The Milky Way Galaxy is our home in the Cosmos — checking out our groovy stellar pad… — Thousands of centuries ago, on the ancient plains of Africa, our most distant hominid ancestors looked upward, embracing the pitch-dark night sky above their heads. Cultures around the globe made up stories of the bright band of light which ran across the inky darkness. Little could any person imagine the…

How science fiction paves the way for science, talking with Chris Porter and Jenny Curtis from the new hit podcast, Solar! — This week on The Cosmic Companion, we take a look at the history of science fiction and talk about how these stories enrich the soil from which science grows, advancing our species to our future among the stars. …

Discussing the lives and deaths of stars with Simone Scaringi, astrophysicist at Durham University! — When we look up at the moonless, cloudless night sky, far away from city lights, we may see as many as 5,000 stars. These distant dots of light may seem eternal, but this illusion is merely an effect of our momentary, fleeting lives in the Cosmos. Like humans, stars are…

We look at teaching children science with National Geographic author Kelly Hargrave, author of Can’t Get Enough Shark Stuff — This week on The Cosmic Companion, we look at Teaching Children Science. We will be talking with National Geographic’s Kelly Hargrave about her new book, Can’t Get Enough Shark Stuff. Children are natural scientists. The questions which may be tedious to some parents “Why is the sky blue?” “What are…

A lunar eclipse May 15–16 offers us a perfect opportunity to learn about our planetary companion! — The Moon — our neighbor in space — appears serene and tranquil from the surface of the Earth. However, our passive planetary partner has a dramatic history full of violent impacts, which began with its birth in the chaos of the young solar system. Roughly 4.5 billion years ago, our…

The Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower falls Thursday and Friday night — here’s the buzz! Welcome back to the Cosmic Companion. The buzz this week is all about the Eta Aquarid meteor shower visible late on Thursday and Friday nights! …

Looking at the ocean worlds throughout our solar system and beyond with famed oceanographer Sylvia Earle — This week on the Cosmic Companion, we explore the Ocean Worlds of the Cosmos. Later in the show, we will talk with oceanographer and National Geographic explorer Sylvia Earle. Oceans are one of the defining features of our world, covering roughly three-quarters of the globe. Water is essential to life…

Exploring exoplanets — worlds orbiting alien stars — talking with Thayne Currie of NAOJ, who recently found a bizarre massive planet. This week on The Cosmic Companion, we look at exoplanets — worlds orbiting alien stars. We are joined by Dr. Thayne Currie, astrophysicist at The Subaru Telescope, who recently…

Celebrating Earth Day with Katherine Calvin, Senior Climate Advisor to NASA, as we look at our home world! — Earth — the planet nearest and dearest to our hearts (not to mention our feet) is our planetary cradle, and for now, our only home. As our species reaches out to other planets and beyond, our world will continue to be our birthplace in the Cosmos. Throughout the last 4.5…