Cosmic Controversy Podcast

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2023/07/31/game-changing-eso-sky-survey-could-rewrite-history-of-milky-way/?sh=4d939a8d4352

Game-Changing ESO Sky Survey Could Rewrite History Of Milky Way The former Soviet republic of Estonia continues its tradition of astronomical innovation. Tartu Observatory is playing a key role in a forthcoming ESO sky survey.

An ambitious new European Space Agency (ESA) telescope which is set to launch next month should give us the best-ever understanding of the cosmos’ dark matter and dark energy.

ESA Euclid Space Telescope Aims To Crack The Code On The Dark Universe A new European Space Agency (ESA) telescope which is set to launch next month should give us the best-ever understanding of the cosmos’ dark matter and dark energy.

New paper links formation of Earth’s continents to solar system’s passage through dense interstellar clouds within our Milky Way’s four spiral arms. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/08/26/milky-ways-spiral-arms-incredibly-triggered-earths-continent-formation/?sh=3983748c35fc

Milky Way’s Spiral Arms Incredibly Triggered Earth’s Continent Formation New paper links formation of Earth’s continents to solar system’s passage through dense interstellar clouds within our Milky Way’s four spiral arms.

NASA lunar orbiter detects an equatorial pit crater with temperatures that hover around 63 degrees Fahrenheit. If so, this pit and others like it could offer a wholly natural refuge from the Moon’s cold lunar night. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/07/27/nasas-lro-spacecraft-detects-a-lunar-lava-pit-that-promises-room-temperatures/?sh=64f7f3887e04

NASA’S LRO Spacecraft Detects A Lunar Lava Pit That Promises Room Temperatures NASA lunar orbiter detects an equatorial pit crater with temperatures that hover around 63 degrees Fahrenheit. If so, this pit and others like it could offer a wholly natural refuge from the Moon’s cold lunar night.

NASA needs to use its bully pulpit to capitalize on the Webb space telescope’s remarkable early success and ensure that Congress coughs up the cash needed for a veritable Webb 2.0. If pushed, such a Webb follow-on might launch as early as 2040. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/07/23/why-nasa-needs-a-webb-20-sooner-rather-than-later/?sh=13ea8ad35288

Why NASA Needs A Webb 2.0 Sooner Rather Than Later NASA needs to use its bully pulpit to capitalize on the Webb space telescope’s remarkable early success and ensure that Congress coughs up the cash needed for a veritable Webb 2.0. If pushed, such a Webb follow-on might launch as early as 2040.

“Before the Big Bang” details cosmologist’s personal and scientific journey from Cold War Albania to front line arguments over multiverse physics. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/07/16/new-book-details-proof-that-we-live-in-a-cosmological-multiverse/?sh=3360b4e91f35

New Book Details Proof That We Live In A Cosmological Multiverse “Before the Big Bang” details cosmologist’s personal and scientific journey from Cold War Albania to front line arguments over multiverse physics.

NASA’s Webb Delivers Deepest Infrared Image of Universe Yet NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has produced the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe to date. Known as Webb’s First Deep Field, this image of galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 is overflowing with detail.

Planetary scientists measure ancient remanent magnetic fields in two Antarctic meteorites to better understand the gaseous nebula from which our solar system formed. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/07/09/rare-meteorites-reveal-details-of--solar-systems-ancient-nebula/?sh=25aed0b038ff

Rare Meteorites Reveal Details Of Solar System’s Ancient Nebula Planetary scientists measure ancient remanent magnetic fields in two Antarctic meteorites to better understand the gaseous nebula from which our solar system formed.

The fine points of our Sun’s astrophysics still elude researchers and until we understand the internal dynamics of our own star, we’ll never fully understand the plethora of other stars in the galaxy. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/07/02/our-suns-5-biggest-remaining-mysteries/?sh=7c4aeac51bc7

Our Sun’s 5 Biggest Remaining Mysteries The fine points of our Sun’s astrophysics still elude researchers and until we understand the internal dynamics of our own star, we’ll never fully understand the plethora of other stars in the galaxy.

Vital mission to the Main Belt Asteroid (16) Psyche, which had been due to launch no earlier than September, has been postponed to at least 2023, says NASA. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/06/25/nasas-psyche-mission-suffers-new-launch-delay/?sh=124efe257769

NASA’s Psyche Mission Suffers New Launch Delay Vital mission to the Main Belt Asteroid (16) Psyche, which had been due to launch no earlier than September, has been postponed to at least 2023, says NASA.

Former Deputy NASA Administrator Lori Garver says NASA is resistant to change and stymied by entrenched special interests. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/06/23/new-book-paints-bleak-picture-of-nasas-human-spaceflight-program/?sh=269fff077882

New Book Paints Bleak Picture Of NASA’s Human Spaceflight Program Former Deputy NASA Administrator Lori Garver says NASA is resistant to change and stymied by entrenched special interests.

New study models future projected space launch emissions’ effects on our upper atmosphere’s ozone layer and the results aren’t good. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/06/17/future-rocket-launch-increases-could-harm-ozone-layer-says-noaa/?sh=748d04373c59

Future Rocket Launch Increases Could Harm Ozone Layer, Says NOAA New study models future projected space launch emissions’ effects on our upper atmosphere’s ozone layer and the results aren’t good.

Exotic dark matter is still used to explain the formation and dynamics of large spiral galaxies like our own Milky Way. But does it really exist? https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/06/14/can-galaxies-form-without-dark-matter/?sh=199b299d141c

Can Galaxies Form Without Dark Matter? Exotic dark matter is still used to explain the formation and dynamics of large spiral galaxies like our own Milky Way. But does it really exist?

The clock is ticking on this decade. We’ll soon be at mid-century and if we aren’t careful, opportunities for cutting-edge space exploration will have passed us by. Thus, here are five space exploration imperatives for 2030. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/05/31/5-space-exploration-imperatives-to-hit-by-2030/?sh=25cf5e24850a

5 Space Exploration Imperatives To Hit By 2030 The clock is ticking on this decade. We’ll soon be at mid-century and if we aren’t careful, opportunities for cutting-edge space exploration will have passed us by. Thus, here are five space exploration imperatives for 2030.

Recent exoplanetary science conference points to the need for more detailed characterization of the 5000 known planets circling other sunlike stars. More funding would also allow for more high-risk, high-reward exoplanetary science missions, says researcher. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/05/30/astronomers-should-shift-focus-to-understanding-exoplanets-weve-already-discovered-says-researcher/?sh=4c6f5126c9ce

Astronomers Should Shift Focus To Understanding Exoplanets We’ve Already Discovered, Says Researcher A recent exoplanetary science conference points to the need for more detailed characterization of the 5000 known planets circling other sunlike stars. More funding would also allow for more high-risk, high-reward exoplanetary science missions, says researcher.

A binary star system caught in the earliest stages of formation is giving astronomers clues as to why solar systems that circle double stars may be altogether different than our own. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/05/27/binary-stars-may-stymie-life-as-we-know-it-alma-obervations-indicate/?sh=148dc8d82647

Binary Stars May Stymie Life As We Know It, ALMA Observations Indicate A binary star system caught in the earliest stages of formation is giving astronomers clues as to why solar systems that circle double stars may be altogether different than our own.

Decades-old dreams of a lunar far side low-frequency radio array appear to finally be coming to fruition. New tech and lower costs will make it happen by 2030. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/05/24/bezos-blue-origin-may-ferry-futuristic-radio-telescope-to-moons-far-side/?sh=e1f46a3d7fa1

Bezos’ Blue Origin May Ferry Futuristic Radio Telescope To Moon’s Far Side Decades-old dreams of a lunar far side low-frequency radio array appear to finally be coming to fruition. New tech and lower costs will make it happen by 2030.

This summer a team at the University of Colorado in Boulder will launch two NASA-funded sounding rockets from Northern Australia to determine whether our nearest stellar neighbors have an inner solar system that could support life. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/05/13/nasa-funded-sounding-rockets-to-probe-nearby-stars-habitable-zones/?sh=54c631a77d93

NASA-Funded Sounding Rockets To Probe Nearby Stars’ Habitable Zones This summer a team at the University of Colorado in Boulder will launch two NASA-funded sounding rockets from Northern Australia to determine whether our nearest stellar neighbors have an inner solar system that could support life.

Solar powered settlements on Mars have a future. New analysis shows new solar cell photovoltaics are competitive with NASA’s designs for Martian kilowatt nuclear reactors. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/04/28/solar-edges-nuclear-as-a-power-source-for-many-potential-mars-settlements/?sh=2434721d7ab4

Solar Edges Nuclear As A Power Source For Many Potential Mars Settlements Solar powered settlements on Mars have a future. New analysis shows new solar cell photovoltaics are competitive with NASA’s designs for Martian kilowatt nuclear reactors.

NASA and U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Argonne lab team up to model problems facing Hypersonic flight.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/04/26/nasa-and-argonne-lab-tackle-hypersonics-with-supercomputing-ai-software/?sh=593285023535

NASA And Argonne Lab Tackle Hypersonics With Supercomputing A.I. Software NASA and U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Argonne lab team up to model problems facing Hypersonic flight.

Compelling new book argues that we really need to forget about astronauts and instead renew our focus on robotics for the continued exploration of space. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/04/24/leave-space-exploration-to-the-robots-says-new-book/?sh=2886593975a1

Leave Space Exploration To The Robots, Says New Book Compelling new book argues that we really need to forget about astronauts and instead renew our focus on robotics for the continued exploration of space.

The inexplicable juxtaposition of the lifetime of our species with the lifetime of the cosmos; our solar system; even Earth itself. Will we ever understand these cosmic incongruities? https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/04/17/hard-cosmic-lessons-the-bizarre-reality-of-times-arrow/?sh=1abb48c2e510

Hard Cosmic Lessons: The Bizarre Reality Of Time’s Arrow The inexplicable juxtaposition of the lifetime of our species with the lifetime of the cosmos; our solar system; even Earth itself. Will we ever understand these cosmic incongruities?

Tantalizing new book of classic Mars illustrations and NASA orbiter and rover images of the red planet reminds us of our existential need to explore beyond low-Earth orbit. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/04/11/compelling-new-book-captures-image-rich-essence-of-nasas-mars-exploration/?sh=34cac4b5e2ab

Compelling New Book Captures Image-Rich Essence Of NASA’s Mars Exploration Tantalizing new book of classic Mars illustrations and NASA orbiter and rover images of the red planet reminds us of our existential need to explore beyond low-Earth orbit.

Incredibly, NASA’s Hubble has used a complicated lensing technique to detect a single star that was around when the universe was less than a billion years old; at a distance of nearly 13 billion light years away. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/03/30/nasas-hubble-detects-farthest-single-star-yet-found/?sh=71b36fe83aa5

NASA’S Hubble Detects Farthest Single Star Yet Found Incredibly, NASA’s Hubble has used a complicated lensing technique to detect a single star that was around when the universe was less than a billion years old; at a distance of nearly 13 billion light years away.

Earth’s core is not only rich with the rare and ancient isotope of helium-3, but is leaking it in a surprising amount. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/03/29/earths-core-is-leaking-a-surprising-amount-of-ancient-helium-3/?sh=4312842e1c61

Earth’s Core Is Leaking A Surprising Amount Of Ancient Helium-3 Earth’s core is not only rich with the rare and ancient isotope of helium-3, but is leaking it in a surprising amount.

The Russian war on Ukraine needs to be a teachable moment about who freedom-loving societies choose as partners for current and future space missions. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/03/23/nasa-and-global-space-community-need-to-cut-ties-to-russia/?sh=7d60a0a47e2b

NASA And Global Space Community Need To Cut Ties To Russia The Russian war on Ukraine needs to be a teachable moment about who freedom-loving societies choose as partners for current and future space missions.

Great meeting Leandra Nessel, the University of Georgia Libraries Development Officer, to present her with a pristine copy of my now classic book on the early days of extrasolar planet hunting --- "Distant Wanderers: The Search for Planets Beyond the Solar System" (Springer 2001). The UGA Science Library already has a copy, but this one is going into Special Collections, reserved for authors who are Georgia natives. Thanks again to Leandra!

Forget about Mars, NASA’s best hope of finding present day life in the near term is likely on Jupiter’s frozen moon of Europa. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/03/18/nasas-clipper-mission-to-europa-could-indirectly-detect-life/?sh=79dcf5a740e9

NASA’s Clipper Mission To Europa Could Indirectly Detect Life Forget about Mars, NASA’s best hope of finding present day life in the near term is likely on Jupiter’s frozen moon of Europa.

New analysis from the European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission to Comet 67P/Churyomov-Gerasimenko finds evidence for primordial molecular oxygen from deep within its nucleus, say researchers. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/03/12/comet-67p-harbors-ancient-molecules-of-solar-systems-earliest-primordial-oxygen/?sh=65697c162efa

Comet 67P Harbors Ancient Molecules Of Solar System’s Earliest Primordial Oxygen New analysis from the European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission to Comet 67P/Churyomov-Gerasimenko finds evidence for primordial molecular oxygen from deep within its nucleus, say researchers.

This month marks my ten (10) year anniversary as a Forbes.com science and technology contributor! It's been a great ride; covering the gamut from aerospace to quantum space; from air crashes to merging supermassive black holes. Thanks to Forbes' Alex Knapp for putting this journey in motion and to all my friends and readers far and wide who have enriched my life in countless ways. Your past and future readership and interest is much appreciated.

Forbes Forbes is a global media company, focusing on business, investing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, and lifestyle.

My book "Distant Wanderers: The Search for Planets Beyond the Solar System" has been in print for more than two decades now. Yet it remains one of the seminal works on the hunt for exoplanets.

I am offering the book free to anyone who is seriously interested in reading it.
My goal is to keep it in print. Please contact me in the comments or via Facebook messenger if you're interested in receiving a 1st edition hard copy.

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4757-5001-0

Distant Wanderers | SpringerLink Recent discoveries of planet-like objects circling other sun-like stars have stirred enormous interest in what other planets may exist in the universe, and whether they support intelligent life, or at

NASA gives out its next round of NIAC funding for some of the most innovative aerospace ideas currently available. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/02/26/nasa-awards-next-round-of-grants-for-futuristic-tech-development/?sh=44f0ead86a61

NASA Awards Next Round Of Grants For Futuristic Tech Development NASA gives out its next round of NIAC funding for some of the most innovative aerospace ideas currently available.

For only the second time in history, a Caltech-led team of radio astronomers has detected a pair of supermassive black holes likely in the process of merging. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/02/25/caltech-led-team-makes-rare-radio-detection-of-merging-supermassive-black-holes/?sh=408231b144ee

Caltech-Led Team Makes Rare Radio Detection Of Merging Supermassive Black Holes For only the second time in history, a Caltech-led team of radio astronomers has detected a pair of supermassive black holes likely in the process of merging.

The last half century of space exploration has been a mixed bag of extraordinary achievements muted by moments of disaster and heartbreak. But all in all, our progress in making our way off this blue marble has been surprisingly slow as the late Carl Sagan would likely agree. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/02/23/what-carl-sagan-might-think-about-nasas-current-state-of-space-exploration/?sh=10a53f6253a9

What Carl Sagan Might Think About NASA’s Current State Of Space Exploration The last half century of space exploration has been a mixed bag of extraordinary achievements muted by moments of disaster and heartbreak. But all in all, our progress in making our way off this blue marble has been surprisingly slow as the late Carl Sagan would likely agree.

Six decades ago, NASA’s Mercury-Atlas 6 mission came perilously close to disaster. It all ended triumphantly however and John Glenn’s three Earth orbits in his tiny Mercury Friendship 7 capsule put NASA back in the space race against the Soviets. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/02/20/john-glenns-1962-orbital-flight-put-nasa-back-in-the-space-race/?sh=4aaba00e66f7

John Glenn’s 1962 Orbital Flight Put NASA Back In The Space Race Six decades ago, NASA’s Mercury-Atlas 6 mission came perilously close to disaster. It all ended triumphantly however and John Glenn’s three Earth orbits in his tiny Mercury Friendship 7 capsule put NASA back in the space race against the Soviets.

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe captures the first visible light images of Venus’ surface from space. That’s a real feat considering that the probe is primarily only using Venus for gravity assist flybys to send it on repeated orbits around the Sun. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/02/09/nasa-captures-first-ever-visual-light-images-of-venus-surface-from-space/?sh=73809fd0287c

NASA Captures First-Ever Visual Light Images Of Venus’ Surface From Space NASA’s Parker Solar Probe captures the first visible light images of Venus’ surface from space. That’s a real feat considering that the probe is primarily only using Venus for gravity assist flybys to send it on repeated orbits around the Sun.

Knoll was a guest on Cosmic Controversy.

Meet the man who can explain the first 3 billion years of life on our planet How Earth went from an rock covered in magma oceans by comets and meteors to a green-and-blue orb teeming with life over 3 billion years is the work of paleontologist Andrew Knoll, who will be awarded the Crafoord Prize on Monday.

New book chronicles how meteorites have shaped Earth’s culture and society since time immemorial. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/01/25/5-little-known-facts-about-earth-impactors-and-meteorites/?sh=3d0fa0fd35de

5 Little-Known Facts About Earth Impactors And Meteorites New book chronicles how meteorites have shaped Earth’s culture and society since time immemorial.

New Hubble observations clearly show a massive black hole triggering rather than stifling star formation in a relatively nearby dwarf galaxy, says a new paper in the journal Nature. So, supermassive black holes not only destroy cosmic real estate, but can also create it. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2022/01/19/nasas-hubble-spots-supermassive-black-hole-that-triggers-star-formation/?sh=38fa3b32468e

NASA’s Hubble Spots Supermassive Black Hole That Triggers Star Formation New Hubble observations clearly show a massive black hole triggering rather than stifling star formation in a relatively nearby dwarf galaxy, says a new paper in the journal Nature. So, supermassive black holes not only destroy cosmic real estate, but can also create it.