Spacepod

238: When will the universe stop expanding?

A question from Jacob, age 7. Dr. Andrés Plazas Malagón answers. For more on Dr. Malagón's work, see episode 208 or listen to his podcast, Visión Cósmica.

237: Why does an asteroid hit the Earth? And why so big?

A question from Lyla, age 5. Dr. Federica Spoto answers. For more on Dr. Spoto's work, see episode 190.

236: Are there rainbows on other planets? (Part II)

We try, a second time, to answer a question from Maeve, who is almost 3 years old. Dr. Matthew Kenworthy answers. For more on rainbows on other planets, see episode 232.

235: Why is the sun hot?

A question from Ida, age 4. Miho Janvier answers. Find out more about the Solar Dynamics Observatory, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), Solar Orbiter,  and P

234: How many stars are there in space?

A question from Kellan, age 6. Professor Kim McLeod answers. To learn more about Wellesley College's Whitin Observatory, including public visit nights, go here. For more

232: Are there rainbows on other planets?

A question from Maeve, who is almost 3 years old. Dr. Alejandro Soto answers. For more on Dr. Soto's work, see episodes 44 and 136.

232: How many potholes are on an asteroid?

A question from Issac, age 5. Dr. Nancy Chabot answers. For more on Dr. Chabot's work, see episodes 7 and 152. For more on the Planetary Defense, see this NASA website. F

231: How big is space?

A question from Issac, age 4. Dr. Jeff Rich answers. For more on Dr. Rich's work, see episodes 14, 81, 118, or 159, or visit the Carnegie Observatories website. Find the

230: What is the fastest planet?

A question from Renny, age 4. Dr. Jessie Christensen answers. For more on Dr. Christensen's work, see episodes 42 and 102.

229: What do asteroids smell like?

A question from Sabine, age 5. Dr. Christopher Snead answers. For more on Dr. Snead's work, see Episode 184 of Spacepod. Do you know a kid with a space question? Upload i

228: Do other planets really have diamond rain?

Dr. Sabine Stanley answers. For more about planetary insides, check out her book, "What's Hidden Inside Planets".  Do you know a kid with a space question? Upload it at

227: What is the fastest asteroid?

Dr. Michael Busch answers. Do you know a kid with a space question? Upload it at listentospacepod.com and I'll do my best to get an answer!

226: The intersection of computer science and astronomy with Dr. Kubica

Dr. Jeremy Kubica talks about his work on the LINCC Frameworks project, and how he brings together astronomers and computer scientists to create software tools. He shares

225: A newly discovered Martian volcano with Dr. Lee

Dr. Pascal Lee tells the story of how he and his collaborators found a new volcano on Mars. He tells us about the "convergence of lines of evidence" that led to this disc

224: Aurora borealis with Tina Ibsen

Astrophysicist Tina Ibsen tells us about the northern lights. She talks about her research and gives tips on how to observe the lights. She tells us how Denmark is a spac

223: Preparing for something we haven't seen yet with Dr. Holt

Dr. Carrie Holt talks about how she's getting ready for the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. She explains how astronomers are usin

222: Measuring the emptiness of space with Dr. Becker

Dr Tracy Becker tells us about solar system science using ultraviolet light. She explains how the color of a planet's northern lights depends on the planet's atmosphere.

221: The queens of heaven with Prof. Tauris

Professor Thomas Tauris explains what gravitational waves can tell us about colliding neutron stars. He corrects Carrie's misconception about how gravitational waves affe

220: Walking on the roof of hell with Prof. Stanley

Prof. Sabine Stanley, author of "What's Hidden Inside Planets," tells us how the interior of Earth helps make this planet a nice place to live. She tells us that the Eart

219: Breaking the models with Dr. Merrison

Dr. Jon Merrison talks about the Mars Simulation Laboratory. Here, scientists study what happens in low temperature, low pressure, windy environments.  He says visiting s