Shimmering Diamonds, Asteroid Encounters & Unraveling the Dark Ages of the Universe

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Diamonds on Mercury, the Lucy Mission, and Mapping the Dark Ages
In this exciting episode of Space Nuts, host Andrew Dunkley returns from his recent travels, ready to explore some of the most intriguing topics in astronomy alongside the ever-knowledgeable Professor Fred Watson. They dive into the possibility of a diamond layer on Mercury, the latest revelations from the Lucy spacecraft, and an ambitious plan to map the universe's Dark Ages.
Episode Highlights:
- Diamonds Beneath Mercury: Andrew and Fred Watson discuss groundbreaking research suggesting that Mercury may have a layer of diamonds beneath its surface. They unpack the findings from a recent paper that indicates the presence of carbon-rich materials under extreme pressure and temperature conditions, leading to the formation of diamonds deep within the planet.
- The Lucy Mission's Surprising Discoveries: The duo delves into the latest images sent back by NASA's Lucy spacecraft, which is on a mission to study Trojan asteroids. They discuss a surprising flyby of an asteroid that turned out to be larger than anticipated, along with the innovative autonomous systems that allowed for stunning imaging of this cosmic object.
- Mapping the Dark Ages of the Universe: Andrew and Fred Watson explore an ambitious project aimed at mapping the Dark Ages of the universe, a time when the first stars had yet to ignite. They discuss the challenges of detecting the faint signals from this era and how a fleet of satellites positioned on the far side of the Moon could help overcome these obstacles.
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Stay curious, keep looking up, and join us next time for more stellar insights and cosmic wonders. Until then, clear skies and happy stargazing.
(00:00) Welcome back to Space Nuts with Andrew Dunkley and Fred Watson Watson
(01:20) Discussion on the potential diamond layer on Mercury
(15:00) Updates from the Lucy mission and its asteroid flyby
(25:30) Exploring the plan to map the Dark Ages of the universe
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