Chris and Rob discuss dusty Martian rovers, the 10th dotastronomy conference and an AI that writes astronomical papers. [MP3 Link] Episode #136. Follow us on Twitter @recycledelec @orbitingfrog and @chrislintott. Credits: Audio content Copyright 2011-2018 Chris Lintott and Robert Simpson. Many thanks to the Space Telescope Science Institute for rec…

Chris quizzes Rob about his upcoming departure from the Zooniverse. There is some brief coverage of news, but also politics, gadgets reviews and other nonsense. A sensible as ever. [MP3 Link] Episode #135. If you have anything you’d like us to look at, or any questions you’d like us to answer - use the links at the top of the web page at http://rec…

Chris and Rob discuss streetlights, astrology and Ceres: the dwarf planet. There are organic molecules at the centre of a galaxy, and a black hole that’s the wrong size. Links: Ceres is getting odd: http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2015/02/26/ceres_shiny_spot_is_actually_twins.html Astrology on the NHS: http://boingboing.net/2015/02/25/uk-t…

Chris and Rob are joined by Lovely Scottish Grant and Becky Smethurst for an expanded-panel Recycled Electrons. We discuss Mars One, Mars’s mysterious plumes, and astronomers on Twitter. Also: Super Mario. Links: A near miss: http://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/scholz-star/ Cube sat mission ideas: http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/van-kane…

Chris is in Hawaii and Rob is not(!). They talk about observing at the CSO, the differing views of scientists and the public, and the new UK-based Twinkle exoplanet mission. Links: (American) Public vs. (AAAS) Scientists http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/01/29/public-and-scientists-views-on-science-and-society/ Curiosity form above: http://gizmodo.co…

Chris and Rob talk about advanced robotics, supernovae in M82, and the rise and fall of the BICEP2 results. There are Yellowballs in the Milky Way, and a lovely Philae GIF. Links: Philae GIF http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/30/7953217/philae-lander-descent-comet-67p-esa-rosetta The BICEP bubbles bursts https://telescoper.wordpress.com/2015/01/30/the-…

Some QVC hosts have been discussing the Moon, Dawn has a new view of Ceres, and New Horizons is closing in on Pluto. Rosetta is starting to get data about its comet, and the Planetary Society is going to build a Solar Sail. Links: Science literacy and QVC: http://www.pleated-jeans.com/2015/01/15/qvc-hosts-literally-dont-know-what-the-moon-is/ New H…

Beagle 2 has been found, intact, on the surface of Mars! Planck is the height of a small giraffe, and Lovejoy is blazing across the Northern sky. Chris and Rob talk about many things from the last three weeks. Links: Two more planets: http://www.universetoday.com/118252/astronomers-are-predicting-at-least-two-more-large-planets-in-the-solar-system/…

In the last episode of 2014, Chris and Rob discuss methane on Mars, the hacking of the .Astronomy meeting, and the nature of time itself. No biggie. Links: .Astronomy 6 [lists and links to hacks within] 2 arrows of time [MP3 Link] Episode #128. If you have anything you’d like us to look at, or any questions you’d like us to answer - use the links a…

Rob and Chris talk about the latest Philae/Rosetta news, new plans for missions into the Solar System, and men in hats. Links: Higgs Hunters: http://www.higgshunters.org Lots of cool ideas for missions on the Planetary Society blog: http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/van-kane/20141125-a-potpourri-of-future-mission.html Sonification (Rosetta…

Chris and Rob talk about the biggest space news story of the week: the landing of Philae on Comet 67P. Chris was at Mission Control for the whole event - landing, bouncing, shirts, and all. Links: Watching Philae bounce: http://astronomynow.com/2014/11/17/rosettas-osiris-camera-captures-philaes-bounce-across-comet/ More than science: http://telesco…

Chris and Rob talk about the SpaceShipTwo accident and the Antares one too. Not a good week for human spaceflight. There’s also electrolysis with pencils, and a not-rainbow. Links: Stunning sunlit seas on Titan: http://io9.com/a-stunning-view-of-sunlit-seas-on-titan-1653204944/+spacemika SpaceShipTwo: http://www.universetoday.com/115869/virgin-gala…

Chris and Grant discuss the Comet that flew by Mars this week, strange organic molecules in Titan’s atmosphere, and the Rosetta mission, naturally. There is no Rob, but console yourself knowing that he typed this for you. Links: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-29661446 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinocheirus http://www.esa.int/Our_A…

Rob and Chris talk about Uranus, moons, and nuclear fusion. May be there’s dark matter, maybe there’s not - and what angle should canned whipped cream be sprayed at? Links: Ice on Mercury : http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/news_room/details.php?id=266 Bruno Merin’s lovely multi-wavelength gallery http://brunomerin.com/slider/menu.html Optimal angle for …

Rob and Chris talk about rainbows, comets, and Hollywood. There’s a cool new pulsar in M82 and an awesome new artwork on the web. Links: Rosetta Captures Thrilling Close-Up Image Of Comet “Firing Its Jets” http://t.co/roTLYnX5qG A nanosecond on/in the Sun - one of the best ‘What If’s ever. (The What If book is excellent too BTW) http://t.co/YkfMvzh…

Rob and Chris talk about quasi-moons, spiders, and media coverage of science. There’s data visualisations of Earth and new arrivals around Mars. Links: Interplanetary Lobbing: http://www.strudel.org.uk/lob/ Spiders on Twitter: http://www.geert.io/spiders-on-twitter.html Earth observation in many flavours: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cg…

Rob and Chris talk about today’s Planck results and their impact on BICEP2’s measurement of cosmic inflation. There’s also a new orbiter around Mars, the Ig Nobles, and a way to spy on penguins… for science. Links: Penguin Watch: http://www.penguinwatch.org Planck vs BICEP2: http://arxiv.org/abs/1409.5738 The Ig Nobles http://www.theguardian.com/sc…