WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Bedtime Astronomy. Explore the wonders of the cosmos

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<v Speaker 1>with our soothing Bedtime Astronomy podcast. Each episode offers a

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<v Speaker 1>gentle journey through the stars, planets, and beyond, perfect for

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<v Speaker 1>unwinding after a long day. Let's travel through the mysteries

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<v Speaker 1>of the universe as you drift off into a peaceful

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<v Speaker 1>slumber under the night sky. This week in Astronomy, dark

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<v Speaker 1>matter influence on planets, Lunar dust and Sagittarius Sea magnetic forces,

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<v Speaker 1>Dark matters hidden influence on planets. Dark matter is one

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<v Speaker 1>of the most perplexing concepts in modern cosmology and physics,

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<v Speaker 1>existing on the frontier of our understanding of the universe.

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<v Speaker 1>Scientists do not know exactly what it is or how

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<v Speaker 1>it fits into the established framework of physics, but its

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<v Speaker 1>unseen mass plays a critical role in shaping the cosmos.

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<v Speaker 1>Astronomers are certain of its exists due to the way

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<v Speaker 1>galaxies rotate, the gravitational lensing effects it produces, and its

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<v Speaker 1>influence on fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background. Despite these

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<v Speaker 1>indirect observations, dark matter remains elusive, and researchers continue to

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<v Speaker 1>explore new methods for detecting it. A recent study suggests

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<v Speaker 1>that there might be another way to observe its presence,

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<v Speaker 1>one that involves planetary physics. The study, titled dark Matter

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<v Speaker 1>s Pins the Planet, is available on the AR fourteen

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<v Speaker 1>pre print server. The research was led by Heihoscher from

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<v Speaker 1>the Shinjiang Astronomical Observatory at the Chinese Academy of Sciences,

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<v Speaker 1>with co authors from other Chinese research institutions. The authors

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<v Speaker 1>emphasize that dark matter makes up approximately eighty five per

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<v Speaker 1>cent of the universe's matter content, as confirmed by numerous

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<v Speaker 1>astrophysical and cosmological observations. However, its fundamental nature and composition

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<v Speaker 1>remain unknown, indicating the need for physics beyond the Standard

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<v Speaker 1>Model and general relativity. The study builds on previous research

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<v Speaker 1>suggesting that dark matter can be captured by planets, a

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<v Speaker 1>process known as dark matter planetary capture. According to this idea,

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<v Speaker 1>the gravitational pull of planets can attract dark matter particles,

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<v Speaker 1>leading to their accumulation in planetary interiors. The physics behind

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<v Speaker 1>this phenomenon are complex, and researchers are still working on

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<v Speaker 1>estimating the density of dark matter inside planets. So far,

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<v Speaker 1>they expect it to be extremely low, making it challenging

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<v Speaker 1>to detect. There are multiple hypotheses regarding the nature of

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<v Speaker 1>dark matter, including the possibility that it consists of primordial

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<v Speaker 1>black holes, axioms, or weakly interacting massive particles whimps. Other

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<v Speaker 1>candidates have also been proposed. Unlike previous studies that have

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<v Speaker 1>focused on dark matter's properties on microscopic or cosmic scales,

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<v Speaker 1>this research examines its effects on a planetary scale. The

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<v Speaker 1>authors suggest that planets can act as long term probes

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<v Speaker 1>for detecting dark matter, as they have been interacting with

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<v Speaker 1>the surrounding dark matter halo for billions of years. These

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<v Speaker 1>interactions could produce cumulative observable effects, such as changes in

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<v Speaker 1>planetary temperature, rotational dynamics, and atmospheric properties. The core idea

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<v Speaker 1>behind dark matter planetary capture is that as dark matter

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<v Speaker 1>interacts with planetary matter, it deposits energy into the planet.

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<v Speaker 1>While dark matter does not interact with baryonic matter in

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<v Speaker 1>the conventional sense, certain quantum effects such as quantum tunneling,

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<v Speaker 1>allow for interactions. These interactions can lead to increases in

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<v Speaker 1>planetary temperature and rotation speed. Scientists have now developed a

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<v Speaker 1>new method for detecting these effects Beyond the fundamental physics,

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<v Speaker 1>the presence of dark matter inside planets could have implications

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<v Speaker 1>for habitability. If dark matter heating alters thermal conditions, it

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<v Speaker 1>could impact the stability of liquid water and the evolution

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<v Speaker 1>of planetary atmospheres. This could influence the potential for life

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<v Speaker 1>on exoplanets in ways not previously considered. When dark matter

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<v Speaker 1>particles enter a planet, they undergo processes such as scattering, capture,

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<v Speaker 1>and annihilation. Scattering events transfer kinetic energy to planetary material,

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<v Speaker 1>generating heat. The same occurs when dark matter particles annihilate.

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<v Speaker 1>The resulting temperature increase depends on the amount of dark

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<v Speaker 1>matter entering the planet, and the energy deposited can also

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<v Speaker 1>accelerate the planet's rotation. The researchers applied their model to

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<v Speaker 1>fifteen confirmed exoplanets, including notable ones like fifty five Cancre D,

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<v Speaker 1>lipper Ha and epsol on Aridani B, both of which

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<v Speaker 1>have drawn significant interest from scientists. Additionally, they tested the

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<v Speaker 1>model on Jupiter and Earth. Their findings suggest that the

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<v Speaker 1>energy supplied by dark matter heating is not fully converted

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<v Speaker 1>into temperature. Instead, it is distributed based on the planet's

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<v Speaker 1>intrinsic characteristics such as mass and radius, as well as

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<v Speaker 1>its current conditions including temperature and angular velocity. According to

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<v Speaker 1>the study, Earth is not immune to dark matter capture.

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<v Speaker 1>The researchers predict that dark matter interactions combined with the

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<v Speaker 1>Sun's heating will result in a surface atmospheric temperature increase

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<v Speaker 1>of approximately zero point zero one five K over one

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<v Speaker 1>hundred years in zero point one five K over one

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<v Speaker 1>thousand years. While this heating effect is small, it is

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<v Speaker 1>still measurable. Dark matter heating may also contribute to an

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<v Speaker 1>increase in planetary rotational line, though distinguishing this effect from

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<v Speaker 1>other influences such as tidal forces and seismic activity is

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<v Speaker 1>more challenging. For Earth, the researchers estimate that dark matter

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<v Speaker 1>heating will accelerate its rotation period by about twelve seconds

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<v Speaker 1>over a century. Over a millennium, this effect could accumulate

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<v Speaker 1>to one hundred and twenty seconds. These are substantial changes,

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<v Speaker 1>and the authors suggest that ground based measurement techniques should

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<v Speaker 1>be able to detect them. A deeper understanding of these

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<v Speaker 1>effects could have significant implications for exoplanet research, particularly in

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<v Speaker 1>assessing habitability, as humanity searches for habitable worlds beyond Earth.

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<v Speaker 1>The impact of dark matter on planetary rotation could become

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<v Speaker 1>an important factor in evaluating the potential of exoplanets to

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<v Speaker 1>support life. This research represents an intriguing step toward incorporating

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<v Speaker 1>dark matter into planetary science and highlights the profound, yet

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<v Speaker 1>still mysterious role it may play in shaping worlds throughout

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<v Speaker 1>the universe. Electrodynamic shield fights lunar dust. Lunar dust presents

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<v Speaker 1>a formidable challenge for human exploration and long term operations

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<v Speaker 1>on the Moon due to its highly abrasive and electrostatic nature.

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<v Speaker 1>It adheres to any charged surface, posing risks to spacesuits, hardware,

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<v Speaker 1>and even human health. The fine, jagged particles can infiltrate equipment,

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<v Speaker 1>degrade materials, and cause significant w'ere over time. Exposure to

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<v Speaker 1>lunar dust can also pose respiratory hazards, making its mitigation

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<v Speaker 1>a crucial aspect of sustaining human activity on the lunar surface.

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<v Speaker 1>To address this issue, NASA has developed electrodynamic dust shield technology,

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<v Speaker 1>which utilizes electrodynamic forces to lift and remove lunar dust

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<v Speaker 1>from surfaces. This innovative approach has demonstrated its effectiveness in

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<v Speaker 1>clearing regolith from critical components such as glass and thermal radiators.

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<v Speaker 1>The activation of EDS technology successfully removed dust accumulation, proving

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<v Speaker 1>its potential for protecting vital equipment in lunar and interplanetary environments.

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<v Speaker 1>The successful demonstration of this technology represents a major step

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<v Speaker 1>toward ensuring the longevity of space missions by minimizing dust

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<v Speaker 1>related hazards. Its applications extend across a wide range of surfaces,

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<v Speaker 1>including thermal radiators, solar panels, camera lenses, space suits, boots,

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<v Speaker 1>and helmet visors, all of which are susceptible to lunar

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<v Speaker 1>dust contamination. By preventing dust build up, EDS technology enhances

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<v Speaker 1>the functionality and durability of essential systems, supporting NASA's Artemis

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<v Speaker 1>campaign in future deep space exploration efforts. Developed at Kennedy

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<v Speaker 1>Space Center in Florida, the Electrodynamic Dust Shield was funded

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<v Speaker 1>by NASA's Game Changing Development Program under the Space Technology

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<v Speaker 1>Mission Directorate. This advancement not only addresses a critical issue

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<v Speaker 1>in lunar exploration, but also lays the groundwork for broader

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<v Speaker 1>dust mitigation strategies in space environments, ensuring safer and more

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<v Speaker 1>sustainable operations beyond Earth. Magnetic forces in star formation and

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<v Speaker 1>Sagittarius Sea. Sagittarius Sea is among the most extreme regions

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<v Speaker 1>of the Milky Way. Located about two hundred light years

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<v Speaker 1>from the supermassive black hole at the galaxy's core. It

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<v Speaker 1>consists of a massive and dense cloud of interstellar gas

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<v Speaker 1>and dust that has been collapsing for millions of years,

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<v Speaker 1>forming thousands of new stars. Recent observations using NASA's James

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<v Speaker 1>Web Space telescope have allowed scientists to study this region

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<v Speaker 1>in unprecedented detail. Led by astrophysicist John Bally from the

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<v Speaker 1>University of Colorado Boulder, along with Samuel Crow from the

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<v Speaker 1>University of Virginia and Reuben Fedrianni from the Instituto to

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<v Speaker 1>Astrophysica to Andalusia, the research offers new insights into the

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<v Speaker 1>complex mechanisms at play within the central molecular zone of

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<v Speaker 1>the galaxy. One of the long standing mysteries about this

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<v Speaker 1>inner region is why fewer stars are forming than expected

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<v Speaker 1>despite its high density of interstellar gas. The study suggests

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<v Speaker 1>that powerful magnetic field lines thread through Sagittarius s, creating

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<v Speaker 1>long and bright filaments of hot hydrogen gas that resemble

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<v Speaker 1>strands of spaghetti. These structures could be influencing the rate

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<v Speaker 1>of star formation by slowing down the collapse of gas clouds.

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<v Speaker 1>According to Bally, this part of the galaxy has the

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<v Speaker 1>highest density of stars and massive clouds of hydrogen, helium,

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<v Speaker 1>and organic molecules, making it a key region for understanding

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<v Speaker 1>extreme astrophysical conditions. He and his colleagues published their findings

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<v Speaker 1>on April second in the Astrophysical Journal as part of

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<v Speaker 1>an observation Came and Paign proposed and led by Crow,

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<v Speaker 1>a fourth year undergraduate student recently awarded a Rhodes Scholarship.

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<v Speaker 1>The web telescope's images reveal Sagittarius Sea in a way

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<v Speaker 1>never seen before. Crow emphasized that due to the presence

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<v Speaker 1>of strong magnetic fields, this region has a fundamentally different

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<v Speaker 1>structure compared to other star forming areas located farther from

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<v Speaker 1>the galactic center. The research highlights the violent processes involved

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<v Speaker 1>in the birth and destruction of stars. Stars typically form

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<v Speaker 1>within molecular clouds, which are dense regions of gas and dust.

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<v Speaker 1>The closest stellar nursery to Earth is the Orion nebula,

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<v Speaker 1>where clouds have collapsed over millions of years to form

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<v Speaker 1>clusters of stars. However, star formation eventually disrupts itself as

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<v Speaker 1>newly formed stars amid intense radiation, which disperses the surrounding material,

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<v Speaker 1>preventing further starbirth. Bally and his team also studied the

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<v Speaker 1>young protostars and Sagittarius Sea, analyzing how they eject radiation

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<v Speaker 1>and shape their surrounding environment. One of the most striking

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<v Speaker 1>features of the region is its bright filaments, some extending

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<v Speaker 1>for several light years. These filaments are composed of plasma,

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<v Speaker 1>a hot ionized gas, and their discovery was unexpected. Fedriani,

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<v Speaker 1>a postdoctoral researcher involved in the study, described the finding

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<v Speaker 1>as completely serendipitous. The presence of these filaments is likely

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<v Speaker 1>tied to the region's strong magnetic fields. Gas movements near

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<v Speaker 1>the supermassive black hole at the galactic center may be

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<v Speaker 1>stretching and amplifying these fields, influencing the structure of the plasma.

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<v Speaker 1>Bally pointed out that the orion nebula appears much smoother

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<v Speaker 1>because it exists within a much weaker magnetic environment. While

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<v Speaker 1>the inner galaxy is known as a major side of

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<v Speaker 1>star formation, observations suggest that it should be producing far

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<v Speaker 1>more stars than an act actually does. The study supports

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<v Speaker 1>the idea that magnetic forces could be preventing the gravitational

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<v Speaker 1>collapse of molecular clouds, thereby slowing the birth of new stars.

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<v Speaker 1>Sagittarius C itself may be nearing the end of its

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<v Speaker 1>active star foaming phase. Its young stars have already dispersed

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<v Speaker 1>much of the molecular cloud that sustained them, and in

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<v Speaker 1>a few hundred thousand years this stellar nursery may disappear

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<v Speaker 1>entirely to anything