Big Picture Science for Mar. 09, 2026: Skeptic Check: Moon Conspiracy

Big Picture Science: Skeptic Check: Moon Conspiracy

As NASA’s Artemis program promises to take us back to the moon for the first time in fifty years, we consider what it means that as many as 10% of Americans don’t believe we went there in the first place. Why, despite all the evidence, has the faked moon landing conspiracy persisted? We explore why this falsehood has such staying power and what it reveals about our relationship with science and its findings.

Meanwhile, lunar science continues unabated. Scientists open a lunar soil sample that’s been vacuumed sealed for a half-century and receive a blast of four and a half billion-year-old solar wind.

Guests:

• Peter Knight – professor of American Studies, English and American Studies and conspiracy expert at the University of Manchester, U.K.
• Ryan Zeigler – planetary scientist and NASA’s Lunar Sample Curator at Johnson Space Center

Download podcast at - https://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/skeptic-check-moon-conspiracy

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://bigpicturescience.org/

Get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support!

Big Picture Science for Feb. 16, 2026: Celestial Shake-Up

Big Picture Science: Celestial Shake-Up

We’re going back to the Moon. The planned March 2026 launch of Artemis II is the first crewed mission to the moon since 1972. Historic as it is, it isn’t the only lunar event creating a stir at NASA. Two seismometers are to be delivered to Schrödinger’s Crater in a mission called The Farside Seismic Suite, in which the instruments will measure moonquakes and record the possible impact of asteroid 2024 YR4 on lunar surface. Meanwhile, studies of the sun are heating up. The so-called PUNCH mission, a four-satellite constellation that will create an image of the sun’s corona and solar winds, may help us better understand what drives solar storms and how we can protect Earth from their energetic blasts.

Guests:

• Eugene Cernan – Apollo 17 astronaut
• Harrison "Jack" Schmitt – Geologist and Apollo 17 astronaut
• Andrew Rivkin – Planetary astronomer at the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University
• Ceri Nunn – Lunar seismologist and planetary scientist, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Ryan French – solar physicist, at the Laboratory for Atmospheric & Space Physics, Boulder, Colorado, and author of “Space Hazards: Asteroids, Solar Flares and Cosmic Threats”
• Craig DeForest – Heliophysicist, Southwest Research Institute, principal investigator on NASA’s  PUNCH mission

Download podcast at - https://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/celestial-shake-up

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://bigpicturescience.org/

Get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support!

Big Picture Science for Mar 25 2024 - When the Moon Hits Your Eye

Big Picture Science - When the Moon Hits Your Eye

The Great North American Solar Eclipse will trace a path of shadow across Mexico and 13 U.S. States on April 8th. Phil Plait, also known as The Bad Astronomer, joins the show for an extended interview covering a wide-range of topics, such as his excitement about the eclipse, the Pentagon’s most recent UFO report, and some of the most persistent moon landing conspiracy theories.

Guest:

• Phil Plait – aka the Bad Astronomer, former astronomer on Hubble, teacher, lecturer, and debunker of conspiracy theories. He is also the author of a new book “Under Alien Skies: A Sightseer’s Guide to the Universe.”

Download podcast at - https://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/when-the-moon-hits-your-eye

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://bigpicturescience.org/

Get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support!

Jupiter-Moon Conjunction--Tonight!

Source - Space Weather News for May 7, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

JUPITER-MOON CONJUNCTION: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look southeast. You'll see Jupiter and the waxing gibbous Moon rising together in the constellation Virgo, only couple of degrees apart. If possible, try to catch the tight pair before the sky fades completely black. The sight of these two bright celestial bodies framed by twilight blue is beautiful indeed. Sky maps and photos @ Spaceweather.com.

STAR WARS DAY CME: On May the 4th (Star Wars Day), unstable magnetic fields in the sun's atmosphere shifted and hurled a CME into space. The cloud's velocity was relatively low, and it might take 6 whole days to cross the sun-Earth divide. NOAA forecasters expect the CME to arrive on May 10th, possibly causing geomagnetic activity around the poles. Stay tuned to Spaceweather.com for updates

Geomagnetic Storm Likely This Week

Source - Space Weather News for Feb. 27, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR WIND, INCOMING: A canyon-shaped hole in the sun's atmosphere is spewing a stream of solar wind toward Earth. Polar geomagnetic storms could begin as early as Feb. 28th when the leading edge of the stream reaches our planet. NOAA forecasters estimate a 60% chance of G1-class storms on March 1st when Earth is fully enveloped by the fast-moving solar wind. More information @ Spaceweather.com

SUNSET PLANETS: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look west.  The skinny crescent Moon is approaching Venus for a side-by-side gathering on Feb. 28th. 

Visit Spaceweather.com for sky maps.

What is the "Da Vinci Glow"? You can see it this weekend...

Source - Space Weather News for Dec. 3, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

WHAT IS THE DA VINCI GLOW?  Five hundred years ago, Leonardo da Vinci proposed an outlandish theory explaining why the Moon's surface glows during the lunar night. Turns out, his idea was correct. This weekend is a great time to see the "Da Vinci Glow" for yourself. Observing tips and the full story of da Vinci's imaginative leap are highlighted on today's edition of Spaceweather.com.

LARGE CORONAL HOLE TURNING TOWARD EARTH:  A large hole in the sun's atmosphere has formed and it is turning toward Earth.  Solar wind emerging from the opening could reach Earth as early as Dec. 6-7 and influence the space environment of our planet for several days.

Visit Spaceweather.com for more information and updates.

Asteroid buzzes Earth, then flies by the Moon

Source - Space Weather News for Sept. 7, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

ASTEROID DOUBLE FLYBY:  On Sept. 7th, a newly discovered asteroid about the size of a large grey whale flew over the south pole of Earth only 25,000 miles away. For scale, that's only a few thousand miles above the orbits of typical geosynchronous satellites. After the Earth flyby, the space rock turned and headed in the general direction of the Moon, executing a wider flyby of 179,000 miles on Sept. 8th. Where will this asteroid go next?  Visit http://spaceweather.com for answers and photos of today's encounter with Earth.

BRIGHT AURORAS:  A broad solar wind stream hit Earth on Sept. 1st, sparking a display of bright auroras around the Arctic Circle that is only now fully subsiding.  Did you miss it?  Browse our Aurora Photo Gallery for highlights.

Incoming CME could spark solstice auroras

Source - Space Weather News for June 19, 2015: http://spaceweather.com

SOLSTICE AURORA WATCH: On June 18th, the sun produced its biggest flare in nearly two months.  The M3-class explosion caused a brief low-frequency radio blackout over North America and hurled a CME into space.  A glancing blow from the CME is likely on June 21st , possibly sparking a geomagnetic storm and solstice auroras.  Check http://spaceweather.com for updates.

SUNSET PLANETS:  When sun goes down tonight, step outside and look west.  Venus, Jupiter and the crescent Moon are having a lovely conjunction in the sunset sky.  Photos @ http://spaceweathergallery.com

Young Volcanoes on the Moon

NASA Science News for Nov. 24, 2014

The Moon might not be as dead as it looks. Researchers using NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter have found signs of geologically-recent volcanic eruptions dotting the lunar landscape.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/24nov_imps/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53TGz30Z1sM&feature=youtu.be



License: Standard YouTube License

Big Picture Science for Monday 03 November 2014 - Sounds Abound

Big Picture Science - Sounds Abound

ENCORE: The world is a noisy place. But now we have a better idea what the fuss is about. Not only can we record sound, but our computers allow us to analyze it.

Bird sonograms reveal that our feathery friends give each other nicknames and share details about their emotional state. Meanwhile, hydrophones capture the sounds of dying icebergs, and let scientists separate natural sound from man-made in the briny deep.

Plus, native Ohio speakers help decipher what Neil Armstrong really said on that famous day. And, think your collection of 45 rpm records is impressive? Try feasting your ears on sound recorded before the Civil War.

Guests:

• Bob Dziak – Oceanographer, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Program Manager, Acoustics Program, NOAA
• Michael Porter – Senior scientist of H.L.S. Research, La Jolla, California
• Patrick Feaster – Sound media historian at Indiana University
• Laura Dilley – Assistant professor in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Michigan State University
• Jenny Papka – Co-director of Native Bird Connections
• Michael Webster – Professor of neurobiology and behavior, director of the Macaulay Library, Cornell University

This encore podcast was first released on August 5, 2103.

Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/Sounds_Abound

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Blog Picture Science, the companion blog to the radio show.

Evidence for Young Lunar Volcanism

Source - NASA Science News for October 13, 2014

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has found strong evidence of geologically young volcanic activity on the moon. Some deposits appear to be less than 100 million years old, corresponding to Earth's Cretaceous period, the heyday of dinosaurs.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/13oct_moonvolcano/

Big Picture Science for Monday 29 September 2014 - Land on the Run

Big Picture Science - Land on the Run

Hang on to your globe. One day it’ll be a collector’s item. The arrangement of continents you see today is not what it once was, nor what it will be tomorrow. Thank plate tectonics.

Now evidence suggests that the crowding together of all major land masses into one supercontinent – Pangaea, as it’s called – is a phenomenon that’s happened over and over during Earth’s history. And it will happen again. Meet our future supercontinent home, Amasia, and learn what it will look like.

Meanwhile, as California waits for the Big One, geologists discover that major earthquakes come in clusters. Also, our planet is not the only solar system body with tectonic activity. Icy Europa is a mover and shaker too.

And why is land in the western part of the U.S. literally rising up? Mystery solved!

Guests:

• John Dvorak – Geologist, author of Earthquake Storms: The Fascinating History and Volatile Future of the San Andreas Fault
• Adrian Borsa – Geophysicist, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego
• Ross Mitchell – Geologist and post-doctoral scholar at the California Institute of Technology
• Simon Kattenhorn – Structural geologist and a planetary geologist who did his work on Europa while at the University of Idaho

Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/Land_on_the_Run

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Blog Picture Science, the companion blog to the radio show.

Solar Activity Picks Up

Source - Space Weather News for August 22, 2014: http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR ACTIVITY: Solar activity has been low for weeks. A new sunspot turning toward Earth could change that. AR2149 announced itself on August 21st with a M3-class solar flare that sent waves of ionization coursing through Earth's upper atmosphere.  The active region appears capable of more eruptions in the days ahead.  Visit http://spaceweather.com for updates.

MORNING SKY SHOW:  Set your alarm for dawn--again.  The crescent Moon is joining Jupiter and Venus to form a bright triangle in the early morning sky. The best time to look is August 23rd about 30 to 45 minutes before local sunrise. Photos of the encounter may be found at http://spaceweathergallery.com

Possible New Moon Forming Around Saturn

Source - NASA Science News for April 14, 2014

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has documented the formation of a small icy object within the rings of Saturn that may be a new moon.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/14apr_newmoon/

Must-See Sunset Phenomenon

Source - Space Weather News for Dec. 30, 2013: http://spaceweather.com

MUST-SEE SUNSET PHENOMENON: Like the Moon, Venus has phases, and this week the second planet from the sun is a whisper-thin crescent. The phenomenon is easy to observe. Venus is so bright, you can see it at sunset even before the sky fades to black (hint: face southwest).  A pair of binoculars or a small telescope reveals Venus's crescent shape.

Check http://spaceweather.com for photos and more information.

AURORA WATCH:  A solar wind stream is approaching Earth and could spark the first auroras of 2014 when it arrives on Jan. 2-4.  Would you like a call when the sky lights up? Geomagnetic storm alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Spacecraft Goes into Lunar Orbit

Source - Space Weather News for Oct. 6, 2013: http://spaceweather.com

SPACECRAFT GOES INTO LUNAR ORBIT: Among a select few allowed to work during the US government shutdown, controllers for NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) fired the spacecraft's engines this morning, Oct. 6th, slowing it enough to be captured by lunar gravity.  LADEE is now in orbit.  Soon, the spacecraft will begin its mission to study the Moon's exotic and diaphanous atmosphere, which is mightily affected by space weather. For more information about this development, plus new color images of incoming Comet ISON, visit http://spaceweather.com.

SOLAR FLARE ALERTS: Would you like a call when solar flares are underway? X-flare alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Watch Out for the Harvest Moon

Source - NASA Science News for Sept. 16, 2013

The full Moon closest to the northern autumnal equinox is coming this week. Don't miss the Harvest Moon.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/16sep_harvestmoon/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5GauJNCRJ4



License: Standard YouTube License

NASA Mission To Study Mysterious Lunar Twilight Rays

Source - NASA Science News for Sept. 3, 2013

A NASA spacecraft slated for launch on Sept. 6 will fly to the Moon to investigate the tenuous lunar atmosphere. Researchers hope "LADEE" will solve a mystery that has been puzzling them since the days of Apollo.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/03sep_ladee/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z_oi36O8tw



License: Standard YouTube License

Big Picture Science for 08/05/13 - Sounds Abound

Big Picture Science - Sounds Abound

The world is a noisy place. But now we have a better idea what the fuss is about. Not only can we record sound, but our computers allow us to analyze it.

Bird sonograms reveal that our feathery friends give each other nicknames and share details about their emotional state. Meanwhile, hydrophones capture the sounds of dying icebergs, and let scientists separate natural sound from man-made in the briny deep.

Plus, native Ohio speakers help decipher what Neil Armstrong really said on that famous day. And, think your collection of 45 rpm records is impressive? Try feasting your ears on sound recorded before the Civil War.

Guests:

• Bob Dziak – Oceanographer, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Program Manager, Acoustics Program, NOAA
• Michael Porter – Senior scientist of H.L.S. Research, La Jolla, California
• Patrick Feaster – Sound media historian at Indiana University
• Laura Dilley – Assistant professor in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Michigan State University
• Jenny Papka – Co-director of Native Bird Connections
• Michael Webster – Professor of neurobiology and behavior, director of the Macaulay Library, Cornell University

Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/Sounds_Abound

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Blog Picture Science, the companion blog to the radio show.

Hubble Discovers a New Moon around Neptune

Source - NASA Science News for July 15, 2013

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has discovered a new moon orbiting the distant blue-green planet Neptune.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/15jul_neptunemoon/