#387: Dark Energy Survey Sparks New Questions About the Universe

If you're feeling frustrated by the lack of understanding dark energy, despite hours spent researching and reading about it, then you are not alone! Despite your efforts to grasp the concept, you may feel like you're still no closer to unraveling the mysteries of the universe. The confusion and uncertainty may be leaving you feeling disheartened and discouraged about ever truly understanding dark energy. But rest assured, many others share your struggle and are also seeking clarity on this complex topic.
In this episode, you will be able to:
· Understand the origins of water in the solar system and its significance for life beyond Earth.
· Explore the fascinating process of the formation of the solar system and how it shaped our cosmic neighborhood.
· Discover the potential for terraforming Venus, unlocking the possibility of transforming inhospitable planets into habitable ones.
· Uncover the abundance of water in the solar system and its implications for future space exploration and colonization.
· Learn about the slingshot effect in space missions and how it enables spacecraft to travel vast distances with limited fuel.

'Two out of the three atoms in a water molecule are hydrogen. So two thirds of your 75%, which is 50% of the atoms in your body, come from the Big Bang. Why? You feel old these days? 13.8 billion year old hydrogen.' - Andrew Dunkley

Terraforming Venus Possibilities: Terraforming Venus is a topic of fascinating discussion. The suggestion of transforming its carbon dioxide-heavy atmosphere using photosynthetic algae could potentially cool it down over extended periods. However, the surface atmospheric pressure on Venus is significantly higher than Earth's, making such an endeavor incredibly complex and presently unfeasible.
The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Dark Energy Survey
00:08:15 - Peregrine Lander Mission
00:13:48 - Dark Energy Survey Results
00:16:18 - Quintessence and Thunderplump
00:17:38 - Exploring the Cosmic Megastructure
00:19:56 - Universe Homogeneity and Big Ring Discovery
00:23:16 - Speculation on Megastructure Origins
00:24:53 - Unraveling the Mystery of Cosmic Structures
00:29:32 - Addressing Audience Feedback
00:34:17 - Formation of the Solar System and Origin of Water
00:37:27 - Slingshot Effect and Spacecraft Momentum
00:40:43 - Terraforming Venus and Atmospheric Cleanup
00:45:04 - Are Humans Stars? Stardust Origins

The resources mentioned in this episode are:
· Visit spacenutspodcast.com or spacenuts.io to send in your text or audio questions.
· Listen to Space Nuts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or your favorite podcast player.
· Stream on demand at bitesz.com or spacenuts.io.
· Check out the documentary The Stars by the BBC.
· Send feedback or questions through the Space Nuts website.

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