Scientists have found a menagerie of complex organic compounds on the comet visited by the Rosetta spacecraft that connect it with the birth of our solar system.
Yesterday
Total solar eclipse 2026: Astrophotography and birdsong
On August 12th, 2026, the Moon’s shadow will sweep across Iceland, Greenland, and Spain, bringing the first total solar eclipse visible from Europe since 1999. And because this eclipse happens near sunset, it promises to be one of the most visually stunning in living memory. Astr ... Show More
57m 26s
Aug 5
LHS 1140b: The first atmosphere detected on a rocky habitable-zone exoplanet
For the first time, scientists have confirmed an atmosphere on a rocky exoplanet in the habitable zone of another star. Sarah Al-Ahmed is joined by Collin Cherubim, NASA Hubble Fellow at the University of Chicago, to discuss his team's detection of helium escaping from the super- ... Show More
57m 19s
Jul 2025
Celestial Discoveries: The Oldest Comet, Pulsar Insights, and Axiom Space's Successful Splashdown
In this episode of SpaceTime, we explore the latest cosmic revelations, including the astonishing discovery of an ancient interstellar comet, the intricate workings of a rare pulsar, and the safe return of the Axiom 4 crew from their mission.Ancient Interstellar Comet 3I/AtlasAst ... Show More
23m 1s
Jul 2025
Interstellar Discoveries: The Arrival of Comet 3I Atlas and the Mars Sample Race
In this episode of SpaceTime, we dive into the latest astronomical discoveries and the implications for future space exploration.New Interstellar Visitor: Comet 3I AtlasAstronomers have identified a new interstellar object, designated 3I Atlas, which is currently traversing our s ... Show More
26 m
Sep 2025
How Webb Illuminates Stars’ Cloudy Origins
In the space between stars, dark clouds of gas, dust, and ice mingle in a chemical laboratory unlike any on Earth. Ewine van Dishoeck, an astronomer who studies molecules in space and who helped develop an instrument aboard NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, explains how Webb is ... Show More
22m 43s
Oct 2025
Enceladus’s Alien Ocean, Ancient Fungi and the Flavor of Influenza
Saturn’s moon Enceladus reveals complex organic molecules that could hint at extraterrestrial life. Researchers also uncover fungi’s ancient reign over Earth and warn that second COVID infections may pose greater risks to young people. Plus, ants ferment yogurt, and flu detection ... Show More
9m 47s
Aug 2021
Lucy in the Sky With Asteroids
How did the planets form? How did life happen? Where did Earth’s water come from? To answer questions like these, scientists used to go big—looking at planets, dwarf planets, and moons—but now small is the new big. Technology is zooming in on the pint-size stuff—asteroids, comets ... Show More
28m 51s