1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,799 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to Astronomy Daily, your premier source for 2 00:00:02,839 --> 00:00:06,000 all things space and astronomy. I'm Anna and I'm thrilled 3 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:08,320 to be your guide through the Cosmos. Today, we have 4 00:00:08,359 --> 00:00:11,919 an absolutely packed episode for you with some truly groundbreaking 5 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:16,239 developments in space exploration and astronomical research. The headlines are 6 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:20,359 buzzing with SpaceX's latest achievement, the historic fram two mission 7 00:00:20,359 --> 00:00:22,760 that has just sent the first ever human spaceflight over 8 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,000 Earth's poles. We'll dive into what makes this mission so 9 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,559 special and the unique experiments the crew will be conducting 10 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,079 as they circle our planet in a way no humans 11 00:00:32,079 --> 00:00:34,920 have done before. But that's just the beginning of our 12 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:39,000 cosmic journey. Today, we'll also explore how SpaceX is ramping 13 00:00:39,079 --> 00:00:43,000 up its launch schedule to unprecedented levels, with multiple missions 14 00:00:43,039 --> 00:00:46,799 taking off in rapid succession this week alone. Then we'll 15 00:00:46,799 --> 00:00:50,759 head to Mars, where NASA's Perseverance Rover is conducting fascinating 16 00:00:50,799 --> 00:00:54,200 tests on space suit materials, giving us crucial data for 17 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,679 future human exploration of the Red planet. The harsh Martian 18 00:00:57,759 --> 00:01:02,039 environment poses unique challenges for astronaut safety, and this research 19 00:01:02,079 --> 00:01:04,840 could be key to overcoming them. We'll also check in 20 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:09,200 with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams, who recently 21 00:01:09,239 --> 00:01:11,400 returned to Earth after what was supposed to be a 22 00:01:11,439 --> 00:01:15,079 brief mission turned into a nine months day aboard the 23 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:20,159 International Space Station. And finally, we'll explore new research suggesting 24 00:01:20,239 --> 00:01:23,799 something truly mind bending that dark matter could actually be 25 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:29,560 affecting planetary rotation, potentially making planets spin faster. This could 26 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,480 have profound implications for how we understand our own Earth 27 00:01:32,519 --> 00:01:36,359 and distant exoplanets. So strap in for a journey across 28 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,439 our Solar System and beyond as we explore the latest 29 00:01:39,439 --> 00:01:43,680 and most fascinating developments in space science and astronomy. Let's 30 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:48,040 kick things off with today's big story. SpaceX has made 31 00:01:48,079 --> 00:01:50,959 history with the first ever human spaceflight to circle Earth 32 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:54,239 over its poles. The private fram two mission lifted off 33 00:01:54,239 --> 00:01:57,480 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March thirty 34 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:01,000 first at nine forty six pm Eastern Time, carrying four 35 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:04,120 space travelers into a unique polar orbit that no human 36 00:02:04,159 --> 00:02:07,799 has experienced before. The crew launched aboard the crew Dragon 37 00:02:07,879 --> 00:02:11,759 capsule Resilience, which has now completed its fourth space mission 38 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:16,599 after previously supporting crew ie Inspiration four and Polaris Dawn. 39 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,240 Falcon nine booster B one thousand eighty five powered the 40 00:02:20,319 --> 00:02:24,360 launch for its sixth flight before successfully landing on SpaceX's 41 00:02:24,439 --> 00:02:28,240 Drone ship a shortfall of gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. 42 00:02:29,159 --> 00:02:32,479 This groundbreaking mission is commanded by Chun Wang of Malta, 43 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,960 who is joined by an international team including vehicle commander 44 00:02:36,039 --> 00:02:40,639 Janecke Michelson from Norway, pilot Rabea Roga of Germany, and 45 00:02:40,719 --> 00:02:44,800 Australian medical officer and mission specialist Eric Phillips. All four 46 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:48,240 are first time space travelers, making this journey even more remarkable. 47 00:02:49,199 --> 00:02:53,599 After reaching orbit, SpaceX's Bill Gerstenmeier radioed the crew, saying 48 00:02:54,319 --> 00:02:56,840 Dragon on behalf of the Falcon team were honored to 49 00:02:56,879 --> 00:02:59,919 deliver you safely to your polar orbit. Enjoy the v 50 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:02,639 use of the poles, Send us some pictures, and our 51 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:04,800 hearts and minds will be flying with you as you 52 00:03:04,879 --> 00:03:08,240 go over the poles. The mission is named after the 53 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:12,719 famous Norwegian exploration ship Fram, which ventured into both Arctic 54 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:16,439 and Antarctic regions in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. 55 00:03:17,199 --> 00:03:22,000 Fram translates to forward or onward in Norwegian. A fitting 56 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:25,000 name for this pioneering spaceflight that carries the same spirit 57 00:03:25,039 --> 00:03:28,599 of exploration into Earth orbit. During their three to five 58 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,000 days in space, the crew will conduct twenty two scientific 59 00:03:32,039 --> 00:03:36,159 experiments that leverage their unique orbital path. These include the 60 00:03:36,199 --> 00:03:39,280 first ever attempt to grow mushrooms in the microgravity environment 61 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:41,800 of space, and operating a machine that will capture the 62 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:44,840 first X ray images of the human body while in orbit. 63 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:49,840 Additional studies will investigate how spaceflight and microgravity affect the 64 00:03:49,919 --> 00:03:56,080 human musculoskeletal system. FRAM two represents SpaceX's seventeenth human spaceflight 65 00:03:56,159 --> 00:04:00,800 overall and its sixth private crude mission. What makes this 66 00:04:00,879 --> 00:04:04,199 launch particularly notable is that it came just seventeen days 67 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:07,759 after SpaceX's previous astronaut launch Crew ten to the International 68 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:11,280 Space Station, marking the shortest interval between SpaceX Creude missions 69 00:04:11,319 --> 00:04:15,479 to date. Upon completion of their orbital journey, the FRAM 70 00:04:15,479 --> 00:04:18,600 two crew will make history again with the first Pacific 71 00:04:18,639 --> 00:04:22,759 Ocean splash down for a SpaceX Crude mission. Previous Dragon 72 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:25,680 capsules have all landed in the Atlantic off Florida's coast, 73 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:28,800 but the company is shifting returns to the West coast 74 00:04:29,079 --> 00:04:31,879 to minimize risk to people and property during re entry. 75 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:35,800 In one final research opportunity, the crew will forego the 76 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:39,879 typical medical assistance normally provided to astronauts returning from space, 77 00:04:40,319 --> 00:04:44,360 allowing scientists to study how their bodies readapt to Earth's 78 00:04:44,399 --> 00:04:49,879 gravity without intervention, valuable data for future space exploration missions. 79 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:54,079 Speaking of launches, let's turn our attention now to this 80 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:58,279 week's schedule. It's been an exceptionally busy period for SpaceX, 81 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:02,399 with this week alone featuring five planned Falcon nine launches. 82 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,279 The company's impressive cadence kicked off with the Starlink Group 83 00:05:06,319 --> 00:05:10,199 six eighty mission from Cape Canaveral, which lifted off just 84 00:05:10,319 --> 00:05:14,399 hours before the historic FRAM two flight. This Starlink deployment 85 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,720 carried a record twenty eight of SpaceX's upgraded V two 86 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:21,600 Mini Optimized satellites to orbit, marking the first time these 87 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:25,399 enhanced satellites have launched from the East Coast. The rapid 88 00:05:25,439 --> 00:05:30,839 fire succession of launches showcases SpaceX's growing operational capability. Just 89 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,519 consider that the booster used for the Starlink six eighty 90 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:37,480 mission was making its seventeenth flight after a turnaround of 91 00:05:37,519 --> 00:05:41,000 only forty one days, numbers that would have seemed impossible 92 00:05:41,079 --> 00:05:44,199 just a few years ago. Looking ahead through the week, 93 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:48,879 SpaceX has scheduled three more Starlink missions. On April first, 94 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:52,920 Falcon nine is set to launch Starlink Group eleven thirteen 95 00:05:52,959 --> 00:05:56,439 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, followed by two 96 00:05:56,519 --> 00:06:00,360 additional deployments, Starlink Group eleven eleven on April five and 97 00:06:00,399 --> 00:06:04,199 Starling Group six seventy two on April sixth from opposite 98 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:07,240 coasts of the United States. The timing between the Fram 99 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:09,920 two Crude mission and the previous Crew ten launch to 100 00:06:09,959 --> 00:06:13,120 the International Space Station set a new record for SpaceX, 101 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:16,240 with just two weeks and three days separating these human 102 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:21,160 space flights. This compressed timeline demonstrates the maturity of SpaceX's 103 00:06:21,199 --> 00:06:24,920 human spaceflight program and the reliability of their Falcon nine 104 00:06:24,959 --> 00:06:29,639 and Dragon systems. While SpaceX dominates the launch schedule this week, 105 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:33,279 they're not alone in reaching for orbit. China also has 106 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:36,600 two launches planned, with their chang Jeng two D rocket 107 00:06:36,639 --> 00:06:39,639 scheduled to lift off on April first, followed by what 108 00:06:39,759 --> 00:06:41,759 might be one of the final flights of the chung 109 00:06:41,879 --> 00:06:44,360 Jang six rocket later in the week from the Taiyuan 110 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:49,000 Satellite Launch Center. The increasing frequency of SpaceX launches has 111 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:52,720 become almost routine, but it represents a fundamental shift in 112 00:06:52,759 --> 00:06:56,879 space access. Just a decade ago, achieving this many orbital 113 00:06:56,920 --> 00:07:00,000 launches across an entire year would have been considered remark 114 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:04,199 maarkable for a single company. Now SpaceX is demonstrating the 115 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:08,160 capability to achieve that in a single week while simultaneously 116 00:07:08,199 --> 00:07:12,639 conducting historic human spaceflight missions and expanding their global satellite 117 00:07:12,639 --> 00:07:18,040 Internet constellation. This operational tempo not only serves SpaceX's commercial interests, 118 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,879 but also provides crucial experience for NASA's future crude missions 119 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:24,600 and demonstrates the kind of launch cadence that will be 120 00:07:24,639 --> 00:07:30,000 necessary as humanity expands its presence beyond Earth. Let's go 121 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:33,199 to Mars now for an update. This is fascinating. While 122 00:07:33,199 --> 00:07:36,600 the Perseverance rover's primary mission on Mars focuses on searching 123 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:40,360 for signs of ancient microbial life, it's also quietly conducting 124 00:07:40,439 --> 00:07:44,079 crucial research that could directly impact the safety of future 125 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:48,120 human explorers. For the past four years, the rover has 126 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:51,240 been exposing small swatches of space suit materials to the 127 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:54,759 harsh Martian environment in what amounts to the ultimate real 128 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:59,560 world test. These material samples, each measuring just three quarters 129 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:03,079 of an inch square, are attached to a calibration target 130 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:07,399 for the rover's sherlock instrument. The selection includes pieces that 131 00:08:07,439 --> 00:08:10,759 would be integral to any Mars astronaut's protective gear, a 132 00:08:10,759 --> 00:08:15,120 polycarbonate helmet visor vectrin used in glove palms for cut resistance, 133 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:18,959 two variations of teflon with dust repelling properties, and a 134 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:24,560 complex material called orthofabric. The ortho fabric is particularly interesting 135 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:28,920 as it combines multiple protective layers nomechs for flame resistance 136 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:33,639 like firefighter gear, breathable gortex, and kevlar for tear resistance, 137 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:38,320 similar to what's used in bulletproof vests. Together, these materials 138 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:41,679 represent the building blocks of what future Martian explorers might wear. 139 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:45,559 Mars presents an extremely hostile environment for both humans and 140 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:49,480 their equipment. Unlike Earth, with its protective magnetic field that 141 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:52,960 deflects much of the Sun's radiation, Mars lost its magnetic 142 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,519 shield billions of years ago, along with most of its atmosphere. 143 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:00,759 This leaves the surface exposed to intense ultraviolet radiation that 144 00:09:00,799 --> 00:09:05,559 can rapidly degrade materials. Add to this, the planet's freezing temperatures, 145 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:10,360 find dust particles that can infiltrate mechanisms, and corrosive perchlurates, 146 00:09:10,759 --> 00:09:13,799 toxic salts that permeate the Martian soil, and you have 147 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:16,919 an environment engineered to break down almost anything we might 148 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:21,519 send there. Mark Fryes of NASA's Johnson Space Center explains 149 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:25,120 the forward thinking nature of this experiment. This is one 150 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:28,240 of the forward looking aspects of the Rover's mission, not 151 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:31,440 just thinking about its current science, but also about what 152 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,840 comes next. We're preparing for people to eventually go and 153 00:09:34,879 --> 00:09:39,120 explore Mars. The data being collected is particularly valuable because 154 00:09:39,159 --> 00:09:43,279 it shows how quickly different materials degrade. Remarkably, about half 155 00:09:43,279 --> 00:09:45,879 of all the changes observed in the samples occurred within 156 00:09:46,039 --> 00:09:48,960 just the first two hundred days on Mars, with vectin 157 00:09:49,039 --> 00:09:53,639 appearing to deteriorate most rapidly. This gives engineers crucial information 158 00:09:53,759 --> 00:09:57,240 about how frequently spacesuits might need replacement or repair during 159 00:09:57,279 --> 00:10:02,360 extended missions. Scientists are a especially concerned about maintaining flexibility 160 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:06,360 and tear resistance in spacesuit materials. As Sherlock team member 161 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:10,200 joby Razzl Hollis notes, Mars is a really harsh tough place. 162 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:15,120 The radiation in particular is pretty nasty. When these materials degrade, 163 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,200 they can become brittle, similar to how white plastic lawn 164 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,799 furniture yellows and cracks after years in sunlight, but likely 165 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:25,480 happening much faster on Mars. The research team is now 166 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:29,000 preparing to publish their findings, while scientists at NASA Johnson 167 00:10:29,039 --> 00:10:33,080 are developing Earth based simulations that can replicate Martian conditions. 168 00:10:33,519 --> 00:10:36,840 They plan to subject identical materials to simulated Martian carbon 169 00:10:36,879 --> 00:10:41,320 dioxide atmospheres, air pressure, and ultraviolet light, then stress tests 170 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:45,200 them to determine how much structural integrity they've lost. The 171 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:49,360 fabric materials are designed to be tough but flexible, Freeze explains, 172 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:51,799 we want to know the extent to which they lose 173 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:55,679 their strength and flexibility over time. As fabrics weaken, they 174 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:58,240 can fray and tear, allowing a space suit to leak 175 00:10:58,399 --> 00:11:01,960 both heat and air, a potentially fatal situation for any 176 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:06,080 Mars explorer. This research represents a critical step in preparing 177 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:09,639 for human exploration of the Red planet, demonstrating how current 178 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:13,679 robotic missions are directly enabling future human missions by solving 179 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:19,039 practical challenges before astronauts ever set foot on Martian soil. Well, 180 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:21,639 we finally got to see Butch and Sunni addressing the 181 00:11:21,639 --> 00:11:24,039 world today in their first sit down TV interview since 182 00:11:24,039 --> 00:11:28,399 returning home. After nine months aboard the International Space Station 183 00:11:28,919 --> 00:11:32,120 two hundred and seventy eight days longer than planned, NASA 184 00:11:32,159 --> 00:11:35,679 astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams have finally returned to Earth. 185 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:39,480 What began as a routine eight day test flight of 186 00:11:39,519 --> 00:11:43,519 Boeing Starliner spacecraft transformed into one of the most dramatic 187 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:47,360 extended stays in space history, turning them into household names 188 00:11:47,399 --> 00:11:51,559 in the process. The veteran astronauts splashed down off Florida's 189 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:54,600 coast two weeks ago, not in the Boeing capsule that 190 00:11:54,639 --> 00:11:57,240 carried them up, but in a space X Dragon that 191 00:11:57,279 --> 00:12:01,360 came to their rescue. Their unprecedented mission extension came after 192 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:06,240 Starliner experienced multiple technical issues during its June twenty twenty 193 00:12:06,279 --> 00:12:11,159 three launch, including thruster failures and helium leaks that raised 194 00:12:11,159 --> 00:12:16,320 serious safety concerns about the capsule's return capability. In their 195 00:12:16,399 --> 00:12:21,360 first news conference since returning home, both astronauts displayed remarkable 196 00:12:21,399 --> 00:12:25,879 composure and professionalism despite their ordeal. I'll start and point 197 00:12:25,879 --> 00:12:29,559 the finger, and I'll blame me, Wilmore told reporters, sharing 198 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:33,519 responsibility for the mission's issues. I could have asked some questions, 199 00:12:33,519 --> 00:12:35,399 and the answers to those questions could have turned the 200 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:38,000 tide all the way up and down the chain. We 201 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:41,879 all are responsible, we all own this. The saga took 202 00:12:41,879 --> 00:12:46,320 on additional dimensions when President Trump publicly urged SpaceX's Elon 203 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:50,360 Musk to accelerate the rescue mission, adding political pressure to 204 00:12:50,399 --> 00:12:55,879 an already complicated situation. Meanwhile, NASA engineers and Boeing officials 205 00:12:55,919 --> 00:13:00,159 spent months deliberating the safest course of action before ultimately 206 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:03,559 determining that Starliner was too risky to bring the astronauts home. 207 00:13:04,399 --> 00:13:08,919 Despite everything they experienced, both Wilmore and Williams expressed continued 208 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:12,320 confidence in Boeing spacecraft. When asked if they would fly 209 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:17,519 on Starliner again, Williams responded emphatically, we're all in. She 210 00:13:17,639 --> 00:13:20,879 added that the vehicle has a lot of capability and 211 00:13:20,919 --> 00:13:24,720 she wants to see it succeed. Wilmore echoed this sentiment, 212 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:27,840 saying he'd return in a heartbeat because we're going to 213 00:13:27,919 --> 00:13:30,919 rectify all the issues that we encountered. We're going to 214 00:13:30,919 --> 00:13:34,279 fix them. We're going to make it work. The pair 215 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:36,879 is scheduled to meet with Boeing leadership this week to 216 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:41,320 provide detailed feedback on their flight experience. Wilmore emphasized that 217 00:13:41,399 --> 00:13:45,120 the meeting is not for pointing fingers, but rather to 218 00:13:45,159 --> 00:13:49,080 make the path clearer going forward. Both astronauts have been 219 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:52,720 adjusting well to life back on Earth. Williams waited until 220 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,600 she was steadier on her feet before reuniting with her 221 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:59,519 two Labrador retrievers the day after splashdown, describing the moment 222 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:03,879 as pure joy. Wilmore, meanwhile, has already received his first 223 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:07,240 terrestrial assignment from his wife, replacing all the shrubs in 224 00:14:07,279 --> 00:14:11,559 their yard before summer. NASA engineers still don't fully understand 225 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:15,480 what caused Starliner's thrust or malfunctions. With more testing planned 226 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:19,639 through summer, the Space Agency may require another uncrude test 227 00:14:19,679 --> 00:14:23,600 flight before allowing astronauts aboard again, but that potential redo 228 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:28,399 could happen by year's end. Despite Starliner's troubled development, NASA 229 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:31,960 officials maintained that their strategy of having two competing US 230 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:37,159 companies providing space station transportation remains sound However, with the 231 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:40,840 International Space Stations scheduled for retirement in just five years, 232 00:14:41,039 --> 00:14:43,919 the window for Boeing to establish Starliner as a reliable 233 00:14:43,919 --> 00:14:49,600 crew transport is rapidly closing. Finally, today, a dark matter update. 234 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:52,720 Dark matter remains one of the most enigmatic components of 235 00:14:52,759 --> 00:14:56,639 our universe, making up approximately eighty five percent of all matter. 236 00:14:57,039 --> 00:15:01,720 It's practically invisible, detectable only through its gravitational effects, but 237 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:04,559 new research suggests we might have another way to observe 238 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:09,559 its presence through its influence on planetary rotation. Scientists from 239 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:13,600 the Shinjang Astronomical Observatory at the Chinese Academy of Sciences 240 00:15:13,879 --> 00:15:18,159 have published intriguing findings suggesting that dark matter could actually 241 00:15:18,159 --> 00:15:22,600 make planets spin faster. Their paper, aptly titled dark Matter 242 00:15:22,679 --> 00:15:26,519 Spins the Planet proposes that planets act as natural dark 243 00:15:26,559 --> 00:15:31,879 matter collectors, gradually accumulating these mysterious particles over billions of years. 244 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:35,720 When dark matter particles enter a planet, they don't interact 245 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:39,639 with normal matter in conventional ways. Instead, through quantum effects 246 00:15:39,679 --> 00:15:43,080 like tunneling, they can deposit energy into the planet's interior. 247 00:15:43,919 --> 00:15:47,879 This energy transfer manifests in two ways, heating the planet 248 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:52,440 and accelerating its rotation. The researchers simulated this dark matter 249 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:57,240 capture process in fifteen confirmed exoplanets, including notable examples like 250 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:00,840 fifty five Cancree D also known as lip Hay, and 251 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:04,600 Epsilon Eridani B. They also applied their model to more 252 00:16:04,639 --> 00:16:08,840 familiar worlds like Jupiter and our own Earth. For Earth specifically, 253 00:16:09,159 --> 00:16:14,000 their calculations predict some measurable effects. Dark matter heating combined 254 00:16:14,039 --> 00:16:17,960 with solar energy could increase Earth's surface atmospheric temperature by 255 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:21,759 approximately zero point zero one five kelvin over one hundred 256 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:25,519 years and zero point one five kelvin over a millennium. 257 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:30,240 More dramatically, Earth's rotation period could decrease by about twelve 258 00:16:30,279 --> 00:16:33,679 seconds over the next century and potentially one hundred and 259 00:16:33,679 --> 00:16:37,759 twenty seconds over one thousand years. These might sound like 260 00:16:37,799 --> 00:16:41,000 small changes, but they are significant enough that we should 261 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:44,960 be able to detect them with current ground based measurement methods. 262 00:16:45,759 --> 00:16:49,080 This provides astronomers with a potential new avenue for confirming 263 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:53,799 dark matter's existence and properties. The implications extend beyond pure physics. 264 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,960 The team suggest that dark matter interactions might play a 265 00:16:57,039 --> 00:17:02,039 role in planetary habitability by altar thermal conditions within planets, 266 00:17:02,519 --> 00:17:05,759 dark matter could affect the stability of liquid water and 267 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:10,359 influence atmospheric evolution, key factors in determining whether a world 268 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:14,240 can support life. Despite the theoretical nature of this work, 269 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:17,759 it represents an innovative approach to the dark matter puzzle. 270 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:22,880 Rather than focusing solely on microscopic particle physics or cosmic 271 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:27,359 scale observations, these researchers are looking at planetary scale effects 272 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:31,680 that accumulate over long time periods. Dark matter candidates range 273 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:36,400 from weakly interacting massive particles WIMPs, to axians to primordial 274 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:39,839 black holes. If any of these particles are indeed captured 275 00:17:39,839 --> 00:17:43,039 by planets, the energy released when they annihilate each other 276 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:46,599 could contribute to the heating and rotational effects described in 277 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:50,480 the study. As the author's note, this research could prove 278 00:17:50,559 --> 00:17:54,839 especially valuable as humanity continues searching for potentially habitable worlds 279 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:59,559 beyond our Solar System. Understanding how dark matter influences planetary 280 00:17:59,559 --> 00:18:04,079 conditions might help us better assess which exoplanets could support life, 281 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:07,000 adding yet another factor to consider in our quest to 282 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:11,319 find a second home among the stars. That wraps up 283 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:15,559 today's journey through the Cosmos. From SpaceX's groundbreaking polar mission 284 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:18,880 to the intriguing effects of dark matter on planetary rotation, 285 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:23,599 We've covered some truly fascinating developments in space exploration and astronomy. 286 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:27,440 I'm anna your guide to the stars here at Astronomy Daily, 287 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:31,240 and it's been my absolute pleasure sharing these stories with you. 288 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:35,400 Space science moves at an incredible pace, and there's always 289 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:38,599 something new to discover together. If you're hungry for more 290 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:42,319 space news between our episodes, I've got you covered, head 291 00:18:42,319 --> 00:18:46,000 over to Astronomy Daily dot io, where our constantly updating 292 00:18:46,039 --> 00:18:48,960 news feed brings you the latest happenings in space and 293 00:18:49,039 --> 00:18:53,000 astronomy as they unfold. You'll also find our complete episode 294 00:18:53,079 --> 00:18:55,960 archive there, perfect for catching up on anything you might 295 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:59,400 have missed. The conversation doesn't end when our episodes do. 296 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,480 Join our community of space enthusiasts on social media by 297 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:08,680 searching for astro Daily Pod. You'll find us on x, Facebook, YouTube, YouTube, music, Instagram, 298 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:13,359 and TikTok. Share your thoughts, questions, and astronomical observations with us. 299 00:19:13,799 --> 00:19:17,720 We love hearing from fellow cosmic explorers. Until next time, 300 00:19:18,079 --> 00:19:21,440 keep looking up at those stars. The universe is vast 301 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:24,920 and mysterious, but together we're understanding more of it every day. 302 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:28,319 This is Anna signing off from Astronomy Daily, where we 303 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:33,599 believe the sky is just the beginning star