logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
26m 13s

Why is Jupiter called Earth’s bodyguard?

American Public Media
About this episode

Jupiter is the oldest planet in the solar system. It’s also the biggest. Some call it “Earth’s bodyguard” because it keeps asteroids and comets from hitting our planet. But is Jupiter really protecting Earth?


Join Molly and co-host Rida as they head to a live taping of everyone’s favorite space talk show, Pop Planet, and learn about Jupiter — from the gassy giant itself! Plus a mystery sound that’s out of this world!


See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
How does music get recorded and stored?
<p>Most of us take listening to music or podcasts for granted. You can find them on your phone, in the car or just about anywhere you can imagine. But, have you ever wondered how those sounds were captured in the first place? To find out, Molly and Co-host Canyon shrink down and ... Show More
30m 56s
Nov 18
Do dogs know that they're dogs?
<p>We treat dogs like they're part of the family. But do they know they are a different species, or do they think they're just short, four-legged people?</p> <p data-encore-id="text">In this episode, canine cognition researcher Alexandra Horowitz helps us puzzle out this question ... Show More
26m 18s
Nov 11
Mystery Sounds from the natural world
<p>Today&rsquo;s episode is full of Mystery Sounds from around the world. Molly and co-host Rehema are joined by sonic explorer Thomas Rex Beverly, who travels the globe to capture the sounds of the natural world. He brings us some beautiful head-scratchers that really must be he ... Show More
33m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2023
Jupiter
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, and it’s hard to imagine a world more alien and different from Earth. It’s known as a Gas Giant, and its diameter is eleven times the size of Earth’s: our planet would fit inside it one thousand three hundred times. But its mass ... Show More
53m 10s
Jan 2021
How many moons does Jupiter have?
<p><strong>Did you know that Earth isn’t the only planet with a moon? Other planets in our solar system have their own moons, too. Yes, that’s right..."moons" with an “s”.</strong></p> <p>Additional Links and Resources:</p> <p>Activities for kids who love space: <a href="https:// ... Show More
3m 39s
Oct 7
8 Little Planets
Get ready to blast off on an imagination adventure through outer space with Caitie! In this episode, we learn incredible things about the 8 planets circling the sun, and we discover just how special and precious our planet Earth is.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy ... Show More
26m 4s
Jul 2022
Space Adventure E5: Whale of a Time on Jupiter (Part 2) 🐋
Environment of Jupiter is lots of lightning and giant storms. So, Titus made a new invention, Super Interstellar Communicator, to call the black octopuses over Jupiter. Could the black octopuses land Jupiter safely? If you like this story, subscribe to the podcast and share it wi ... Show More
6m 5s
Jan 2018
Season 1, Episode 7: Jupiter with Jared Epsley
As large as 1,000 Earths, Jupiter is the heavy hitter of the solar system. Even its Great Red Spot is larger than Earth, yet it’s shrinking! In this episode of Gravity Assist, Planetary Science Director Jim Green talks with Jared Espley of NASA’s Juno mission. 
21m 32s
Feb 2020
MY ASTEROID IS BLOWING UP! (encore)
Imagine a giant asteroid is out in space and headed on a collision course with planet Earth. Your mission, is to annihilate this giant mass of space rock before it can even get close. What do you do? How do you do it? Join Mindy and Guy Raz as they travel through time and space t ... Show More
30m 43s
Apr 2022
From the Vault: Jupiter the Destroyer, Part 1
Did the planet Jupiter, like a reckless god, wreak havoc on a young solar system? Join Robert and Joe and they consider the red planet’s destructive powers on Stuff to Blow Your Mind. (originally published 3/23/2021)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
54m 11s
Apr 2024
Radiolab helps name a quasi-moon of Venus
<p>Sometimes, misunderstandings can spark beautiful adventures. This week on Planetary Radio, we explore the story behind the naming of Zoozve, a quasi-moon of Venus, with Latif Nasser, co-host of Radiolab. He shares how a typo on a space poster led the Radiolab team on an epic q ... Show More
48m 4s
Aug 2024
Hide and seek with Planet 9
<p>A ninth planet may be lurking in our Solar System out beyond Neptune. Caltech's Mike Brown and Konstantin Batygin join us to discuss their new paper, the latest evidence for Planet 9, and why they believe their hunt may soon be over. Then, Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The P ... Show More
52m 11s
Sep 2021
Is There Life on Venus? (Encore - 9/20/21)
Sci-Fi Drive-in movie night has Guy Raz and Mindy dreaming about life on other planets. And it just so happens that a team of researchers may (or may not) have discovered evidence of life on...VENUS? Join Mindy, Guy Raz, and Reggie as they head out to their favorite solar system ... Show More
27m 57s