Recycled Electrons

Chris and Rob discuss dusty Martian rovers, the 10th dotastronomy conference and an AI that writes astronomical papers. [MP3 Link]Episode #136. Follow us on Twitter @recycledelec @orbitingfrog and @chrislintott.Credits:Audio content Copyright 2011-2018 Chris Lintott and Robert Simpson. Many thanks to the Space Telescope Science Institute for recording space. Podcast Image of lightbulb courtesy of Flickr user bazik (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bazik/395792175/).

Chris quizzes Rob about his upcoming departure from the Zooniverse. There is some brief coverage of news, but also politics, gadgets reviews and other nonsense. A sensible as ever.[MP3 Link]Episode #135. If you have anything you’d like us to look at, or any questions you’d like us to answer - use the links at the top of the web page at http://recycledelec.com. Follow us on Twitter @recycledelec @orbitingfrog and @chrislintott.Credits:Audio content Copyright 2011-2015 Chris Lintott and Robert Simpson. Many thanks to Oxford Press Office for recording space. Podcast Image of lightbulb courtesy of Flickr user bazik (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bazik/395792175/).

Chris and Rob discuss streetlights, astrology and Ceres: the dwarf planet. There are organic molecules at the centre of a galaxy, and a black hole that’s the wrong size.Links:Ceres is getting odd: http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2015/02/26/ceres_shiny_spot_is_actually_twins.htmlAstrology on the NHS: http://boingboing.net/2015/02/25/uk-tory-mp-says-astrology-woul.htmlNew jobs at Zooniverse: http://daily.zooniverse.org/2015/02/23/two-new-jobs-at-the-zooniverse/Organic molecules around a black hole: http://alma.mtk.nao.ac.jp/e/news/pressrelease/20150226alma_revealed_surprisingly_mild_environment_around_a_supermassive_black_hole_1.htmlAstronauts and street lamps http://io9.com/how-to-hack-your-street-lamps-like-an-astronaut-1686876944[MP3 Link]Episode #134. If you have anything you’d like us to look at, or any questions you’d like us to answer - use the links at the top of the web page at http://recycledelec.com. Follow us on Twitter @recycledelec @orbitingfrog and @chrislintott.Credits:Audio conte

Chris and Rob are joined by Lovely Scottish Grant and Becky Smethurst for an expanded-panel Recycled Electrons. We discuss Mars One, Mars’s mysterious plumes, and astronomers on Twitter. Also: Super Mario.Links:A near miss: http://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/scholz-star/Cube sat mission ideas: http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/van-kane/0217-planetary-cubesats-begin-to-come-of-age.htmlScientists slow the speed of light:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-30944584Mystery Mars haze ‘baffles’ scientists: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31491805Mars/Moon/Venus Conjunction on Feb 20th: http://www.universetoday.com/118906/catch-a-conjunction-triple-play-on-february-20th-as-the-moon-meets-venus-mars/Rosetta is taking really close-up shots now: http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2015/02/16/rosetta_closeup_photos_from_a_low_pass_over_the_surface.htmlWe don’t know what hit Chelyabinsk: http://www.psi.edu/news/papervishnuAstronomers on Twitter: http://journ

Chris is in Hawaii and Rob is not(!). They talk about observing at the CSO, the differing views of scientists and the public, and the new UK-based Twinkle exoplanet mission.Links:(American) Public vs. (AAAS) Scientists http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/01/29/public-and-scientists-views-on-science-and-society/Curiosity form above: http://gizmodo.com/nasas-curiosity-rover-looks-like-a-tiny-pimple-on-mars-1684492070First images from New Horizons of Pluto and Charon: http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2015/02041311-new-horizons-returns-first.html[MP3 Link]Episode #132. If you have anything you’d like us to look at, or any questions you’d like us to answer - use the links at the top of the web page at http://recycledelec.com. Follow us on Twitter @recycledelec @orbitingfrog and @chrislintott.Credits:Audio content Copyright 2011-2015 Chris Lintott and Robert Simpson. Many thanks to Oxford Press Office for recording space. Podcast Image of lightbulb courtesy of Flickr user bazik (http://www.flickr.com/pho

Chris and Rob talk about advanced robotics, supernovae in M82, and the rise and fall of the BICEP2 results. There are Yellowballs in the Milky Way, and a lovely Philae GIF.Links:Philae GIF http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/30/7953217/philae-lander-descent-comet-67p-esa-rosettaThe BICEP bubbles bursts https://telescoper.wordpress.com/2015/01/30/the-bicep2-bubble-bursts/ and http://sci.esa.int/planck/55362-planck-gravitational-waves-remain-elusive/M82 from LOFAR: http://www.chalmers.se/en/centres/oso/news/Pages/Lofars-record-sharp-image-gives-astronomers–a-new-view-of-galaxy-M-82.aspxYellowballs: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4462A nice merger : http://www.spacetelescope.org/news/heic1503/A movie of a laser beam pulse at super high frame rate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq0H4-nvBB8Making robots that can do better than us http://io9.com/atlas-the-pentagons-humanoid-robot-just-got-a-major-u-1680654984MWP made APOD http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150131.html with the Yellow balls[MP3 Link]Episo

Some QVC hosts have been discussing the Moon, Dawn has a new view of Ceres, and New Horizons is closing in on Pluto. Rosetta is starting to get data about its comet, and the Planetary Society is going to build a Solar Sail. Links: Science literacy and QVC: http://www.pleated-jeans.com/2015/01/15/qvc-hosts-literally-dont-know-what-the-moon-is/ New Horizons is approaching the Pluto system http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30954673 Rich algae blooms under Earth’s polar ice: http://laughingsquid.com/submersible-vehicle-discovers-rich-algae-blooms-beneath-polar-ice-in-areas-previously-thought-barren/ Dawn’s new view of Ceres: http://www.universetoday.com/118325/heres-dawns-best-view-of-ceres-yet/ Planetary Society Lightsail : http://www.planetary.org/press-room/releases/2015/planetary-society-announces.html An asteroid comes to visit: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/press-releases/asteroid-2004-bl86/ Rosetta results: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Getting_to_know_R

Beagle 2 has been found, intact, on the surface of Mars! Planck is the height of a small giraffe, and Lovejoy is blazing across the Northern sky. Chris and Rob talk about many things from the last three weeks. Links: Two more planets: http://www.universetoday.com/118252/astronomers-are-predicting-at-least-two-more-large-planets-in-the-solar-system/ Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and Jupiter - visible in one evening http://sumzzal.com/data/imgupload/2015/01/06/20150106015605_20150105160805201.gif Falling onto Titan - 10 years since Huygens: http://io9.com/heres-what-it-looks-like-to-fall-to-titan-from-space-1679545272 Comet Lovejoy’s tail flapping in the (solar) wind: http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2015/01/14/comet_lovejoy_animation_of_the_tail_movement.html China puts orbiter around the Moon to image potential landing sites http://cir.ca/news/china-in-space Game Recreates Entire Galaxy, 1,000 Players Determined To Explore It http://kotaku.com/one-thousand-gamers-embark-to-explore-the-entir

In the last episode of 2014, Chris and Rob discuss methane on Mars, the hacking of the .Astronomy meeting, and the nature of time itself. No biggie. Links: .Astronomy 6 [lists and links to hacks within] 2 arrows of time [MP3 Link] Episode #128. If you have anything you’d like us to look at, or any questions you’d like us to answer - use the links at the top of the web page at http://recycledelec.com. Follow us on Twitter @recycledelec @orbitingfrog and @chrislintott. Credits: Audio content Copyright 2011-2014 Chris Lintott and Robert Simpson. Many thanks to Oxford Press Office for recording space. Podcast Image of lightbulb courtesy of Flickr user bazik (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bazik/395792175/).

Rob and Chris talk about the latest Philae/Rosetta news, new plans for missions into the Solar System, and men in hats. Links: Higgs Hunters: http://www.higgshunters.org Lots of cool ideas for missions on the Planetary Society blog: http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/van-kane/20141125-a-potpourri-of-future-mission.html Sonification (Rosetta/Philae) : http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/11/20/the-sound-of-touchdown/ Philae to come back to life in March? http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-11/27/rosetta-philae-reddit-ama Spotify reveals that we all listened to Aerosmith after the Philae landing https://insights.spotify.com/br/2014/11/21/aerosmith-rosetta-comet/ ThinkGeek’s solar system shot glasses: http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/2033/?CJID=%zi&istCompanyId=007b6f44-e03c-4536-8b29-58e160067143&istItemId=iaxqlaxwi&istBid=t&cpg=cj&ref=&CJURL= Asteroid diamonds are weird : https://asunews.asu.edu/20141120-lonsdaleite Map of bolide distribution : http://www.jpl.n

Chris and Rob talk about the biggest space news story of the week: the landing of Philae on Comet 67P. Chris was at Mission Control for the whole event - landing, bouncing, shirts, and all. Links: Watching Philae bounce: http://astronomynow.com/2014/11/17/rosettas-osiris-camera-captures-philaes-bounce-across-comet/ More than science: http://telescoper.wordpress.com/2014/11/15/rosetta-and-philae-so-much-more-than-science/ For kids: http://www.unawe.org/kids/unawe1449 First images from Philae: http://www.universetoday.com/116260/new-images-from-philae-reveal-comets-ancient-surface/ #ShirtGate http://inversesquare.wordpress.com/2014/11/12/what-not-to-wear-to-a-comet-landing/ [MP3 Link] Episode #126. If you have anything you’d like us to look at, or any questions you’d like us to answer - use the links at the top of the web page at http://recycledelec.com. Follow us on Twitter @recycledelec @orbitingfrog and @chrislintott. Credits: Audio content Copyright 2011-2014 Chris Lintott and Robert Simpson. Man

Chris and Rob talk about the SpaceShipTwo accident and the Antares one too. Not a good week for human spaceflight. There’s also electrolysis with pencils, and a not-rainbow. Links: Stunning sunlit seas on Titan: http://io9.com/a-stunning-view-of-sunlit-seas-on-titan-1653204944/+spacemika SpaceShipTwo: http://www.universetoday.com/115869/virgin-galactics-spaceshiptwo-suffers-in-flight-anomaly-crashes-in-flight-test You can’t fly through a rainbow: http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/oct/29/fly-over-rainbow-break-laws-physics Chang’e 5 T1 returns amazing image of Moon and Earth: http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2014/10280900-change-5-t1-rounds-the-lunar.html Electrolysis of Water with pencils and a 9V battery http://orbitingfrog.com/2014/11/02/electrolysis-of-water-with-pencils-and-a-9v-battery [MP3 Link] Episode #125. If you have anything you’d like us to look at, or any questions you’d like us to answer - use the links at the top of the web page at http://recycledelec.com.

Chris and Grant discuss the Comet that flew by Mars this week, strange organic molecules in Titan’s atmosphere, and the Rosetta mission, naturally. There is no Rob, but console yourself knowing that he typed this for you. Links: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-29661446 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinocheirus http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Name_Rosetta_mission_s_landing_site http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/oct/20/comet-siding-spring-skims-close-to-mars-after-million-year-journey and http://mars.nasa.gov/comets/sidingspring/images/?ImageID=6682 and http://mars.nasa.gov/comets/sidingspring/images/?ImageID=6677 http://www.science20.com/news_articles/the_strange_organic_molecules_in_titans_atmosphere-147536 [MP3 Link] Episode #124. If you have anything you’d like us to look at, or any questions you’d like us to answer - use the links at the top of the web page at http://recycledelec.com. Follow us on Twitter @recycledelec @orbitingfrog and @chrislin

Rob and Chris talk about Uranus, moons, and nuclear fusion. May be there’s dark matter, maybe there’s not - and what angle should canned whipped cream be sprayed at? Links: Ice on Mercury : http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/news_room/details.php?id=266 Bruno Merin’s lovely multi-wavelength gallery http://brunomerin.com/slider/menu.html Optimal angle for spraying whipped cream: http://laughingsquid.com/a-father-and-his-two-kids-conduct-an-experiment-to-find-the-optimal-angle-for-spraying-whipped-cream/ Lockheed announce fusion ‘breakthrough’ http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/15/lockheed-breakthrough-nuclear-fusion-energy and http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/10/16/experts_skeptical_over_lockheed_martins_claims_to_have_cracked_fusion/ UK Space Weather centre opening in Exeter: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-10/09/uk-space-weather-forecasting-centre Mimas : http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4342 Have we found dark matter? : http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/press/press-relea

Rob and Chris talk about rainbows, comets, and Hollywood. There’s a cool new pulsar in M82 and an awesome new artwork on the web. Links: Rosetta Captures Thrilling Close-Up Image Of Comet “Firing Its Jets” http://t.co/roTLYnX5qG A nanosecond on/in the Sun - one of the best ‘What If’s ever. (The What If book is excellent too BTW) http://t.co/YkfMvzhy2R A Full Circle Rainbow over Australia on APOD http://t.co/LaKfmvxw8g How to prove Hollywood favours men : http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-to-measure-women-film-annenberg Halley’s not coming back : http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/here-comes-halley-keep-your-eyes-peeled-for-a-cosmic-fireworks-display-later-this-month-9775958.html Spectacular pulsar : https://www.llnl.gov/news/aroundthelab/2014/Oct/ATL100914_star.html Talk is Fundraising for Children in Need by walking 1km to school http://t.co/DoGuSFaShp Weneedus.org (and the recession vending machine) [MP3 Link] Episode #122. If you have anything yo

Rob and Chris talk about quasi-moons, spiders, and media coverage of science. There’s data visualisations of Earth and new arrivals around Mars. Links: Interplanetary Lobbing: http://www.strudel.org.uk/lob/ Spiders on Twitter: http://www.geert.io/spiders-on-twitter.html Earth observation in many flavours: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=4205&button=search&value=None Turn your smartphone into a cosmic ray detector : http://www.news.wisc.edu/23166 …or an IR camera (for $200!) http://www.thermal.com 2014 OL339 - a quasi-satellite of the Earth (http://arxiv.org/abs/1409.5588, @blobrana) Interview with Elon Musk: http://aeon.co/magazine/technology/the-elon-musk-interview-on-mars/ In our time on exoplanets : http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03brwql Science Visualisation Studio: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.html [MP3 Link] Episode #121. If you have anything you’d like us to look at, or any questions you’d like us to answer - use the links at the top of the web page

Rob and Chris talk about today’s Planck results and their impact on BICEP2’s measurement of cosmic inflation. There’s also a new orbiter around Mars, the Ig Nobles, and a way to spy on penguins… for science. Links: Penguin Watch: http://www.penguinwatch.org Planck vs BICEP2: http://arxiv.org/abs/1409.5738 The Ig Nobles http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/sep/19/ig-nobel-prize-british-researchers-win Boarding aeroplanes faster/better: http://flightclub.jalopnik.com/mythbusters-proves-most-airlines-board-planes-all-wrong-1636981904/+laurendavis [MP3 Link] Episode #120. If you have anything you’d like us to look at, or any questions you’d like us to answer - use the links at the top of the web page at http://recycledelec.com. Follow us on Twitter @recycledelec @orbitingfrog and @chrislintott. Credits: Audio content Copyright 2011-2014 Chris Lintott and Robert Simpson. Many thanks to Oxford Press Office for recording space. Podcast Image of lightbulb courtesy of Flickr user