Viewpoints Explained: A Big Setback for Future Missions to Mars
We cover this emerging research and what this means for plans to soon send humans to Mars.
Space Travel and Space Exploration Sub-categories:
25,000 Pieces Of Floating Space Junk: Decluttering Earth’s Orbit
We discuss the growing issue of human-created space debris and what more needs to be done to curb this problem before it reaches catastrophic levels.
The Mysterious Oddities Of Our Universe: Conversations With A Particle Physicist
What do these scientists study exactly? How did the field itself evolve?
Viewpoints Explained: Why Venus Is A Planetary Fountain Of Youth
We discuss why this fiery planet seems to be a fountain of youth.
Why You Should Drop What You’re Doing On April 8 & See This Rare Event
We speak with eclipse expert and journalist David Baron about why a total solar eclipse is a can’t-miss event worth the travel and traffic.
Under The Radar Pt 2: A Love-Hate Relationship With America’s Space Shuttle
Former NASA flight director and program manager Wayne Hale speaks candidly with us about the myths and facts of the NASA Space Shuttle Program.
Under the Radar Pt 1: An Alternate Perspective on the Famed Space Shuttle Program
This week, we uncover this story with the help of Harvard professor Matthew H. Hersch who’s the author of Dark Star: A New History of the Space Shuttle.
Are We Alone In The Universe? U-F-O’s, U-A-P’s, And Aliens Explained
We speak with two experts about how the scientific community approaches this field of study and some of the challenges that come with working within this space.
Viewpoints Explained: The Secrets of Venus
We highlight the deeper intricacies and theories behind Venus’ unusual surface.
Looking Through a New Lens: The Largest & Most Powerful Telescope Ever Built
We speak with astronomer Jacob Bean about how this telescope will lead to greater discoveries – including the hunt extraterrestrial life.
“95 Percent Left To Discover”: The People Tasked With Uncovering the Many Mysteries of Our Universe
Egyptian-American astrophysicist Sarafina El-Badry Nance speaks about her experience earning a PhD in astrophysics and the barriers to entry in the field.
What We Do & Still Don’t Know About Black Holes
Janna Levin, an astronomy and physics professor at Columbia University, joins us to discuss the most intriguing aspects of black holes.
Falling Asleep in Space
We explore the fascinating science and study of how humans sleep in space and its effects on the body.
Feeding More Mouths More Sustainably
Scientists are thinking big to voyage to Mars and one day possibly inhabit the far away planet. One big challenge is building a food production model from the ground up.
The Expanding Landfill in Space
From weather forecasting to cellular coverage to global imaging, we heavily rely on space satellites in our day to day lives. We discuss the serious issue of human-created space debris and what’s being done to curb this problem before it reaches catastrophic levels.
The Vast Expanse of Space
We’ve barely just scratched the surface of space exploration. Many scientists at NASA and in the private sector have set their sights on the eventual human mission to Mars – but what lies past the red planet? Will humans one day be able to travel outside of our solar system? Physicist Dr. Daniel Whiteson joins us this week to explain the strange and …
Slumbering in Space
For astronauts in space, sleeping in a zero-gravity environment surrounded by loud fans, bright lights and cramped quarters can be an issue. We discuss some of the bodily systems behind sleep and how astronauts in space for months on end deal with these challenges.
The Private Sector Space Race
Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson both made history last month as they rocketed out of Earth’s atmosphere and successfully reached space. This trip was many years in the making as both billionaires built their own respective companies, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, to transport them to space as private civilians. Now, people are lining up and paying hefty …
The 40th Anniversary of the NASA Space Shuttle
The birth of the space shuttle in 1981 marked a new era of space travel. For the first time ever, NASA had a spacecraft that could launch into space and come back to earth and land like an airplane. While the shuttle had many successful flights, there were also some big catastrophes that ultimately led the program to cease operations in 2011. Former chief …
What Happens to the Human Body in Space?
Dr. Emmanuel Urquieta, from the Center for Space Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine, joins Viewpoints this week to help us understand some of the health impacts of spending time in space and the hurdles that come with longer missions like sending humans to Mars.
The Path To Europa
The Jupiter moon, Europa is 390 million miles away from Earth. In 2025, the NASA Europa Clipper mission launches and is estimated to arrive in Jupiter’s orbit by 2031. Why Europa? Underneath its radiated surface, the icy moon is believed to host a vast ocean similar to Earth’s that has ample conditions for complex life. Author David W. Brown joins Viewpoints …
The Fascinating Science Behind Black Holes
Black holes have always intrigued and captured the imagination of millions since they were first theorized and coined by German physicist Karl Schwarzschild in 1916. Even today, there’s still much we have yet to learn.
The Story of Apollo 8 (2020)
When we think back to the biggest space accomplishments in history, many of us instantly remember Apollo 11 – the mission that landed humans on the moon. However, we seldom talk about Apollo 8 when astronauts successfully orbited the moon. Author and historian, Jeffrey Kluger joins Viewpoints to discuss why Apollo 8 was a vital foundational mission for space …
Culture Crash: The New Space Drama “Ad Astra”
We discuss the new movie “Ad Astra” starring Brad Pitt as an interstellar astronaut, and why it’s more than your typical ‘on a mission to save the world’ space drama
