Astronomy Daily - the Podcast: S03E207
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your ultimate source for the latest in space and Astronomy news. I'm your host, Anna, and today we have a captivating array of stories that delve into the mysteries of the universe and the cutting-edge advancements in space technology.
Highlights:
- Challenging Einstein's Theories : Explore groundbreaking research from the Universities of Geneva and Toulouse that tests the limits of Einstein's theories. Discover how data from the Dark Energy Survey reveals gravitational effects that deviate from Einstein's predictions, especially during the universe's accelerated expansion phase.
- Space Travel and Human Aging : Uncover new insights into how spaceflight accelerates biological aging processes. Learn about the parallels between the effects of space travel on astronauts and the natural aging process on Earth, and the implications for future space exploration and healthcare.
- Advancements in Satellite Servicing : Delve into Northrop Grumman's upcoming Mission Robotic Vehicle launch in 2026, featuring robotic arms developed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Understand how this technology will revolutionize satellite maintenance and extend the operational life of geostationary satellites.
- NASA's Artificial Clouds Experiment: Witness NASA's stunning experiment in Norway's auroral skies, creating artificial clouds to study atmospheric dynamics. Learn how this experiment illuminates the complex interactions in the turbopause region and its significance for space weather research.
- Fireball Over North America : Relive the spectacular sight of a fireball lighting up the skies over North America, captured by both ground-based observers and NOAA satellites. Understand the science behind these brilliant meteor events and their cosmic origins.
- NASA's Tracers Mission Update : Get the latest on NASA's Tracers mission as it completes its twin spacecraft, aiming to study magnetic reconnection and space weather phenomena. Discover how this mission will enhance our understanding of the sun-Earth interaction.
- Large Magellanic Cloud's Galactic Encounter : Explore the survival story of the Large Magellanic Cloud as it navigates a close encounter with the Milky Way. Learn how Hubble's observations reveal the effects of ram pressure stripping on this dwarf galaxy's gaseous halo.
For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io (https://www.astronomydaily.io) . Sign up for our free Daily newsletter to stay informed on all things space. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, and TikTok . Share your thoughts and connect with fellow space enthusiasts.
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.
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Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/24086507?utm_source=youtube
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00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 nordvpn welcome to astronomy daily I'm
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 Anna and we have an absolutely
00:01:51 --> 00:01:53 fascinating lineup of space discoveries
00:01:53 --> 00:01:54 and astronomical events to share with
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 you today from groundbreaking research
00:01:57 --> 00:01:58 that's challenging Einstein's
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 fundamental theories about the universe
00:02:00 --> 00:02:02 to new insights about how space travel
00:02:02 --> 00:02:05 affects human aging the world of Space
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 Science continues to amaze and surprise
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 us we'll also explore some spectacular
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 Cosmic events including a brilliant
00:02:12 --> 00:02:13 Fireball that lit up the North American
00:02:13 --> 00:02:16 skies and an extraordinary experiment
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 where NASA created artificial clouds
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 beneath the glowing auroras of Norway
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 plus we'll look at the latest
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 developments in Satellite servicing
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 technology and get an update on NASA's
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 ambitious tracers mission stay with me
00:02:30 --> 00:02:31 as we journey through these
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33 extraordinary stories that are expanding
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 our understanding of the cosmos and our
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 place within
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 it our first story today challenges one
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 of the most fundamental theories in
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 physics scientists from the universities
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 of Geneva and tulo have been analyzing
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 data from the Dark Energy survey and
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 what they've found might make Einstein
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 himself raise an eyebrow they've been
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 testing how gravity bends space and time
00:02:54 --> 00:02:55 across different periods of the
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 universe's history and the results
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 aren't quite matching what Einstein's
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 equations predicted think of the
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 universe like a giant flexible sheet
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 that gets bent and curved by Massive
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 objects that's how Einstein described
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 SpaceTime when light travels through
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 these curved areas it bends similar to
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 how a Glass Lens bends light scientists
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 call this gravitational lensing and it's
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 been one of the cornerstones of our
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 understanding of how the universe works
00:03:21 --> 00:03:22 the research team looked at an
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 incredible 100 million galaxies at
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 different points in Cosmic history
00:03:26 --> 00:03:30 ranging from 3.5 to 7 billion years ago
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 here's where it gets interesting when
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 they looked at the distant past around 6
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 to 7 billion years ago everything lined
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 up perfectly with Einstein's predictions
00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 but as they looked at more recent times
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 about 3.5 to 5 billion years ago they
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 noticed something odd the gravitational
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 effects were slightly weaker than
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 Einstein's theory suggested they should
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 be what makes this particularly
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 intriguing is that this period coincides
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 with when the universe's expansion
00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 started accelerating something we still
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 don't fully understand could these two
00:04:02 --> 00:04:03 Mysteries be
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 connected the researchers think we might
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 need to consider the possibility that
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 gravity Works differently at very large
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 scales than Einstein's equations predict
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 now before we declare Einstein's theory
00:04:15 --> 00:04:17 invalid it's important to note that the
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 difference they found isn't quite strong
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 enough to completely overturn his work
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 the scientists are calling it a three
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 sigma difference interesting enough to
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 Warrant further investigation but not
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 yet at the 5 Sigma threshold that would
00:04:31 --> 00:04:34 signal a definitive Discovery they're
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 now looking forward to analyzing new
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 data from the uclid Space Telescope
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 which should provide even more precise
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 measurements to help solve this Cosmic
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 puzzle the mysteries of space travel
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 continue to reveal new challenges for
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 human Exploration with Recent research
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 shedding light on how space flight
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 affects our bodies at a fundamental
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 level speaking of science that needs
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 further investigation but interesting
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 nonetheless a groundbreaking stud has
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 found that time spent in space appears
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 to accelerate many of the biological
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 processes we typically associate with
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 aging here on Earth when astronauts
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 Venture beyond our atmosphere their
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 bodies undergo remarkable changes that
00:05:14 --> 00:05:15 mirror what happens during the aging
00:05:15 --> 00:05:18 process but at an accelerated rate
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 scientists have discovered that space
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 travel triggers significant shifts in
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 genomic stability and causes our
00:05:24 --> 00:05:28 cellular powerhouses the mitochondria to
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 function less efficiently similar to
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 what happens as we age naturally one of
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 the most striking findings is how space
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 flight affects inflammation in the body
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 the research shows that astronauts
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 experience increased inflammatory
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 responses much like what we see in
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 elderly populations on Earth this is
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 particularly concerning when we consider
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 muscle Health as the study revealed
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 patterns of muscle wasting that closely
00:05:52 --> 00:05:55 resemble a condition known as sarcopenia
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 which typically affects older adults
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 perhaps most significantly this is is
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 the first comprehensive examination that
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 draws direct parallels between space
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 flight and what scientists call
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 biomarkers of
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 Frailty these are essentially biological
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 warning signs that indicate how quickly
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 our bodies are aging and becoming more
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 vulnerable to health issues the research
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 suggests that time and space might
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 actually induce a Frailty like condition
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 in astronauts regardless of their age
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 these findings aren't just important for
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 space
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 exploration they could have far reaching
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 implications for healthcare both in
00:06:31 --> 00:06:34 space and on Earth by understanding how
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 space flight accelerates these aging
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 processes scientists might be able to
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 develop new treatments that could help
00:06:40 --> 00:06:43 both astronauts and elderly populations
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 the research team is now advocating for
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 the development of a specialized Frailty
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 index to monitor astronaut health during
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 missions which could become a crucial
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 tool for ensuring the safety of future
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 Space
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 Explorers exciting developments are
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 underway in the satellite servicing
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 industry
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 as northrip grumman's space Logistics
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 Division prepares for a groundbreaking
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 2026 launch they're developing What's
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 called the mission robotic vehicle or
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 mrv a sophisticated spacecraft equipped
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 with robotic arms that could
00:07:13 --> 00:07:16 revolutionize how we maintain satellites
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 in orbit these aren't just any robotic
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 arms they've been specially developed by
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 the US Naval research laboratory and
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 have already past crucial testing phases
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 the arms will enable the mrv to perform
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 intricate tasks on satellites positioned
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 more than 22 m above Earth in
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 geostationary orbit where many of our
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 critical communication satellites
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 operate what makes this particularly
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 interesting is that space Logistics has
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 already secured its first customers both
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 Intel sat and Opus have signed up to
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 have their satellites serviced with what
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 are called Mission extension pods think
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 of these as space-based jetpacks that
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 can add about 6 years of operational
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 life to satellites that are running low
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 on fuel this is crucial because roughly
00:08:00 --> 00:08:03 10 satellites in geostationary orbit
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 reach the end of their operational life
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 each year simply because they run out of
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 fuel the mrv represents a significant
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 advancement over previous satellite
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 servicing Vehicles unlike its
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 predecessors it will be capable of
00:08:16 --> 00:08:19 Performing more sophisticated tasks
00:08:19 --> 00:08:22 including detailed inspections repairs
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 and even relocating satellites to
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 different orbits these capabilities
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 could prove invaluable for both
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 commercial operators and government
00:08:29 --> 00:08:32 agencies looking to extend the life of
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 their space assets the economics of this
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 technology are particularly compelling
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 the mission extension pods weighing
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 about 350 kg each offer a more
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 cost-effective solution compared to
00:08:45 --> 00:08:48 launching entirely new satellites by
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 using electric propulsion to reach their
00:08:50 --> 00:08:53 target orbits and relying on the mrv for
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 installation these pods provide a
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 practical way to extend satellite
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 operations without the enormous expens
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 events of replacement
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 missions in a stunning display of
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 science meeting natural wonder NASA
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 recently conducted a fascinating
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 experiment in the auroral Skies over
00:09:09 --> 00:09:12 Norway on November 10th during a minor
00:09:12 --> 00:09:15 geomagnetic storm two rockets launched
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 from the andoya Space Center carried out
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 what's known as the vorticity experiment
00:09:19 --> 00:09:22 or Vortex creating artificial clouds
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 that danced beneath the shimmering
00:09:23 --> 00:09:26 Northern Lights the purpose of this
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 experiment was to better understand the
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 complex interactions occurring in a
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 particular region of our atmosphere
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 called the turbopause this is where the
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 mesosphere meets the thermosphere about
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 56 mil up to study these interactions
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 the Rockets released a compound called
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 trimethyl aluminum which formed visible
00:09:45 --> 00:09:48 swirling patterns in the sky local
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 photographer Ivar sandland captured this
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 remarkable event while on a road trip
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 near Mount stend Norway's National
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 Mountain he initially thought he was
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 witnessing some strange cloud formation
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 only to later discover he had documented
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 a significant scientific experiment in
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 action the timing couldn't have been
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 better as the artificial clouds appeared
00:10:07 --> 00:10:10 against a backdrop of vibrant auroral
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 displays the location of this experiment
00:10:12 --> 00:10:15 wasn't chosen by Chance the andoya space
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 Center's position near the Arctic Circle
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 makes it an ideal spot for studying
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 geomagnetic activity in auroras this is
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 because Earth's magnetic field naturally
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 funnels charged particles from the Sun
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 toward the poles creating the perfect
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 natural Laboratory for understanding
00:10:30 --> 00:10:33 space weather phenomena these artificial
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 clouds aren't just for show they serve
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 as visible tracers that help scientists
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 understand how gravity waves behave and
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 interact at this crucial boundary in our
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 atmosphere this knowledge is vital for
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 improving our understanding of
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 atmospheric Dynamics and their influence
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 on our planet's weather and climate
00:10:50 --> 00:10:53 systems while on the subject of unusual
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 sights in our skies a spectacular
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 Fireball lit up the Skies over North
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 America earlier this week treating
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 observers across the US Midwest and
00:11:02 --> 00:11:05 parts of Canada to a dazzling Celestial
00:11:05 --> 00:11:08 show unlike the recent starlink
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 satellite re-entry this was a genuine
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 visitor from outer space blazing through
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 our atmosphere early Monday morning at
00:11:14 --> 00:11:17 around 6:31 mountain time the meteor
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 created quite a spectacle as it stre
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 Southeast across the morning Sky visible
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 from Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada
00:11:23 --> 00:11:26 throughout Montana Idaho and parts of
00:11:26 --> 00:11:29 Washington Wyoming and North Dakota
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 eyewitnesses described a brilliant green
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 streak that brightened dramatically for
00:11:33 --> 00:11:36 several seconds creating such intense
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 illumination that it briefly lit up the
00:11:38 --> 00:11:41 surrounding landscape like early morning
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 what makes this event particularly
00:11:42 --> 00:11:45 noteworthy is that it was captured not
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 only by countless doorbell cameras dash
00:11:47 --> 00:11:50 cams and cell phones on the ground but
00:11:50 --> 00:11:53 also by sophisticated equipment in space
00:11:53 --> 00:11:56 two Noah weather satellites go 16 and go
00:11:56 --> 00:11:59 18 detected the fireball using their
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 lightning detection instruments
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 providing a unique perspective of this
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 Cosmic event from above according to
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 reports submitted to the American meteor
00:12:07 --> 00:12:10 Society this was an exceptionally bright
00:12:10 --> 00:12:13 Fireball one observer in Alberta noted
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 it was among the most spectacular they'd
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 ever witnessed describing a greenish
00:12:17 --> 00:12:20 streak followed by an intense flash with
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 a secondary dimmer flash along the same
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 Trail another witness in Montana
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 reported that the meteor was so bright
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 it temporarily illuminated their
00:12:28 --> 00:12:31 surroundings as if it were midm morning
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 these impressive displays occur when
00:12:32 --> 00:12:35 small pieces of space debris known as
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 meteoroids collide with Earth's
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 atmosphere at extremely high speeds the
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 friction generated by these collisions
00:12:41 --> 00:12:44 with air particles creates intense heat
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 that vaporizes the space rocks producing
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 the brilliant streaks of light we see as
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 meteors While most of these visitors
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 from space completely burn up in our
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 atmosphere they certainly know how to
00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 put on a spectacular show on their way
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 out
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 next up NASA's tracers Mission has just
00:13:01 --> 00:13:03 hit a significant Milestone with the
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 completion of its twin spacecraft
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 marking a crucial step forward in our
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 quest to better understand space weather
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 these satellites built by Millennium
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 Space Systems are designed to study a
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 fascinating phenomenon that occurs where
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 the solar wind meets Earth's protective
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 magnetic field the mission's primary
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 focus is investigating magnetic
00:13:21 --> 00:13:24 reconnection a powerful process that
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 happens when magnetic fields intersect
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 and release enormous amounts of energy
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 think of it as a cosmic dance between
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 the sun's magnetic field and Earth's
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 magnetosphere creating bursts of energy
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 that can affect everything from our
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 power grids to satellite
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 Communications what makes tracers
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 particularly Innovative is its unique
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 approach using two satellites flying in
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 formation through Earth's polar cusps
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 these are funnel-shaped regions where
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 our planet's magnetic field opens up
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 over the North and South Poles by having
00:13:52 --> 00:13:55 two spacecraft collecting data in tandem
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 scientists will be able to observe how
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 quickly these magnetic reconnection
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 events evolve and change giving us
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 unprecedented insights into these
00:14:02 --> 00:14:05 complex processes the completion of both
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 satellites marks the transition from
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 development to The crucial testing phase
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 once testing wraps up they'll be shipped
00:14:11 --> 00:14:13 to Vandenberg space force base in
00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 California for integration with their
00:14:15 --> 00:14:15 launch
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 vehicle the mission team is working
00:14:18 --> 00:14:20 towards a Target launch date in early
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 2025 and they've already passed a
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 critical review that gives them the
00:14:24 --> 00:14:26 green light to move forward with final
00:14:26 --> 00:14:28 preparations this Mission couldn't come
00:14:28 --> 00:14:31 at a more important time as our society
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 becomes increasingly dependent on
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 satellite technology and power grids
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 understanding space weather becomes
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 crucial for protecting our
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 infrastructure these twin spacecraft
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 will serve as our eyes in the sky
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 helping us better predict and prepare
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 for space weather events that could
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 impact our daily
00:14:48 --> 00:14:51 lives now we have a fascinating story of
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 Galactic survival which is unfolding
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 right in our Cosmic backyard and the
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 Hubble Space Telescope has given us a
00:14:57 --> 00:15:01 front row seat the large melanic Cloud
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 one of our nearest Galactic neighbors
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 has apparently just survived what we
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 might call a close brush with the Milky
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 Way and it's showing us the scars of
00:15:09 --> 00:15:12 this encounter this dwarf Galaxy which
00:15:12 --> 00:15:15 appears in our Southern sky as an object
00:15:15 --> 00:15:17 about 20 times larger than the full moon
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 seems to be just passing through rather
00:15:19 --> 00:15:22 than orbiting our galaxy scientists have
00:15:22 --> 00:15:25 discovered that this Cosmic driveby has
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 literally Stripped Away most of the gas
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29 surrounding the LMC leaving it with an
00:15:29 --> 00:15:32 unusually small Halo just 50 Lighty
00:15:32 --> 00:15:35 years across which is Tiny compared to
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 similar
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 galaxies but here's what makes this
00:15:38 --> 00:15:41 story remarkable the LMC has emerged as
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 a true survivor despite losing most of
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 its gaseous Halo to our Galaxy's
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 gravitational influence it's managed to
00:15:47 --> 00:15:49 hold on to just enough gas to keep
00:15:49 --> 00:15:52 forming new Stars this resilience comes
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 down to its size at about 10% of the
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 Milky Way's Mass it's actually quite
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 Hefty for a dwarf Galaxy the process
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 that Stripped Away most of the lmc's gas
00:16:00 --> 00:16:03 is called Ram pressure stripping imagine
00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 our galaxy acting like a giant hair
00:16:05 --> 00:16:08 dryer blowing away the lmc's gas as it
00:16:08 --> 00:16:10 passes through the intense pressure has
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 pushed back most of the original Halo
00:16:12 --> 00:16:15 leaving just a small stubborn Remnant
00:16:15 --> 00:16:18 that refuses to be blown away we know
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 all this thanks to Hubble's unique
00:16:19 --> 00:16:22 ability to observe ultraviolet light and
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 some clever use of background quers as
00:16:24 --> 00:16:26 Cosmic flashlights the telescope
00:16:26 --> 00:16:29 analyzed light from 28 distant quers
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 passing through the lmc's Halo giving
00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 scientists their first real measurement
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 of what's left of this Cosmic Survivor
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 gaseous
00:16:37 --> 00:16:40 envelope well that brings us to the end
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 of another fascinating episode of
00:16:41 --> 00:16:44 astronomy daily I'm Anna and I want to
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 thank you for joining me on this journey
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 through the latest discoveries in space
00:16:48 --> 00:16:51 and astronomy from Einstein's theories
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 being challenged to spectacular
00:16:52 --> 00:16:54 Fireballs lighting up North American
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56 Skies it's been quite a show today if
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 you're hungry for more space news I've
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 got great news for you you can catch up
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 on all the latest developments in space
00:17:03 --> 00:17:06 and astronomy at our website astronomy
00:17:06 --> 00:17:09 daily. there you'll find our constantly
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 updating Newsfeed all our past episodes
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 and you can sign up for our free daily
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 newsletter to never miss a beat in space
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00:17:25 --> 00:17:28 Tok until next time keep looking up and
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 stay curious about our Incredible
00:17:29 --> 00:17:35 Universe
00:17:35 --> 00:17:51 [Music]