November 24, 2025 • 20 mins
(00:00:00) Cosmic Clues Beneath Us: The Mantle's Role in Life and the Milky Way Unveiled
(00:00:47) Mysterious structures within Earth's mantle may hold clues to life
(00:05:05) A new unprecedented view of the Milky Way Galaxy
(00:12:36) Stranded Chinese taikonauts return safely to Earth
(00:14:21) The Science Report
(00:16:58) Skeptics guide to the return of the haunted doll.
In this episode of SpaceTime, we uncover groundbreaking insights into Earth's mysteries and the cosmos beyond.
Mysterious Structures in Earth's Mantle
A new study reveals that enigmatic structures within Earth's mantle may hold vital clues about why our planet evolved the conditions necessary for life. These massive formations, known as large low shear velocity provinces and ultra low velocity zones, reside at the boundary between the mantle and outer core, approximately 2,900 kilometres beneath the surface. The research suggests these anomalies could be remnants of Earth's formative processes, providing a deeper understanding of how elements from the core influenced the planet's cooling, volcanic activity, and atmospheric evolution, ultimately setting Earth apart from Venus and Mars.
Unprecedented View of the Milky Way
Astronomers have achieved a remarkable new perspective of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, with the largest low-frequency radio image ever assembled. This extensive survey, conducted using the Murchison Wide Field Array radio telescope in Western Australia, captures the intricate birth, evolution, and demise of stars across the southern hemisphere. The new image, which boasts double the resolution and tenfold sensitivity compared to previous observations, offers valuable insights into stellar interactions and the cosmic landscape, revealing patterns in star formation and supernova remnants.
Successful Return of Stranded Taikonauts
In a significant development, the three Chinese taikonauts stranded in orbit after their Shenzhou 20 spacecraft was struck by space debris have safely returned to Earth aboard the Shenzhou 21 capsule. The crew's return marks the end of a six-month mission at the Tiangong space station, with their extended stay setting a new record for the longest duration in space for Chinese astronauts. The episode highlights the challenges of space travel and the rapid response by Beijing to ensure crew safety.
www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com
✍️ Episode References
Nature Geoscience
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
New England Journal of Medicine
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-your-guide-to-space-astronomy--2458531/support.
(00:00:47) Mysterious structures within Earth's mantle may hold clues to life
(00:05:05) A new unprecedented view of the Milky Way Galaxy
(00:12:36) Stranded Chinese taikonauts return safely to Earth
(00:14:21) The Science Report
(00:16:58) Skeptics guide to the return of the haunted doll.
In this episode of SpaceTime, we uncover groundbreaking insights into Earth's mysteries and the cosmos beyond.
Mysterious Structures in Earth's Mantle
A new study reveals that enigmatic structures within Earth's mantle may hold vital clues about why our planet evolved the conditions necessary for life. These massive formations, known as large low shear velocity provinces and ultra low velocity zones, reside at the boundary between the mantle and outer core, approximately 2,900 kilometres beneath the surface. The research suggests these anomalies could be remnants of Earth's formative processes, providing a deeper understanding of how elements from the core influenced the planet's cooling, volcanic activity, and atmospheric evolution, ultimately setting Earth apart from Venus and Mars.
Unprecedented View of the Milky Way
Astronomers have achieved a remarkable new perspective of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, with the largest low-frequency radio image ever assembled. This extensive survey, conducted using the Murchison Wide Field Array radio telescope in Western Australia, captures the intricate birth, evolution, and demise of stars across the southern hemisphere. The new image, which boasts double the resolution and tenfold sensitivity compared to previous observations, offers valuable insights into stellar interactions and the cosmic landscape, revealing patterns in star formation and supernova remnants.
Successful Return of Stranded Taikonauts
In a significant development, the three Chinese taikonauts stranded in orbit after their Shenzhou 20 spacecraft was struck by space debris have safely returned to Earth aboard the Shenzhou 21 capsule. The crew's return marks the end of a six-month mission at the Tiangong space station, with their extended stay setting a new record for the longest duration in space for Chinese astronauts. The episode highlights the challenges of space travel and the rapid response by Beijing to ensure crew safety.
www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com
✍️ Episode References
Nature Geoscience
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
New England Journal of Medicine
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-your-guide-to-space-astronomy--2458531/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Spacetime Series twenty eight, episode one hundred and
thirty eight, for broadcast on the twenty fourth of November
twenty twenty five. Coming up on Space Time, mysterious structures
within the Earth's mantle that may hold clues about life itself,
a new unprecedented view of our Milky Way galaxy, and
those stranded Chinese taconauts have now safely returned to Earth.
(00:23):
All that and more coming up on space Time.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Welcome to space Time with Stuart Gary.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
A new study may provide scientists with fresh clues to
explain why planet Earth evolved with just the right sorts
of conditions needed for life. For decades, scientists have been
baffled by two enormous, enigmatic structures buried deep inside its mantle.
These structures are so vast and so unusual that they
defy conventional models of planetary evolution. Now, a report in
(01:09):
the journal Nature Geoscience is offering a striking new explanation
for these anomalies and the role they play in shaping
of its ability to support life. The structures are known
as large low shea velocity provinces and ultralovelocity zones. They
sit in the boundary zone between the Earth's mantle and
its molten liquid outer core. Some two thousand nine added
(01:30):
killome it it's below the surface. Large low sheer velocity provinces
are cominent sized blobs of dense hot rock. There's one
directly below Africa and the other is perched under the
Pacific Ocean. Ultralovelocity zones are thin molten patches clinging to
the core like lava puddles. Both types of structures slows
(01:51):
seismic waves dramatically, signally unusual composition. The studies lead author,
Yoshinori Mikazaki from Rutgers University, says these aren't random Oddit
is that fingerprints of Earth's earliest history. He says, if
scientists can work out why they exist, they can understand
how the planet formed and why it became habitable. Four
(02:12):
and a half billion years ago, the proto Earth was
impacted by a Mars sized body, which we call thea.
The impact turned both bodies into a molten magmation. As
it could, scientists expected that the planet would differentiate lighter
elements on the top, heavier ones like iron towards the center.
The mantel itself would form distinct chemical layers similar to
(02:34):
frozen juice separating into sugary concentrate in watery ice. But
seismic studies have shown no such strong layering. Instead, large
low sheer velocity provinces and ultralovelocity zones form irregular piles
at the planet space. Miyazaki says the missing piece is
the core itself. The studies models suggest that over billions
(02:56):
of years, elements such as silicon and magnesium leaked from
the core up into the mantle, mixing with it and
preventing strong chemical layering. This infusion could explain the strange
composition of both the large low shea velocity provinces and
the ultra low velocity zones, which could be seen as
solidified remnants of what the scientists term a basal magma
(03:18):
ocean contaminated by core material. Miyazaki and colleagues think it
might be coming from material leaking out of the core itself.
The research is more than just deep Earth chemistry. Core
mantle boundary interactions may have influenced how the Earth cooled,
how volcanic activity unfolded, and even how our atmosphere evolved,
(03:38):
and all that could help explain why planet Earth is
oceans and life, while Earth's sister planet, Venus is a
scorching greenhouse and Mars is a frozen desert. Miyazaki points
out that the Earth is water, life and a relatively
stable atmosphere. On the other hand, Venus's atmosphere is a
one hundred times thicker than the Earth's, mostly carbon dioxide
(03:59):
and super heated to over six hundred and forty degrees celsius.
On the other hand, masses evolved to have a very
thin atmosphere, also primarily carbon dioxide. Miyazaki thinks what happens
insider planet, that is, how it cools and how its
layers evolve, could be a big part of the answer.
By integrating seismic data, mineral physics, and geodynamic modeling, this
(04:21):
study reconceived large low shee velocity provinces as well as
ultralow velocity zones as vital clues to Earth's formative processes.
In fact, the structures may even feed volcanic hotspots such
as Hawaii and Iceland, linking the deep Earth all the
way up to its surface. This is space time still
to come. An unprecented new view of our Milky Way
(04:44):
galaxy and those stranded Chinese targanauts have safely been returned
to Earth. All that and more still to come on
space time. Astronomers have developed a new, unprecentaged view of
(05:11):
our home galaxy, the Milky Way. The spectacular new image,
reported in the publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia,
represents the largest low frequency radio color view of our
galaxy ever assembled. It captures the southern hemisphere view of
the Milky Way in a wide range of radio wavelengths,
in the process revealing the birth, evolution and death of
(05:33):
stars in our galaxy, and so it provides valuable insights
into the evolution of stars, including their formation in various
regions of the galaxy, how they interact with other celestial objects,
and ultimately their demise. The surveys were conducted using the
Murchison Wide Field Array radio telescope in out back Western Australia.
(05:53):
The work included GLEAM the Galactic and Extra Galactic or
sky MWA Survey, which was conducted over twenty eight nights
in twenty thirteen and twenty fourteen, and GLEIMEX the GLEAM
Extended Survey, which was conducted over one hundred and thirteen
nights from twenty eighteen through to twenty twenty. The author's
catalog some ninety eight thousand radio sources across the galactic
(06:15):
plane visible from the southern hemisphere, showcasing a diverse mix
of pulsars, planetary nebula, compact H two regions, which are
dense ionized clouds of gas, and distant galaxies unrelated to
the Milky Way. The new image offers twice the resolution,
ten times the sensitivity, and covers twice the area of
previous observations compared to the earlier Gleam image released in
(06:36):
twenty nineteen. The studies lead author, Sylvia Mattavenini from the
Curtain University node of the International Center for Radio Astronomy Research,
says this new image provides a far more detailed and
comprehensive study of the Milky Way, providing astronomers with a
wealth of new data and insights. The low frequency image
allows astronomers to unveil large astrophysical structures in the galaxy,
(06:59):
which had difficult the image at higher frequencies. In fact,
prior to these observations, there were no low frequency radio
images of the entire southern galactic plane. The work took
eighteen months and more than forty thousand hours to construct,
using the massive crunching power of the Poresy Supercomputing Research
Center to process and compile the data from the two
major surveys, Matta Vininni says it delivers an unparalleled perspective
(07:23):
of our galaxy at low radio frequencies. Her research focuses
on supernova remnants, expanding clouds of gas and energy left
behind when a star explodes at the end of its life.
Although hundreds of these remnants have been discovered, astronomers suspect
thousands more are still waiting to be found. This image
allows them to distinguish between gas surrounding new stars and
(07:46):
that left behind by dead ones, revealing clearer patterns in
the cosmic landscape. The image also helps unravel the mysteries
surrounding pulsars in our galaxy. Matta Vininni says, by measuring
the brightness of pulsars a different Gleima frequencies, astronomers have
to gain a deeper understanding of how these enigmatic objects
emit radio waves and where they exist within our galaxy.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
So the meaky way in radio band is a little
bit different to what we see in optical instead of
being completely shaded by the dust that is present in
our galaxy. We can actually go through this layer and
have a look at all the structures that are present
in our galaxy. We have created an image that is
(08:29):
able to see those sources in what we call radio colors.
And what it means that every color corresponds is very
different frequency, and so we are able to see the
different emission mechanisms that are taking place in the region.
And so sources like nuns that are dominated by a
nonthermal syncophone reraditions will appear in orange instead thermal sources.
(08:54):
For example, the regions where new stars are created and
born appears in blue.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
So this is giving you an insight into the life
cycle of stars. And I guess the galaxy is a
hole in these wavelengths.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Yes, exactly. So thanks to this image, we are able
to see regions where stars are forming, regions where they're
interacting with other galactic structures, and regions where they die.
So with one single shot, we are able to see
the whole history of stars.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
It's a very confusing image because so much of it
is all on the same plane. You're looking directly towards
the galactic center, which is sort of wide because I
guess there's so much activity happening there.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Yes, exactly. It's quite confusing because we are looking straight
into the plane of our galaxy, so a lot of
the sources will end up being overlapped with each other.
And one of the big advantages of having these radio
colors is that we can actually see the different emissions
laying on the same line of side, and so we
(09:55):
can distinguish better the sources. Of course, we won't be
able to have a full pictures because we're still we
need further informations to disentangle sources that are on the
same line of time, but it's a great step forward
in that regard.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
You use the Merchant and White sort or ray radio telescope.
It took both GLEAM and Glimax surveys in order to
get what you've got now, and a lot of supercomputing
power as well.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Yes, so we use the observations taken from the Marchison
wells in the ray from the Galatic and Extragalatical Sky
and AMAI survey or GLEAM that was observed in twenty thirteen,
and then with the following GLEAM extended surveys in twenty eighteen.
We are doing this because we want to be able
to resolve the larger structures that Gleam is able to resolve.
(10:44):
We find details and the better resolution and sensitivity that
is that the Glimax survey is able to give us.
So we have combined observation of these two service using
modern agonies on a supercomputer at the POSIT Supercomputing Center,
and after approximately a million CP hours, we were able
(11:04):
to generate the image that you can see.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Are you finding any interesting trends in the data regions
of the galaxy where starbirth is just much more common
than others and areas where all dead red stars are
more commonly found.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
No, it's actually well distributed, so areas with born stars
and dine stars I would say uniformly distributed across the galaxy.
And this is actually in agreement with some of the
theories where supernour remnants which correspond to the final explosion
of stars, can actually trigger the formation of new stars,
(11:42):
so it is normal to find them in a proximately
the same area of the sky. Of course, we have
regions that are more dense, like along the galactic center
and regions that are less populated.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
That's Sylvia Metta Vinini from the Curtin University note of
the International Center for Radio Astronomy Research. And this is
space time still to come. Taker nuts stranded in orbit
after their Shenzu twenty spacecraft was set by space junk
of successfully returned to Earth, and later in the science
report the discovery of new mRNA vaccines which are thirty
(12:18):
four percent more effective against flu than existing shots. All
that and more still to come on space time. Three
(12:41):
tigernauts stranded in orbit after the Shenzo twenty spacecraft was
set by space junk earlier this month have successfully returned
to Earth aboard the Shenzo twenty one capsule. The return
capsule deployed a giant red and white striped parachute as
it descended to a touchdown in China's remote northern Gobi
Desert five and a half hour after leaving the Tyangong
(13:01):
Space Station. The return crew used the same spacecraft which
are days earlier flowing their replacements up to the space station.
Of course, that left the replacement crew without lifeboat in
the event of another emergency, but Beijing was ready. They
had a spare rocket and the Shenzu twenty two spacecraft
ready for launch and sent it up to the space
(13:22):
station empty. The original Shenzu twenty spacecraft's return flight was
aborted after the crew discovered a window in the capsule
had tiny cracks in it, most likely caused by the
impact of space debris. The Shenzu twenty crew had been
on station for six months and were originally slated to
return four days after their replacement crew arrived. The extra
(13:42):
week delay meant their two hundred and four day stay
in space was the longest for any Tiger not ites
aboard the Chinese space station. The Shenzu twenty spacecraft will
now remain docked to the space station while it undergoes
further testing ONNIE. Then will Beijing decide what to do
with it. The Tigong, which means Heavenly Palace in Mandarin,
hosted its first crew in twenty twenty one. This is
(14:04):
Space time, and time that to take a brief look
at some of the other stories making news in science
this week with a science report. A new study has
(14:28):
shown that an mRNA based flu vaccine developed by Pfizer
is thirty four and a half percent more effective against
influenza like illness compared to current flu vaccines. The trial,
reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, involved more
than eighteen thousand people. Half of them were given the
mRNA vaccine, with the rest given a conventional flu shot.
(14:48):
The authors found the mRNA vaccine was thirty four point
five percent more effective than conventional vaccines against INFLUENZAIKE illnesses,
which almost all caused by influenza A strains. There were
not enough cases of influenza B for the trial to
draw conclusions on the vaccine's effectiveness against that strain now
the author's note there were more side effects with the
(15:10):
mRNA vaccine group, although the rates of severe and life
threatening side effects were low and similar in both trial groups.
A new study has shown that switching to a vegan
diet may help you reduce your greenhouse gas emissions thanks
to ditching meat and dairy. The findings, reported in the
Journal of the American Medical Association, examined two hundred and
(15:31):
forty overweight adults who either put on a low fat
vegan diet or were told to make no dietary changes.
The trial showed that the group on the low fat
vegan diet lowered the greenhouse gas emissions, but the equivalent
of around one point three kilograms of carbon dioxide per
person every day compared to those in the control group.
A new study has found that one of the world's
(15:53):
most evil monsters out of Hitler, had a micro penis
and undeescended testicles. The study, based on detailed DNA testing
of the Nazi dictator's blood, shows that he suffered from
a genetic condition known as Calman syndrome. The testing was
made possible after researchers obtained a sample of Hitler's blood
from a piece of material taken off the surfa in
(16:13):
which he shot himself. The findings by the University of
Potsdam also confirms that he had absolutely no Jewish DNA ancestry.
Racist had long tried to claim that Hitler's grandmother had
a dalliance with the Jewish employer Biden. Analysis of the
DNA debunks that myth by showing that the Y chromosome
data matches the DNA of Hitler's male line relative, and
(16:35):
if he had Jewish ancestry through an outside relationship, that
match simply would not exist. The study also suggests that
he had a very high disposition to what schizophrenia and
bipolar disorder, again based on his genetic background. Popular World
War Two songs often mocked Hitler's anatomy that lacked any
scientific evidence, and this new study has certainly changed that.
(16:59):
No sooner had this sort of Annabel. The famous so
called devil doll faded from the headlines. Then it's allegedly
claimed yet another victim. Timmendum from Austrians. Skeptics says, apparently,
according to the rumors, a haunted doll hasn't lost any
of it's blood lost.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
Its raggedy and doll that's been aether few years that
supposedly possessed and can do terrible things to people. And
it was owned by a couple named Edam l Ray
Warren who were notorious ghost hunters, and there was no
such thing as the house that wasn't haunts or under
sort of evil spells. So according to ed that they
came across, so they were quite well known. They are
the basis of the Conjuring films, different name, but they're
(17:36):
supposedly the same for the characters. So they had this doll,
this raggedy and doll which is called Annabel, and the
Ray died a while ago, but the others were sort
of looking after managing it and the taken of it.
But well, we don't know. I suppose we can always asked.
I mean supposedly when it was being displayed in Louisiana,
there was a local fire and all sorts of things
which had no relevance to it at all. But more
recently a fellow who was taking around responsible for it
(17:57):
named Dan Rivera, who was a paranormal investigator. He died
in his hotel room and people say, oh, Annabel did
the animal did it? So there's a lot of talk
about that. His friend said day braying the doll. He
did die hard issues. He had long standing issues with
heart problems, and the doll was actually a different room anyway,
so I couldn't leap at him and sort of attack him.
But that had a lot of publicity. It's at the
Louisiana thing followed by this death that kept the momentum going.
(18:18):
And the doll's still going around on a tour of
a US. But someone else has now, a comedian has
now bought the home and the museum of the Warrants,
and that's where the Annabel doll normally resides. So there's
all sorts of stories about them now and are they
going to be possessed? That they're going to be haunted?
The media and a lot of the leivers are getting
a good run out of Annabel, and we just pointed
out it's a doll. It's not haunted, it's not possessed.
(18:41):
Anything you claim against it is either made up or coincidental.
A lot of it's made up. But yeah, throughout other
dolls out there you could use. There's dolls that scratch people,
and there's dolls that buy things on Alexa, and there's
all sorts of sort of different possessed dolls out there.
If you really wanted to just make a career at
the dolls, you can.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
That's timendum from Australian skept Diggs and that's the show
for now. Spacetime is available every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
(19:20):
through bytes dot com, SoundCloud, YouTube, your favorite podcast download provider,
and from space Time with Stuart Gary dot com. Space
Time's also broadcast through the National Science Foundation, on Science
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And you can help to support our show by visiting
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(19:43):
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Just go to space Time with Stuart Gary dot com
for full t you've.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Been listening to space Time with Stuart Gary. This has
been another quality podcast production from bytes dot com.
This is Spacetime Series twenty eight, episode one hundred and
thirty eight, for broadcast on the twenty fourth of November
twenty twenty five. Coming up on Space Time, mysterious structures
within the Earth's mantle that may hold clues about life itself,
a new unprecedented view of our Milky Way galaxy, and
those stranded Chinese taconauts have now safely returned to Earth.
(00:23):
All that and more coming up on space Time.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Welcome to space Time with Stuart Gary.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
A new study may provide scientists with fresh clues to
explain why planet Earth evolved with just the right sorts
of conditions needed for life. For decades, scientists have been
baffled by two enormous, enigmatic structures buried deep inside its mantle.
These structures are so vast and so unusual that they
defy conventional models of planetary evolution. Now, a report in
(01:09):
the journal Nature Geoscience is offering a striking new explanation
for these anomalies and the role they play in shaping
of its ability to support life. The structures are known
as large low shea velocity provinces and ultralovelocity zones. They
sit in the boundary zone between the Earth's mantle and
its molten liquid outer core. Some two thousand nine added
(01:30):
killome it it's below the surface. Large low sheer velocity provinces
are cominent sized blobs of dense hot rock. There's one
directly below Africa and the other is perched under the
Pacific Ocean. Ultralovelocity zones are thin molten patches clinging to
the core like lava puddles. Both types of structures slows
(01:51):
seismic waves dramatically, signally unusual composition. The studies lead author,
Yoshinori Mikazaki from Rutgers University, says these aren't random Oddit
is that fingerprints of Earth's earliest history. He says, if
scientists can work out why they exist, they can understand
how the planet formed and why it became habitable. Four
(02:12):
and a half billion years ago, the proto Earth was
impacted by a Mars sized body, which we call thea.
The impact turned both bodies into a molten magmation. As
it could, scientists expected that the planet would differentiate lighter
elements on the top, heavier ones like iron towards the center.
The mantel itself would form distinct chemical layers similar to
(02:34):
frozen juice separating into sugary concentrate in watery ice. But
seismic studies have shown no such strong layering. Instead, large
low sheer velocity provinces and ultralovelocity zones form irregular piles
at the planet space. Miyazaki says the missing piece is
the core itself. The studies models suggest that over billions
(02:56):
of years, elements such as silicon and magnesium leaked from
the core up into the mantle, mixing with it and
preventing strong chemical layering. This infusion could explain the strange
composition of both the large low shea velocity provinces and
the ultra low velocity zones, which could be seen as
solidified remnants of what the scientists term a basal magma
(03:18):
ocean contaminated by core material. Miyazaki and colleagues think it
might be coming from material leaking out of the core itself.
The research is more than just deep Earth chemistry. Core
mantle boundary interactions may have influenced how the Earth cooled,
how volcanic activity unfolded, and even how our atmosphere evolved,
(03:38):
and all that could help explain why planet Earth is
oceans and life, while Earth's sister planet, Venus is a
scorching greenhouse and Mars is a frozen desert. Miyazaki points
out that the Earth is water, life and a relatively
stable atmosphere. On the other hand, Venus's atmosphere is a
one hundred times thicker than the Earth's, mostly carbon dioxide
(03:59):
and super heated to over six hundred and forty degrees celsius.
On the other hand, masses evolved to have a very
thin atmosphere, also primarily carbon dioxide. Miyazaki thinks what happens
insider planet, that is, how it cools and how its
layers evolve, could be a big part of the answer.
By integrating seismic data, mineral physics, and geodynamic modeling, this
(04:21):
study reconceived large low shee velocity provinces as well as
ultralow velocity zones as vital clues to Earth's formative processes.
In fact, the structures may even feed volcanic hotspots such
as Hawaii and Iceland, linking the deep Earth all the
way up to its surface. This is space time still
to come. An unprecented new view of our Milky Way
(04:44):
galaxy and those stranded Chinese targanauts have safely been returned
to Earth. All that and more still to come on
space time. Astronomers have developed a new, unprecentaged view of
(05:11):
our home galaxy, the Milky Way. The spectacular new image,
reported in the publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia,
represents the largest low frequency radio color view of our
galaxy ever assembled. It captures the southern hemisphere view of
the Milky Way in a wide range of radio wavelengths,
in the process revealing the birth, evolution and death of
(05:33):
stars in our galaxy, and so it provides valuable insights
into the evolution of stars, including their formation in various
regions of the galaxy, how they interact with other celestial objects,
and ultimately their demise. The surveys were conducted using the
Murchison Wide Field Array radio telescope in out back Western Australia.
(05:53):
The work included GLEAM the Galactic and Extra Galactic or
sky MWA Survey, which was conducted over twenty eight nights
in twenty thirteen and twenty fourteen, and GLEIMEX the GLEAM
Extended Survey, which was conducted over one hundred and thirteen
nights from twenty eighteen through to twenty twenty. The author's
catalog some ninety eight thousand radio sources across the galactic
(06:15):
plane visible from the southern hemisphere, showcasing a diverse mix
of pulsars, planetary nebula, compact H two regions, which are
dense ionized clouds of gas, and distant galaxies unrelated to
the Milky Way. The new image offers twice the resolution,
ten times the sensitivity, and covers twice the area of
previous observations compared to the earlier Gleam image released in
(06:36):
twenty nineteen. The studies lead author, Sylvia Mattavenini from the
Curtain University node of the International Center for Radio Astronomy Research,
says this new image provides a far more detailed and
comprehensive study of the Milky Way, providing astronomers with a
wealth of new data and insights. The low frequency image
allows astronomers to unveil large astrophysical structures in the galaxy,
(06:59):
which had difficult the image at higher frequencies. In fact,
prior to these observations, there were no low frequency radio
images of the entire southern galactic plane. The work took
eighteen months and more than forty thousand hours to construct,
using the massive crunching power of the Poresy Supercomputing Research
Center to process and compile the data from the two
major surveys, Matta Vininni says it delivers an unparalleled perspective
(07:23):
of our galaxy at low radio frequencies. Her research focuses
on supernova remnants, expanding clouds of gas and energy left
behind when a star explodes at the end of its life.
Although hundreds of these remnants have been discovered, astronomers suspect
thousands more are still waiting to be found. This image
allows them to distinguish between gas surrounding new stars and
(07:46):
that left behind by dead ones, revealing clearer patterns in
the cosmic landscape. The image also helps unravel the mysteries
surrounding pulsars in our galaxy. Matta Vininni says, by measuring
the brightness of pulsars a different Gleima frequencies, astronomers have
to gain a deeper understanding of how these enigmatic objects
emit radio waves and where they exist within our galaxy.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
So the meaky way in radio band is a little
bit different to what we see in optical instead of
being completely shaded by the dust that is present in
our galaxy. We can actually go through this layer and
have a look at all the structures that are present
in our galaxy. We have created an image that is
(08:29):
able to see those sources in what we call radio colors.
And what it means that every color corresponds is very
different frequency, and so we are able to see the
different emission mechanisms that are taking place in the region.
And so sources like nuns that are dominated by a
nonthermal syncophone reraditions will appear in orange instead thermal sources.
(08:54):
For example, the regions where new stars are created and
born appears in blue.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
So this is giving you an insight into the life
cycle of stars. And I guess the galaxy is a
hole in these wavelengths.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Yes, exactly. So thanks to this image, we are able
to see regions where stars are forming, regions where they're
interacting with other galactic structures, and regions where they die.
So with one single shot, we are able to see
the whole history of stars.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
It's a very confusing image because so much of it
is all on the same plane. You're looking directly towards
the galactic center, which is sort of wide because I
guess there's so much activity happening there.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Yes, exactly. It's quite confusing because we are looking straight
into the plane of our galaxy, so a lot of
the sources will end up being overlapped with each other.
And one of the big advantages of having these radio
colors is that we can actually see the different emissions
laying on the same line of side, and so we
(09:55):
can distinguish better the sources. Of course, we won't be
able to have a full pictures because we're still we
need further informations to disentangle sources that are on the
same line of time, but it's a great step forward
in that regard.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
You use the Merchant and White sort or ray radio telescope.
It took both GLEAM and Glimax surveys in order to
get what you've got now, and a lot of supercomputing
power as well.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Yes, so we use the observations taken from the Marchison
wells in the ray from the Galatic and Extragalatical Sky
and AMAI survey or GLEAM that was observed in twenty thirteen,
and then with the following GLEAM extended surveys in twenty eighteen.
We are doing this because we want to be able
to resolve the larger structures that Gleam is able to resolve.
(10:44):
We find details and the better resolution and sensitivity that
is that the Glimax survey is able to give us.
So we have combined observation of these two service using
modern agonies on a supercomputer at the POSIT Supercomputing Center,
and after approximately a million CP hours, we were able
(11:04):
to generate the image that you can see.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Are you finding any interesting trends in the data regions
of the galaxy where starbirth is just much more common
than others and areas where all dead red stars are
more commonly found.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
No, it's actually well distributed, so areas with born stars
and dine stars I would say uniformly distributed across the galaxy.
And this is actually in agreement with some of the
theories where supernour remnants which correspond to the final explosion
of stars, can actually trigger the formation of new stars,
(11:42):
so it is normal to find them in a proximately
the same area of the sky. Of course, we have
regions that are more dense, like along the galactic center
and regions that are less populated.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
That's Sylvia Metta Vinini from the Curtin University note of
the International Center for Radio Astronomy Research. And this is
space time still to come. Taker nuts stranded in orbit
after their Shenzu twenty spacecraft was set by space junk
of successfully returned to Earth, and later in the science
report the discovery of new mRNA vaccines which are thirty
(12:18):
four percent more effective against flu than existing shots. All
that and more still to come on space time. Three
(12:41):
tigernauts stranded in orbit after the Shenzo twenty spacecraft was
set by space junk earlier this month have successfully returned
to Earth aboard the Shenzo twenty one capsule. The return
capsule deployed a giant red and white striped parachute as
it descended to a touchdown in China's remote northern Gobi
Desert five and a half hour after leaving the Tyangong
(13:01):
Space Station. The return crew used the same spacecraft which
are days earlier flowing their replacements up to the space station.
Of course, that left the replacement crew without lifeboat in
the event of another emergency, but Beijing was ready. They
had a spare rocket and the Shenzu twenty two spacecraft
ready for launch and sent it up to the space
(13:22):
station empty. The original Shenzu twenty spacecraft's return flight was
aborted after the crew discovered a window in the capsule
had tiny cracks in it, most likely caused by the
impact of space debris. The Shenzu twenty crew had been
on station for six months and were originally slated to
return four days after their replacement crew arrived. The extra
(13:42):
week delay meant their two hundred and four day stay
in space was the longest for any Tiger not ites
aboard the Chinese space station. The Shenzu twenty spacecraft will
now remain docked to the space station while it undergoes
further testing ONNIE. Then will Beijing decide what to do
with it. The Tigong, which means Heavenly Palace in Mandarin,
hosted its first crew in twenty twenty one. This is
(14:04):
Space time, and time that to take a brief look
at some of the other stories making news in science
this week with a science report. A new study has
(14:28):
shown that an mRNA based flu vaccine developed by Pfizer
is thirty four and a half percent more effective against
influenza like illness compared to current flu vaccines. The trial,
reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, involved more
than eighteen thousand people. Half of them were given the
mRNA vaccine, with the rest given a conventional flu shot.
(14:48):
The authors found the mRNA vaccine was thirty four point
five percent more effective than conventional vaccines against INFLUENZAIKE illnesses,
which almost all caused by influenza A strains. There were
not enough cases of influenza B for the trial to
draw conclusions on the vaccine's effectiveness against that strain now
the author's note there were more side effects with the
(15:10):
mRNA vaccine group, although the rates of severe and life
threatening side effects were low and similar in both trial groups.
A new study has shown that switching to a vegan
diet may help you reduce your greenhouse gas emissions thanks
to ditching meat and dairy. The findings, reported in the
Journal of the American Medical Association, examined two hundred and
(15:31):
forty overweight adults who either put on a low fat
vegan diet or were told to make no dietary changes.
The trial showed that the group on the low fat
vegan diet lowered the greenhouse gas emissions, but the equivalent
of around one point three kilograms of carbon dioxide per
person every day compared to those in the control group.
A new study has found that one of the world's
(15:53):
most evil monsters out of Hitler, had a micro penis
and undeescended testicles. The study, based on detailed DNA testing
of the Nazi dictator's blood, shows that he suffered from
a genetic condition known as Calman syndrome. The testing was
made possible after researchers obtained a sample of Hitler's blood
from a piece of material taken off the surfa in
(16:13):
which he shot himself. The findings by the University of
Potsdam also confirms that he had absolutely no Jewish DNA ancestry.
Racist had long tried to claim that Hitler's grandmother had
a dalliance with the Jewish employer Biden. Analysis of the
DNA debunks that myth by showing that the Y chromosome
data matches the DNA of Hitler's male line relative, and
(16:35):
if he had Jewish ancestry through an outside relationship, that
match simply would not exist. The study also suggests that
he had a very high disposition to what schizophrenia and
bipolar disorder, again based on his genetic background. Popular World
War Two songs often mocked Hitler's anatomy that lacked any
scientific evidence, and this new study has certainly changed that.
(16:59):
No sooner had this sort of Annabel. The famous so
called devil doll faded from the headlines. Then it's allegedly
claimed yet another victim. Timmendum from Austrians. Skeptics says, apparently,
according to the rumors, a haunted doll hasn't lost any
of it's blood lost.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
Its raggedy and doll that's been aether few years that
supposedly possessed and can do terrible things to people. And
it was owned by a couple named Edam l Ray
Warren who were notorious ghost hunters, and there was no
such thing as the house that wasn't haunts or under
sort of evil spells. So according to ed that they
came across, so they were quite well known. They are
the basis of the Conjuring films, different name, but they're
(17:36):
supposedly the same for the characters. So they had this doll,
this raggedy and doll which is called Annabel, and the
Ray died a while ago, but the others were sort
of looking after managing it and the taken of it.
But well, we don't know. I suppose we can always asked.
I mean supposedly when it was being displayed in Louisiana,
there was a local fire and all sorts of things
which had no relevance to it at all. But more
recently a fellow who was taking around responsible for it
(17:57):
named Dan Rivera, who was a paranormal investigator. He died
in his hotel room and people say, oh, Annabel did
the animal did it? So there's a lot of talk
about that. His friend said day braying the doll. He
did die hard issues. He had long standing issues with
heart problems, and the doll was actually a different room anyway,
so I couldn't leap at him and sort of attack him.
But that had a lot of publicity. It's at the
Louisiana thing followed by this death that kept the momentum going.
(18:18):
And the doll's still going around on a tour of
a US. But someone else has now, a comedian has
now bought the home and the museum of the Warrants,
and that's where the Annabel doll normally resides. So there's
all sorts of stories about them now and are they
going to be possessed? That they're going to be haunted?
The media and a lot of the leivers are getting
a good run out of Annabel, and we just pointed
out it's a doll. It's not haunted, it's not possessed.
(18:41):
Anything you claim against it is either made up or coincidental.
A lot of it's made up. But yeah, throughout other
dolls out there you could use. There's dolls that scratch people,
and there's dolls that buy things on Alexa, and there's
all sorts of sort of different possessed dolls out there.
If you really wanted to just make a career at
the dolls, you can.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
That's timendum from Australian skept Diggs and that's the show
for now. Spacetime is available every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
(19:20):
through bytes dot com, SoundCloud, YouTube, your favorite podcast download provider,
and from space Time with Stuart Gary dot com. Space
Time's also broadcast through the National Science Foundation, on Science
Own Radio and on both iHeartRadio and tune In Radio.
And you can help to support our show by visiting
the Spacetime store for a range of promotional merchandising goodies,
(19:43):
or by becoming a Spacetime Patron, which gives you access
to triple episode, commercial free versions of the show, as
well as lots of bonnus audio content which doesn't go
to wear, access to our exclusive Facebook group, and other rewards.
Just go to space Time with Stuart Gary dot com
for full t you've.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Been listening to space Time with Stuart Gary. This has
been another quality podcast production from bytes dot com.
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