Skip to content
Artwork for Fascinating Frontiers
ScienceAstronomy

Fascinating Frontiers

Patrick · Nerra Network

Daily space and astronomy news: NASA and SpaceX missions, ESA operations, exoplanet and James Webb discoveries, and the engineering behind humanity's push into the cosmos — with ongoing story tracking across Starship, Artemis, and deep-space science. For space enthusiasts, engineers, and the curious.

AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production.

Play
  • 82 episodes
  • daily
  • Avg 9 min
  • English

Support the show

Goes straight to the publisher. podnod takes nothing.

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • S1 · E226
    October 18 · 9 min

    Ep 226: Four Artemis II astronauts accepted the Stephen Hawking Medal for turning their lunar…

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News Four Artemis II astronauts accepted the Stephen Hawking Medal for turning their lunar flight into a shared human experience. Artemis II Crew Receives Stephen Hawking Medal — Space.com The four Artemis II astronauts accepted the Stephen Hawking Medal at the Starmus VIII festival in Tenerife on October 17. ... Sources: space.com · universetoday.com · phys.org AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube (public from 2:30 PM ET): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSs-fbvxky8 If this episode was useful, a rating or a short review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is how the next listener finds the show — and following it in your app means the next episode is there when you are. 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 📬 Get the sources and notes by email, free: join the newsletter 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E225
    October 17 · 8 min

    Ep 225: Seven billion light-years away, a supercluster holding more than two quadrillion solar…

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News Seven billion light-years away, a supercluster holding more than two quadrillion solar masses may show whether dark matter particles interact with one another. Astronomer leads global team on NASA mission to early universe — Phys.org Space A University of Missouri astronomer heads a team of 130 researchers from 62 institutions, including NASA, Caltech, Princeton and Harvard. ... Sources: phys.org · space.com · arstechnica.com · universetoday.com AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOosyJv-VRk If this episode was useful, a rating or a short review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is how the next listener finds the show — and following it in your app means the next episode is there when you are. 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E224
    October 16 · 8 min

    Ep 224: Detailed maps of young lunar faults now give the clearest measure yet of how much the moon…

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News Detailed maps of young lunar faults now give the clearest measure yet of how much the moon has contracted while cooling. Lunar fault maps reveal how much the moon is shrinking — Phys.org Space A new study of young tectonic landforms on the moon offers the most detailed estimate yet of how much the moon has contracted as its interior gradually cooled over time. ... Sources: phys.org · universetoday.com · space.com · nasa.gov AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3bmAksP3jk If this episode was useful, a rating or a short review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is how the next listener finds the show — and following it in your app means the next episode is there when you are. 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E223
    October 15 · 8 min

    Ep 223: Perseverance has driven farther on Mars than any rover before it thanks to its AutoNav…

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News Perseverance has driven farther on Mars than any rover before it thanks to its AutoNav hazard system. Top 12 Space & Astronomy Stories Perseverance Sets New Distance Record on Mars — Universe Today NASA's Perseverance Rover has reached another milestone. It now holds the record for the longest distance travelled on another world, meaning Mars and Earth's Moon. ... Sources: universetoday.com · nasa.gov · science.nasa.gov · quantamagazine.org · arstechnica.com · miragenews.com · spectra.mhi.com · phys.org AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Agv489ujxg If this episode was useful, a rating or a short review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is how the next listener finds the show — and following it in your app means the next episode is there when you are. 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E222
    October 14 · 7 min

    Ep 222: Perseverance rover just added another 91 meters to its Mars record in one day, pushing the…

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News Perseverance rover just added another 91 meters to its Mars record in one day, pushing the total distance past prior benchmarks. WASP-189b shows matching chemistry with its host star — SSBCrack Astronomers captured the transmission spectrum of the hot Jupiter WASP-189b as it passed in front of its host star. ... Sources: news.ssbcrack.com · am1100theflag.com · nasa.gov · science.nasa.gov · jpl.nasa.gov · nature.com AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s71gdHwjxMQ If this episode was useful, a rating or a short review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is how the next listener finds the show — and following it in your app means the next episode is there when you are. 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E221
    October 13 · 7 min

    Ep 221: New helium measurements are confirming the exact mix forged in the universe's first minutes.

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News New helium measurements are confirming the exact mix forged in the universe's first minutes. Top 12 Space & Astronomy Stories APOD Captures Desert Stairway Under Milky Way — NASA Breaking A wide-angle composite shows a stairway sculpture in Chile's Atacama Desert with the Milky Way rising behind it. ... Sources: science.nasa.gov · phys.org · space.com · pasadenastarnews.com · ahmedabadmirror.com · hindustantimes.com AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz6vYEQCzv8 If this episode was useful, a rating or a short review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is how the next listener finds the show — and following it in your app means the next episode is there when you are. 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E220
    October 12 · 6 min

    Ep 220: European companies will test lunar rovers inside new Italian simulation facilities.

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News European companies will test lunar rovers inside new Italian simulation facilities. Top 12 Space & Astronomy Stories ispace-EUROPE and ALTEC Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Collaborate on Lunar Rover Testing — ispace ispace-EUROPE S.A. and ALTEC S.p.A. ... Sources: ispace-inc.com · breakingthenews.net AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5-zaE0Nu3s If this episode was useful, a rating or a short review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is how the next listener finds the show — and following it in your app means the next episode is there when you are. 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E219
    October 11 · 7 min

    Ep 219: Astronomers have fresh clues about the irregular dimming of Tabby's Star that once hinted…

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News Astronomers have fresh clues about the irregular dimming of Tabby's Star that once hinted at alien structures. New clues surface for Tabby's Star's strange brightness changes — Vietnam.vn The star KIC 8462852 shows brightness drops of up to twenty percent at irregular intervals. It is an F-type star in Cygnus with a red dwarf companion. ... Sources: vietnam.vn · ynetnews.com · amp.marca.com · yourweather.co.uk · universetoday.com AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynGK2SXOIbk If this episode was useful, a rating or a short review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is how the next listener finds the show — and following it in your app means the next episode is there when you are. 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E218
    October 10 · 8 min

    Ep 218: A sharp mosaic from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter shows the Moon's farside has a…

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News A sharp mosaic from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter shows the Moon's farside has a thicker crust that prevents dark maria from forming. Lunar Farside Mosaic Reveals Thicker Crust — NASA The image is a mosaic from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s wide angle camera centered on the lunar farside. It combines over 15,000 images acquired between November 2009 and February 2011. ... Sources: science.nasa.gov · voiceofemirates.com · reddit.com · infoespacial.com · gizmodo.com · phys.org · astronomy.com · space.com AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqwPQ9W6o8M If this episode was useful, a rating or a short review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is how the next listener finds the show — and following it in your app means the next episode is there when you are. 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E217
    October 9 · 7 min

    Ep 217: A high school student has identified three dwarf galaxies whose star formation patterns…

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News A high school student has identified three dwarf galaxies whose star formation patterns may resolve a long-standing puzzle about isolated systems. Top 15 Space & Astronomy Stories High school student identifies three dwarf galaxies near M101 — Universe Today Julian Shapiro discovered the galaxies while still in high school during research on star formation rates. ... Sources: universetoday.com · spaceanddefense.io · vietnam.vn · space.com · astronomy.com · esa.int · phys.org · reddit.com AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_5sfKxLaCw If this episode was useful, a rating or a short review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is how the next listener finds the show — and following it in your app means the next episode is there when you are. 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E216
    October 8 · 9 min

    Ep 216: A radio galaxy from nearly twelve point five billion years ago has been confirmed as one…

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News A radio galaxy from nearly twelve point five billion years ago has been confirmed as one of the most powerful ever detected. Elon Musk confirms Tesla and SpaceX will run Terafab — Teslarati Elon Musk stated that Tesla and SpaceX will build and operate the planned Terafab chip factory in Texas. He added that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company may sublease space but will not take control. ... Sources: teslarati.com · esa.int · space.com · phys.org · reddit.com · uwaterloo.ca · nasa.gov · astronomy.com AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__k0PuSsyjo If this episode was useful, a rating or a short review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is how the next listener finds the show — and following it in your app means the next episode is there when you are. 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E215
    October 7 · 8 min

    Ep 215: Sophie Adenot and her Crew-12 crewmates undocked from the International Space Station…

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News Sophie Adenot and her Crew-12 crewmates undocked from the International Space Station today after nearly eight months aboard. Sophie Adenot Returning to Earth Today — European Space Agency On 7 October 2026 ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and her Crew-12 crewmates undocked from the International Space Station at around 12:05 GMT. ... Sources: esa.int · phys.org · spacenews.com · newsminer.com · astronomy.com · reddit.com · universetoday.com · science.nasa.gov AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fOTBU3rrDU If this episode was useful, a rating or a short review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is how the next listener finds the show — and following it in your app means the next episode is there when you are. 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E214
    October 6 · 9 min

    Ep 214: SpaceX Crew Dragon Grace reached the International Space Station in seven hours and fifty…

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News SpaceX Crew Dragon Grace reached the International Space Station in seven hours and fifty-five minutes, the fastest U.S. spacecraft transit on record. Top 15 Space & Astronomy Stories ESA and Vast sign new post-ISS cooperation agreement — European Space Agency The European Space Agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Vast at the 77th International Astronautical Congress. ... Sources: esa.int · news.ssbcrack.com · sharjah24.ae · teslarati.com · science.nasa.gov · phys.org · siliconrepublic.com · nature.com AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X95l-poK8j0 If this episode was useful, a rating or a short review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is how the next listener finds the show — and following it in your app means the next episode is there when you are. 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E213
    October 5 · 8 min

    Ep 213: Tidal streams around the Sombrero galaxy show it grew through repeated mergers thirty…

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News Tidal streams around the Sombrero galaxy show it grew through repeated mergers thirty million light years away. Top 15 Space & Astronomy Stories AMD Readies Chip for Fifteen-Year Space Missions — Tech Critter AMD is preparing its Versal AI Core adaptive system-on-chip for missions lasting up to fifteen years in space. ... Sources: tech-critter.com · science.nasa.gov · perthisok.com · enterpriseam.com · philsa.gov.ph · stthomassource.com · phys.org · nasa.gov AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fkVmaU2gjU If this episode was useful, a rating or a short review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is how the next listener finds the show — and following it in your app means the next episode is there when you are. 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E212
    October 4 · 7 min

    Ep 212: Starlink is beta testing a program allowing property owners to earn passive income by…

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News Starlink is beta testing a program allowing property owners to earn passive income by sharing satellite internet with nearby users. Top 15 Space & Astronomy Stories Starlink Launches Communities Program for Shared Access — Teslarati Starlink is launching a beta path for property owners to turn a single kit into a shared access business. ... Sources: teslarati.com · phys.org · astronomy.com · fool.com · reddit.com · livescience.com · dongascience.com · aol.com AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pdcB1vpSAs If this episode was useful, a rating or a short review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is how the next listener finds the show — and following it in your app means the next episode is there when you are. 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E211
    October 3 · 10 min

    Ep 211: SpaceX completed three Falcon launches, four first stage landings, and a Dragon docking to…

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News SpaceX completed three Falcon launches, four first stage landings, and a Dragon docking to the station in under thirteen hours. Top 15 Space & Astronomy Stories World Space Week 2026 Focuses on Rocket Revolution — The Federal Reusable rockets, private launch companies and advances in manufacturing are lowering barriers to orbit and expanding opportunities for space exploration. ... Sources: thefederal.com · esa.int · science.nasa.gov · chinadaily.com.cn · phys.org · wvnews.com · x.com AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-WB4hBINRE If this episode was useful, a rating or a short review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is how the next listener finds the show — and following it in your app means the next episode is there when you are. 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E210
    October 1 · 9 min

    Ep 210: Researchers now estimate Mars north pole ice contains only three percent dust by mass…

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News Researchers now estimate Mars north pole ice contains only three percent dust by mass instead of the prior twenty five percent figure. Top 15 Space & Astronomy Stories ... Sources: universetoday.com · phys.org · space.com · bnrnews.bg · spacenews.com · scientificamerican.com · arstechnica.com · cdcgaming.com AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk468q1tW30 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E209
    September 30 · 7 min

    Ep 209: Webb telescope image of galaxy cluster MACS J0454.1-0300 shows hundreds more galaxies than…

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News Webb telescope image of galaxy cluster MACS J0454.1-0300 shows hundreds more galaxies than Hubble captured in 2014. Top 15 Space & Astronomy Stories Webb Image Shows Hundreds More Galaxies in Distant Cluster — European Space Agency The James Webb Space Telescope captured galaxy cluster MACS J0454.1-0300 in far greater detail than the Hubble image from 2014. ... Sources: esa.int · arstechnica.com · reddit.com · universetoday.com · phys.org · x.com AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpGEKE7L5Pw 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Chapters
  • S1 · E208
    September 29 · 8 min

    Ep 208: NASA will pay Boeing three hundred fifty nine million dollars to return Starliner to…

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News NASA will pay Boeing three hundred fifty nine million dollars to return Starliner to flight and certify a new rocket. Boeing Receives Three Hundred Fifty Nine Million Dollars for Starliner Return — Ars Technica NASA will pay Boeing three hundred fifty nine million dollars to facilitate Starliner's return to flight. ... Sources: arstechnica.com · spaceflightnow.com · spacepolicyonline.com · spacewatch.global · plus.nasa.gov · universetoday.com · sciencedaily.com · science.nasa.gov AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZmzIqS055M 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • S1 · E207
    September 28 · 9 min

    Ep 207: A new map reveals hundreds of previously unknown valleys beneath Greenland's vast ice sheet.

    Fascinating Frontiers 🚀 Fascinating Frontiers - Space & Astronomy News A new map reveals hundreds of previously unknown valleys beneath Greenland's vast ice sheet. Top 15 Space & Astronomy Stories Hidden Valleys Mapped Under Greenland Ice Sheet — NASA Science A newly developed method called Ice Flow Perturbation Analysis produced the most detailed view yet of the bedrock beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet. ... Sources: science.nasa.gov · universetoday.com · scitechdaily.com · abc.net.au · reddit.com · cw39.com · 2oceansvibe.com · nola.com AI Disclosure: This podcast is curated by Patrick but uses AI-generated voice synthesis for audio production. 🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQZ1ov4mPyQ 📝 Full show notes, transcript & sources: read the episode page 🌐 Part of the Nerra Network — explore every show at nerranetwork.com.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
Showing 21–40 of 82 episodes