SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 23

The Astronomy, Space and Science News Podcast

Snowball Earth Evidence, Blue Origin's Parachute Failure, and the Moon Illusion Explained

In this episode of SpaceTime, we dive into groundbreaking geological research that provides compelling evidence for the Snowball Earth hypothesis, suggesting that glaciers may have covered the planet from pole to pole hundreds of millions of years ago. This research reveals insights into Earth's climatic history and the emergence of multicellular life following this extreme glaciation event.

Blue Origin's Lunar Gravity Mission

We also discuss the recent Blue Origin mission, where the New Shepard spacecraft experienced a parachute failure during a lunar gravity simulation flight. Despite the malfunction, mission managers confirm that the capsule was designed to land safely with two parachutes, and investigations are underway to understand the issue.

The Moon Illusion: Why Does It Appear Larger on the Horizon?

Additionally, we explore the fascinating phenomenon known as the Moon illusion, which causes the Moon to appear larger when it is near the horizon compared to when it is high in the sky. We delve into the psychological and perceptual factors that contribute to this optical illusion, despite the Moon's actual size remaining constant.

00:00 Space Time Series 28 Episode 23 for broadcast on 21 February 2025

00:49 Evidence supporting the Snowball Earth hypothesis

06:30 Implications for Earth's climatic history

12:15 Blue Origin's lunar gravity mission details

18:00 Analysis of parachute failure during descent

22:45 The Moon illusion and its psychological explanations

27:00 Understanding optical illusions in astronomy

30:15 The self-domestication of wolves and its implications

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✍️ Episode References

NASA

https://www.nasa.gov

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

https://www.pnas.org

New England Journal of Medicine

https://www.nejm.org

Royal Society B

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rspb

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