Space Nuts Episodes 509-510: Filling in the Cosmic Gaps - Neptune, Lunar Dust Shields, and the Helix Nebula In this captivating episode of Space Nuts, host Heidi Campo steps in for Andrew Dunkley, joining astronomer Professor Fred Watson to explore a range of fascinating cosmic topics. From the intriguing discoveries surrounding Neptune and its auroras to the innovative solutions for lunar dust, and the dramatic story of the Helix Nebula, this episode offers a wealth of insights into the universe's mysteries. Episode Highlights: - Neptune's Aurora Discovery: The duo dives into recent observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, revealing the presence of auroras on Neptune and discussing the implications of this ice giant's active atmosphere, including its record-breaking winds. - Lunar Dust Shield Innovations: Learn about NASA's new electrodynamic dust shield designed to repel lunar regolith, enhancing the safety and efficiency of future lunar missions and potentially leading to applications on Earth. - The Helix Nebula's X-ray Glow: Fred explains the captivating story of the Helix Nebula, detailing how the remnants of a shredded planet may be responsible for its intense X-ray emissions, providing a glimpse into the life cycle of stars. - Listener Questions: The episode also features an engaging Q&A segment, addressing listener inquiries about the sun's mass loss over time, the relationship between primordial black holes and dark energy, and the complexities of black hole mergers. 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 favorite platform. 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 - Heidi Campo filling in for Andrew while he is on a break 02:43 - Heidi Martin: Neptune is one of the two ice giants in the solar system 12:42 - Sans is an ocular syndrome that astronauts experience 13:32 - Microgravity may affect eye pressure in astronauts, Heidi says 16:13 - There's a book and a TV series called the Expanse 17:16 - Could Neptune potentially be a big power generating planet with these winds 20:12 - NASA has created a new dust shield to help repel lunar regolith 21:47 - NASA is looking at ways to reduce lunar dust contamination on future missions 27:37 - A nebula's X ray glow may come from a destroyed giant planet 37:38 - David Malin perfected color imaging technique for astronomical objects in 1975 41:08 - Heidi Frum talks about the incredible contributions made to space science 44:03 - Heidi Campo: Keith Wilson has a question about the sun 47:19 - How could primordial black holes potentially relate to dark energy 51:25 - How can two black holes merge if no mass comes out 58:47 - Fred: Are there any theories about how black holes merge 01:01:18 - Could dark matter not simply be energy manifest during epoch of inflation 01:07:36 - Space Nuts podcast available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and iHeartRadio
