Universe Today Podcast

Fraser Cain

NASA

Mars

James Webb Space Telescope

Moon

Vera Rubin Observatory

Black Holes

Dark Matter

Spacex

Astronomy

Exoplanets

Artificial Intelligence

Space Exploration

3I Atlas

Comet 3i Atlas

Earth

Europa

Jupiter

Starship

Titan

Supernova

Public feed with [Space Bites+], [Q&A+], [Interview+] and other episodes. Free for everyone.

1.6k ratings

Publishes	Daily	Episodes	1603	Founded	13 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	AstronomyScience

Listen to this Podcast

Guests Host Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

[Interview+] We All Love Space. Here's Why

BONUS PART STARTS AT 33:01

Watch here (with no ads) or on YouTube: youtu.be/wk7ccTP9Aag

🟣 Guest: Mat Kaplan www.planetary.org/planetary-radio

Mat Kaplan is a huge inspiration for me. We talked about the Planetary Society, his car... more

9 Sep 2026 • 55 min

[Q&A+] Will Roman Find Even More New Physics?

BONUS QUESTION STARTS AT 16:31

Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: youtu.be/lG_soURwfxk

Will new telescopes continue bringing up new discoveries? Why doesn't the CMB get blocked by galaxies? Where did the first stars form? And... more

8 Sep 2026 • 23 min

[SpaceBites+] NASA's Roman Telescope Is In Space

BONUS STORY STARTS AT 18:53

Watch here (with no ads) or on YouTube youtu.be/AvoSIyuVXWM

Nancy Grace Roman has launched. Webb sees little red dots merging. Black holes make a mess when eating, there's a 10 sided feature at Saturn South Pole.... more

4 Sep 2026 • 23 min • Most popular

YouTube

[Q&A+] Are Meteorites A Big Problem for The Moon?

BONUS QUESTION STARTS AT 14:06

Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: youtu.be/TvXlCBcnOgc

How much stuff falls on the Moon every day? What if Von Neumann probes had AI? How did studying the Universe change my world views? And in... more

3 Sep 2026 • 20 min • Popular

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests

Contact Information

Podcast Host

Number of Listeners

Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

SpaceTime with Stuart GaryStuart Gary

Ask a Spaceman!Paul M. Sutter

Space Nuts: Astronomy Insights & Cosmic DiscoveriesProfessor Fred Watson and Andrew Dunkley

The Supermassive PodcastThe Royal Astronomical Society

The 365 Days of Astronomy365DaysOfAstronomy.org

Recent Guests

Sanjoy Som

Senior Research Scientist at Blue Marble Space

Blue Marble Space

Episode: [Interview+] How Much Gravity Is Too Much To Escape A Planet?

Paul Byrne

Professor and planetary scientist, expert on Europa

Cardiff University (as cited), Space researcher

Episode: [Space Bites+] Bad News for Europa Exploration // Watching Pluto’s Atmosphere Fade Away // Auroras on Mars

Mike Rubenstein

Professor of Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University; NIAC 2026 award recipient

Northwestern University / NASA NIAC

Episode: [Interview+] Swarming The Rings of Saturn With Tiny Probes, NIAC 2026

Austin Phoenix

Research associate professor at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech

Episode: [Interview+] How Metamaterials Can Help Moon Rovers Survive Both Days and Nights, NIAC 2026

Jeff Nosanov

Founder of Orbital Velocity LLC

Orbital Velocity LLC

Episode: [Interview+] Resolving The Largest Black Hole In the Universe

Roy Kilgard

Professor of the practice in astronomy at Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University

Episode: [Interview+] Supernova Remnants Should Fade Away. So, Why are Some Flashing?

Zach Dicasse-Mansour

Guest discussing space futures and technology

Episode: [Q&A+] What Would It Cost to Keep The ISS Up?

Aaron Rosengren

Associate Professor at the University of California, San Diego

UC San Diego

Episode: [Interview+] Getting to the Moon Is Much More Complex Than You Think

Amy Dwyer

Guest discussing JWST observations and related topics

Episode: [Q&A+] Will Earth's Iron Poison The Sun?

Host

Raoul Cohen

Host of the Universe Today channel, frequently leads Q&A and livestream episodes

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings

Extremely good but…
You should do the video on Apple podcast
Apple Podcasts
5
Jimmy 1 1 1
United States2 months ago
Mick West??
I was a regular listener until the episode where the host lauds Mick West, who is no more qualified to analyze video than you or I.
Apple Podcasts
1
4sd..o
United States4 months ago
Manned Missions are such a waste
I am finding the bias of this show tilted so far to manned missions to the moon, mars, and space that it is hard to keep listening to.
IMO this pursuit is such a waste of time and resources and adds very little to man’s knowledge and understanding of the universe that cannot be obtained by much less costly unmanned missions.
It is such an ego trip brought to you by the Billionaires Ego Industrial Complex.
I wish you would address this issue.
Apple Podcasts
3
jmdarri
United States5 months ago
for space and science enthusiasts
As an amateur learning skywatching through a telescope: I started about 20years ago reading www.universetoday.com which introduced me to Universe today. When I discovered Fraser Cain doing youtube interviews with Astronomers and other scientists, I became hooked. Now the website, newsletter and shows are updated often and regularly. But I found that I mostly enjoyed listening to it. Thats where these Apple podcasts and google podcasts come in really handy. Thank-you Fraser and the team at univer... more
Apple Podcasts
5
Sabwap
New Zealand5 months ago
Excellent
Best science pod, period. No fluff. I never miss it.
Apple Podcasts
5
Beldar88
United States6 months ago

Embed These Reviews on a Website

Listeners Say

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

Guests and topics are consistently strong and informative

High-quality, accessible science reporting with deep dives

No ads across channels is appreciated by patrons

Great podcast for space enthusiasts who want concise, insightful content

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#1	United States/Science/Astronomy
Apple Podcasts	#60	United States/Science
Apple Podcasts	#1	Canada/Science/Astronomy
Apple Podcasts	#3	United Kingdom/Science/Astronomy
Apple Podcasts	#40	Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts	#73	United Kingdom/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

[Interview+] How Much Gravity Is Too Much To Escape A Planet?

Q: What are the practical engineering considerations for building rockets on a high-gravity world?

One must consider the trade-off between adding stages and the reliability penalties each stage introduces. The design would likely require up to dozens of engines at the base and careful optimization of staging to ensure the mass saved by staging outweighs the increased failure risk, with the limit depending on the planet's mass and resulting escape velocity.

[Interview+] How Much Gravity Is Too Much To Escape A Planet?

Q: How does planetary gravity versus atmospheric density affect rocket design and viability?

Gravity is the key limiting factor on large planets, while atmosphere mainly affects drag on smaller worlds. As planets get bigger, air drag becomes less critical relative to the gravitational barrier, so you can have thicker atmospheres without significantly changing the required propulsion strategy, though oxygen content for combustion remains important.

[Interview+] How Much Gravity Is Too Much To Escape A Planet?

Q: What are the main factors that determine whether a civilization could escape a high-gravity world using chemical propulsion?

The primary limitation is the chemical energy available in the propellants and the rocket equation, which forces an exponential increase in fuel with payload. The atmosphere plays a role, but on very large planets gravity dominates once you reach high enough gravity, making multiple stages and powerful engines essential to reach escape velocity.

[Q&A+] What Percentage of The Universe’s Life Has Already Passed?

Q: How much of the universe's life has already passed? Is the universe spinning? How do binary planets work? And in Q&A+, does the solar wind influence the orbits of the planets?

The universe is about 14.8 billion years old, so a large fraction of its lifetime has elapsed, though the future is effectively infinite in comparison; while the universe is spinning is discussed as a possible but non-mainstream idea that could influence measurements like the Hubble tension, the dominant view remains the Lambda-CDM model which fits the breadth of observations well. Solar wind does impart momentum to planets, but the effect on Earth's orbit is negligible due to its enormous mass, with more noticeable influence on much smaller particles and debris.

[Q&A+] Can We Turn The Entire Moon Into a Giant Datacenter?

Q: Do solar systems have Lagrange points between them?

No; stable Lagrange points arise between bodies with a large mass difference, such as a star and a planet or a planet and its moon, but not between two star systems, which are typically too similar in mass and are not in a mutual orbit.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Universe Today Podcast

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

A science-focused show that concentrates on space, astronomy news, and thoughtful explorations of big questions in cosmology. Episodes mix concise space news roundups, ambitious technical interviews, and accessible Q&A that help listeners understand complex topics—from exoplanets and black holes to mission concepts and NIAC-funded research. Notable strengths include a steady stream of expert guests, a bias toward education and curiosity over hype, and a rare ad-free model supported by Patreon, which keeps the content audience-first and transparent. This mix makes it a strong fit for listeners who enjoy rigorous yet approachable science storytelling and expert perspectives on current and near-future space exploration.

It tends to attract li... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Universe Today Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Universe Today Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Universe Today Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Universe Today Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Universe Today Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Universe Today Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Universe Today Podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Universe Today Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Universe Today Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Universe Today Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Universe Today Podcast:

1. SpaceTime with Stuart Gary
2. Ask a Spaceman!
3. Space Nuts: Astronomy Insights & Cosmic Discoveries
4. The Supermassive Podcast
5. The 365 Days of Astronomy

How many episodes of Universe Today Podcast are there?

Universe Today Podcast launched 13 years ago and published 1603 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Universe Today Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Universe Today Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Universe Today Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Universe Today Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Universe Today Podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Universe Today Podcast?

Recent guests on Universe Today Podcast include:

1. Sanjoy Som
2. Paul Byrne
3. Mike Rubenstein
4. Austin Phoenix
5. Jeff Nosanov
6. Roy Kilgard
7. Zach Dicasse-Mansour
8. Aaron Rosengren

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.

Try it free for 7 days