- Groundbreaking Evidence of Stellar Demise: Astronomers have captured stunning visual evidence of a star's double detonation, revealing new insights into type 1A supernovae and their role in measuring the universe's expansion rate. We discuss the implications of this discovery and how it reshapes our understanding of stellar explosions.
- - Revolutionary Algae Bioplastics for Mars: Explore the innovative potential of bioplastics derived from green algae, which could enable self-sustaining habitats on Mars. This technology could transform how we approach building on other planets while also offering sustainability solutions for Earth.
- - Skywatching Alert: ISS and Tiangong: For skywatchers, we share tips on spotting the International Space Station and China's Tiangong Space Station in the pre-dawn sky. Learn about their orbits and how to track their visibility, providing a unique opportunity to witness these incredible feats of engineering.
- - The Universe's Fate: A Big Crunch? A new study proposes that our universe might eventually face a big crunch in approximately 33.3 billion years, challenging long-held views on cosmic expansion. We delve into the research that supports this theory and its implications for our understanding of dark energy.
- - The Martian Meteorite Auction: Discover the story behind the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth, a meteorite set to auction for up to $4 million. We discuss its origins, scientific significance, and the debate surrounding its sale versus preservation for public study.
- For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
Stellar Demise Evidence
[European Southern Observatory](https://www.eso.org/)
Algae Bioplastics Research
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Skywatching Resources
[Heavens Above](https://heavens-above.com/)
Big Crunch Study
[Cornell University](https://www.cornell.edu/)
Mars Meteorite Auction
[Sotheby's](https://www.sothebys.com/)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your ultimate
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 guide to the latest in space and astronomy
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 news. I'm Anna, your host and today
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 we're diving into the groundbreaking visual
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 evidence of a star's double detonation
00:00:11 --> 00:00:14 demise, shedding new light on cosmic
00:00:14 --> 00:00:17 expansion. Then we'll explore how
00:00:17 --> 00:00:19 revolutionary algae bioplastics could enable
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 self sustaining habitats on Mars. For all
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 you skywatchers, I'll share how you can spot
00:00:24 --> 00:00:27 both the International Space Station and and
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 China's Tiangong Station in the pre dawn sky.
00:00:29 --> 00:00:31 This week. We'll also discuss a new study
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 suggesting the universe might be headed for a
00:00:33 --> 00:00:36 big crunch in billions of years. And
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 finally, we'll talk about the largest piece
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 of Mars ever found on Earth. A massive rock
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 set for auction and the debate surrounding
00:00:43 --> 00:00:43 it.
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 It's going to be an exciting journey, so
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 let's get started. For the first
00:00:49 --> 00:00:52 time ever, astronomers have captured stunning
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 visual evidence of a star's dramatic exit,
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 a double detonation that marks its explosive
00:00:57 --> 00:01:00 death. This groundbreaking discovery
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 centres around a type of stellar explosion
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 known as a type 1a supernova, which plays an
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 absolutely crucial role in our understanding
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 of the universe. These specific supernovas
00:01:10 --> 00:01:13 are not just spectacular cosmic fireworks.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 They are vital for accurately measuring the
00:01:15 --> 00:01:18 universe's expansion rate, a topic currently
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 at the heart of a major cosmological debate.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 What's more, type 1A supernovas are also the
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 primary source of iron found throughout the
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 cosmos, making their explosion mechanisms a
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 puzzle astronomers are keen to solve. The
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 evidence for this twin eruption was found by
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 scientists studying two concentric rings of
00:01:35 --> 00:01:36 calcium surrounding
00:01:36 --> 00:01:40 SNR0509.67.5,
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 which is the remnant of a star that met its
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 explosive end centuries ago. While
00:01:44 --> 00:01:46 astronomers have long theorised that white
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 dwarfs, the dense husks of dead stars,
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 typically explode after steadily accumulating
00:01:51 --> 00:01:53 material from a companion star until they
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 reach a critical mass known as the
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 Chandrasekhar limit. Hints have suggested
00:01:57 --> 00:02:00 other mechanisms might be at play. Using the
00:02:00 --> 00:02:02 European Southern Observatory's Very Large
00:02:02 --> 00:02:05 Telescope, researchers found those two
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 distinct calcium rings, which offer clear
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 proof that white dwarfs can indeed detonate
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 well before reaching the Chandrasekhar mass
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 limit. This confirms the existence of the
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 double detonation mechanism in nature. The
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20 proposed scenario is fascinating. The white
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 dwarf first blankets itself in stolen helium
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 from its neighbour. This helium then ignites,
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 sending a shockwave inward that causes the
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 dead star's core to ignite in a second, much
00:02:30 --> 00:02:33 larger explosion. Studying these dual
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 detonations has profound implications,
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 particularly for how we use type 1A
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 supernovas as standard candles,
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 cosmic benchmarks that explode with
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 consistent Brightness, allowing astronomers
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 to measure vast distances and calculate the
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 universe's expansion rate. This tangible
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 evidence not only helps solve a ah, long
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 standing mystery, but also offers a truly
00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 visual spectacle revealing the inner workings
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 of such a dramatic cosmic event.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:03 Moving on, let's head over to Mars. Imagine
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 building a home on Mars that literally grows
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 itself. It sounds like something out of
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 science fiction, but scientists are making
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 strides towards this very possibility with a
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 revolutionary new bioplastic derived from
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 green algae. This innovation could be a game
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 changer for human missions to other worlds,
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 tackling the immense challenge and cost of
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 transporting building materials from Earth.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 The concept is elegantly simple. If a
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 habitat is constructed from this bioplastic
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 and it can grow algae within its structure,
00:03:31 --> 00:03:32 that algae can then produce even more
00:03:32 --> 00:03:35 bioplastic. This creates a self sustaining
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 closed loop system that could allow
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 extraterrestrial settlements to not only
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 sustain themselves, but also expand over
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 time. It truly echoes the living
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 ships seen in sci fi classics like Stargate
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 Atlantis or Star Trek. In lab
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 experiments, researchers successfully
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 recreated the challenging atmospheric
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 conditions of Mars, where the air pressure is
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 significantly lower and the atmosphere is
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 rich in carbon dioxide. Despite these
00:04:01 --> 00:04:04 harsh conditions, a common green algae called
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 Dunaliella tertiolecta thrived inside
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 a 3D printed growth chamber made from this
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 new bioplastic, which is a type of
00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 polylactic acid. The bioplastic
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 material proved crucial, blocking harmful UV
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 radiation while still allowing enough light
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 to penetrate for photosynthesis. Critically,
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 the chamber also created a pressure gradient
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 that allowed liquid water to stabilise within
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 its walls, a key element for life that is
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 otherwise unstable on the Martian surface.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 This research indicates that even on
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 seemingly barren worlds, organic growth could
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 be harnessed to construct human habitats.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 This builds upon previous work by the same
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 team, which showed that sheets of silica
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 aerogels could mimic Earth's greenhouse
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 effect to enable biological growth on other
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 planets. Combining these two lines of
00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 research could pave the way for a truly
00:04:53 --> 00:04:56 sustainable human presence beyond Earth. The
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 next step for the team is to demonstrate that
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 these bioplastic habitats can be grown in a
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 vacuum, simulating conditions for missions
00:05:03 --> 00:05:06 to other deep space locations like the Moon.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 Beyond the exciting prospects for space
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 exploration, this kind of biomaterial
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 technology is expected to have significant
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 spin off benefits for sustainability here on
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 Earth, offering innovative solutions for our
00:05:18 --> 00:05:19 own planet's future.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 Okay, let's make a quick trip back to Earth.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 For skywatchers across most of the US and
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 southern Canada, and indeed for many in North
00:05:27 --> 00:05:30 America and Europe, there's a fantastic
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 opportunity this week to witness two of
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 humanity's largest orbiting outposts within
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 minutes of each other. I'm talking about the
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 International Space Station or iss, and
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 China's Tiangong Space Station. If you're up
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 during the pre dawn hours, you might even
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 catch both in the sky at the same time on
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 certain mornings. It's truly remarkable how
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 many satellites now orbit Earth, though. Most
00:05:52 --> 00:05:55 of the over 30 objects are space
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 junk, too small to see with the unaided eye.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 But there are about 500 that are large enough
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 and low enough in orbit to be visible. As the
00:06:03 --> 00:06:06 distinguished British scientist Desmond King
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 Healy once put it, a satellite looks like a
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 star that has taken leave of its senses and
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 decided to move off to another part of the
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 sky. The International Space
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 Station is by far the biggest and brightest
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 of these man made objects. Imagine
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 something almost the length of a football
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 field, including the end zones. Powered
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 by solar arrays longer than a Boeing
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 777's wingspan.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 Orbiting at an average altitude of about
00:06:31 --> 00:06:34 416 kilometres and moving at a
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37 staggering 28 kilometres per hour,
00:06:37 --> 00:06:40 the ISS completes roughly 15.5
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 orbits per day. Because of its massive
00:06:42 --> 00:06:45 size and highly reflective solar panels, it
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 can appear up to two and a half times
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 brighter than Venus and sometimes even flare
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 to an incredible magnitude, making it much
00:06:52 --> 00:06:55 brighter than any star. Then there's
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 Tiangong, China's Heavenly Palace Space
00:06:57 --> 00:07:00 Station. While smaller than the ISS,
00:07:00 --> 00:07:03 about 1/5 the size, it's still a prominent
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 object in the night sky. It orbits at a
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 slightly lower altitude of about 393
00:07:08 --> 00:07:11 kilometres and can appear as bright as Venus
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14 or Jupiter on its most favourable passes.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 Currently, between the ISS and Tiangong,
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 there are 14 humans living and working in
00:07:20 --> 00:07:23 space. Now, if you're wondering when and
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 where to look, it's easier than you might
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 think. From now through the end of July,
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 North Americans and Europeans will have
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 numerous chances to spot both stations,
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 primarily because nights are shorter,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 allowing these low Earth orbit satellites to
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 remain illuminated by the sun for longer
00:07:40 --> 00:07:43 periods. Since both stations circle
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 earth roughly every 90 minutes, you might
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 even catch them on several consecutive
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 passes. They have slightly different orbital
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 altitudes and inclinations, which makes
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 seeing them simultaneously a less common
00:07:54 --> 00:07:57 event. But it is possible to find out the
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 exact viewing schedule for your specific
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 location. I highly recommend visiting either
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 Chris Peet's Heavens above website or NASA's
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 spot the station. Both are excellent
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 resources. Heavens above allows you to input
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 your precise latitude and longitude to
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 generate accurate sighting data for both the
00:08:13 --> 00:08:16 ISS and Tiangong. NASA's
00:08:16 --> 00:08:19 Spot the Station offers a widget where you
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 simply enter your location and it provides
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 details like the time of the flyover, how
00:08:23 --> 00:08:26 long it will be visible, its maximum height
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 in the sky, and the direction it will appear
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 and disappear from your view. Just remember
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 that predictions can change slightly due to
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 orbital adjustments, so it's a good idea to
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 check frequently for updates. Happy sky
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 gazing.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 Next up, let's talk about an old, yet
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 mysterious dark energy
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 for generations, humanity has looked up at
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 the stars and pondered the ultimate fate of
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 our universe. Will it expand forever into the
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 cold, empty vastness, or is there a more
00:08:53 --> 00:08:56 dramatic end in store? A new study published
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 by physicists from Cornell University,
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 Shanghai, Jiao Tong University, and other
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 institutions suggests we might finally have a
00:09:03 --> 00:09:06 surprising and specific answer. Using data
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 from several astronomical surveys, including
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 the Dark Energy Survey and the Dark Energy
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 Spectroscopic Instrument, researchers have
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 developed a model that predicts our universe
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 will meet its end in a big crunch in
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 approximately 33.3 billion years.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:25 Considering the universe is currently 13.8
00:09:25 --> 00:09:28 billion years old, this gives us roughly 20
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 billion years before the curtain falls. This
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 prediction challenges the long held
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 assumption that the universe will expand
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 indefinitely. Instead, it suggests that after
00:09:38 --> 00:09:41 reaching its maximum expansion in about 7
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 billion years, the universe will begin to
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 contract until everything eventually
00:09:45 --> 00:09:48 collapses back into a single point. The key
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 to this theory lies in understanding dark
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 energy, the mysterious force that makes up
00:09:52 --> 00:09:55 about 70% of the universe and drives its
00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 expansion. For a long time, it was assumed
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 that dark energy behaved like a cosmological
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 constant, maintaining a steady pressure that
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 pushed space apart indefinitely. However,
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 recent observations hint that dark energy
00:10:08 --> 00:10:11 might actually be dynamic. The researchers
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 propose a model involving an ultralight
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 particle called an axion, combined with
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 what's known as a negative cosmological
00:10:17 --> 00:10:20 constant. You can think of it like a massive
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 rubber band. Initially, the universe expands
00:10:22 --> 00:10:25 as this rubber band stretches, but eventually
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 the elastic force becomes stronger than the
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 expansion, causing everything to snap back
00:10:30 --> 00:10:33 together. According to this new model, the
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 universe will continue expanding, but at a
00:10:35 --> 00:10:38 gradually slowing rate until it reaches its
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 maximum size, about 69%
00:10:40 --> 00:10:43 larger than today in roughly 7 billion
00:10:43 --> 00:10:46 years. Then gradual contraction
00:10:46 --> 00:10:49 will begin as gravitational forces and
00:10:49 --> 00:10:52 the negative cosmological constant take over,
00:10:52 --> 00:10:54 leading to a rapid collapse in the final
00:10:54 --> 00:10:57 moments. It's important to note that this
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 prediction comes with significant
00:10:58 --> 00:11:01 uncertainty. The researchers acknowledge
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 that their model has large margins of error
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 due to limited observational data, and the
00:11:06 --> 00:11:09 negative cosmological constant that drives
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 their prediction remains highly speculative.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:14 Alternative scenarios, including eternal
00:11:14 --> 00:11:16 expansion, are still very much on the table.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 What makes this research particularly
00:11:19 --> 00:11:22 exciting is isn't just the prediction itself,
00:11:22 --> 00:11:25 but the fact that we may soon be able to test
00:11:25 --> 00:11:28 it. Several m major astronomical
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 projects Launching in the coming years are
00:11:30 --> 00:11:33 set to provide much more precise measurements
00:11:33 --> 00:11:36 of dark energy's behaviour. These future
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 observations could potentially confirm,
00:11:38 --> 00:11:41 refine or even rule out the Big Crunch
00:11:41 --> 00:11:44 scenario entirely once and for all.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:47 Even if confirmed, a 20 billion year
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 countdown hardly constitutes an immediate
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 crisis for us. To put it in perspective,
00:11:51 --> 00:11:54 complex life on Earth has only existed for
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 about 600 million years. 20 billion
00:11:56 --> 00:11:59 years represents a time frame so vast that
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 our sun will have died and our galaxy will
00:12:01 --> 00:12:04 have collided with Andromeda long before any
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 cosmic collapse even begins.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 Nevertheless, this research represents a
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 remarkable achievement in our understanding
00:12:10 --> 00:12:13 of the cosmos, providing us with a concrete
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 timeline for what could be the most dramatic
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 event possible. The end of the universe
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 itself.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:22 Shifting gears from the vast cosmic scale to
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 something a little closer to home, or at
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 least closer to Earth, we have a fascinating
00:12:26 --> 00:12:29 story about a very special rock. The most
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 massive piece of Mars ever found here on
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 Earth could soon sell for up to US$4 million
00:12:34 --> 00:12:37 in a Sotheby's auction later this month. This
00:12:37 --> 00:12:40 incredible meteorite, officially named NWA
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 16788, weighs a staggering
00:12:42 --> 00:12:45 24.67 kilogrammes, or about
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 54.39 pounds. That makes it
00:12:47 --> 00:12:50 approximately 70% larger than the previous
00:12:50 --> 00:12:53 record holder, another Martian meteorite
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 found in mali back in 2021.
00:12:56 --> 00:12:58 This massive chunk of Mars was discovered by
00:12:58 --> 00:13:01 a meteorite hunter in November
00:13:01 --> 00:13:04 2023 in the sparsely populated
00:13:04 --> 00:13:07 Agadez region of Niger, an area more
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 renowned for its dinosaur fossils than its
00:13:09 --> 00:13:12 meteorites. The Shanghai Astronomy
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 Museum confirmed the rock's Martian identity
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 after a small sample was sent there. And now
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 this interplanetary treasure has a
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 significant price tag. According to the
00:13:21 --> 00:13:24 Sotheby's listing, the meteorite shows
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 minimal terrestrial weathering, which means
00:13:26 --> 00:13:29 its physical and chemical makeup haven't been
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 significantly altered since it landed in the
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 Sahara Desert. In other words,
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 NWA 16
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 is likely a relatively recent arrival on
00:13:38 --> 00:13:41 Earth, having fallen from outer space not too
00:13:41 --> 00:13:44 long ago. Its characteristics tell us a
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 lot about its journey. Based on a high
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 percentage of a glass called maskelynite,
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 along with some shock melted areas,
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 scientists believe this rock was likely sent
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 hurtling through space when a severe asteroid
00:13:55 --> 00:13:58 crashed into Mars. The Sotheby's listing
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 further explains that the meteorite was
00:14:00 --> 00:14:03 formed from the slow cooling of Martian magma
00:14:03 --> 00:14:06 and and is characterised by a coarse grained
00:14:06 --> 00:14:09 texture, primarily composed of pyroxene,
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 masculinite and olivine.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:15 However, the sale of such a rare specimen has
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 sparked a debate among some scientists.
00:14:17 --> 00:14:20 Palaeontologist Steve Brusot from the
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 University of Edinburgh expressed concern to
00:14:22 --> 00:14:25 CNN stating that it would be a shame if it
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 disappeared into the vault of an oligarch,
00:14:27 --> 00:14:30 suggesting it belongs in a museum where it
00:14:30 --> 00:14:33 can be studied and enjoyed by the public. On
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 the other hand, planetary scientist Julia
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 Cartwright from the University of Leicester
00:14:37 --> 00:14:40 offered a different perspective, telling CNN
00:14:40 --> 00:14:43 that the scientific interest will remain and
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 the new owner may be very interested in
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 learning from it, meaning we could still
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49 gather a lot of science from this unique
00:14:49 --> 00:14:52 find. The Sotheby's auction is scheduled to
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 begin on July 16th.
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 That brings us to the end of another
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 fascinating episode of Astronomy Daily. I
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 hope you've enjoyed exploring the latest
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 cosmic revelations with me. From the
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 explosive end of distant stars and the
00:15:05 --> 00:15:08 potential for life sustaining habitats on
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 Mars, to the visible wonders of our orbiting
00:15:10 --> 00:15:12 space stations and the grand theories about
00:15:12 --> 00:15:15 the universe's ultimate fate. And
00:15:15 --> 00:15:17 of course, the journey of that very special
00:15:17 --> 00:15:20 Martian rock. It's been a pleasure sharing
00:15:20 --> 00:15:23 these stories with you. Before we sign off, I
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 want to extend a huge thank you for tuning
00:15:24 --> 00:15:27 in. If you want to catch up on all the latest
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29 space and astronomy news or listen to any of
00:15:29 --> 00:15:32 our previous episodes, be sure to visit our
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 website at astronomydaily IO. That's
00:15:34 --> 00:15:37 astronomydaily IO. You can
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 also subscribe to Astronomy Daily on Apple
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 get your podcasts. To ensure you never miss
00:15:43 --> 00:15:46 an episode, I'm Ana, your host, and I look
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 forward to joining you again tomorrow for
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 more captivating insights from the universe.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 Until then, keep looking up.