Bedtime Astronomy cover art

Bedtime Astronomy

Bedtime Astronomy

By: Synthetic Universe
Listen for free

Only £0.99 a month for the first 3 months. Pay £0.99 for the first 3 months, and £8.99/month thereafter. Renews automatically. Terms apply. Start my membership

About this listen

 Welcome Bedtime Astronomy Podcast. We invite you to unwind and explore the wonders of the universe before drifting off into a peaceful slumber.

Join us as we take you on a soothing journey through the cosmos, sharing captivating stories about stars, planets, galaxies, and celestial phenomena.

Let's go through the mysteries of the night sky, whether you're a seasoned stargazer or simply curious about the cosmos, our bedtime astronomy podcast promises to inspire wonder, spark imagination.

AI SoundCopyright Synthetic Universe Astronomy Astronomy & Space Science Physics Science
Episodes
  • Real-Time Nova Explosions: How 2025 Interferometry Revealed Stellar Complexity

    Real-Time Nova Explosions: How 2025 Interferometry Revealed Stellar Complexity
    Dec 11 2025
    New interferometry observations from the CHARA Array have captured unprecedented real-time images of stellar nova explosions, revealing they're far more complex than scientists thought. These 2025 findings show multiple interacting material outflows instead of simple bursts—one nova displayed perpendicular gas flows, while another exhibited a dramatic 50-day ejection delay.

    By linking these high-resolution structures with Fermi telescope gamma-ray data, researchers can now explain how powerful shock waves form during these events. This breakthrough transforms our understanding of novae from basic explosions into dynamic, varied cosmic laboratories.
    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • Ultra-Relativistic Dark Matter: Reviving a 50-Year-Old Theory

    Ultra-Relativistic Dark Matter: Reviving a 50-Year-Old Theory
    Dec 9 2025
    Physicists Stephen Henrich and Keith Olive are breathing new life into a dark matter theory abandoned in the 1970s. Their "ultra-relativistic freeze-out" mechanism proposes that dark matter separated from ordinary matter much earlier than previously thought—during the reheating era right after cosmic inflation.

    The original hot dark matter concept was rejected because fast-moving particles would have disrupted early galaxy formation. By moving this freeze-out event earlier in cosmic history, the particles would have had time to cool down, making them compatible with what we observe today.

    This approach helps explain why decades of detection experiments have come up empty. Ultra-relativistic dark matter interacts even more weakly than WIMP candidates, sitting between WIMPs and FIMPs as a long-overlooked category that could finally solve the universe's missing mass mystery.
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • Martian Lightning: Confirmation and Consequences

    Martian Lightning: Confirmation and Consequences
    Dec 7 2025
    This episode reveals a groundbreaking scientific announcement: electric discharges occur on Mars. Long theorized, this phenomenon was accidentally confirmed by the Perseverance rover's SuperCam microphone. Researchers captured both electromagnetic and acoustic signals as the rover passed through two dust devils. The discharges are static electricity, created by intense friction between charged dust particles in the thin, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere.

    This historic discovery is critical for understanding Mars. The electrical events accelerate the formation of powerful oxidizing agents, which may solve the mystery of why Martian methane disappears so quickly. Furthermore, these high electrical charges influence dust movement, impacting climate dynamics, and they pose a potential hazard, capable of damaging sensitive electronics on both robotic and future human missions.
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
No reviews yet