Astronomers have discovered GJ 251 c, a “super-Earth” nearly four times our planet’s mass, orbiting in its star’s habitable zone — the sweet spot for liquid water and possibly life. Using 20 years of data and tools like the Habitable-Zone Planet Finder, researchers from Penn State tracked the star’s subtle wobble to confirm the planet’s presence.While we can’t yet study its atmosphere, future telescopes may reveal whether GJ 251 c holds signs of alien life.
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26:31
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26:31
What’s Really Holding Back Space-Based Solar Power?
A new study reveals that the biggest barrier to space-based solar power isn’t in orbit—it’s on Earth. Researchers found that while thousands of satellites could technically beam solar energy from geostationary orbit, real-world factors like limited land for rectennas near the equator sharply reduce that number.Even so, the analysis shows SBSP could still provide up to 3% of global power, underscoring its potential as a future clean energy source.
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28:47
How Cosmic Dust May Have Delivered the Building Blocks of Life to Earth
In this episode, we explore new research from the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society revealing how cosmic dust may have carried the building blocks of life to early Earth.Scientists simulated space conditions and found that amino acids like glycine and alanine could survive by clinging to silicate dust grains—tiny interstellar travelers that may have seeded our planet with the precursors for life.Tune in to uncover how these microscopic particles might have shaped Earth’s first chemistry.
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24:52
MIT Geologists Uncover Traces of Earth’s Primordial Origins
MIT scientists have found the first direct evidence of material from the original “proto-Earth” — the planet that existed before the giant impact that formed our world 4.5 billion years ago.By detecting an unusual potassium-40 isotope imbalance in ancient rocks from Greenland and Hawaii, researchers revealed remnants of Earth’s earliest building blocks — material that even meteorites don’t fully capture.
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29:38
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29:38
The Core of the Problem: Why Our Magnetic Field is Weakening
The Earth's protective magnetic field is changing. Data from the ESA Swarm mission reveals that the South Atlantic Anomaly, a vast weak spot in our planetary shield, is expanding and rapidly weakening. Learn what's causing this shift—and why it matters for our satellites and technology.
Welcome Bedtime Astronomy Podcast. We invite you to unwind and explore the wonders of the universe before drifting off into a peaceful slumber.Join us as we take you on a soothing journey through the cosmos, sharing captivating stories about stars, planets, galaxies, and celestial phenomena.Let's go through the mysteries of the night sky, whether you're a seasoned stargazer or simply curious about the cosmos, our bedtime astronomy podcast promises to inspire wonder, spark imagination.AI Sound
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