Speaker 1: Welcome to Bedtime Astronomy. Explore the wonders of the cosmos
Speaker 1: with our soothing Bedtime Astronomy podcast. Each episode offers a
Speaker 1: gentle journey through the stars, planets, and beyond, perfect for
Speaker 1: unwinding after a long day. Let's travel through the mysteries
Speaker 1: of the universe as you drift off into a peaceful
Speaker 1: slumber under the night sky. This week in Astronomy, dark
Speaker 1: matter influence on planets, Lunar dust and Sagittarius Sea magnetic forces,
Speaker 1: Dark matters hidden influence on planets. Dark matter is one
Speaker 1: of the most perplexing concepts in modern cosmology and physics,
Speaker 1: existing on the frontier of our understanding of the universe.
Speaker 1: Scientists do not know exactly what it is or how
Speaker 1: it fits into the established framework of physics, but its
Speaker 1: unseen mass plays a critical role in shaping the cosmos.
Speaker 1: Astronomers are certain of its exists due to the way
Speaker 1: galaxies rotate, the gravitational lensing effects it produces, and its
Speaker 1: influence on fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background. Despite these
Speaker 1: indirect observations, dark matter remains elusive, and researchers continue to
Speaker 1: explore new methods for detecting it. A recent study suggests
Speaker 1: that there might be another way to observe its presence,
Speaker 1: one that involves planetary physics. The study, titled dark Matter
Speaker 1: s Pins the Planet, is available on the AR fourteen
Speaker 1: pre print server. The research was led by Heihoscher from
Speaker 1: the Shinjiang Astronomical Observatory at the Chinese Academy of Sciences,
Speaker 1: with co authors from other Chinese research institutions. The authors
Speaker 1: emphasize that dark matter makes up approximately eighty five per
Speaker 1: cent of the universe's matter content, as confirmed by numerous
Speaker 1: astrophysical and cosmological observations. However, its fundamental nature and composition
Speaker 1: remain unknown, indicating the need for physics beyond the Standard
Speaker 1: Model and general relativity. The study builds on previous research
Speaker 1: suggesting that dark matter can be captured by planets, a
Speaker 1: process known as dark matter planetary capture. According to this idea,
Speaker 1: the gravitational pull of planets can attract dark matter particles,
Speaker 1: leading to their accumulation in planetary interiors. The physics behind
Speaker 1: this phenomenon are complex, and researchers are still working on
Speaker 1: estimating the density of dark matter inside planets. So far,
Speaker 1: they expect it to be extremely low, making it challenging
Speaker 1: to detect. There are multiple hypotheses regarding the nature of
Speaker 1: dark matter, including the possibility that it consists of primordial
Speaker 1: black holes, axioms, or weakly interacting massive particles whimps. Other
Speaker 1: candidates have also been proposed. Unlike previous studies that have
Speaker 1: focused on dark matter's properties on microscopic or cosmic scales,
Speaker 1: this research examines its effects on a planetary scale. The
Speaker 1: authors suggest that planets can act as long term probes
Speaker 1: for detecting dark matter, as they have been interacting with
Speaker 1: the surrounding dark matter halo for billions of years. These
Speaker 1: interactions could produce cumulative observable effects, such as changes in
Speaker 1: planetary temperature, rotational dynamics, and atmospheric properties. The core idea
Speaker 1: behind dark matter planetary capture is that as dark matter
Speaker 1: interacts with planetary matter, it deposits energy into the planet.
Speaker 1: While dark matter does not interact with baryonic matter in
Speaker 1: the conventional sense, certain quantum effects such as quantum tunneling,
Speaker 1: allow for interactions. These interactions can lead to increases in
Speaker 1: planetary temperature and rotation speed. Scientists have now developed a
Speaker 1: new method for detecting these effects Beyond the fundamental physics,
Speaker 1: the presence of dark matter inside planets could have implications
Speaker 1: for habitability. If dark matter heating alters thermal conditions, it
Speaker 1: could impact the stability of liquid water and the evolution
Speaker 1: of planetary atmospheres. This could influence the potential for life
Speaker 1: on exoplanets in ways not previously considered. When dark matter
Speaker 1: particles enter a planet, they undergo processes such as scattering, capture,
Speaker 1: and annihilation. Scattering events transfer kinetic energy to planetary material,
Speaker 1: generating heat. The same occurs when dark matter particles annihilate.
Speaker 1: The resulting temperature increase depends on the amount of dark
Speaker 1: matter entering the planet, and the energy deposited can also
Speaker 1: accelerate the planet's rotation. The researchers applied their model to
Speaker 1: fifteen confirmed exoplanets, including notable ones like fifty five Cancre D,
Speaker 1: lipper Ha and epsol on Aridani B, both of which
Speaker 1: have drawn significant interest from scientists. Additionally, they tested the
Speaker 1: model on Jupiter and Earth. Their findings suggest that the
Speaker 1: energy supplied by dark matter heating is not fully converted
Speaker 1: into temperature. Instead, it is distributed based on the planet's
Speaker 1: intrinsic characteristics such as mass and radius, as well as
Speaker 1: its current conditions including temperature and angular velocity. According to
Speaker 1: the study, Earth is not immune to dark matter capture.
Speaker 1: The researchers predict that dark matter interactions combined with the
Speaker 1: Sun's heating will result in a surface atmospheric temperature increase
Speaker 1: of approximately zero point zero one five K over one
Speaker 1: hundred years in zero point one five K over one
Speaker 1: thousand years. While this heating effect is small, it is
Speaker 1: still measurable. Dark matter heating may also contribute to an
Speaker 1: increase in planetary rotational line, though distinguishing this effect from
Speaker 1: other influences such as tidal forces and seismic activity is
Speaker 1: more challenging. For Earth, the researchers estimate that dark matter
Speaker 1: heating will accelerate its rotation period by about twelve seconds
Speaker 1: over a century. Over a millennium, this effect could accumulate
Speaker 1: to one hundred and twenty seconds. These are substantial changes,
Speaker 1: and the authors suggest that ground based measurement techniques should
Speaker 1: be able to detect them. A deeper understanding of these
Speaker 1: effects could have significant implications for exoplanet research, particularly in
Speaker 1: assessing habitability, as humanity searches for habitable worlds beyond Earth.
Speaker 1: The impact of dark matter on planetary rotation could become
Speaker 1: an important factor in evaluating the potential of exoplanets to
Speaker 1: support life. This research represents an intriguing step toward incorporating
Speaker 1: dark matter into planetary science and highlights the profound, yet
Speaker 1: still mysterious role it may play in shaping worlds throughout
Speaker 1: the universe. Electrodynamic shield fights lunar dust. Lunar dust presents
Speaker 1: a formidable challenge for human exploration and long term operations
Speaker 1: on the Moon due to its highly abrasive and electrostatic nature.
Speaker 1: It adheres to any charged surface, posing risks to spacesuits, hardware,
Speaker 1: and even human health. The fine, jagged particles can infiltrate equipment,
Speaker 1: degrade materials, and cause significant w'ere over time. Exposure to
Speaker 1: lunar dust can also pose respiratory hazards, making its mitigation
Speaker 1: a crucial aspect of sustaining human activity on the lunar surface.
Speaker 1: To address this issue, NASA has developed electrodynamic dust shield technology,
Speaker 1: which utilizes electrodynamic forces to lift and remove lunar dust
Speaker 1: from surfaces. This innovative approach has demonstrated its effectiveness in
Speaker 1: clearing regolith from critical components such as glass and thermal radiators.
Speaker 1: The activation of EDS technology successfully removed dust accumulation, proving
Speaker 1: its potential for protecting vital equipment in lunar and interplanetary environments.
Speaker 1: The successful demonstration of this technology represents a major step
Speaker 1: toward ensuring the longevity of space missions by minimizing dust
Speaker 1: related hazards. Its applications extend across a wide range of surfaces,
Speaker 1: including thermal radiators, solar panels, camera lenses, space suits, boots,
Speaker 1: and helmet visors, all of which are susceptible to lunar
Speaker 1: dust contamination. By preventing dust build up, EDS technology enhances
Speaker 1: the functionality and durability of essential systems, supporting NASA's Artemis
Speaker 1: campaign in future deep space exploration efforts. Developed at Kennedy
Speaker 1: Space Center in Florida, the Electrodynamic Dust Shield was funded
Speaker 1: by NASA's Game Changing Development Program under the Space Technology
Speaker 1: Mission Directorate. This advancement not only addresses a critical issue
Speaker 1: in lunar exploration, but also lays the groundwork for broader
Speaker 1: dust mitigation strategies in space environments, ensuring safer and more
Speaker 1: sustainable operations beyond Earth. Magnetic forces in star formation and
Speaker 1: Sagittarius Sea. Sagittarius Sea is among the most extreme regions
Speaker 1: of the Milky Way. Located about two hundred light years
Speaker 1: from the supermassive black hole at the galaxy's core. It
Speaker 1: consists of a massive and dense cloud of interstellar gas
Speaker 1: and dust that has been collapsing for millions of years,
Speaker 1: forming thousands of new stars. Recent observations using NASA's James
Speaker 1: Web Space telescope have allowed scientists to study this region
Speaker 1: in unprecedented detail. Led by astrophysicist John Bally from the
Speaker 1: University of Colorado Boulder, along with Samuel Crow from the
Speaker 1: University of Virginia and Reuben Fedrianni from the Instituto to
Speaker 1: Astrophysica to Andalusia, the research offers new insights into the
Speaker 1: complex mechanisms at play within the central molecular zone of
Speaker 1: the galaxy. One of the long standing mysteries about this
Speaker 1: inner region is why fewer stars are forming than expected
Speaker 1: despite its high density of interstellar gas. The study suggests
Speaker 1: that powerful magnetic field lines thread through Sagittarius s, creating
Speaker 1: long and bright filaments of hot hydrogen gas that resemble
Speaker 1: strands of spaghetti. These structures could be influencing the rate
Speaker 1: of star formation by slowing down the collapse of gas clouds.
Speaker 1: According to Bally, this part of the galaxy has the
Speaker 1: highest density of stars and massive clouds of hydrogen, helium,
Speaker 1: and organic molecules, making it a key region for understanding
Speaker 1: extreme astrophysical conditions. He and his colleagues published their findings
Speaker 1: on April second in the Astrophysical Journal as part of
Speaker 1: an observation Came and Paign proposed and led by Crow,
Speaker 1: a fourth year undergraduate student recently awarded a Rhodes Scholarship.
Speaker 1: The web telescope's images reveal Sagittarius Sea in a way
Speaker 1: never seen before. Crow emphasized that due to the presence
Speaker 1: of strong magnetic fields, this region has a fundamentally different
Speaker 1: structure compared to other star forming areas located farther from
Speaker 1: the galactic center. The research highlights the violent processes involved
Speaker 1: in the birth and destruction of stars. Stars typically form
Speaker 1: within molecular clouds, which are dense regions of gas and dust.
Speaker 1: The closest stellar nursery to Earth is the Orion nebula,
Speaker 1: where clouds have collapsed over millions of years to form
Speaker 1: clusters of stars. However, star formation eventually disrupts itself as
Speaker 1: newly formed stars amid intense radiation, which disperses the surrounding material,
Speaker 1: preventing further starbirth. Bally and his team also studied the
Speaker 1: young protostars and Sagittarius Sea, analyzing how they eject radiation
Speaker 1: and shape their surrounding environment. One of the most striking
Speaker 1: features of the region is its bright filaments, some extending
Speaker 1: for several light years. These filaments are composed of plasma,
Speaker 1: a hot ionized gas, and their discovery was unexpected. Fedriani,
Speaker 1: a postdoctoral researcher involved in the study, described the finding
Speaker 1: as completely serendipitous. The presence of these filaments is likely
Speaker 1: tied to the region's strong magnetic fields. Gas movements near
Speaker 1: the supermassive black hole at the galactic center may be
Speaker 1: stretching and amplifying these fields, influencing the structure of the plasma.
Speaker 1: Bally pointed out that the orion nebula appears much smoother
Speaker 1: because it exists within a much weaker magnetic environment. While
Speaker 1: the inner galaxy is known as a major side of
Speaker 1: star formation, observations suggest that it should be producing far
Speaker 1: more stars than an act actually does. The study supports
Speaker 1: the idea that magnetic forces could be preventing the gravitational
Speaker 1: collapse of molecular clouds, thereby slowing the birth of new stars.
Speaker 1: Sagittarius C itself may be nearing the end of its
Speaker 1: active star foaming phase. Its young stars have already dispersed
Speaker 1: much of the molecular cloud that sustained them, and in
Speaker 1: a few hundred thousand years this stellar nursery may disappear
Speaker 1: entirely to anything