The sun is currently ramping up to hit the peak of its 11-year activity cycle. In the past few days, powerful solar eruptions have sent a stream of particles towards Earth which are set to produce spectacular auroras in both hemispheres. But these kinds of geomagnetic storms can also have less appealing consequences. Madeleine Finlay speaks to Dr Lisa Upton, ... Show More
Today
Is your body really full of microplastics?
Studies detecting microplastics throughout human bodies have made for alarming reading in recent years. But last week, the Guardian’s environment editor, Damian Carrington, reported on major doubts among a group of scientists about how some of this research has been conducted. Da ... Show More
14m 24s
Jan 15
The surprising science of dreams and nightmares
Ian Sample puts listeners’ questions on dreams and nightmares to Dr Michelle Carr, director of the Dream Engineering Laboratory in Montreal’s Centre for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, and author of the new book Into the Dream Lab. They look at why we dream, what we can lear ... Show More
21m 43s
Oct 2024
S27E129: Martian Volcanic Discovery, Exomoon's Volcanic Cloud, and Solar Maximum's Impact
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 129
*First Evidence of a Volcanic Splatocone on Mars
Scientists have identified what appears to be the first evidence of a volcanic splatter cone on Mars, similar to those found on Earth. This discovery, led by Ian Flynn from the University of Idaho, s ... Show More
27m 46s
Jan 2025
Parker Solar Probe's Record-Breaking Journey, Mysterious X-ray Flares, and Solar Cycle's Weather Impact: S28E03
<b>SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 03</b><br /><b>Parker Solar Probe's Historic Journey</b><br />NASA's Parker Solar Probe has made history by becoming the fastest man-made object, surviving a record-breaking close approach to the Sun's surface. The probe, travelling at an unpreceden ... Show More
26m 46s
Sep 2024
Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Episode 138: The Sun, Star of Our Cosmic Show
The Sun is the ultimate source of life in our solar system, a radiant powerhouse that bathes Earth in the energy necessary for everything from photosynthesis to weather patterns. Its warmth and light sustain us. However, the Sun’s influence isn't always benign. Its solar wind—a s ... Show More
21m 34s
Sep 2024
Chasing auroras with the Aurora Guy
<p>We are near solar maximum, a time in the solar cycle when our Sun is most active. That means more sun spots, coronal mass ejections, and auroras on worlds across our solar system. This week, Vince Ledvina, also known as the Aurora Guy, joins Planetary Radio to discuss the scie ... Show More
59m 8s
Apr 2025
Mars' Organic Mystery Unveiled, Parker Solar Probe's Solar Close Encounter
SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 40
The Astronomy, Space and Science News Podcast
Largest Organic Molecule Discovered on Mars, Parker Solar Probe's Close Encounter with the Sun, and New Insights into Earth's Formation
In this episode of SpaceTime, we discuss the remarkable discovery m ... Show More
24m 40s