Universe Today Podcast

Fraser Cain

NASA

Mars

Moon

James Webb Space Telescope

Vera Rubin Observatory

Black Holes

Dark Matter

Spacex

Astronomy

Artificial Intelligence

3i Atlas

Exoplanets

Earth

Space Exploration

Jupiter

Titan

Comet 3i Atlas

Europa

Supermassive Black Holes

Milky Way

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

1.6k ratings

Publishes	Daily	Episodes	1615	Founded	13 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	AstronomyScience

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Guests Host Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

[Interview+] How Good Was Our Search for Extraterrestrial Life, Really?

BONUS PART STARTS AT 43:25

Watch here (with no ads) or on YouTube: youtu.be/izP3FsO9u8o

PBS Spacetime video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OM0zTfdsPo

Professor David Kipping's channel: @CoolWorldsLab

We've done a lot of searching fo... more

30 Sep 2026 • 59 min

[Q&A+] We Were Promised A Firehose of Results From Vera Rubin. Where Are They?

BONUS QUESTION STARTS AT 13:56

Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: youtu.be/cdHAMQf1Fnk

When will we see the surfaces of exoplanets? What non-western telescopes should we expect? Where are all the big promised results from Ver... more

29 Sep 2026 • 22 min

YouTube

[Space Bites+] Turns Out, Superflares Are Quite Possible for Our Sun

BONUS STORY STARTS AT 15:59

Watch here (with no ads) or on YouTube: youtu.be/pkZ5tjeeiS0

00:00 Intro

00:33 Superflares are on the table www.universetoday.com/articles/the-sun-is-physically-capable-of-producing-a-superfl... more

25 Sep 2026 • 21 min

YouTube

[Q&A+] What Happened At the Very Beginning?

BONUS QUESTION STARTS AT 15:04

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

What does matter and antimatter annihilate into? How do we know what happened before the CMB? Is outer space dirty? And in Q&A+, initial t... more

24 Sep 2026 • 20 min

YouTube

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Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Astronomy CastFraser Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay

SpaceTime with Stuart GaryStuart Gary

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

The Supermassive PodcastThe Royal Astronomical Society

Ask a Spaceman!Paul M. Sutter

Recent Guests

Dave Deboer

Researcher at University of Oxford and UC Berkeley; PI for the Lunar Far Side Transients and Technology Telescope (LFT3/LIFT3)

University of Oxford; University of California, Berkeley

Episode: [Interview+] A Far Side of The Moon Radio Telescope May Happen Sooner Than You Think

Jonathan McDowell

Space journalist, author of Jonathan's Space Report

Centre for Astrophysics / independent researcher

Episode: [Space Bites+] Moon Cities Are Not Happening. Here's Why

Martin Elvis

Astronomer providing input on lunar habitability paper

Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics / university research

Episode: [Space Bites+] Moon Cities Are Not Happening. Here's Why

Brian Coberline

Astrophysicist providing black hole discussion

(as described)

Episode: [Space Bites+] Moon Cities Are Not Happening. Here's Why

Scott Johnson

Contributor on solar mysteries and sun-planet interactions

(as described)

Episode: [Space Bites+] Moon Cities Are Not Happening. Here's Why

Dr. Daniel Drew

Phase I NIAC grant recipient; expert in Titan karst and the SPARC concept

Blue Marble Space / NIAC program

Episode: [Interview+] This Crazy Robot Could Explore the CAVES of Titan | NIAC 2026

Dr. Brian Coberline

Tamed resident astrophysicist

Space Bites Team

Episode: [Space Bites+] This Supernova Candidate Turned Out To Be Something Completely Different

Mat Kaplan

Long-running host of Planetary Radio, Senior Communications Advisor at The Planetary Society

The Planetary Society

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

Mr. Soler

Guest discussed in relation to telescope mirrors and the Nancy Grace Roman telescope

NASA-related program (as referenced)

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

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 States3 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 States5 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 Zealand6 months ago
Excellent
Best science pod, period. No fluff. I never miss it.
Apple Podcasts
5
Beldar88
United States7 months ago

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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	#46	United States/Science
Apple Podcasts	#1	Canada/Science/Astronomy
Apple Podcasts	#1	United Kingdom/Science/Astronomy
Apple Podcasts	#25	Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts	#44	United Kingdom/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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

Q: When the next generation space telescopes launch, will we be shocked by new discoveries of distant objects in the early universe?

Yes, a new generation of telescopes tends to reveal unexpected classes of objects and earlier stages of cosmic evolution, leading to discoveries that redefine our understanding of the early universe.

[Interview+] This Crazy Robot Could Explore the CAVES of Titan | NIAC 2026

Q: What is the core advantage of using distributed atmospheric ion thrusters on Titan?

They provide high efficiency in a dense, cold atmosphere, enabling maneuverability inside caves without heavy propellant, and reduce the need for bulky RTGs by leveraging the surrounding air for thrust.

[Q&A+] How Feasible Is A Starship-Based Space Station?

Q: Is the Big Bang theory compatible with the idea that the CMB could have passed us or that the expansion could extend in different directions?

The host clarifies that the CMB represents radiation from the early universe, not a back-and-forth signal that could be observed as a uniform passage across directions. The explanation stresses that seeing new light from different parts of the universe over time is expected, and the CMB does not imply a simple, directional past that would 'pass' us; instead, it is a timeline of photons reaching us from a decoupling era, with subsequent observations revealing new regions as the universe evolves.

[Q&A+] How Feasible Is A Starship-Based Space Station?

Q: Is combining multiple space telescopes the way to go? Can we detect ice shell exoplanets? How feasible would a starship's space base be? And why didn't the CMB go past us?

The discussion outlines established concepts like space-based interferometry (e.g., LISA) and simple/intermediate ideas for interferometers, including relying on formation flying and precise laser metrology, while acknowledging major challenges such as long baselines, precise alignment, and the logistics of docking two starships. For ice-shell exoplanets, the speaker explains that detecting such planets is extremely difficult with current methods, though future telescopes and techniques might make it possible. Regarding the CMB, the explanation emphasizes that we observe light that has traveled for 13.8 billion years from different regions of the universe, so we are not seeing a single, uniform image as time progresses; the CMB is a snapshot from a specific epoch, not a continuous signal beyond our current vantage point.

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

Q: What's your favorite answer to the Fermi Paradox, and do you think we are alone or not?

Mat outlines multiple possibilities, leaning on the vastness of space and limitations of our searches, suggesting that intelligent life may exist elsewhere even if we have yet to detect it, and expressing optimism about future discovery.

Audience Metrics

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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

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Which podcasts are similar to Universe Today Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Universe Today Podcast:

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

How many episodes of Universe Today Podcast are there?

Universe Today Podcast launched 13 years ago and published 1615 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 Universe Today Podcast?

Recent guests on Universe Today Podcast include:

1. Dave Deboer
2. Jonathan McDowell
3. Martin Elvis
4. Brian Coberline
5. Scott Johnson
6. Dr. Daniel Drew
7. Dr. Brian Coberline
8. Mat Kaplan

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.

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