Spacetime With Stuart Gary

Stream Episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com or www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly) *A super galaxy cluster discovered hiding behind the Milky Way One of the largest structures in the universe – a giant previously undetected galactic supercluster -- has been discovered -- blocked from view by the bulk of our own galaxy the Milky Way. The newly found Vela galaxy supercluster may help explain the difference between the measured motion of the Milky Way through space -- and the motion it should have based on the distribution of previously mapped galaxies. *Number of known black holes is expected to double within two years A new detection method means the number of known black holes is expected to double within the next two years The new method is expected to detect roughly 10 black holes per year, providing new clues about the history and evolution of these monstrous gravity wells over the next decade. *Leap second added on New Year’s eve. Tidal action causing ocean waves to apply a braking ef

Stream Episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com or www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly) *New findings provide more clues about water habitability on Mars Water probably existed on the surface of Mars in conditions that would have been suitable for microbial live to have thrived if life existed on the red planet. The new conclusions are based on the discovery of Boron on the surface of Mars by NASA’s Curiosity rover. *Icy surprises at Rosetta's Comet The European Space Agency’s historic Rosetta mission to the Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko may be over but scientists are still making new discoveries as they sift through the petabytes of data collected during the journey. The research team have just discovered that as Rosetta’s comet approached its most active period in August 2015, the spacecraft spotted carbon dioxide ice – never before seen on a comet – followed by the emergence of two unusually large patches of water ice. *A new explanation for the so-called Alien megastructure star Scientis

Stream Episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com or www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly) *New antimatter breakthrough helping to illuminate mysteries of the Big Bang Scientists are a step closer to understanding how the universe came into existence following the first ever optical spectrum measurements of an antimatter atom. The ground breaking research allowed physicists to compare normal hydrogen with its antimatter counterpart for the first time. *The famous red star Betelgeuse is spinning faster than it should The famous red star Betelgeuse is spinning faster than it should possibly because its eaten another star. The findings indicate that the red supergiant – which is due to explode as a supernova any day now – was probably in a binary stellar system with a companion star. *PAN-STARRS releases the largest digital sky survey ever undertaken The Pan-STARRS project -- the world’s largest digital sky survey has finally been released -- providing details of over three billion stars, galaxies a

Stream Episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com or www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly) S19Ep91: *Black hole ASASSN A sudden unusually bright flash of light in a distant galaxy -- which was thought to be the explosive death of a star as a supernova -- has turned out to be an even more spectacular stellar death – the total destruction of a star by a supermassive black hole. New observations indicate the unusually bright flash – which had been named ASASSN-15LH – and which was originally thought to be the brightest supernova ever seen -- was actually a tidal disruption event -- caused by a star being ripped to pieces after venturing too close to a monstrous black hole. *New search for Earth’s unseen companions NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission is about to begin a search for possible Earth Trojan asteroids. OSIRIS-Rex is on a two-year flight to rendezvous with the asteroid Bennu and it will be ideally positioned in February to undertake a survey of a region which often contains asteroids known as Trojans

Stream Episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com or www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly) *Mystery of the Sun's strange spin Astronomers have finally solved a long-standing solar mystery – namely why the Sun’s outsides spin more slowly than its insides. They’ve found that the same solar radiation that heats the Earth is ‘braking’ the Sun causing it to gradually slow down, starting from its surface. *New clues about how Mars lost its water After investigating the upper atmosphere of the Red Planet for a full Martian year, NASA’s MAVEN mission has determined that the escaping water does not always go gently into space. The rate of loss varied dramatically overall, with 10 times more hydrogen escaping at perihelion. *Looking at the future of spaceflight Sydney has been selected to host the 43rd Scientific Assembly of the Committee on Space Research in 2020. The conference comes at a time when there’s been a paradigm shift in space flight. *Virgin Galactic soars in the skies again Virgin Galactic ha

Stream Episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com or www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly) *Looking at Earth’s ultimate fate Astronomers have had a chance to peer into the future and see what our home planet Earth will be like in five billion years’ time. They’ve been observing an aging red giant star a hundred times bigger than the Sun called L2 Puppis which has a planet orbiting it. Their findings may answer questions about our own planet’s ultimate fate. *New clues about the creation of Jupiter the solar system’s king of planets Jupiter probably reached its present day size as the solar system’s largest planet with in just 5 million years of the first solid material condensing out of the primordial gas. The findings are based on studies of a specific class of meteorites known as CB chondrites which have offered new clues about when the planet Jupiter took shape and wandered through the solar system. *Dawn’s mission to the asteroid belt Jonathan Nally editor of Australian Sky and Telescope join

Stream Episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com or www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly) *Cool theory on galaxy formation A new study claims some of the most massive galaxies in the universe are generated by giant cosmic clouds of cold gas condensing as stars rather than forming in hot, violent mergers. The surprise findings contradict existing hypothesis that giant galaxies are formed through a process of merging. *New clues about the first stars in the universe Astronomers studying some of the oldest stars in the Milky Way galaxy are getting new clues about the very first stars that existed in the universe. The findings are based on observations of a sub class of second generation carbon poor stars in the galactic halo. *Cassini beams back first images from new orbit NASA's Saturn-orbiting Cassini spacecraft has made its first close dive past the outer edges of Saturn's rings since beginning its penultimate mission phase. Cassini crossed through the plane of Saturn's rings at a distance of ju

Stream Episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com or www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly) *More evidence that a supernova led to the birth of the Sun and Earth There’s new evidence that the supernova explosion of a star 12 times more massive than the Sun triggered the birth of our solar system 4.6 billion years ago. The findings are based on a new study of meteorite samples and rare atomic nuclei. *Great rift valley found on Mercury A giant rift valley which may be evidence of buckling of planetary crust due to global contraction has been discovered on Mercury. The massive feature – which dwarfs the Grand Canyon -- is over a thousand kilometres long, some 400 kilometers wide, and over 3 kilometers deep. *Gravity Wave Observatory starts new observation run After a series of upgrades, the twin detectors of the LIGO Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory are back in operation to continue their hunt for ripples in the fabric of space time known as gravitational waves. Back on February 1

Stream Episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com or www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly) *Record-breaking faint satellite galaxy discovered orbiting the Milky Way The faintest satellite galaxy ever seen has been discovered orbiting our own Milky Way galaxy. The discovery suggests the presence of a large number of undetected dwarf galaxies in the halo of the Milky Way -- providing important insights into the role dark matter plays in galaxy formation. *The new hypothesis challenging Einstein's speed of light physics Scientists behind an idea that the speed of light is variable - and not constant as Albert Einstein’s relativity theory suggests -- have made a prediction that could be tested. The speed of light in a vacuum remains one of sciences great constants – a key foundation stone underpinning modern physics and sciences understanding of the universe. *December SkyWatch -- the rock comet responsible for this month’s spectacular Geminids meteor shower One of the astronomical highlights of Dece

Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com and www.spactimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly)*New type of star found near the galaxy’s centre A new type of star has been discovered in the heart of the Milky Way galaxy. The findings could shed new light on both the early formation history of the Milky Way – and how globular clusters are formed. *A subsurface ocean on distant Pluto A new analysis has confirmed the existence of a liquid water ocean lying deep beneath Pluto’s frozen surface. The latest data collected by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft during its historic close flyby of the Pluto system in July 2015 -- provides the most detailed investigation yet of the role a subsurface liquid water ocean is likely to have played in the evolution of key features on the dwarf planet such as the vast, low-lying plain known as Sputnik Planitia. *World’s most advanced weather satellite launched The world’s most advanced weather satellite has been launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Base in Florida abo

Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com and www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly). *Massive frozen water deposits found on Mars Frozen beneath a region of cracked and pitted plains on Mars lies about as much water as what’s in Lake Superior, largest of North America’s Great Lakes. Scientists using NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter found the water ice deposit under the Utopia Planitia region of the red planet’s mid-northern latitudes. *EM Drive passes peer review Scientists at NASA’s Johnson Space Centre Eagleworks Laboratories in Houston Texas have developed a new reactionless spacecraft propulsion system -- which if it really works -- could take people to Mars in just 70 days rather than seven months. But there’s one really big problem it appears to violate one of the fundamental laws of physics. *New Expedition 50 crew arrives aboard the International Space Station Three new crew members have arrived at the International Space Station two days after blasting into orbit aboard their S

Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com or www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly). *Most powerful Fast Radio Burst ever detected Astronomers using the Parkes radio telescope (Australia) have detected the most powerful fast radio burst ever seen. The research team have now used the mysterious radio eruption to study the large scale structure of the universe in unprecedented detail. *AXIONS could be dark matter particle A hypothetical elementary particle called the AXION could be the mysterious dark matter particle which scientists have been searching for, for decades. New supercomputer modeling has pinned down the likely mass of the AXION particle – if it exists -- finding it’s within the same range as the hypothetical cold dark matter particle. *New experimental X-ray pulsar navigation satellite launched China has carried out the second launch of its Long March 11 rocket taking a new experimental X-ray pulsar navigation satellite into orbit. The spacecraft is part of a ten-year program t

Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com or www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly) *New clues about mysterious Fast Radio Bursts Astronomers have detected a powerful blast of gamma ray energy coming from a mysterious event known as a Fast Radio Burst. The gamma-ray event delivered over a billion times more energy in gamma-rays than in radio waves – there by rivaling the supernovae death of stars in their explosive power. *The power of the force appears the same across the cosmos A new study indicates that the strength of the electromagnetic force appears to be the same across the cosmos after all. The new findings contradict earlier studies which appeared to show a difference in the strength of the electromagnetic force in different parts of the universe. *A funnel on Mars could be a place to look for life A strangely shaped depression on Mars could be a new place to look for signs of life on the Red Planet. A report in the journal Icarus claims the depression was probably formed by a vol

Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com and www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly) *Rosetta’s Comet 67P is much younger than previously thought Rosetta’s comet 67P Churyumov–Gerasimenko may be only a billion years old – billions of years younger than previously thought. The new findings are based on simulations of how the two lobes which form the comet -- came together and remained connected. *Solving one of the mysteries of globular clusters A new study has finally resolved where the material needed to make new generations of stars in globular clusters comes from. Because the stars were all originally formed from the same material – mystery has surrounded exactly how new generations of globular cluster stars are made. *Have scientists found a way to bypass the Second Law of Thermodynamics? Scientists have found a way to circumvent the Second Law of Thermodynamics – one of the bedrocks on which modern theoretical physics is based. It is one of a handful of laws about which physicists fee

Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com and www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly). *New gravity hypothesis could explain dark matter and dark energy A new hypothesis of gravity might explain dark matter and dark energy – the two biggest mysteries in science today. The new idea – called Emergent gravity -- appears to explain the exact same deviation in the motions of stars in galaxies that are usually explained by inserting dark matter in the theory. *Novae are the main source of Lithium in the universe A new study has discovered that most of the lithium in the universe is made in exploding stars called novae. The findings are based on observations of an unusually long and bright nova Sagittarii 2015 N.2 which occurred last year. *A new more detailed map of the galaxy Scientists have created one of the most detailed maps ever of our Milky Way Galaxy. The survey known as HI4PI -- examined neutral atomic hydrogen—the most abundant element in the universe and the main component of stars and

Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com and www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly). *A crack in Earth's magnetic shield A crack has been detected in Earth’s magnetosphere. The event -- which lasted over two hours -- was caused by a powerful blast from the Sun known as a Coronal Mass Ejection. *Over 15 thousand potentially deadly near Earth asteroids discovered Over 15 thousand potentially deadly near Earth asteroids have now been discovered by astronomers. Scientists are now detecting about 30 new asteroids in near Earth orbit’s – so called NEOs -- each week. *NASA opens new deep space communications dish near Canberra NASA has formally commissioned its latest dish at the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex near Tidbinbilla. The new 34 metre antenna -- DSS36 – is part of a 120 million dollar upgrade by NASA to increase capacity at the Canberra facility by building two new dishes. *Japan launches new weather satellite Japan has launched its new Himawari 9 weather satellite aboard an

Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com or www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly) *Proxima Centauri is more Sun like than previously thought A new study claims Proxima Centauri is more Sun like than previously thought. The new findings indicate our nearest stellar neighbour other than the Sun undergoes similar magnetic cycles to the Sun which however are far more dramatic. *New Horizons completes its epic data transfer from last year’s close encounter with Pluto NASA’s New Horizons mission has reached a major milestone with the last bits of science data from the July 2015 Pluto flyby finally transmitted to Earth. The valuable information had been stored on the spacecraft’s digital recorders since last year’s historic close encounter – mission managers being forced to drip feed the data back to Earth because of the huge distances involved. *New Pluto revelations continue to surprize scientists Meanwhile, data from earlier New Horizons Pluto downloads are continuing to provide surprising d

Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com and www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly). \*Recently active lava flows detected on Venus A new analysis of data from the European Space Agency's Venus Express mission has found evidence of volcanic activity on Earth’s sister planet. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that Venus may still be geologically active. The origin of Rosetta’s comet A new study claims Rosetta’s comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko most likely originated in the Kuiper Belt. This distant origin for 67P implies it would be made from primordial material, that existed in their current form since before Earth was born. Soyuz trio return safely to Earth Three expedition 49 crew members have returned safely to Earth following their 115 day mission aboard the International Space Station. The successful landing was also the first atmospheric re-entry of the new Russian Soyuz MS-01 capsule which had been on its maiden flight. China ready to fly its new Long March 5. There’s g

Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com or www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly). *Solving the mystery of the millions of missing stars Galactic cannibalism may be the clue to finally solving the mystery of the millions missing stars in the centres of some of the biggest galaxies. The study which examined the galactic cores of two of the largest known galaxies – has opened a new window into the processes that shape the evolution of massive galaxies. *Uranus may have additional unseen moons The planet Uranus may have another two as yet undiscovered moons. A report claims unusual patterns just detected in two of Uranus’s dark rings could indicate the presence of two small moonlets between four and 14 kilometres wide. *Meteoroids hitting the Moon at least a hundred times more frequently than previously thought A new study has found that small meteoroids are hitting the Moon at least a hundred times more frequently than previously thought. The findings raise fresh concerns about future long

Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com or www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com (both mobile friendly). *New Questions about dark energy and the ultimate fate of the universe A new study of exploding stars has raised fresh questions about the existence of Dark Energy – a mysterious force causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate at a faster and faster rate. The findings could have important implications for the ultimate fate of the universe. *The most volcanically active world in the solar system A new study of Jupiter’s moon Io has raised fresh questions about the most volcanically active world in the solar system. The findings identified some eruptions which seem to progress across the 3600-kilometre wide moon’s surface progressively triggering one eruption after another often five hundred kilometres apart. *Investigators trying to determine why the Mars lander crashed and burned Officials with the European Space Agency are continuing to sift through data to try and determine what caused last wee