Space Nuts: Astronomy Insights & Cosmic Discoveries

Professor Fred Watson and Andrew Dunkley

Dark Matter

Black Holes

Dark Energy

James Webb Space Telescope

Mars

NASA

Dark Energy Survey

Planet Formation

Oumuamua

Galaxies

Big Bang

Asteroids

Gravity

Titan

Meteor Shower

Halley's Comet

Peregrine Moon Lander

Nicolaus Copernicus

Cosmological Constant

Cosmic Megastructure

Join Professor Fred Watson and Sci-Fi Author Andrew Dunkley on Space Nuts as they delve into astronomy, space travel, and cosmic mysteries. Explore groundbreaking discoveries and listener Q&A in captivating discussions. Follow us on social media to engage with our community!Two episodes a week with news and explainer focused editions published on Thursday's and our Listener Q&A focused edition on ... more

1.2k ratings

Publishes	Twice weekly	Episodes	714	Founded	10 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	ScienceNatural SciencesAstronomy

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Latest Episodes

Artemis Adventures, Interstellar Toilets & Unveiling Second Generation Stars

Artemis 2, Space Toilets, and the Discovery of a Second Generation Star

In this fascinating episode of Space Nuts, hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson take you on a journey through the latest developments in space exploration. With Artemis... more

3 Apr 2026 • 27 min

Cosmic Comets, Magnetic Pole Puzzles & The Enigma of Time | Q&A

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30 Mar 2026 • 35 min

Asteroid Spin, Superpuff Mysteries & Martian Groundwater Revelations

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27 Mar 2026 • 31 min

Hawking Radiation, Dark Energy Dilemmas & Listener Curiosities

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Cosmic Queries: Hawking Radiation, Dar... more

23 Mar 2026 • 34 min

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Recent Guests

Martin Berman-Gorwein

Writer extraordinaire in many genres

Episode: Solar Secrets, Cosmic Siblings & the Quest for Breathable Exoplanets

Jonti Horner

Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Southern Queensland

University of Southern Queensland

Episode: Meteorite Myths, Daylight Fireballs & the Secrets of Ultra-Faint Galaxies

Michelle Doherty

First female Astronomer Royal and notable planetary scientist

Episode: Little Red Dots, Astronomer Royal & Life on Mars

Doug Stone

Operator at Bruno Doon State Park Observatory and Planetarium

Bruno Doon State Park Observatory and Planetarium

Episode: Black Holes, Cosmic Questions & TRAPPIST Tales

Mark Rabelais

Listener from Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Episode: Black Holes, Cosmic Questions & TRAPPIST Tales

Heidi Campo

Science communicator and former host of Reality Check podcast

Episode: Alien Objects, Seismic Signals & Mars Missions: Investigating Cosmic Curiosities

Professor Jonti Horner

Astrophysicist and Professor at the University of Southern Queensland

University of Southern Queensland

Episode: Black Holes, Light Speed & Oceanic Exoplanets: #498 - Diving Deep into Your Space Queries

Professor Fred Watson

Astronomer at Large

Episode: Dyson Spheres, Dark Matter Mysteries & Time Twists: #480 Q&A

Emery Stagmer

Listener and contributor from Baltimore, Maryland

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

Hosts

Andrew Dunkley

Co-host and science communicator; long-running host of the show; makes space science approachable and entertaining

Professor Fred Watson

Astronomer at large; co-host providing expert astronomical context and explanations

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings

My Weekly Education
Thanks for the weekly education, facts and entertainment! Keep up the fun times! 🇨🇦
Apple Podcasts
5
coolfactor
Canada2 months ago
Jabbering Jibberish
If you’re keen on listening to a pair of boomers wank on about cruise ship holidays and golf this is the podcast for you.
Apple Podcasts
1
kiwidogman
New Zealand2 months ago
The right side of history
Space IS nuts. I like this pod, I see people leaving negative reviews on politics. In the US its influence on space is notable. Just be on the right side of history.
Apple Podcasts
5
Pizzamonster817nomnom
United States5 months ago
Political
You can tell that they can’t help themselves! They have to get political every chance they get!
Apple Podcasts
1
Almostgood07
United States5 months ago
Delete
Delete
Apple Podcasts
2
MarkChicagoIL
United States6 months ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

General praise for approachable space content

Positive feedback on clarity and explanations of complex topics

Some criticisms about politics or longer listener questions in certain episodes

Appreciation for host chemistry and humor

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#10	United States/Science/Astronomy
Apple Podcasts	#119	United States/Science
Apple Podcasts	#6	Canada/Science/Astronomy
Apple Podcasts	#11	United Kingdom/Science/Astronomy
Apple Podcasts	#74	Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts	#119	United Kingdom/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Hawking Radiation, Dark Energy Dilemmas & Listener Curiosities

Q: Thomas from Virginia asks a what-if about moving Earth to another star's habitable zone as the Sun dies; what would happen to the atmosphere during and after the journey?

The hosts discussed that atmospheric gases would likely freeze if moved far enough from the Sun's current warmth, with residual gases possibly remaining; upon returning to a favorable zone, some gases would re-vaporize and regain gaseous states. The scenario also highlighted the challenges of physically relocating a planet and the speculative nature of such a move, including potential reliance on exotic physics or dimensional shortcuts in theory.

Hawking Radiation, Dark Energy Dilemmas & Listener Curiosities

Q: Stuart from Tasmania asks how dark energy can drive the expansion of the universe without the energy density decreasing in newly formed space, given conservation considerations.

Experts explained that dark energy is modeled as a property of space itself, with energy density remaining roughly constant as space expands, which leads to the observed acceleration. Recent work from the Dark Energy Survey suggests the cosmological constant may not be truly constant, implying more complex physics may be at play; thus the simple conservation picture can be more nuanced in the context of general relativity and evolving spacetime.

Hawking Radiation, Dark Energy Dilemmas & Listener Curiosities

Q: Hi lads, Shane here from Ireland. Regarding interstellar comet 3I Atlas, could it be as old as the universe and still retain such a coma, given its extreme age and composition?

The consensus discussion acknowledged that 3I Atlas appears to be very old, with estimates around 10-12 billion years, but its current chemical makeup and activity are unusual; the comet likely formed in a solar-system-rich environment and has spent most of its life in deep space, with only brief solar-system passages affecting its ices. The exact age is uncertain, and ongoing observations may revise estimates, but its outgassing behavior and composition indicate a long history rather than a simple, young origin.

Martian Meteorites, Gas Giants & The Search for Alien Life | Q&A

Q: Duncan asked about the number of alien civilizations in the Milky Way and how far they would have to be to be uncontactable.

Even with an estimated thousand civilizations, vast distances and the finite speed of light mean contact would be unlikely within any human-relevant timeframe; time alignment and galaxy-scale distances make practical communication improbable.

Martian Meteorites, Gas Giants & The Search for Alien Life | Q&A

Q: Penny asked about plans to fly spacecraft through the middle of Saturn or Jupiter and the challenges involved.

Floating through gas giants isn't feasible due to the lack of a solid surface and extreme atmospheric pressures; even if the planet were fully gaseous, the spacecraft would need to slow enormously to avoid burning up, making such a mission impractical.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two seasoned science communicators cover a broad swath of space news, exploration, and cosmic curiosities with accessible explanations and lively banter. Episodes frequently alternate between timely spaceflight updates (e.g., Artemis programs, NASA missions, and international collaboration) and deep dives into astronomical phenomena (black holes, planetary science, exoplanets, cosmic evolution), often interspersed with listener Q&A. The format blends news-style context, expert commentary, and approachable explanations, making complex topics understandable for curious beginners and science enthusiasts alike. A standout element is the chemistry between the hosts—rooted in humor, historical anecdotes, and a shared love of space—that helps new ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. SpaceTime with Stuart Gary
2. Universe Today Podcast
3. The Supermassive Podcast
4. The 365 Days of Astronomy
5. Ask a Spaceman!

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 10 years ago and published 714 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Martin Berman-Gorwein
2. Jonti Horner
3. Michelle Doherty
4. Doug Stone
5. Mark Rabelais
6. Heidi Campo
7. Professor Jonti Horner
8. Professor Fred Watson

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