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Astronomy (Audio)

Astronomy (Audio)

By: UCTV
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UCTV programs explore astronomy, the physical universe and other space related topics with University of California faculty and experts from around the world.Copyright 2024 Regents of the University of California Nature & Ecology Science
Episodes
  • Returning to the Moon

    Returning to the Moon
    Jul 10 2026
    With the success of Artemis II, NASA is preparing for humanity’s return to the Moon through the ambitious Artemis Project. In this lecture, Professor Neil Farber explores the future Artemis missions, the spacecraft and technologies designed to support them, and the challenges NASA faces in sending astronauts back to the lunar surface. Building on the legacy of the Apollo program, Artemis represents a new era of exploration focused not only on reaching the Moon, but on establishing a sustainable long-term presence and preparing for future missions to Mars. Professor Farber examines why returning to the Moon today presents more difficulties than during the Apollo era, including modern engineering demands, funding realities, mission complexity, astronaut safety, and the logistical challenges of deep space travel. The lecture also highlights how NASA’s goals have evolved since Apollo and why the Moon remains central to the future of human space exploration. Series: "Osher UC San Diego Distinguished Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 41597]
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    46 mins
  • Leveraging Space

    Leveraging Space
    May 15 2026
    Stem cell health in space matters for astronaut health and cancer research. Jessica Pham, UC San Diego, explains how spaceflight shapes normal hematopoietic stem cells and cancer stem cells through nano bioreactor studies, astronaut blood analysis, and tumor organoid work in low-Earth orbit. Pham examines increased cycling and reduced dormancy in space, reduced self-renewal after return, and ongoing research on cancer stem cells and their microenvironment, helping clarify how stem cells respond to spaceflight. This work helps explain how space conditions may change stem cell fitness over time and points toward a better understanding of astronaut health, long-duration missions, and cancer stem cell behavior. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41477]
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    9 mins
  • The Exploration of Space Asteroids: The Fossils of the Universe

    The Exploration of Space Asteroids: The Fossils of the Universe
    Sep 6 2025
    Asteroids, often called “fossils of the solar system,” are remnants from its formation that offer clues about planetary origins and the potential beginnings of life. Dr. Neil Farber, Solar System Ambassador for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, explains that some, known as near-Earth objects, pose impact risks—though large, dangerous collisions are rare—and NASA’s Near-Earth Object Surveyor mission aims to detect and track them to inform planetary defense strategies. Asteroids may also hold resources, such as metals or water, that could one day support space exploration, though current technology limits mining feasibility. Recent missions like OSIRIS-REx, Lucy, and Psyche are expanding our understanding of asteroid composition, history, and diversity, with findings including evidence of past water, amino acids, and nucleotide bases—key building blocks of life—raising intriguing questions about whether asteroids helped seed life on Earth. Series: "Osher UC San Diego Distinguished Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 40964]
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    49 mins
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