logo
episode-header-image
Jan 12
36m 10s

Ep. 778: Dyson Swarms

Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay
About this episode
Astronomy Cast Ep. 778: Dyson Swarms By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Jan 5, 2026. Freeman Dyson asked a fascinating question. What would it look like if a civilization was using all the energy coming from their star? And what form would this take? This introduced the concept of a Dyson Sphere, or more realistically, a Dyson Swarm surrounding ... Show More
Up next
Jan 5
Ep. 777: The Eddington Limit
Astronomy Cast Ep. 777: The Eddington Limit By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Dec 29, 2025. How big can a star get? This is a calculation made by one of the original pioneers of modern astronomy, Sir Arthur Eddington. And it's named after him, the Eddington Limit. ... Show More
35m 33s
Dec 29
Ep. 776: The Matter - Antimatter Dichotomy
Astronomy Cast Ep. 776: The Matter - Antimatter Dichotomy By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Dec 22, 2025. Shortly after the big bang there were almost exactly the same amounts of matter and antimatter in the Universe, but there was just enough of a difference that ... Show More
30m 30s
Dec 22
Ep. 775: The Hydrogen 21-cm Line
Astronomy Cast Ep. 775: The Hydrogen 21-cm Line By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Dec 15, 2025. Atomic hydrogen is the raw material for stars, but there's a problem. It's cold & dark, but it can do a very rare trick, releasing a photon in a very specific wavelength ... Show More
34m 34s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2024
Could we really live on Mars?
Space-settling enthusiasts have long had an eye on Mars, and now they have the backing of the world’s richest man. Elon Musk recently claimed that humans could be on the planet by 2030 and be living there in a self-sustaining city within 20 years. But is it really that simple? Ma ... Show More
21m 25s
Mar 2025
An extinction-level event for NASA science
<p>NASA's science missions have transformed our understanding of the Universe, from breathtaking images of deep space to robotic explorers on Mars. But now, a reported 50% cut to NASA's science budget threatens to shut down missions, halt discoveries, and devastate the future of ... Show More
1h 7m
Jun 2024
#427: Martian Mysteries & Space Health: Unveiling Cosmic Secrets
This episode is brought to you thanks to NordVPN. To get the special Space Nuts and 30 day money back guarantee deals visit www.nordvpn.com/spacenuts Weird Mars Rock, Anti-Ageing in Space, and Asteroid CollisionsJoin Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson in this fascinating ep ... Show More
35m 49s
Jan 2025
Apollo Secrets, Cosmic Questions & Martian Mysteries: #484
<b>Space Nuts Episode 484: Unveiling Moon Mysteries, Fermi Paradox Insights, and Mars Terraforming Challenges - A Holiday Special Episode</b><br />Join Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson as they delve into the fascinating realms of lunar exploration, the enigmatic Fermi Par ... Show More
32m 59s
Dec 2024
Journey to the Stars with Bill Nye
<p>Could life hitchhike across planets? What color is the sky on Mars? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye, the current CEO of The Planetary Society, team up to discuss the science and advocacy that goes into space exploration, unraveling the threads of discovery that define humanit ... Show More
44m 41s
Sep 2025
Kissing Bugs, Koalas and Clues to Life on Mars
A paper published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention argues that Chagas disease is now endemic in the U.S. Koalas may finally be spared from a deadly epidemic. Meanwhile NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover has uncovered tantalizing clues about potential ancient microbia ... Show More
9m 37s
Aug 2023
Mars Life Explorer: The search for extant life on the red planet
<p>Many missions are working to understand Mars' past habitability, but could there still be microbial life on the red planet today? This week on Planetary Radio, we discuss the proposed Mars Life Explorer mission with Amy Williams, assistant professor of geology at the Universit ... Show More
57m 43s
Sep 2024
Life in a Mars Simulation with Kelly Haston
<p>What would life be like for astronauts on Mars? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-host Chuck Nice dive into the world of simulated Mars missions with Commander Kelly Haston, who recently completed a NASA analog mission in a simulated Mars habitat. </p><p>NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can l ... Show More
48m 18s
Dec 2023
A Year in Mars Dune Alpha
To prepare for the day when humans travel to Mars, NASA is conducting a one-year experiment in a Mars simulation environment. So what’s it like to spend a year in CHAPEA, the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog? In this season finale episode, travel through the airlock ... Show More
26m 21s