about 10 times the amount of
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 heavy elements that scientists would
00:02:28 --> 00:02:31 expect to find in a Galaxy existing just
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 300 million years after the big bang as
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 researcher sander sco from Leiden
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 Observatory put it it is like finding an
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 adolescent where you would only expect
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 babies to understand why astronomers are
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 so excited we need to consider what the
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 infant Universe was supposed to look
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 like in those early Cosmic days the
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 universe was primarily filled with
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 hydrogen and helium the lightest
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 elements heavier Elements which
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 astronomers somewhat confusingly call
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 metals were extremely rare
00:03:00 --> 00:03:03 these heavier elements are forged inside
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 stars and scattered through space when
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 those Stars die in Supernova
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 explosions this process then enriches
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 gas clouds that form the next generation
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 of stars it's essentially a cosmic
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 recycling program that becomes more
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 efficient over time so finding a Galaxy
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 so metal Rich this early in Cosmic
00:03:24 --> 00:03:28 history suggests that Jade's gsz 140
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 matured much faster than our models
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 predicted this discovery is forcing
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 astronomers to reconsider their
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 understanding of how quickly galaxies
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 can form and evolve in the early
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 Universe the chemical analysis of this
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 distant Galaxy was made possible through
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 a collaboration between the James web
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 Space Telescope and the ATAC large
00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 millimeter submillimeter array or Alma
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 for short while web discovered the
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 Galaxy Alma's measurements allowed
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 astronomers to determine its chemical
00:03:56 --> 00:04:00 composition with astonishing precision
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 Stephano carani of the skoa normal
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 Superior in Italy expressed his
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 astonishment at these unexpected results
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 noting that they opened a new view on
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 the first phases of Galaxy
00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 Evolution the evidence that a galaxy is
00:04:14 --> 00:04:15 already mature in what we considered the
00:04:15 --> 00:04:17 infant Universe raises profound
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 questions about when and how galaxies
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 formed perhaps even more impressive is
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 the Precision of Alma's measurements
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 according to researcher elanora parlan
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 Alma provided an extraordinarily precise
00:04:30 --> 00:04:31 measurement of the Galaxy's distance
00:04:31 --> 00:04:35 down to an uncertainty of just
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 0.5% to put that in perspective that's
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 like measuring a distance of 1 kilometer
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 with an accuracy of just 5
00:04:42 --> 00:04:45 cm this discovery highlights the
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 incredible Synergy between our newest
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 Space Telescope James web and
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 groundbased observatories like Alma
00:04:52 --> 00:04:53 together they're giving us an
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 unprecedented look at the earliest
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 chapters of our universe's story
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 revealing that Cosmic Evolution may have
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 proceeded much faster than we previously
00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 thought as astronomer Richard Bowens
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 noted this finding showcases the amazing
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 Synergy between Alma and jwest to reveal
00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 the formation and evolution of the first
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 galaxies it seems that with each new
00:05:16 --> 00:05:17 observation we're rewriting the timeline
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 of cosmic
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 history next up today did you know that
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 the dinosaurs might have been wiped out
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 by Cosmic
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 fireworks while an asteroid impact has
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 long been the leading theory for their
00:05:29 --> 00:05:30 extin
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 new research suggests that explosive
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 Supernova deaths of nearby massive stars
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 may have played a significant role in
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 triggering at least two major Extinction
00:05:38 --> 00:05:42 events in Earth's distant past a team of
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 astronomers has discovered that
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 Supernova occurring within 60 light
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 years of Earth could have had
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 catastrophic consequences for life on
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 our planet these Stellar explosions
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 represent some of the most energetic
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 phenomena in the universe and their
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 proximity to Earth could have stripped
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 our planet's atmosphere of its
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 protective ozone layer without this
00:06:02 --> 00:06:05 crucial defense life on Earth would have
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 been exposed to damaging ultraviolet
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 radiation from the Sun as study
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 co-author Nick Wright from ke University
00:06:11 --> 00:06:14 put it a slightly more distant Supernova
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 could still cause considerable loss of
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 life but at this distance it would be
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 terrifying Wright and his colleagues
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 conducted what amounts to a virtual
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 sensus of our Cosmic neighborhood using
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 data from the now retired Gaia satellite
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 they examined more than 24 of the
00:06:31 --> 00:06:34 most luminous stars within about
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37 3 light years of the sun their goal
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 was to identify groups of young massive
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 stars and reconstruct the history of
00:06:42 --> 00:06:45 star formation near our solar system
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 what's particularly striking is that
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 when the team calculated the rate of
00:06:48 --> 00:06:51 nearby Supernova they found it matched
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 up remarkably well with the timing of
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 unexplained mass extinction events on
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 Earth two events in particular stood out
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 the late devonian extin about 372
00:07:01 --> 00:07:05 million years ago which wiped out 75% of
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 all species particularly affecting fish
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 in ancient seas and lakes and the
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 ordovician extinction from 445 million
00:07:13 --> 00:07:16 years ago which eliminated roughly 85%
00:07:16 --> 00:07:19 of marine species it surprised me that
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 the two rates were so similar which made
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 us want to highlight it Wright noted
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 previous research has already found
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 evidence supporting Cosmic influence on
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 Earth's history scientists have detected
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 radioactive isotopes like iron 60 in
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 Antarctic snow and on the moon's surface
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 materials that could only have come from
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 Interstellar sources like Supernova
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 these findings have been linked to the
00:07:40 --> 00:07:43 depletion of Earth's ozone layer caused
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 by cosmic rays showered onto our planet
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 when stars exploded the new study
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 simulations showed that approximately
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 one to two supern noi occur each Century
00:07:52 --> 00:07:55 in galaxies like our Milky Way more
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 critically within that dangerous 60
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 Lightyear radius of Earth the rate works
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 out to about 2 to 2.5 supern noi per
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 billion
00:08:02 --> 00:08:05 years this estimate aligns remarkably
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 well with the number of unexplained mass
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 extinction events on Earth specifically
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 the devonian and ordovician extinctions
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 both of which occurred within the last
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 billion years while the researchers are
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 careful to note that they don't have
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 definitive proof these extinctions were
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 caused by supern noi the matching rates
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 make it a compelling possibility as
00:08:24 --> 00:08:27 Alexis Quintana who led the study put it
00:08:27 --> 00:08:30 these findings are a great illustration
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 for how massive stars can act as both
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 creators and destructors of Life
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 Supernova explosions distribute heavy
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 chemical elements throughout space
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 essential building blocks for new stars
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 and planets but if a planet like Earth
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 happens to be too close when these
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 Cosmic bombs detonate the consequences
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 can be
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 devastating so the next time you gaze up
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 at the night sky remember that those
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 twinkling stars might hold both the
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 secrets to Life's beginnings and
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 potentially the power to dramatically
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 alter its course here on
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 Earth next let's take a look at a
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 subject we don't visit too often but
00:09:04 --> 00:09:07 this ID truly fascinating in what could
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 be a revolutionary breakthrough for
00:09:09 --> 00:09:12 astronomy engineers and astronomers at
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 the University of Utah have designed an
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 Innovative new type of telescope lens
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 that might forever change how we observe
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 the cosmos unlike traditional bulky
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 lenses and mirrors this new technology
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 is remarkably thin a flat lens with
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 microscopic etchings that refract light
00:09:27 --> 00:09:30 in precisely controlled ways
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 the most striking feature of this lens
00:09:32 --> 00:09:35 is its incredible thinness measuring
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 less than a millimet thick it's
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 practically a wafer compared to
00:09:38 --> 00:09:41 Conventional telescope Optics yet
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 despite its slim profile the lens
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 performs remarkably well in initial
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 tests suggesting it could eventually
00:09:47 --> 00:09:50 replace the heavier bulkier components
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 typically used in astronomical
00:09:52 --> 00:09:55 telescopes our computational techniques
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 suggested we could design multi-level
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 diffractive flat lenses with large
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 apertures that could focus light across
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 the visible spectrum explained Rajesh
00:10:03 --> 00:10:06 Menan a professor of engineering at Utah
00:10:06 --> 00:10:09 who worked on the project the technology
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 behind this breakthrough is fascinating
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 the team used a technique called
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 grayscale Optical
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 lithography A variation of methods
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 typically used for etching Electronics
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 onto silicon Wafers to create
00:10:20 --> 00:10:23 microscopic concentric rings on a glass
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 substrate most of the half mm thickness
00:10:25 --> 00:10:28 is actually just the glass itself while
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 the ringed grooves that do all the
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 optical work are incredibly shallow at
00:10:32 --> 00:10:35 just 2.4 microns deep while the concept
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 of using concentric rings in flat lenses
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 isn't entirely new this multi-level
00:10:40 --> 00:10:43 diffractive lens or mdl solves one of
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 the biggest challenges in Optics
00:10:45 --> 00:10:48 chromatic aberration this problem occurs
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 when different wavelengths of light
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 focus at different points causing color
00:10:52 --> 00:10:55 fringing around objects the Utah team's
00:10:55 --> 00:10:58 design cleverly brings all wavelengths
00:10:58 --> 00:11:01 from 400 to8 00 nanom covering the
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 entire visible spectrum and into near
00:11:03 --> 00:11:06 infrared to focus at exactly the same
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 point the weight difference is dramatic
00:11:08 --> 00:11:11 their 100 mm prototype lens with a focal
00:11:11 --> 00:11:14 length of 200 mmm weighs just 25 gr
00:11:14 --> 00:11:17 compared to the 21 G of a similarly
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 sized commercial lens that's 17 mm thick
00:11:19 --> 00:11:22 at its Center that's more than an 88%
00:11:22 --> 00:11:25 reduction in weight to demonstrate its
00:11:25 --> 00:11:28 capabilities the team tested the lens by
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 Imaging both the Sun and the moon
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 successfully revealing sunspots and
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 accurate geological features on the
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 lunar surface this real world
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 performance validation suggests the
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 technology is viable for practical
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 astronomical applications the
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 implications for space telescopes could
00:11:44 --> 00:11:47 be particularly transformative consider
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 that the Hubble Space telescope's 2.4
00:11:49 --> 00:11:52 meter primary mirror weighs a whopping
00:11:52 --> 00:11:55 1 pounds while the James web space
00:11:55 --> 00:11:58 telescope's segmented 21t mirror weighs
00:11:58 --> 00:12:02 1 155 lb the tremendous mass of
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 these components significantly drives up
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 launch costs and Engineering
00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 complexity on Earth the largest
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 individual telescope mirrors currently
00:12:10 --> 00:12:13 max out at around 26 to 33 ft before
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 gravity causes them to Sag under their
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 own weight a flat lightweight
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 alternative could potentially break
00:12:19 --> 00:12:22 through these limitations enabling even
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 larger light Gathering surfaces both in
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 space and on the ground our
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 demonstration is a stepping stone
00:12:28 --> 00:12:31 towards creating very large aperture
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 lightweight flat lenses with the
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 capability of capturing full color
00:12:34 --> 00:12:37 images for use in air and space based
00:12:37 --> 00:12:40 telescopes said aaim maimer who led the
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 team behind the Prototype while the
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 current prototype is modest at 4 in in
00:12:44 --> 00:12:47 diameter the Breakthrough proves the
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 concept is viable if successfully scaled
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 up these lenses could potentially
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 transform not just professional
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 observatories but eventually make their
00:12:56 --> 00:12:58 way into amateur telescopes as well
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 making advanced astronomical imaging
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 more accessible to
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 everyone in a stellar Discovery that's
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 Illuminating our understanding of cosmic
00:13:06 --> 00:13:09 explosions astronomers have conducted
00:13:09 --> 00:13:12 the first ever near infrared study of a
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 recurrent Nova beyond our Milky Way
00:13:14 --> 00:13:17 galaxy this extraordinary Nova
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 designated lmcn
00:13:19 --> 00:13:25 1 12a or LMC 68 resides in the large
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 melanic cloud and has been revealing
00:13:27 --> 00:13:30 some truly shocking characteristics
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 nova explosions occur in binary star
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 systems where a white dwarf a dense
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 Stellar Remnant about the size of Earth
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 but with a mass comparable to our sun
00:13:38 --> 00:13:41 pulls material from its companion star
00:13:41 --> 00:13:43 this stolen material accumulates on the
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 White dwarf's surface until it triggers
00:13:44 --> 00:13:47 a thermonuclear explosion While most
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 novas have been observed erupting just
00:13:48 --> 00:13:51 once LMC 68 belongs to the rare category
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 of recurrent novas with explosions
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 occurring with remarkable regularity
00:13:55 --> 00:13:59 every 4 years a hot white dwarf star
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 siphons off material from its cool
00:14:00 --> 00:14:03 companion star explained astronomer NY
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 Evans of Keel University the material
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 piles up on the white dwarf surface and
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 eventually detonates in a thermonuclear
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 runaway once the explosion has subsided
00:14:12 --> 00:14:15 the siphoning starts all over and in
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 time another thermonuclear explosion
00:14:17 --> 00:14:21 occurs what makes LMC 68 particularly
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 special is that it was the first
00:14:22 --> 00:14:25 recurrent Nova ever observed outside our
00:14:25 --> 00:14:28 galaxy first spotted in 1968 and again
00:14:28 --> 00:14:31 in 199 90 it has maintained its 4-year
00:14:31 --> 00:14:34 eruption cycle with Clockwork Precision
00:14:34 --> 00:14:37 after its 2020 eruption NASA's Neil
00:14:37 --> 00:14:40 Geral Swift Observatory had been closely
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 monitoring it anticipating the next
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 explosion which arrived on schedule in
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 August
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 2024 the latest observations have
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 revealed something truly extraordinary
00:14:50 --> 00:14:53 during its eruption phase this Nova
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 shines at nearly 100 times the
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 brightness of our sun making it an
00:14:57 --> 00:15:00 exceptionally powerful Cosmic event by
00:15:00 --> 00:15:03 analyzing the Nova's near infrared light
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 astronomers gained unprecedented
00:15:05 --> 00:15:08 insights into its Ultra hot phase using
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 spectroscopy to examine the different
00:15:10 --> 00:15:12 wavelengths of light they identified
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 chemical elements present in the
00:15:13 --> 00:15:15 explosion and discovered unexpectedly
00:15:15 --> 00:15:18 intense signals from Silicon atoms that
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 had been ionized nine times a process
00:15:20 --> 00:15:24 requiring enormous energy the ionized
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 silicon shining at almost 100 times
00:15:26 --> 00:15:29 brighter than the sun is unprecedented
00:15:29 --> 00:15:32 noted Tom gabal no our lab ameritus
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 astronomer and while this signal is
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 shocking it's also shocking what's not
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 there we would have expected to also see
00:15:38 --> 00:15:41 signatures of Highly energized sulfur
00:15:41 --> 00:15:44 phosphorus calcium and aluminum this
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 absence of expected chemical signatures
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 points to something unusual happening
00:15:48 --> 00:15:51 with LMC 68 the astronomers believe the
00:15:51 --> 00:15:54 answer might lie in two factors
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 exceptionally high temperatures and the
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 Stars location in the metal deficient
00:15:58 --> 00:16:01 environment of the large melanic Cloud
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 the coronal temperature of LMC 68
00:16:03 --> 00:16:07 reaches a blistering 5.4 million de F
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 that's 3 million de C far hotter than
00:16:09 --> 00:16:12 typical novas at these extreme
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 temperatures atoms undergo collisional
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 ionization where fast moving electrons
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 strip atoms of more electrons than usual
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 pushing them into higher energy
00:16:20 --> 00:16:23 states additionally since the Nova's
00:16:23 --> 00:16:26 companion star likely has lower
00:16:26 --> 00:16:29 metallicity fewer heavy elements typical
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 of the large melanic Cloud this could
00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 lead to more powerful explosions as more
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 material is needed to trigger the
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 eruption what makes these recurrent
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 novas particularly intriguing is their
00:16:40 --> 00:16:43 potential connection to supernovas as
00:16:43 --> 00:16:47 Evans explains in systems like LMC 68
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 less mass is ejected in the Nova
00:16:49 --> 00:16:51 explosion than is gained by transferring
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 from the cool star this means that the
00:16:53 --> 00:16:56 mass of the white dwarf is steadily
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 increasing in time it will approach a
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 critical value above which the white
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 dwarf cannot support its own weight and
00:17:02 --> 00:17:05 it will implode potentially triggering a
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 supernova
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 explosion by expanding their
00:17:08 --> 00:17:11 observations beyond our galaxy and using
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 the largest telescopes available
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 astronomers hope to increase their
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 understanding of these fascinating
00:17:16 --> 00:17:19 Cosmic explosions and how their behavior
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 varies in different chemical
00:17:20 --> 00:17:23 environments throughout the
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 Universe this weekend Venus will reach
00:17:25 --> 00:17:27 what astronomers call an inferior
00:17:27 --> 00:17:30 conjunction the moment when it passes
00:17:30 --> 00:17:33 directly between Earth and the Sun this
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 alignment happens approximately every 19
00:17:35 --> 00:17:38 months as a result of the orbital dance
00:17:38 --> 00:17:40 between Venus and our planet around the
00:17:40 --> 00:17:42 Sun the precise moment of conjunction is
00:17:42 --> 00:17:44 expected around 9:00 p.m. eastern
00:17:44 --> 00:17:47 Daylight time on Saturday despite being
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 one of the most significant regular
00:17:48 --> 00:17:51 alignments in our solar system this
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 Celestial event won't be much of a
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 visual spectacle for casual
00:17:54 --> 00:17:57 observers the glare from the Sun makes
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 it really really difficult to see
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 explains Michelle Nichols from Chicago's
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 Adler
00:18:02 --> 00:18:04 Planetarium those hoping to catch a
00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 glimpse would need specialized equipment
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08 and considerable expertise to spot Venus
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 against the overwhelming brightness of
00:18:10 --> 00:18:13 the sun some astronomers have given this
00:18:13 --> 00:18:16 phenomenon a rather poetic nickname some
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 people call that a Venus kiss because
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 we're extremely close together says
00:18:19 --> 00:18:21 astronomer Gary Albright from James
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 Madison University describing the
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 momentary alignment of our two
00:18:25 --> 00:18:28 planets like our Moon Venus goes through
00:18:28 --> 00:18:30 phases as that orbits the sun just
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 before and after conjunction Venus
00:18:32 --> 00:18:35 appears as an extremely thin Crescent
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 when viewed through telescopes for those
00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 interested in tracking this transition
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 the most noticeable change will be
00:18:41 --> 00:18:43 Venus's shift from the evening to the
00:18:43 --> 00:18:46 morning sky in the days leading up to
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 conjunction Venus has been visible as
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 one of the brightest objects in the
00:18:50 --> 00:18:52 evening Sky appearing near the Western
00:18:52 --> 00:18:55 Horizon shortly after Sunset after
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 conjunction early risers will have the
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 opportunity to spot it in the Eastern
00:18:59 --> 00:19:02 Sky Just Before Sunrise however
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 observers should take Extreme Caution
00:19:03 --> 00:19:05 never to stare directly at the sun when
00:19:05 --> 00:19:08 looking for Venus while this weekend's
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 alignment might not provide dramatic
00:19:10 --> 00:19:12 visuals for most of us scientists value
00:19:12 --> 00:19:14 these predictable Cosmic events as
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16 opportunities to track the movements of
00:19:16 --> 00:19:18 planets and refine our understanding of
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 celestial
00:19:19 --> 00:19:21 mechanics get a chance to get to know
00:19:21 --> 00:19:24 Venus encourages Nichols suggesting that
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 even seemingly routine astronomical
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 events offer valuable learning
00:19:27 --> 00:19:29 opportunities
00:19:29 --> 00:19:31 the inferior conjunction has cultural
00:19:31 --> 00:19:34 significance Beyond pure astronomy Paul
00:19:34 --> 00:19:36 McCartney's song the kiss of Venus was
00:19:36 --> 00:19:38 partly inspired by a book chapter
00:19:38 --> 00:19:40 describing this very phenomenon showing
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 how celestial events continue to
00:19:42 --> 00:19:44 influence art and music looking ahead
00:19:44 --> 00:19:46 Venus will remain a focus of scientific
00:19:46 --> 00:19:49 interest NASA has two upcoming missions
00:19:49 --> 00:19:51 planned to investigate our planetary
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 neighbor in Greater detail these
00:19:52 --> 00:19:54 missions aim to reveal more about how
00:19:54 --> 00:19:57 Venus formed and why it evolves so
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 differently from Earth despite their
00:19:58 --> 00:20:01 similar sizes and positions in the solar
00:20:01 --> 00:20:03 system as Venus transitions from being
00:20:03 --> 00:20:06 an evening star to a Morning Star after
00:20:06 --> 00:20:08 conjunction it provides a reminder of
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 the constant Clockwork motion of our
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 solar system a Celestial time piece that
00:20:12 --> 00:20:15 has fascinated Humanity throughout
00:20:15 --> 00:20:18 history and to finish things today a
00:20:18 --> 00:20:20 warning as our energy needs grow
00:20:20 --> 00:20:23 alongside our technological capabilities
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 scientists are starting to consider what
00:20:24 --> 00:20:26 truly Advanced civilizations might
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 require for power generation a
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 fascinating news study published in
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32 science direct explores one of the most
00:20:32 --> 00:20:34 ambitious Concepts in theoretical
00:20:34 --> 00:20:37 astroengineering the Dyson swarm and its
00:20:37 --> 00:20:39 potential environmental consequences for
00:20:39 --> 00:20:41 planets like Earth originally proposed
00:20:42 --> 00:20:44 by physicist Freeman Dyson in 1960 a
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 Dyson swarm would consist of countless
00:20:46 --> 00:20:49 satellites or habitats orbiting a star
00:20:49 --> 00:20:52 to capture and utilize its energy output
00:20:52 --> 00:20:54 unlike the solid shell often depicted in
00:20:54 --> 00:20:56 science fiction a swarm represents a
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 more practical approach allowing for
00:20:58 --> 00:21:00 incremental construction as a
00:21:00 --> 00:21:03 civilization's energy demands increase
00:21:03 --> 00:21:05 the research conducted by Ian Marius
00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 Peters from the helm Holtz Institute
00:21:07 --> 00:21:10 erlan nernberg for renewable energy
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 examines whether such a mega structure
00:21:11 --> 00:21:13 could be built using materials available
00:21:13 --> 00:21:15 in our solar system while preserving
00:21:15 --> 00:21:17 Earth's habitability the findings are
00:21:17 --> 00:21:20 both remarkable and concerning according
00:21:20 --> 00:21:23 to Peter's calculations a complete Dyson
00:21:23 --> 00:21:25 swarm surrounding our sun would
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 dramatically alter earth's climate if
00:21:27 --> 00:21:30 positioned outside Earth's orbit such a
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 structure would raise our planet's
00:21:31 --> 00:21:35 temperature by a staggering 140° Kelvin
00:21:35 --> 00:21:37 rendering Earth completely
00:21:37 --> 00:21:39 uninhabitable smaller structures
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 positioned inside Earth's orbit prove
00:21:40 --> 00:21:43 equally problematic either becoming too
00:21:43 --> 00:21:45 hot for their own efficiency or blocking
00:21:45 --> 00:21:47 too much solar energy from reaching our
00:21:47 --> 00:21:49 planet the study does propose a
00:21:49 --> 00:21:52 potential compromise a partial structure
00:21:52 --> 00:21:54 positioned at about 2.13 astronomical
00:21:55 --> 00:21:57 units from the Sun this configuration
00:21:57 --> 00:22:00 could Harvest a approximately 4% of the
00:22:00 --> 00:22:03 sun's total energy output an astonishing
00:22:03 --> 00:22:06 15.6 y wats of power while increasing
00:22:06 --> 00:22:08 Earth's temperature by less than 3°
00:22:08 --> 00:22:11 Kelvin however even this more modest
00:22:11 --> 00:22:13 design would represent an engineering
00:22:13 --> 00:22:15 challenge of unprecedented scale
00:22:15 --> 00:22:19 requiring approximately 1.3x 1023 kg of
00:22:19 --> 00:22:21 silicon an amount that stretches the
00:22:21 --> 00:22:23 limits of what might be available in our
00:22:23 --> 00:22:26 solar system if constructed such a mega
00:22:26 --> 00:22:28 structure would Elevate Humanity to a
00:22:28 --> 00:22:31 type 2 civilization on the kardashev
00:22:31 --> 00:22:33 scale a classification system that
00:22:33 --> 00:22:36 measures technological advancement based
00:22:36 --> 00:22:38 on energy consumption currently we
00:22:38 --> 00:22:40 haven't even achieved type 1 status
00:22:40 --> 00:22:42 which would require harnessing all
00:22:42 --> 00:22:44 available energy reaching earth from the
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 sun while purely theoretical at this
00:22:46 --> 00:22:48 stage the concept of dice and swarms
00:22:48 --> 00:22:50 highlights the delicate balance between
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 technological advancement and
00:22:52 --> 00:22:54 environmental preservation as we look
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 toward a future of increasing energy
00:22:55 --> 00:22:57 demands particularly if we hope to
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 venture beyond our Sol system these
00:22:59 --> 00:23:01 calculations provide a sobering reminder
00:23:01 --> 00:23:03 that even the most ambitious engineering
00:23:03 --> 00:23:06 projects must consider their impact on
00:23:06 --> 00:23:08 the very worlds they aim to
00:23:09 --> 00:23:11 benefit well that brings us to the end
00:23:11 --> 00:23:13 of another fascinating journey through
00:23:13 --> 00:23:15 our Cosmic neighborhood from distant
00:23:15 --> 00:23:18 galaxies with unexpected oxygen levels
00:23:18 --> 00:23:21 to nova explosions outshining our sun
00:23:21 --> 00:23:23 and from revolutionary telescope
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 technology to the potential
00:23:24 --> 00:23:27 environmental impacts of theoretical
00:23:27 --> 00:23:29 Mega structures the universe continues
00:23:29 --> 00:23:32 to surprise and Inspire us with its
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 endless wonders as we've seen today
00:23:34 --> 00:23:36 astronomy isn't just about distant stars
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 and galaxies it directly connects to
00:23:39 --> 00:23:42 life here on Earth whether through
00:23:42 --> 00:23:45 ancient Supernova potentially triggering
00:23:45 --> 00:23:47 mass extinctions or the engineering
00:23:47 --> 00:23:49 challenges that might shape our species
00:23:49 --> 00:23:52 future the cosmos and our home planet
00:23:52 --> 00:23:54 are intimately linked in ways we're only
00:23:54 --> 00:23:57 beginning to understand I hope you've
00:23:57 --> 00:23:59 enjoyed this episode of astronomy daily
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 I'm Anna and it's been my pleasure to
00:24:00 --> 00:24:02 share these astronomical discoveries
00:24:02 --> 00:24:05 with you today if you're hungry for more
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 space and astronomy content I invite you
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00:24:49 --> 00:24:51 astronomy daily until next time keep
00:24:51 --> 00:24:54 looking up the universe is an amazing
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 place and we're just beginning to
00:24:55 --> 00:24:59 understand its secrets
00:24:59 --> 00:25:03 stories told