Highlights:
- SpaceX's Starship Flight 9 Update: Dive into the latest developments as the FAA gives a conditional green light for SpaceX's ninth Starship flight following the explosive mishap of Flight 8. Discover the implications for air travel and the ambitious plans for the future of space exploration.
- Gilmour Space Technologies' Launch Delay: Learn about the recent postponement of Australia's first sovereign orbital launch attempt due to a nose cone malfunction. Despite the setback, the team remains optimistic about the future of Australian aerospace engineering.
- Planet Formation in Galactic Center: Explore the astonishing discovery of protoplanetary disks forming in the extreme conditions of the Milky Way's center, challenging previous notions of planetary formation and expanding our understanding of the universe.
- Evolving Dark Matter Theory: Delve into a novel proposal suggesting that dark matter may evolve over time, offering fresh insights into the Hubble tension problem and opening new avenues for research in cosmology.
- Evidence of Ancient Solar Storm: Uncover the findings surrounding the most violent solar storm in recorded history, which struck Earth 14,300 years ago. Learn how this event could inform modern space weather preparedness in our technology-dependent world.
For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, 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.
Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome to Astronomy Daily
01:10 - SpaceX's Starship Flight 9 update
10:00 - Gilmour Space Technologies' launch delay
15:30 - Planet formation in the Milky Way's center
20:00 - Evolving dark matter theory
25:00 - Evidence of ancient solar storm
✍️ Episode References
SpaceX Starship Updates
[SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com/)
Gilmour Space Technologies
[Gilmour Space](https://gilmourspace.com/)
Protoplanetary Disks Research
[Peking University](https://www.pku.edu.cn/)
Dark Matter Theory
[University of Cologne](https://www.uni-koeln.de/en/)
Ancient Solar Storm Findings
[Climate Chemistry Model](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921818121002175)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-exciting-space-discoveries-and-news--5648921/support.
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your cosmic companion
00:00:03 --> 00:00:06 for all things space. I'm Anna, and
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 I'm thrilled to bring you today's celestial roundup of
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 the most fascinating developments from across the universe.
00:00:12 --> 00:00:15 Today we're exploring a diverse constellation of
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 space news that spans from our own backyard to the very
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 heart of our galaxy. We'll start with the latest on
00:00:21 --> 00:00:24 SpaceX's Starship program, where the FAA
00:00:24 --> 00:00:27 has made some crucial decisions about Flight 9 following
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 March's explosive setback. Then we'll jet off
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 to Australia, where a Histor rocket second launch
00:00:32 --> 00:00:35 attempt was scrubbed at the last minute due to an
00:00:35 --> 00:00:38 unexpected glitch. With a most peculiar payload
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 aboard, our journey takes us deeper into space
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 as we discover something truly remarkable.
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 Planets forming in the extreme environment at the center of our
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 Milky Way, challenging what scientists thought possible
00:00:49 --> 00:00:52 about planetary formation. We'll
00:00:52 --> 00:00:55 also delve into theoretical physics with a fascinating new
00:00:55 --> 00:00:58 proposal about dark matter. Could this
00:00:58 --> 00:01:01 mysterious substance actually be evolving over time?
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 The answer might solve one of cosmology most
00:01:04 --> 00:01:07 persistent puzzles. And finally, we'll travel
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 back in time to discover evidence of what may be the most
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 violent solar storm ever to hit Earth. A
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 cosmic event so powerful it left traces we can still
00:01:15 --> 00:01:18 detect 14 years later.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 So buckle up for a journey across space and time as we
00:01:21 --> 00:01:24 explore today's biggest astronomical breakthroughs.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 Let's m start with some SpaceX news. The
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 Federal Aviation Administration has given SpaceX a
00:01:31 --> 00:01:34 conditional green light for its ninth Starship flight,
00:01:34 --> 00:01:37 approving license modifications but stopping short of
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 authorizing an immediate launch. This decision
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 comes in the wake of Flight 8's explosion in March,
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 which created significant disruptions in our skies.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:49 Before Elon Musk's massive rocket can take to the
00:01:49 --> 00:01:52 launch pad again, SpaceX must wait for the
00:01:52 --> 00:01:55 FAA to either close its investigation into the
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 Flight 8 mishap or make a specific return to
00:01:57 --> 00:02:00 flight determination. As you might recall,
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 the previous test ended dramatically when the spacecraft
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 began spinning uncontrollably with its engines cut off
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 before exploding in space. That incident
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 wasn't just a setback for SpaceX. It
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 disrupted approximately 240 flights with
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 space debris concerns forcing more than 24 aircraft
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20 into diversions. It's a stark reminder that even
00:02:20 --> 00:02:23 events happening in space can have very real consequences
00:02:23 --> 00:02:26 for air travel here on Earth. The
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 FAA is currently reviewing SpaceX's mishap
00:02:29 --> 00:02:31 report, which was only submitted on May
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 14. When Flight 9 does eventually launch,
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 we'll see expanded safety measures, including larger
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 aircraft and maritime hazard areas, both in the United States
00:02:40 --> 00:02:43 and other countries. This expansion stems
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 directly from the March explosion and reflects Another
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 notable first, SpaceX plans to
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 reuse a UH previously launched super heavy booster
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 rocket, marking an important milestone in the company's
00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 reusability goals. The impact on air travel will
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 be substantial when the launch eventually proceeds.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 The flight path will affect air routes extending
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 1 nautical miles eastward from
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 Texas through the Straits of Florida.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 Both the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos are expected
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 to close their airspace up to 6ft,
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 while the FAA will close airspace above that level.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 All told, the agency estimates about
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 175 flights will be affected.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 In a separate but related decision, the FAA
00:03:26 --> 00:03:29 has also approved increasing the number of launches at
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 SpaceX's Boca Chica, Texas
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 facility from five to as many as 25,
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 a significant expansion of operations that
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 had actually been announced back in March. While these
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 setbacks may seem disappointing, it's worth
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 remembering the ambitious nature of what SpaceX is
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 attempting to the Starship system stands at a
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 towering 403ft and represents the
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 centerpiece of Musk's vision to eventually send
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 humans to Mars, potentially as soon as the turn of the decade.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 The March explosion marked the second consecutive failure
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 in SpaceX's test launch program, following
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 another explosion in the seventh test flight.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 Both incidents occurred during early mission phases that
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 SpaceX had previously navigated successfully,
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 highlighting the ongoing challenges in developing such
00:04:15 --> 00:04:16 revolutionary technology.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 Next, an update from Australia in what
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 would have been a historic moment for Australia's space industry,
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 Gilmour Space Technologies has been forced to postpone
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 its eagerly anticipated rocket launch after
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 discovering a glitch in the nose cone mechanism.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 This would have marked the first time an Australian made rocket
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 reached orbit from Australian soil. M
00:04:39 --> 00:04:42 the company reported Friday that an electrical fault erroneously
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 triggered the opening mechanism of the carbon fiber nose
00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 cone during pre flight testing. In short,
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 the nose cone fell off. This
00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 critical component is designed to shield the payload,
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 in this case, quite charmingly, a jar of
00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 vegemite as the rocket ascends through Earth's
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 atmosphere. Fortunately, the mishap
00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 occurred before fueling began at the company's spaceport near
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 Bowen, a coastal township situated about
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 1000km north of Brisbane in Queensland.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:12 Both the rocket and ground crew were unharmed in the incident.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 CEO Adam Gilmour maintained an optimistic
00:05:16 --> 00:05:19 outlook despite the setback, stating, while we're
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 disappointed by the delay, we're already working through a
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 resolution and expect to be back on the pad soon.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 He emphasized that safety remains their highest
00:05:27 --> 00:05:30 priority, a sentiment echoed by communications
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 chief Michelle Gilmour, who noted that the team
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 is accustomed to such challenges. We do
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 rockets, they are used to setbacks.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:41 The 23 meter 3 stage ARIS rocket
00:05:41 --> 00:05:44 represents a significant achievement in Australian
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 aerospace engineering. Weighing 30 tons when
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 fully fueled, it employs a hybrid propulsion
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 system combining solid inert fuel with a
00:05:52 --> 00:05:55 liquid oxidizer. The team expects the delay
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 to last at least a few weeks as they transport a
00:05:58 --> 00:06:01 replacement nose cone to the launch site. This
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 postponement follows another delay just the previous day
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 caused by a bug in the external power system used for
00:06:07 --> 00:06:10 system checks. These consecutive
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 setbacks highlight the inherent challenges in rocket
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 development, even for a company with a decade of
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 experience in the field. The choice of
00:06:18 --> 00:06:21 Vegemite as payload speaks to the Australian
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 character of the mission, with Michelle Gilmour describing the
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 iconic spread as hardy, resilient, like
00:06:26 --> 00:06:29 Ozzies. The payload reportedly remained
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 intact despite the nosecone malfunction.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 With 230 employees and backing from venture
00:06:35 --> 00:06:38 capital group Blackbird and pension fund Hesta,
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 Gilmour, Space Technologies has ambitious plans.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:44 While this test flight has been delayed, the company
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 remains focused on beginning commercial launches by
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 late 2026 or early 2027,
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 potentially establishing Australia as a significant player
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 in in the increasingly competitive commercial space launch
00:06:56 --> 00:06:56 industry.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 Let's move on out to some space news. In a uh,
00:07:00 --> 00:07:03 groundbreaking discovery that challenges our understanding of
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 planetary formation, astronomers have found
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 evidence of protoplanetary disks forming in the most
00:07:08 --> 00:07:11 extreme environment of our galaxy, its very
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14 center. An international team from Peking
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 University, the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20 and the University of Cologne conducted the most
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 detailed survey yet of the Milky Way's central
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 molecular zone, or cmz,
00:07:25 --> 00:07:28 revealing that planets may be forming in places we never
00:07:28 --> 00:07:31 expected. Protoplanetary disks
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 are essentially cosmic nurseries, swirling
00:07:33 --> 00:07:36 rings of gas and dust surrounding young stars where
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 planets are born. Within these structures,
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 tiny dust particles collide and stick together,
00:07:42 --> 00:07:45 gradually building into pebbles, boulders, and eventually
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 planetary embryos through a process called core
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 accretion. As these embryonic planets
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 grow, they leave behind distinctive patterns that
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 astronomers can detect with advanced telescopes.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 What makes this discovery so remarkable is the location.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 The galactic center presents incredibly harsh
00:08:02 --> 00:08:05 conditions with intense radiation, strong
00:08:05 --> 00:08:08 magnetic fields, and turbulent gas clouds,
00:08:08 --> 00:08:11 environments previously thought hostile to planet
00:08:11 --> 00:08:14 formation. Yet the research team identified
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 over 500 dense cores where stars are
00:08:16 --> 00:08:19 forming under these remarkably different conditions.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 Detecting these systems was no small feat. The central
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 molecular zone is approximately 17 billion
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 astronomical units away and heavily obscured by dust.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 To overcome these challenges, the team employed the
00:08:31 --> 00:08:34 Atacama Large Millimeter Array, or alma,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:37 in Chile. This powerful radio telescope
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 combines signals from widely spaced antennas to achieve
00:08:39 --> 00:08:42 extraordinary resolution, allowing researchers to observe
00:08:42 --> 00:08:45 structures as small as 1 astronomical
00:08:45 --> 00:08:48 units. Despite the immense distance, the team
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 used a clever approach called dual band imaging
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 Capturing two wavelengths at the same resolution to gather
00:08:53 --> 00:08:56 critical data on temperature, dust composition
00:08:56 --> 00:08:59 and structure. What particularly
00:08:59 --> 00:09:02 surprised researchers was that over 70% of
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 the dense cores Appeared redder than expected,
00:09:05 --> 00:09:08 suggesting the presence of protoplanetary disks.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:12 As Feng Weishu from the University of Cologne's
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 Institute of Astrophysics described it, we were
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 astonished to see these little red dots across the
00:09:17 --> 00:09:20 whole molecular clouds. They are telling us the hidden
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 nature of dense star forming cores.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:26 The findings suggest there may be over 300 potential
00:09:26 --> 00:09:29 disk forming systems in just three CMZ clouds,
00:09:29 --> 00:09:32 opening a new window into how planetary systems might form
00:09:32 --> 00:09:35 under radically different conditions Than those near our
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 Sun. This diversity in planet forming
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 environments could have profound implications for our
00:09:40 --> 00:09:43 understanding of exoplanet populations such as throughout
00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 the Galaxy. If planets can form in the
00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 turbulent high pressure environment at the galactic center,
00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 it suggests the building blocks of planetary systems
00:09:52 --> 00:09:55 Are far more resilient and adaptable than
00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 previously thought. As astronomers continue to
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 study these distant protoplanetary disks, we
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 may soon discover whether these early formations can
00:10:03 --> 00:10:06 indeed evolve into full planetary systems and
00:10:06 --> 00:10:09 how such processes might differ across the vast
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 expanse of the Milky Way.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:15 Next up, everybody's favorite subject, dark matter.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:18 For a while now, cosmologists have been wrestling with a
00:10:18 --> 00:10:21 perplexing mystery known as the Hubble tension problem.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:24 While observations consistently support the expanding
00:10:24 --> 00:10:27 universe model, There's a troubling discrepancy.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 Measurements from the early cosmos show a lower
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 acceleration rate Than what we observe locally.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:36 This inconsistency has led scientists to propose
00:10:36 --> 00:10:39 numerous potential solutions, from questioning
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 general relativity to rethinking dark matter
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 entirely. Now a fascinating new
00:10:44 --> 00:10:47 theory has emerged that puts a fresh spin on
00:10:47 --> 00:10:50 dark matter. What if it evolves over time?
00:10:50 --> 00:10:53 This concept is particularly novel because, while evolving
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 dark energy has been proposed before, the idea of dark
00:10:56 --> 00:10:59 matter changing over time hasn't received much attention from
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 researchers. There are good reasons for this
00:11:01 --> 00:11:04 oversight. First, we have excellent observational
00:11:04 --> 00:11:07 evidence for dark matter. It appears to be some kind
00:11:07 --> 00:11:10 of material that doesn't interact strongly with light,
00:11:10 --> 00:11:13 perfectly explaining galaxy rotation curves and
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 gravitational lensing. The only major gap is
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 our inability to directly detect dark matter
00:11:18 --> 00:11:21 particles. Second, most critics of
00:11:21 --> 00:11:24 dark matter theory Focus on eliminating it entirely through
00:11:24 --> 00:11:27 alternative M models like modified gravity, rather
00:11:27 --> 00:11:30 than refining the concept. What makes this
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 new approach interesting is how it flips. Uh, our thinking.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:36 Researchers have found that models with evolving dark
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 matter and constant dark energy can produce
00:11:38 --> 00:11:41 results similar to those with constant dark matter and
00:11:41 --> 00:11:44 evolving dark energy. To match observations,
00:11:45 --> 00:11:48 they propose that dark matter must have a changeable
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 equation of state that oscillates over time.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 This isn't actually as strange as it might sound.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 Consider neutrinos. They have mass,
00:11:57 --> 00:12:00 don't interact strongly with light, and are effectively
00:12:00 --> 00:12:03 a form of hot dark matter, Though they can't account
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 for all the dark matter in the universe.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 Importantly, neutrinos undergo mass oscillation.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:12 Perhaps cold dark matter particles experience something similar.
00:12:13 --> 00:12:16 The researcher's model suggests that roughly
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 15% of cold dark matter might be
00:12:18 --> 00:12:21 oscillatory, with the remaining 85%
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 being standard dark matter. This combination
00:12:23 --> 00:12:26 would address the Hubble tension while remaining consistent
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 with our other dark matter observations.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:32 It's worth emphasizing that this remains a conceptual um,
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 model without specific constraints for dark matter
00:12:34 --> 00:12:37 particles. The researchers themselves
00:12:37 --> 00:12:40 describe it as a toy model, a simplified
00:12:40 --> 00:12:43 framework that captures essential features while omitting
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 details. Nevertheless, it opens an
00:12:45 --> 00:12:48 intriguing new avenue for dark matter research that
00:12:48 --> 00:12:51 broadens our thinking beyond conventional models
00:12:51 --> 00:12:54 as we continue to gather data and refine our understanding of
00:12:54 --> 00:12:57 the cosmos. Evolving dark matter might prove
00:12:57 --> 00:13:00 to be a valuable piece in solving one of astrophysics most
00:13:00 --> 00:13:03 persistent puzzles. At the very least, it
00:13:03 --> 00:13:06 demonstrates how creative thinking can help us tackle even the
00:13:06 --> 00:13:08 most fundamental questions about our universe.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:12 Finally, today, a little history lesson. Imagine
00:13:12 --> 00:13:15 discovering that 14 years
00:13:15 --> 00:13:18 ago, our planet was struck by a cosmic event
00:13:18 --> 00:13:21 so powerful it left physical evidence that
00:13:21 --> 00:13:24 scientists can still detect today. That's
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 exactly what researchers have uncovered. The most
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 violent solar storm in recorded history,
00:13:29 --> 00:13:32 dwarfing anything we've experienced in modern times.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:35 By examining partially fossilized tree trunks and ancient
00:13:35 --> 00:13:38 ice cores, scientists found unmistakable
00:13:38 --> 00:13:41 signatures of an extraordinary event that occurred around
00:13:41 --> 00:13:43 12 BCE.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 Using a specially developed climate chemistry model called
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 SOCOL,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:52 researchers have now confirmed this was a massive solar storm, the
00:13:52 --> 00:13:55 biggest we've ever found evidence for. To put this
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 in perspective, the ancient storm was more than
00:13:57 --> 00:14:00 500 times more intense than the largest event of the
00:14:00 --> 00:14:03 modern satellite era, which occurred in 2005. That's
00:14:03 --> 00:14:06 simply staggering when you consider the potential impacts.
00:14:07 --> 00:14:10 For those wondering how scientists can possibly know about something
00:14:10 --> 00:14:13 that happened so long ago, the answer lies in
00:14:13 --> 00:14:16 radioactive carbon 14. When the sun
00:14:16 --> 00:14:19 unleashes a, uh, powerful coronal mass ejection,
00:14:19 --> 00:14:22 essentially billions of tons of plasma with embedded
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 magnetic fields, the particles interact with our
00:14:24 --> 00:14:27 atmosphere to temporarily increase carbon 14
00:14:27 --> 00:14:30 production. This carbon 14 gets
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 incorporated into living organisms like trees,
00:14:32 --> 00:14:35 creating a distinctive spike in tree rings from that period.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:38 Since carbon 14 decays at a known rate,
00:14:39 --> 00:14:41 scientists can precisely date these events and even determine their
00:14:41 --> 00:14:44 relative strength. What makes the
00:14:44 --> 00:14:47 12 before Common Era event
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49 particularly significant is that it's the only
00:14:50 --> 00:14:53 known extreme solar particle event outside
00:14:53 --> 00:14:56 the Holocene epoch, the relatively stable
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58 warm climate period of the past 12 years.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:02 This required the researchers to develop new modeling
00:15:02 --> 00:15:05 approaches that could analyze radiocarbon data
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 under different climate conditions. The
00:15:07 --> 00:15:10 implications for our modern world are sobering.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:13 We've already seen how smaller solar storms can
00:15:13 --> 00:15:16 disrupt technology like the carrington event
00:15:16 --> 00:15:19 of 1859, which set telegraph
00:15:19 --> 00:15:22 systems ablaze worldwide, or the 1989
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 storm that caused multiple power grid failures.
00:15:25 --> 00:15:28 Now imagine something hundreds of times more powerful
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 hitting our satellite dependent, electronically
00:15:30 --> 00:15:33 interconnected civilization. This discovery
00:15:33 --> 00:15:36 establishes a new worst case scenario for space
00:15:36 --> 00:15:39 weather preparedness. Understanding the potential
00:15:39 --> 00:15:42 scale of these events is crucial for evaluating risks
00:15:42 --> 00:15:45 to modern infrastructure, from power grids and
00:15:45 --> 00:15:48 communication systems to the satellites that enable everything
00:15:48 --> 00:15:51 from GPS navigation to weather forecasting.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 While such extreme events appear to be rare on human
00:15:54 --> 00:15:57 timescales, this research reminds us that the
00:15:57 --> 00:16:00 sun is capable of far more violent outbursts than anything
00:16:00 --> 00:16:03 we've witnessed in recent centuries. As we
00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 become increasingly dependent on vulnerable technologies,
00:16:06 --> 00:16:08 the importance of space weather monitoring and developing
00:16:08 --> 00:16:11 resilient systems becomes even more critical.
00:16:12 --> 00:16:15 This ancient solar tantrum, preserved in the rings of
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 trees that stood witness to its fury, serves as
00:16:17 --> 00:16:20 both a scientific treasure and a warning from the distant past.
00:16:22 --> 00:16:25 And on that somber note, that wraps up another fascinating
00:16:25 --> 00:16:28 journey through our cosmos. From the earthbound
00:16:28 --> 00:16:31 challenges facing SpaceX's Starship and Australia's
00:16:31 --> 00:16:34 budding rocket program, to the mind bending
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 discoveries of planets forming in our galaxy's heart
00:16:37 --> 00:16:40 and the possibility of evolving dark matter, we've
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 covered quite the astronomical landscape today.
00:16:43 --> 00:16:46 And that ancient solar storm revelation really puts
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 things in perspective, doesn't it? A cosmic
00:16:48 --> 00:16:51 event 500 times more powerful than anything we've
00:16:51 --> 00:16:54 experienced in modern times reminds us just how
00:16:54 --> 00:16:57 dynamic and sometimes temperamental our stellar
00:16:57 --> 00:17:00 companion can be. I'm Anna and I've been
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00:17:36 --> 00:17:39 and I'd love to share them with you. Until
00:17:39 --> 00:17:42 tomorrow, keep looking up the cosmos never ceases
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 to amaze.