Astronomy Daily - January 14, 2026 Episode Nuclear Moon Power, Mars Ocean Evidence, and Brains in Space Episode Description Join hosts Anna and Avery for an action-packed episode covering six major space stories! We explore NASA's ambitious plan to put a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030, get the latest on tomorrow's historic ISS medical evacuation, examine compelling new evidence for an ancient Martian ocean, discover how spaceflight literally shifts astronauts' brains, learn about a revolutionary privately-funded space telescope, and find out how scientists finally solved the mystery of the Moon's two faces. Episode Duration: 17 minutes Episode Highlights ⚛️ NASA Commits to Lunar Nuclear Reactor by 2030

NASA and DOE sign memorandum of understanding

President Trump's executive order drives ambitious timeline

Nuclear power essential for permanent lunar bases

Building on 50+ years of space nuclear collaboration

🚀 Crew-11 Cleared for Wednesday Departure

First-ever medical evacuation from ISS proceeds on schedule

Undocking set for 5:05 PM EST Wednesday, January 15

Splashdown off California coast at 3:41 AM Thursday

Station will operate with skeleton crew of three

🌊 Ancient Martian Ocean Evidence Discovered

River delta features identified in Valles Marineris

Ocean covered half of Mars 3+ billion years ago

High-resolution orbital imagery reveals ancient coastline

Major implications for Mars' past habitability

🧠 Spaceflight Shifts Astronaut Brains Inside Skulls

MIT study reveals brains move "backward, upward and tilted"

Changes persist up to 6 months after return to Earth

Brain displacement linked to post-flight balance issues

Critical for planning longer Moon and Mars missions

🔭 $500M Private Space Telescope to Launch in 3-5 Years

Eric Schmidt funds Lazuli Space Observatory

"Move fast" philosophy applied to flagship telescope

Designed to catch transient events like gravitational waves

Will test technology for future NASA missions

🌙 Moon's Two-Faced Mystery Finally Solved

Chang'e-6 samples reveal impact chemistry differences

Ancient collision reshaped Moon's internal structure

Evidence of hemisphere-wide mantle convection

First hard evidence from lunar far side

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Astronomy Daily - January 13, 2026 Episode Historic ISS Evacuation, Wobbling Black Holes, and Lunar Hotels Episode Description Join hosts Anna and Avery for an exciting episode packed with groundbreaking space news! We cover the International Space Station's first-ever medical evacuation, a stunning discovery of a galaxy-wide wobbling black hole jet, this week's busy launch schedule, two NASA missions reaching their destinations, and the surprising announcement that you can now reserve a hotel room on the Moon. Episode Duration: 18 minutes Episode Highlights 🚨 BREAKING: First-Ever ISS Medical Evacuation

SpaceX Crew-11 returns early due to undisclosed medical condition

Historic change of command ceremony on the ISS

Crew scheduled for Pacific splashdown Thursday morning

Station operations continue with skeleton crew of three

🌌 Astronomers Discover Wobbling Black Hole Jet

Largest extended jet ever observed spans 20,000 light-years

First precessing jet found in galaxy VV 340a

Combined observations from Keck Observatory, James Webb Space Telescope, and VLA

Discovery challenges theories of galaxy evolution

🚀 This Week's Launch Schedule

Eight orbital launch attempts from China, US, and Norway

SpaceX Starlink missions and classified NRO launch

China debuts new Ceres 2 rocket

Isar Aerospace's Spectrum attempts second test flight

🛰️ NASA Missions Reach L1 Destination

Carruthers Geocorona Observatory arrives at target orbit

IMAP mission begins mapping the heliosphere boundary

Both spacecraft launched together on September 24, 2025

Science operations begin in February 2026

🌙 You Can Now Reserve a Moon Hotel Room

GRU Space opens applications for lunar tourism

Deposits range from $250,000 to $1 million

Target opening: 2032

Hotel inspired by San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts

#AstronomyDaily #SpaceNews #ISS #BlackHoles #NASA #SpaceX #LunarTourism #Astronomy #SpaceExploration

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In this episode of SpaceTime , we uncover new evidence suggesting that dark matter may interact with neutrinos, a revelation that could reshape our understanding of the universe. We also discuss a serious medical issue that has forced one of the crews aboard the International Space Station to return home early, and learn about the remarkable discovery that galaxies spin like clockwork.

Dark Matter and Neutrinos: A Possible Interaction

Scientists are challenging the long-standing standard model of particle physics with new findings indicating that dark matter and neutrinos may interact. This groundbreaking research, reported in Nature Astronomy, provides a rare glimpse into the universe's hidden components. By analyzing data from both the early and late universe, researchers suggest that these elusive cosmic entities could influence the formation of galaxies and other structures, potentially addressing discrepancies observed in cosmological measurements.

Medical Emergency Forces ISS Crew to Return Early

NASA's SpaceX Crew 11 is returning to Earth ahead of schedule due to a medical concern involving one of the astronauts. While the situation is stable and not classified as an emergency, the decision was made to ensure the crew member receives comprehensive medical evaluation on the ground. This marks a historic moment, as it is the first time in 26 years of ISS operations that a medical issue has necessitated an early return.

Galaxies Spin Like Clockwork

Recent studies have confirmed that galaxies rotate approximately once every billion years, regardless of their size. This research, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, reveals a consistent rotational pattern across different types of galaxies, enhancing our understanding of their mechanics and structure. The findings indicate that older stars exist even at the edges of galaxies, providing valuable insights into galactic formation and evolution.

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✍️ Episode References

Nature Astronomy

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

British Medical Journal

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