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Jan 2025
26m 16s

Ruby Rains, Scientific Skepticism & Spac...

Professor Fred Watson and Andrew Dunkley
About this episode
Space Nuts Episode: Gemstone Rain on Exoplanets and the Reliability of Research Papers #483
Join Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson as they explore the wonders of the cosmos in another intriguing episode of Space Nuts. This week, dive into the fascinating world of exoplanets with gemstone rain and discuss the reliability of research papers with insightful audience questions.
Episode Highlights:
- Gemstone Rain on Exoplanet WASP-121b: Discover the extraordinary exoplanet where it rains gemstones. Learn about the unique atmospheric conditions that lead to such exotic precipitation and the incredible journey of water and other materials across this tidally locked world.
- Reliability of Research Papers: Delve into a thought-provoking discussion about the accuracy of scientific research papers. Explore how often published findings might be influenced by bias or statistical errors and what this means for fields like astronomy.
- Space Debris in Kenya: Hear about the unexpected arrival of a massive metal object in a Kenyan village, identified as a separation ring from a rocket launch. Understand the implications of such events and the protocols followed under International Space Law.
- Gravitational Wave Detection Breakthrough: Learn about a new technique called optical spring tracking that could significantly enhance our ability to detect gravitational waves. Discover how this advancement could provide insights into cosmic events from the earliest moments of the universe.
For more Space Nuts, including our continually updating newsfeed and to listen to all our episodes, visit our website. Follow us on social media at SpaceNutsPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music, YouTube Music Music, Tumblr, Instagram, and TikTok. We love engaging with our community, so be sure to drop us a message or comment on your favourite platform.
For more Space and Astronomy News Podcasts, visit our HQ at www.bitesz.com.
If you'd like to help support Space Nuts and join our growing family of insiders for commercial-free episodes and more, visit spacenutspodcast.com/about
Stay curious, keep looking up, and join us next time for more stellar insights and cosmic wonders. Until then, clear skies and happy stargazing.
00:00 - This is Space Nuts, where we talk astronomy and space science
01:41 - Andrew Bennett: There's an exoplanet that rains gemstones
05:08 - You observe the star's light throughout the orbital period of the planet
12:09 - You can help support the Space Nuts podcast through Patreon or Supercast
13:47 - Bob from North Carolina has two questions for Professor Watson about scientific accuracy
22:12 - A metal object plummeted from space and landed in a Kenyan village on Tuesday
23:34 - Scientists have developed a new technique called optical spring tracking to detect gravitational waves
✍️ Episode References
WASP-121b
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WASP-121b
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
https://www.mit.edu/
Johns Hopkins University
https://www.jhu.edu/
Caltech
https://www.caltech.edu/
Hubble Space Telescope
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/main/index.html
phys.org
https://phys.org/
Astronomy Daily
https://astronomydaily.io/
Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO)
https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/


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