- New Insights on Trappist 1d: Join us as we explore the latest findings regarding the exoplanet Trappist 1d, which, despite its Earth-like size and rocky surface, has been ruled out as a potential twin due to the absence of a suitable atmosphere. Discover what this means for the search for life beyond our solar system and the implications of red dwarf stars on planetary atmospheres.
- - Colorado's Lunar Surface Simulator: Travel closer to home as we discuss an innovative lunar surface simulator built at the Colorado School of Mines. This impressive facility is testing lunar rovers and excavation equipment, providing vital data for future Moon missions and commercial activities.
- - Controversial Executive Order on Rocket Launches: Delve into the recent executive order signed by President Trump aimed at streamlining regulations for commercial rocket launches. We examine the balance between fostering innovation and ensuring environmental safeguards, as well as the mixed reactions from industry leaders and environmental advocates.
- - Supermassive Black Hole Awakens: Marvel at the discovery of a supermassive black hole located 6 billion light years away, caught in the act of awakening. This unprecedented observation offers insights into the early stages of black hole activity and its influence on galaxy formation, providing a unique opportunity to study these cosmic giants.
- 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 Ena and Avery signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
Trappist 1d Study
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Lunar Surface Simulator Information
[Colorado School of Mines](https://www.mines.edu/)
Executive Order Details
[Federal Aviation Administration](https://www.faa.gov/)
Black Hole Discovery
[University of Bologna](https://www.unibo.it/en)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Anna: Welcome back to Astronomy Daily, your daily
00:00:03 --> 00:00:06 dive into the cosmos. I'm Ena.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 Avery: And I'm Avery. We're so glad you could join us today for another
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 fascinating journey through the latest in space and
00:00:11 --> 00:00:12 astronomy news.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 Anna: Today, uh, we're going to travel light years away to
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 discuss new findings about a distant
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 exoplanet that's not quite Earth's
00:00:20 --> 00:00:21 twin.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:24 Avery: Then we'll shift gears and get down to Earth,
00:00:24 --> 00:00:27 specifically to Colorado, where a new lunar
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 surface simulator is putting Moon machinery to the test.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 Anna: And for those interested in the policy side of space,
00:00:33 --> 00:00:36 we'll be looking at a controversial executive order
00:00:36 --> 00:00:39 aiming to cut red tape for commercial
00:00:39 --> 00:00:40 rocket launches.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:43 Avery: Finally, we'll marvel at a cosmic M giant caught
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 in the act of waking up billions of light years
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 away, giving us unprecedented insight into black
00:00:49 --> 00:00:50 holes.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 Anna: Kicking off our news, let's talk about
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 exoplanets. Specifically one that has
00:00:56 --> 00:00:59 long captivated astronomers. Surviving, searching for life
00:00:59 --> 00:01:00 beyond our solar system.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 Trappist1d this
00:01:03 --> 00:01:06 planet is incredibly intriguing because
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 it's similar in size to Earth, it's
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 rocky, and it resides in an area around
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 its star where liquid water on its surface
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 is theoretically possible.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 Avery: That sounds incredibly promising, like a real contender
00:01:19 --> 00:01:22 for another habitable world. What's the latest?
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 Anna: Well, Avery, a new study using data from
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 the NASA ESA CSA James Webb,
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 Space Telescop, has unfortunately
00:01:31 --> 00:01:34 delivered some sobering news. Despite
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 all Those promising characteristics,
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 Trappist1d does not have an Earth like
00:01:39 --> 00:01:40 atmosphere.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 Avery: Oh, that's a bit of a letdown. An atmosphere
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 is pretty crucial for habitability, isn't it?
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 Anna: Absolutely. A protective atmosphere
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 along with a friendly star and liquid water
00:01:52 --> 00:01:53 is what makes Earth so special.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 Astronomers are really on a mission with Webb to
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 determine just how unique our home planet is.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 Caroline Pialet Goryeb, the lead author of the study,
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 put it clearly stating that while Webb is
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 allowing them to explore this question for Earth sized
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 planets for the first time, they can now rule
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 out Trappist1d from a list of potential Earth
00:02:15 --> 00:02:16 twins or cousins.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 Avery: So what exactly did Webb's instruments find,
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 or rather not find?
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 Anna: Webb's near infrared Spectroscope or near
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 spec instrument did not detect
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 molecules common in Earth's atmosphere like
00:02:29 --> 00:02:31 water, methane or carbon. D.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 Pialit Goryeb outlined a few possibilities
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 for Trappist1d. It could have an
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 extremely thin atmosphere similar to Mars,
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 or perhaps very thick high altitude
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 clouds like Venus that are blocking their detection
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 of specific atmospheric signatures.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:52 Or it could simply be a, uh, barren rock with
00:02:52 --> 00:02:53 no atmosphere at all.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 Avery: That's quite a range of possibilities from Mars like
00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 to Venus like or even completely
00:02:59 --> 00:02:59 barren.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 Anna: Indeed. And it highlights some of the
00:03:02 --> 00:03:05 inherent challenges of planets orbiting red
00:03:05 --> 00:03:08 dwarf stars like Trappist 1.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:11 This star, while dim and relatively cold,
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 is known to be quite volatile. It often
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 releases flares of high energy radiation,
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 which have the potential to strip, uh, away the
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 atmospheres of its small planets, especially
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 those orbiting closest.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 Avery: Right. So even if a planet starts with an
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 atmosphere, these stellar flares could just blast it
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 away over time. But why are scientists still so
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 motivated to look for atmospheres around these specific
00:03:35 --> 00:03:36 planets?
00:03:36 --> 00:03:39 Anna: Because red dwarf stars are the most common
00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 stars in our galaxy. If planets can
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 hold onto an atmosphere in such a harsh environment
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 under waves of intense stellar radiation,
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 it really changes our understanding of where
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 life might be possible. And Bjorn Benike,
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 a co author of the study, mentioned that Webb's
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 sensitive infrared instruments are allowing them to
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 delve into the atmospheres of these smaller, colder
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 planets for the first time. They're just starting to
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 define the line between planets that can hold onto an
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 atmosphere and those that can't.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 Avery: So is all hope lost for the Trappist 1 system
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 as a whole? Are there any other planets in that
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 system that might still be candidates for an atmosphere?
00:04:19 --> 00:04:21 Anna: Not at all. In fact, Webb observations of
00:04:21 --> 00:04:24 the outer Trappist 1 planets are still ongoing.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 Planets E, F, G, and H
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 are further away from the energetic eruptions of
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 their host star, which means they might have a
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 better chance of retaining their atmospheres.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 Avery: That's encouraging. So there's still a chance for the
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 Trappist 1 system to host worlds with significant
00:04:41 --> 00:04:44 atmospheres, even if Trappist 1D isn't one
00:04:44 --> 00:04:45 of them.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 Anna: Um, exactly. As Pilat Gaheleb
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 said, all hope is not lost for atmospheres around
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 the Trappist 1 planets. While they didn't
00:04:53 --> 00:04:56 find a strong atmospheric signature at Planet
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59 D, there's still potential for the outer planets
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 to hold onto a lot of water and other atmospheric
00:05:02 --> 00:05:05 components. Ryan McDonald, another co
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 author, emphasised that their detective work
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 is just beginning, and this research
00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 reinforces how truly special Earth
00:05:13 --> 00:05:14 is in the cosmos.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 Avery: Speaking of special places and innovative research,
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 let's pivot from distant exoplanets to something
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 a little closer to home, but still very much out
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 of this world, the Moon. There's an
00:05:26 --> 00:05:29 impressive new facility in Colorado that's literally
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 bringing the lunar surface down to Earth.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 Anna: That's right, Avery. The Colorado School of Mines
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 has built a massive simulated moonscape,
00:05:37 --> 00:05:40 and it's being put to work testing lunar rovers,
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 evaluating lunar landing and launch pads,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 excavation gear, and all sorts of other hardware
00:05:46 --> 00:05:49 for future Moon missions. It's all about getting
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 a practical understanding of how to work
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 effectively with robotic spacecraft on the
00:05:54 --> 00:05:55 lunar surface.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 Avery: A simulated moonscape. That sounds
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 fascinating. How large is the facility?
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 Anna: It's quite substantial. Ian Jean, an
00:06:03 --> 00:06:06 adjunct professor and structural engineer at the school,
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 confirmed that the MINES lunar surface simulator
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 is up and running and being used almost daily.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 They filled it with over 110
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 tonnes, or 100 metric tonnes, of
00:06:18 --> 00:06:21 lunar regolith simulant. Imagine
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 having that much simulated moon dust.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 Avery: Wow, that's a lot of simulant. What kind
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 of projects are they running there?
00:06:28 --> 00:06:31 Anna: Currently, one of the key projects underway is
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 called aspect, which stands for Autonomous
00:06:33 --> 00:06:36 Site Preparation and Excavation
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 Compaction and Testing. It's part of
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 NASA's Lunar Surface Technology research programme,
00:06:41 --> 00:06:44 aiming to demonstrate automated lunar site
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 preparation. The ASPECT rover is fully
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 autonomous and equipped for regolith excavation,
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 moving boulders and surface compaction.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 Avery: That's crucial for future lunar bases and sustained
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 presence on the moon. Building such a unique
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 facility must have presented a lot of challenges.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 Anna: Absolutely. Chris Dreyer, director of
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 engineering at the Colorado School of Mine's Centre for
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 Space Resources, highlighted several.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 Beyond sourcing such a large quantity of
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 high quality lunar regolith simulant,
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 affordably the structure itself needed to be
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20 dust tight and, um, waterproof. They even built a
00:07:20 --> 00:07:23 gantry system inside to track rover movements.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 And an assistant, professor, Frankie Zhu,
00:07:26 --> 00:07:29 developed a motion capture system to model rover
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 mobility.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:33 Avery: So it's not just a big sandbox, it's a
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 meticulously engineered testing environment.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 Anna: Exactly. Dreier noted that the entire
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 process, from planning to construction, took
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 over a year. And he now understands why there
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 are so few equivalent testbeds globally.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 It's a testament to the complexity and dedication
00:07:50 --> 00:07:53 involved. But it's also open for innovation.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 Attracting external partners, that's really smart.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 Avery: Creating a resource for the broader commercial space industry.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 Are companies already using it?
00:08:01 --> 00:08:04 Anna: Yes, indeed. A Colorado based company is
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 building robotic infrastructure, including a rover
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 called Eagle, with the goal of opening the moon
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 for further exploration and commercial activity.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:16 Interlune, a Seattle based startup focused on
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 commercialising space resources like
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 harvesting helium 3 from the moon, is also
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 interested. And Neurospace
00:08:24 --> 00:08:27 from Berlin recently evaluated its
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 modular rover platform, the Hiver, at the
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 facility.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:33 Avery: So this isn't just about NASA or government missions.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 It's a hub for private companies looking.
00:08:35 --> 00:08:38 Anna: To make their mark on the moon too precisely.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:41 Irene Salvanathan, CEO of
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 Neurospace, mentioned they're identifying
00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 the minimum technology needed to build
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 inexpensive, affordable and
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 scalable rovers. The Hive R, for
00:08:51 --> 00:08:54 example, is modular, flexible and can
00:08:54 --> 00:08:57 even repair itself. Dreyer
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 reiterated that they're always looking for opportunities
00:08:59 --> 00:09:02 to support technology development from
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 startups, established aerospace companies
00:09:04 --> 00:09:07 and academia. He sees vast
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 opportunities for the testbed in lunar
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 excavation, construction, mobility
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 sensing and dust mitigation.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 Avery: This simulator truly sounds like a cornerstone for
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 future lunar exploration and commercial endeavours,
00:09:22 --> 00:09:25 enabling companies to test their innovations right here on
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 Earth before sending them to the moon.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:30 Anna: Absolutely, Avery. And speaking of
00:09:30 --> 00:09:33 testing things before they head to space, our
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 next story deals with how we're regulating those very
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 launches here on Earth.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 There's been some significant news regarding changes to the
00:09:40 --> 00:09:43 rules governing commercial rocket launches.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 Avery: Yes, it's a topic that's often debated in the space
00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 industry. The balance between fostering rapid
00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 innovation and ensuring safety and
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 environmental protection. President Donald Trump
00:09:54 --> 00:09:57 recently signed an executive order. That's stirring up a lot of
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 discussion about exactly that.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 Anna: That's right. On Wednesday, President
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 Trump signed an executive order directing government
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 agencies to eliminate or
00:10:08 --> 00:10:11 expedite environmental reviews for commercial
00:10:11 --> 00:10:14 launch and re entry licences. The
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 Federal Aviation Administration, or
00:10:16 --> 00:10:19 faa, which is part of the Department of
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 Transportation, is the primary agency that grants
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 these licences.
00:10:23 --> 00:10:26 Avery: So the goal is to reduce what's often referred to as red
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 tape for companies in the commercial space sector.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 Anna: Precisely. This push for deregulation
00:10:31 --> 00:10:34 is expected to be particularly welcomed by
00:10:34 --> 00:10:37 companies like SpaceX, which conducts the
00:10:37 --> 00:10:40 vast majority of commercial launches and re
00:10:40 --> 00:10:43 entries licenced by the faa. The
00:10:43 --> 00:10:46 order specifically directs Transportation Secretary
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 Sean Duffy, who's also the acting
00:10:48 --> 00:10:51 Administrator of NASA, to use all
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 available authorities to fast track these
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 environmental review.
00:10:55 --> 00:10:58 Avery: And it's not just about environmental reviews, is it? I recall there
00:10:58 --> 00:11:01 were also regulations that the industry found
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 burdensome.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:05 Anna: You're spot on. The executive order also
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 includes a clause directing defy to re
00:11:07 --> 00:11:10 evaluate, amend or even rescind
00:11:10 --> 00:11:13 a set of launch safety regulations known as
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 Part 450. These rules were actually
00:11:16 --> 00:11:19 written during the first Trump administration and went
00:11:19 --> 00:11:22 into effect in 2021. But space
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 companies have since complained they are too
00:11:24 --> 00:11:27 cumbersome and have actually slowed down the
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 licence approval process.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:32 Avery: So a past attempt at streamlining ironically
00:11:32 --> 00:11:35 created new hurdles. What else does the order aim to
00:11:35 --> 00:11:35 achieve?
00:11:35 --> 00:11:38 Anna: It goes further. Trump ordered NASA,
00:11:38 --> 00:11:41 the military and the Department of Transportation
00:11:41 --> 00:11:44 to eliminate duplicative reviews for spaceport
00:11:44 --> 00:11:47 development, especially at federally owned
00:11:47 --> 00:11:50 launch ranges like Cape Canaveral in Florida or
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 or Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:56 The administration also plans to make the head of
00:11:56 --> 00:11:59 the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation
00:11:59 --> 00:12:02 a political appointee rather than a career
00:12:02 --> 00:12:05 civil servant, and elevate the Office of Space
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 Commerce.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:09 Avery: It sounds like a comprehensive effort to reshape the
00:12:09 --> 00:12:12 regulatory landscape for commercial spaceflight.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:15 What's the stated policy goal behind all these changes?
00:12:15 --> 00:12:18 Anna: The Executive Order clearly states it
00:12:18 --> 00:12:21 is the policy of the United States to enhance
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 American greatness in space by
00:12:23 --> 00:12:26 enabling a, uh, competitive launch marketplace
00:12:26 --> 00:12:29 and substantially increasing commercial space
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 launch cadence and novel space
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 activities by 2030.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 Essentially, they want to streamline approvals to
00:12:36 --> 00:12:39 boost the US based operators. However,
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 as with any significant policy change,
00:12:42 --> 00:12:45 there's always a flip side and concerns raised.
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 What have environmental groups said about this order?
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 Avery: There's been significant criticism. Jared
00:12:51 --> 00:12:54 Margolis, a senior attorney for the Centre for
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 Biological Diversity, voiced strong
00:12:56 --> 00:12:59 opposition, stating that this reckless order
00:12:59 --> 00:13:02 puts people and wildlife at risk from private
00:13:02 --> 00:13:05 companies launching giant rockets that often
00:13:05 --> 00:13:08 explode and wreak devastation on surrounding areas.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:11 He added that bending the knee to powerful
00:13:11 --> 00:13:14 corporations by allowing federal agencies to ignore
00:13:14 --> 00:13:17 bedrock environmental laws is incredibly
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 dangerous and puts all of us in harm's way.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:23 Anna: So the concern is that expediting these reviews might
00:13:23 --> 00:13:26 compromise environmental safeguards and public
00:13:26 --> 00:13:29 safety. Exactly. The changes
00:13:29 --> 00:13:32 to the environmental review process, particularly
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 regarding the National Environmental Policy act
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 or nepa, are considered the most
00:13:37 --> 00:13:40 controversial part of the order. NEPA
00:13:40 --> 00:13:43 requires federal agencies to evaluate the
00:13:43 --> 00:13:46 environmental effects of their actions. The the White House
00:13:46 --> 00:13:49 has directed the Transportation Department to
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 identify activities not subject to
00:13:51 --> 00:13:54 NEPA and establish exclusions for
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 launch and re entry licences.
00:13:57 --> 00:14:00 Avery: On the other hand, those in favour argue that
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 these changes are vital for the growth and
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 competitiveness of the US space industry.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 Anna: That's the perspective from Secretary Duffy,
00:14:07 --> 00:14:10 who argued the order is important to sustain
00:14:10 --> 00:14:13 economic growth. He said, by slashing
00:14:13 --> 00:14:16 red tape, tying up spaceport construction,
00:14:16 --> 00:14:19 streamlining launch licences so they can occur at
00:14:19 --> 00:14:22 scale and creating high level space positions
00:14:22 --> 00:14:25 in governments, we can unleash the next wave of
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 innovation. Lara Forsyk, founder of
00:14:27 --> 00:14:30 the space consulting firm Astrolytical,
00:14:30 --> 00:14:33 also noted that while the Biden Administration knew
00:14:33 --> 00:14:36 reforms were needed for commercial launch regulations,
00:14:36 --> 00:14:39 little was done and she hopes this executive order
00:14:39 --> 00:14:41 will spur more action.
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 Avery: And what about the industry itself?
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 Anna: Dave Cavosa, president of the Commercial Space
00:14:46 --> 00:14:49 Flight Federation, applauded the move, stating that
00:14:49 --> 00:14:52 it will strengthen and grow the US commercial space
00:14:52 --> 00:14:55 industry by cutting red tape while maintaining a
00:14:55 --> 00:14:58 commitment to public safety. It's interesting to note
00:14:58 --> 00:15:01 that while the NEPA aspect is controversial, the
00:15:01 --> 00:15:04 attempt to reform or rescind the Part 450
00:15:04 --> 00:15:07 launch and re entry regulations actually appears to
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 have bipartisan support in Congress.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:12 Avery: So there's a recognised need for regulatory
00:15:12 --> 00:15:15 efficiency, but the specific approach,
00:15:15 --> 00:15:18 especially concerning environmental oversight, is
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 where the disagreement lies.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:23 Anna: Yes, and the order even seeks to limit the
00:15:23 --> 00:15:26 authority of state officials in enforcing their
00:15:26 --> 00:15:29 own environmental rules related to spaceport
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 construction or operation. This is
00:15:31 --> 00:15:34 especially relevant after the California Coastal
00:15:34 --> 00:15:37 Commission recently rejected a proposal by
00:15:37 --> 00:15:40 SpaceX to double its launch cadence at
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 Vandenberg's Space for Space.
00:15:42 --> 00:15:45 Avery: This really highlights the complex interplay between
00:15:45 --> 00:15:48 federal policy, state regulations, and the
00:15:48 --> 00:15:51 rapidly advancing private space industry. It's
00:15:51 --> 00:15:54 clear that finding the right balance will be an ongoing challenge.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 Anna: It definitely is, Avery.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:59 And moving from the complexities of earthbound
00:15:59 --> 00:16:02 regulations to the truly cosmic,
00:16:02 --> 00:16:05 our next story takes us billions of light years
00:16:05 --> 00:16:08 away to witness something incredible. The a
00:16:08 --> 00:16:11 supermassive black hole caught in the very act
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 of switching on.
00:16:12 --> 00:16:15 Avery: That sounds absolutely fascinating, Anna. Uh, a black
00:16:15 --> 00:16:18 hole waking up. That's quite an image. Tell
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 us more about this cosmic alarm clock.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:23 Anna: This discovery centres on a galaxy cluster
00:16:23 --> 00:16:26 called Chips 1911,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:30 uh, 4455, located an
00:16:30 --> 00:16:33 incredible 6 billion light years from Earth.
00:16:33 --> 00:16:36 At its heart lies a supermassive black
00:16:36 --> 00:16:39 hole that has only recently turned on,
00:16:39 --> 00:16:42 roughly a thousand years ago. While that
00:16:42 --> 00:16:45 might sound like a long time to us, in
00:16:45 --> 00:16:48 astronomical terms, it's truly just a blink of
00:16:48 --> 00:16:51 an eye. Lead researcher
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 Francesco Ubertosi from the University
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56 of Bologna described it as like
00:16:56 --> 00:16:59 watching a sleeping giant wake up.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 The team used an array of powerful telescopes,
00:17:03 --> 00:17:05 including the Very Long Baseline
00:17:05 --> 00:17:08 Array and Very Large Array, to
00:17:08 --> 00:17:11 peer deep into space with remarkable
00:17:11 --> 00:17:14 precision. Imagine being able to read a
00:17:14 --> 00:17:17 newspaper in Los Angeles while standing
00:17:17 --> 00:17:20 in New York. That's the kind of detail they
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 achieved.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:24 Avery: That's an astonishing level of detail. So what
00:17:24 --> 00:17:26 makes this newly awakened black hole so special
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 compared to others?
00:17:28 --> 00:17:31 Anna: What's unique is that it's essentially a
00:17:31 --> 00:17:34 newborn in terms of its activity. The
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 jets of material it's shooting out extend
00:17:36 --> 00:17:39 only about a hundred light years from its centre.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:42 While that sounds like enormous, it's actually
00:17:42 --> 00:17:45 tiny by black hole standards. Mature
00:17:45 --> 00:17:48 black holes in similar systems can create
00:17:48 --> 00:17:51 jets stretching for tens of thousands of light
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 years. Most black holes astronomers
00:17:53 --> 00:17:56 study have been active for millions of years,
00:17:57 --> 00:18:00 which makes it very difficult to understand how they
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 first begin to influence their surroundings.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:05 This newly awakened black hole provides a
00:18:05 --> 00:18:08 unique before picture, showing
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 scientists what happens in the earliest stages
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 of black hole activity.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:16 Avery: So it's like a cosmic laboratory, allowing them to
00:18:16 --> 00:18:19 study the very first moments of a black hole's influence.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:22 Anna: Precisely. Co author Mariam
00:18:22 --> 00:18:25 Giddey from the University of Bologna
00:18:25 --> 00:18:28 noted that the jets are so young and
00:18:28 --> 00:18:31 small that they haven't had time to push away
00:18:31 --> 00:18:33 the surrounding hot gas. This creates a
00:18:33 --> 00:18:36 perfect natural laboratory for studying
00:18:36 --> 00:18:39 how black holes first begin to influence
00:18:39 --> 00:18:42 their cosmic neighbourhood. And here's
00:18:42 --> 00:18:45 another intriguing detail. While the black hole
00:18:45 --> 00:18:47 itself is just waking up. The
00:18:47 --> 00:18:50 galaxy around it is anything but
00:18:50 --> 00:18:53 sleepy. This galaxy is creating new
00:18:53 --> 00:18:55 stars at an astounding rate. Between
00:18:56 --> 00:18:59 140 and 190 times
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 the mass of our sun every single year.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:05 Avery: That's an incredible rate. For perspective, our
00:19:05 --> 00:19:08 entire Milky Way galaxy only forms about one
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 sun's worth of stars annually.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:13 Anna: Exactly. The researchers believe they
00:19:13 --> 00:19:16 may actually be witnessing this smoking gun
00:19:16 --> 00:19:19 of how black holes get triggered in the first
00:19:19 --> 00:19:22 place. The hot gas surrounding this black hole
00:19:22 --> 00:19:24 is cooling very efficiently, which
00:19:24 --> 00:19:27 potentially provides the fuel needed to
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 wake up the black hole.
00:19:28 --> 00:19:31 Avery: That makes sense. It's like pouring fuel onto a
00:19:31 --> 00:19:34 fire. So understanding how supermassive
00:19:34 --> 00:19:37 black holes wake up must have significant implications
00:19:37 --> 00:19:39 for our understanding of the universe.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:43 Anna: Absolutely. Understanding how they wake
00:19:43 --> 00:19:45 up helps solve fundamental questions about
00:19:45 --> 00:19:48 how galaxies evolve. These black
00:19:48 --> 00:19:51 holes play a crucial role in regulating
00:19:51 --> 00:19:54 star formation and shaping the largest
00:19:54 --> 00:19:56 structures in the universe. By catching
00:19:56 --> 00:19:59 one in the act of awakening, it's
00:19:59 --> 00:20:01 possible to finally study this process
00:20:02 --> 00:20:05 as it unfolds, rather than just seeing the
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 end result.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:09 Avery: And, um, I imagine this kind of discovery requires
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 combining data from multiple sources.
00:20:11 --> 00:20:14 Anna: It did. The discovery required combining
00:20:14 --> 00:20:17 observations from multiple telescopes,
00:20:17 --> 00:20:20 each providing different pieces of the puzzle.
00:20:20 --> 00:20:23 Some offered ultra high resolution to see
00:20:23 --> 00:20:26 the tiny jets, while others provided the
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 sensitivity needed to detect faint
00:20:28 --> 00:20:31 signals from star formation. As the
00:20:31 --> 00:20:34 research team continues, they hope to watch
00:20:34 --> 00:20:37 how this black hole evolves over time and
00:20:37 --> 00:20:40 find more similar systems. This could
00:20:40 --> 00:20:43 truly revolutionise our understanding of
00:20:43 --> 00:20:45 how the universe's most powerful
00:20:45 --> 00:20:48 objects first begin to shape the cosmos
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 around them.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:52 Avery: What an incredible journey we've had today. From the
00:20:52 --> 00:20:55 intriguing, yet ultimately not earth, like
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 Trappist1d to the innovative Lunar
00:20:57 --> 00:20:59 Surface Simulator here on Earth.
00:20:59 --> 00:21:02 Anna: And let's not forget the important discussion about
00:21:02 --> 00:21:05 commercial space regulations and the
00:21:05 --> 00:21:08 truly groundbreaking discovery of a black hole
00:21:08 --> 00:21:11 caught in the act of awakening. It's been a
00:21:11 --> 00:21:13 packed episode of Cosmic Insights.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:16 Avery: It certainly has, Anna. Uh, we hope all our
00:21:16 --> 00:21:18 listeners enjoy today's exploration of the
00:21:18 --> 00:21:21 universe's latest news. Thank you for tuning in
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 to Astronomy.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:25 Anna: Daily, and we look forward to bringing you
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 more fascinating stories from across the
00:21:27 --> 00:21:30 cosmos very soon. Until next time,
00:21:30 --> 00:21:33 space explorers, keep looking up at our
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 wonderful cosmos.