Space Nuts: Astronomy Insights & Cosmic Discoveries

Professor Fred Watson and Andrew Dunkley

Black Holes

Dark Matter

Mars

James Webb Space Telescope

NASA

Dark Energy

Gravitational Waves

Titan

Gravity

Exoplanets

Spacex

Astrobiology

3I Atlas

Astronomy

International Space Station

Moon

Time Dilation

Hubble Tension

Astrophysics

Big Bang

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	733	Founded	10 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Natural SciencesAstronomyScience

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Latest Episodes

Angular Momentum, Cosmic Time Dilation & Dark Matter Mysteries Unraveled | Q&A

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11 May 2026 • 33 min

Fires on the Moon, Interstellar Glaciers & Mayan Timekeeping Mysteries

Fires on the Moon, Interstellar Glaciers, and Mayan Mathematics In this captivating episode of Space Nuts, hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson explore a range of extraordinary topics that bridge the gap between the familiar and the cosmic.... more

9 May 2026 • 35 min

White Dwarfs, Black Holes & Cosmic Oddities Unpacked | Q&A

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White Dwarfs, Black Holes, and Cosmic Oddities In this enlightening Q&A edition of Space Nuts, hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson tackle a plethora of intri... more

4 May 2026 • 32 min

Nuclear Power in Space, SETI from the Moon & the Hubble Tension Unravelled

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Nuclear Space Policies, SETI from the Moon, and the Hubble Tension In this riveting episode of Space Nuts, hosts Andrew Dunkley... more

30 Apr 2026 • 33 min

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Recent Guests

Martin Berman Gorvine

Writer, guest who posed a sci-fi query about Peel Gibb and faster-than-light travel

Writer/guest

Episode: Angular Momentum, Cosmic Time Dilation & Dark Matter Mysteries Unraveled | Q&A

Sunny Skies

Listener who asked a question about Mars water

Listener/Space Nuts audience

Episode: Relativistic Beaming, Martian Waters & Cosmic Trash: The Space Nuts Q&A

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: Comet Conundrums, Cosmic Shutdowns & The Mars Remains Controversy

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

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

Excellent podcast
Excellent way to learn about space and things with good humour.
Outstanding in all ways keep up the great work.
Apple Podcasts
5
Wibh
United Kingdoma month ago
ARE THEY EVEN TALKING ABOUT IT
LLL boo boo boo😒😒😒 stupid stupid stupid
Apple Podcasts
1
Obliterated creeper
United States2 months ago
My Weekly Education
Thanks for the weekly education, facts and entertainment! Keep up the fun times! 🇨🇦
Apple Podcasts
5
coolfactor
Canada3 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 Zealand4 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 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	#142	United States/Science
Apple Podcasts	#11	Canada/Science/Astronomy
Apple Podcasts	#11	United Kingdom/Science/Astronomy
Apple Podcasts	#150	Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts	#165	United Kingdom/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

White Dwarfs, Black Holes & Cosmic Oddities Unpacked | Q&A

Q: How far do you need to go before you stop feeling Earth's gravity when in orbit or on a long interplanetary trajectory?

Gravity never fully disappears; you feel it at any distance, but its influence weakens with distance and is eventually dominated by broader galactic or interstellar gravitational fields as you move farther away.

Angular Momentum, Cosmic Time Dilation & Dark Matter Mysteries Unraveled | Q&A

Q: Does the angular momentum of two spinning black holes cancel out if their spins are equal and opposite, leading to a non-spinning final black hole?

Yes, the two individual spins could cancel, but the majority of angular momentum comes from the orbital motion, and that orbital angular momentum is radiated away as gravitational waves, leaving the final black hole with negligible net spin in the special case where the spins are perfectly opposite and matched.

Supermassive Black Holes, Voyager's Journey & Gravitational Waves Explained | Q&A

Q: How do black holes form—could there be two different formation channels affecting their observable properties?

There could be multiple formation pathways (stellar collapse for stellar-mass BHs and direct collapse for some primordial or early-universe SMBHs), but observable properties like mass, charge, and spin are constrained by the No-Hair Theorem, making distinctions subtle unless formation histories imprint different spin or charge distributions.

Black Hole Dilemmas, Pulsar Planets & Bennu's Chemical Secrets | Q&A

Q: Long time listener, first time caller. With time dilation at the event horizon, how are black holes able to accrete enough matter to grow to supermassive scales within cosmological time scales?

The growth depends on the observer's frame of reference; while an external observer sees time slow near the horizon, the infalling material experiences normal time and can continue accreting rapidly, especially if the black hole has abundant gas to feed it, permitting rapid growth that can outpace simple, slow accretion expectations.

Artemis 2 Success, ESO Fallout & The Intriguing World of X-Ray Binaries

Q: Any hope of a turnaround or reconsideration of the ESO relationship for Australia?

There is cautious optimism that new discussions could yield more affordable or alternative arrangements, such as in-kind contributions or a revised partnership, but ESO's membership rules and the scale of the ELT make a quick reversal unlikely without a broader political agreement across multiple member countries.

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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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

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

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 10 years ago and published 733 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 Gorvine
2. Sunny Skies
3. Martin Berman-Gorwein
4. Jonti Horner
5. Michelle Doherty
6. Doug Stone
7. Mark Rabelais
8. Heidi Campo

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