logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
32m 59s

Apollo Secrets, Cosmic Questions & Marti...

Professor Fred Watson and Andrew Dunkley
About this episode
Space Nuts Episode 484: Unveiling Moon Mysteries, Fermi Paradox Insights, and Mars Terraforming Challenges - A Holiday Special Episode
Join Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson as they delve into the fascinating realms of lunar exploration, the enigmatic Fermi Paradox, and the challenges of terraforming Mars in this captivating episode of Space Nuts. Packed with scientific insights and thought-provoking discussions, this episode promises to ignite your curiosity about the cosmos.
Episode Highlights:
- Unsealing Apollo's Secrets: Discover the intriguing story behind the recently opened lunar sample from the Apollo 17 mission. Learn why scientists waited 50 years to examine this precious material and what it could reveal about landslides on the Moon and its geological mysteries.
- Fermi Paradox Explored: Dive into the Fermi Paradox with a listener's question about the formation of life and elements beyond iron. Explore the possibilities of why we haven't encountered extraterrestrial civilizations and the implications for our place in the universe.
- Terraforming Mars: Engage in a speculative discussion about the feasibility of reactivating Mars' core to sustain an atmosphere. Explore the challenges of creating a habitable environment on the Red Planet and the limitations posed by its size and magnetic field.
- Space News with Anna: Get the latest updates on SpaceX's upcoming Starship test flight and Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket debut. Learn about the exciting advancements in satellite deployment and the future of heavy-lift launch vehicles.
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 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 - Andrew Dunkley welcomes Professor Fred Watson to Space Nuts
02:13 - Apollo astronauts brought back 2,196 samples from the moon in 1960s
09:41 - The Moon is once again drawing a lot of attention with ambitious plans
12:38 - If you want to become a patron of our podcast, you can do so online
13:59 - Question comes from Simon from Newcastle about the formation of elements and Fermi paradox
15:33 - The Fermi paradox is about where is everybody in the universe
22:16 - Without an active core Mars will not be able to sustain an atmosphere
28:26 - SpaceX is gearing up for their seventh Starship test flight on January 10
30:17 - Blue Origin preparing to launch their first New Glenn rocket on January 6th
32:38 - Space Nuts is a twice weekly podcast from Bitesz. com
✍️ Episode References
NASA
https://www.nasa.gov
Apollo 17 mission
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_17
Artemis mission
https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis/
SpaceX Starship
https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/
Blue Origin New Glenn
https://www.blueorigin.com/new-glenn/
James Webb Space Telescope
https://www.jwst.nasa.gov
Enrico Fermi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrico_Fermi
Galileo's experiment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo%27s_Leaning_Tower_of_Pisa_experiment
Astronomy Daily
https://www.astronomydaily.io
Bitesz.com
https://www.bitesz.com


Become a...
Up next
Nov 21
Meteor Showers, Mars Missions & the Mystery of Stranded Astronauts
<b>Sponsor Details:<br /></b>This episode of Space Nuts is brought to you with the support of<b> NordVPN. </b>To get our special Space Nuts listener discounts and four months free bonus, all with a 30 day money back guarantee, simply visit<b> <a href="https://nordvpn.com/spacenut ... Show More
54m 53s
Nov 17
Expanding Universes, Space Elevators & the Enigma of Gale Crater
<b>Sponsor Details:</b><br />This episode of Space Nuts is brought to you with the support of <b>NordVPN</b>. To get our special <b>Space Nuts listener discounts and four months free bonus</b>, all with a 30 day money back guarantee, simply visit <a href="https://nordvpn.com/spac ... Show More
43m 8s
Nov 13
Comet Conundrums, Cosmic Shutdowns & The Mars Remains Controversy
3I Atlas, Human Remains on Mars, and Moon Formation InsightsIn this thought-provoking episode of Space Nuts, hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Jonti Horner dive into some controversial and intriguing topics in the realm of space exploration. From the latest on Comet 3I Atlas and ... Show More
52m 2s
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
S27E59: Venus's Vanishing Vapors: The Mystery of a Bone-Dry Planet
Embark on an interplanetary journey with SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 59, where we unravel the enigmatic atmosphere of Venus and its waterless environment. Discover the startling new study that suggests Venus lost its water reserves to space, leaving it with a mere fraction of Ear ... Show More
25m 51s
Feb 2025
Bennu's Building Blocks of Life, Asteroid YR4's Threat, and Lunar Dome Mysteries: S28E15
<b>SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 15</b><br /><b>The Astronomy, Space and Science News Podcast</b><br /><b>Building Blocks of Life on Asteroid Bennu,</b> New Asteroid Threat, and Lunar Dome Mission<br />In this episode of SpaceTime, we uncover groundbreaking discoveries from the ast ... Show More
29m 8s
Apr 2025
Uranus' Rotational Secrets Revealed, ISS Welcomes New Crew
Exploring Uranus's Rotational Secrets, New Crew at the ISS, and the Dangers of Space Travel In this episode of SpaceTime, we delve into groundbreaking measurements of Uranus's rotational rate, achieved with unprecedented accuracy by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. This new techniq ... Show More
19m 36s
Oct 2
E110 - Black Holes, Ancient Civilisations & The Search For Alien Life | David Kipping
» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship & cognitive optimisation.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/Website: https://hackyou.media/David Kipping studies exoplanets and the search ... Show More
1h 47m
Feb 2025
Sample Return Missions - What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
This time Dr Becky Smethurst and Izzie Clarke discover why it’s touch and go when it comes to returning asteroid samples to Earth and hear how we’ve been exchanging spit with Mars since the dawn of the Solar System. The team is joined by Dr Sara Russell, a meteorite researcher at ... Show More
46m 40s
Sep 2024
2024 NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Symposium: Part 1 - Human hibernation and swarming Proxima Centauri
<p>Join us on a journey to the 2024 NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Symposium. We'll hear from the teams behind two NIAC projects that could help us study distant planets and potentially reach them ourselves. Marshall Eubanks from Space Initiatives, Inc. and his colleagu ... Show More
57m 12s
Oct 8
Chris Hadfield’s Fictional Universe Is Rooted in Real Space History
What happens when a real-life astronaut turns to fiction? In this episode, Chris Hadfield shares how decades of spaceflight and global diplomacy inspired his latest novel, Final Orbit, a cold war thriller packed with historical intrigue and technical precision. Host Rachel Feltma ... Show More
10m 52s
Nov 6
The Moon (Archive Episode)
After 27 years, Melvyn Bragg has decided to step down from the In Our Time presenter’s chair. With over a thousand episodes to choose from, he has selected just six that capture the huge range and depth of the subjects he and his experts have tackled. In this first pick, we hear ... Show More
43m 30s
Feb 2024
S27E17: Ancient Lake on Mars Confirmed - Excitement Ensues
Get Our Exclusive 60% off Incogni deal here ➼ <a href="https://incogni.com/stuartgary" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://incogni.com/stuartgary</a> or use the checkout code STUARTGARY. It's the peace of mind you need online made easy!<br /><br /><b>The Space, Astr ... Show More
36m 44s