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Terraforming Mars: A Real Plan & Webb’s Dying Star Revelation · Space News Today

0:00
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your source
0:03
for the latest space and astronomy news.
0:05
I'm Anna.
0:06
>> And I'm Avery. We've got another stellar
0:09
episode lined up for you today, Monday,
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January 26th, 2026.
0:14
>> That's right. Today, we're taking you on
0:16
quite a journey through the cosmos.
0:19
We'll be exploring two fascinating Mars
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stories that paint very different
0:23
pictures of the red planet's future.
0:25
From terraforming dreams to atmospheric
0:28
water harvesting for survival. Plus,
0:30
we've got some incredible discoveries
0:32
from across the universe. We'll reveal
0:34
how NASA's Chandra Observatory has
0:36
cataloged over 1.3 million X-ray
0:39
sources. Discover an ingenious new use
0:42
for earthquake sensors that could save
0:44
lives. And uncover why those water
0:47
worlds we've been excited about might
0:49
actually be lava planets in the skies.
0:51
And we'll finish with a breathtaking
0:53
look at our cosmic future, courtesy of
0:56
the James Webb Space Telescope's latest
0:58
images of a dying star. So settle in
1:01
because we're about to explore the
1:03
universe together.
1:04
>> Let's get started.
1:06
>> Avery, let's kick things off with what
1:08
could be one of humanity's most
1:09
ambitious projects ever. Scientists are
1:12
saying it's time to take terraforming
1:14
Mars seriously, and they've got a road
1:17
map to make it happen.
1:18
>> This is fascinating stuff, Anna. For
1:20
decades, terraforming Mars has been the
1:23
stuff of science fiction. But new
1:25
research suggests we might actually have
1:27
the tools to pull it off. A team of
1:29
planetary scientists, biologists, and
1:31
engineers has published what amounts to
1:33
a blueprint for transforming the red
1:35
planet into a habitable world.
1:38
>> What's really interesting is the
1:40
timeline they're proposing. This isn't a
1:42
quick fix. We're talking about a
1:44
multi-generational project that could
1:46
take centuries. But the key breakthrough
1:49
is that they believe we can use
1:50
resources already on Mars rather than
1:53
shipping everything from Earth.
1:55
>> Exactly. The plan has three distinct
1:57
phases. Phase one is all about warming
2:00
the planet. Right now, Mars averages
2:02
around70°
2:04
C. The scientists propose using
2:06
engineered nano particles made from
2:08
Martian dust shaped like tiny rods and
2:11
release into the atmosphere. These
2:13
particles would trap escaping heat and
2:15
scatter sunlight towards the surface.
2:17
potentially warming Mars by more than
2:19
30° C.
2:21
>> And here's the clever part. This method
2:23
is over 5,000 times more efficient than
2:26
previous terraforming schemes.
2:28
University of Chicago planetary
2:30
scientist Edwin Kite, one of the study's
2:32
co-authors, notes that Mars was
2:34
habitable in the past, so greening Mars
2:37
could be viewed as the ultimate
2:39
environmental restoration challenge.
2:41
>> Phase two brings in biology. Once
2:44
temperatures rise enough to melt some of
2:46
Mars's vast ice deposits, scientists
2:48
would introduce genetically engineered
2:50
extreophiles, hearty microorganisms that
2:53
can survive in the harshest
2:55
environments. These pioneer species
2:57
would kick off ecological succession,
3:00
creating organic matter and slowly
3:02
changing the chemistry of the surface
3:04
and atmosphere.
3:05
>> And the final phase is the longest and
3:07
most ambitious, building a stable
3:10
biosphere with oxygenrich air. The goal
3:13
is a 0.1 bar oxygen atmosphere, which
3:16
would be enough to sustain human life
3:18
without pressure suits. Harvard
3:20
planetary scientist Robin Wersworth puts
3:22
it beautifully. Life is precious. We
3:25
know of nowhere else in the universe
3:27
where it exists. We have a duty to
3:29
conserve it on Earth, but also to
3:31
consider how we could begin to propagate
3:33
it to other worlds.
3:35
>> But this isn't just about making Mars
3:37
habitable. Nina Lonza from Los Alamos
3:40
National Laboratory sees Mars as a prime
3:42
test bed for planetary engineering. She
3:45
suggests that if we want to learn how to
3:46
modify our environment here on Earth to
3:48
keep it habitable, maybe it would be
3:51
better to experiment on Mars first
3:53
rather than being too bold with our home
3:55
planet.
3:56
>> Of course, there are serious ethical
3:58
considerations. As Lonza points out, if
4:01
we terraform Mars, we'll really change
4:03
it in ways that may or may not be
4:05
reversible. Mars has its own history and
4:08
we might lose the opportunity to study
4:10
how planets form and evolve in their
4:12
natural state.
4:14
>> The researchers stressed that we need to
4:15
start preparing now even though actual
4:18
terraforming is still far off. Upcoming
4:20
Mars missions in 2028 or 2031 should
4:24
include small-cale experiments to test
4:26
these strategies such as warming
4:28
localized regions. Any technology
4:31
deployed must be reversible,
4:33
controllable, and biologically safe.
4:35
It's an audacious vision, but as the
4:38
team points out, 30 years ago,
4:40
terraforming Mars wasn't just hard, it
4:43
was impossible. Today, with advances in
4:46
technology and our understanding of
4:47
Mars, it's becoming a real possibility.
4:50
Whether we should do it is a question
4:52
we'll need to answer as a civilization.
4:55
>> Sticking with Mars, Anna, our next story
4:57
takes a more immediate look at how
4:59
future astronauts might survive on the
5:01
red planet. New research suggests that
5:03
the Martian atmosphere itself could
5:06
provide a vital backup water source.
5:08
>> This is really practical thinking,
5:10
Avery. While underground ice remains the
5:13
most promising long-term water source
5:15
for Mars missions, scientists are now
5:17
exploring atmospheric water harvesting
5:19
as an adaptable solution for scenarios
5:22
where subsurface resources are
5:23
inaccessible.
5:25
>> The study led by Dr. Vasilus Angloazakis
5:28
of Strathclyde University and published
5:30
in advances in space research emphasizes
5:33
building a self-sufficient water
5:35
infrastructure. As Dr. Angloazakis
5:37
explains, reliable access to water would
5:40
be essential for human survival on Mars,
5:42
not only for drinking but also for
5:44
producing oxygen and fuel, which would
5:46
reduce dependence on Earthbased
5:48
supplies. The challenge is that Mars's
5:51
atmosphere is extremely thin and cold,
5:54
but it does contain trace amounts of
5:56
water vapor that could be collected and
5:58
condensed using specialized technology.
6:01
The study introduces novel approaches
6:03
inspired by Earth-based dehumidification
6:06
and technologies. What makes this
6:08
particularly valuable is the
6:10
flexibility. While underground ice
6:12
deposits are seen as the most practical
6:14
long-term solution, their accessibility
6:16
is limited, especially near likely
6:18
landing zones for human missions. Since
6:21
the precise location of usable ice is
6:23
uncertain and excavation technology is
6:26
still evolving, having alternative
6:28
sources is essential. Atmospheric water
6:31
harvesting offers a mobile, adaptable
6:33
alternative. The equipment would be
6:35
portable, making it a compelling
6:37
addition to the toolkit for sustaining
6:39
human life on Mars. As Dr. Ingazaki's
6:42
notes, this study is one of the first to
6:44
compare the various technologies that
6:46
could be deployed to recover water in a
6:48
Martian environment.
6:50
>> The key takeaway is that future Mars
6:52
missions will require not just one
6:54
solution, but a layered approach.
6:56
Combining underground ice extraction,
6:58
soil moisture recovery, and atmospheric
7:01
harvesting will allow missions to adapt
7:03
to different environmental and
7:04
logistical conditions. While the process
7:07
is energyintensive, atmospheric
7:09
harvesting can serve as a crucial
7:11
contingency, especially in emergencies
7:14
or during long range missions. The
7:16
research offers insights that could make
7:18
future space exploration missions more
7:20
self-sufficient and sustainable. It's
7:23
this kind of practical multiaceted
7:25
planning that will ultimately make
7:27
longduration Mars missions and potential
7:29
colonization efforts successful. Every
7:32
backup system counts when you're 225
7:35
million km away from home.
7:37
>> From the red planet to the entire
7:39
cosmos, Avery, let's talk about NASA's
7:42
Chandra X-ray Observatory and its
7:44
incredible catalog of cosmic recordings.
7:47
>> Anna, this is like the ultimate
7:48
astronomical music collection. The
7:51
Chandra source catalog now contains over
7:53
1.3 million X-ray detections across the
7:57
sky, representing 22 years of
7:59
observations from one of NASA's great
8:01
observatories.
8:02
>> The latest version, called CSC 2.1,
8:06
contains data through the end of 2020
8:09
and includes over 400,000 unique,
8:12
compact, and extended sources. This
8:15
catalog is a treasure trove for
8:17
scientists, providing everything from
8:20
precise positions in the sky to detailed
8:23
information about X-ray energies. What
8:25
makes this particularly valuable is that
8:27
it allows scientists using other
8:29
telescopes both on the ground and in
8:32
space, including NASA's James Web and
8:35
Hubble telescopes, to combine Chandra's
8:37
unique X-ray data with information from
8:40
other wavelengths of light. To
8:42
illustrate the richness of this catalog,
8:44
NASA released a stunning new image of
8:47
the galactic center, the region around
8:49
the super massive black hole at the
8:52
heart of the Milky Way, Sagittarius A
8:54
star. In just a 60 lightyear span,
8:58
Chandra has detected over 3,300
9:00
individual X-ray sources.
9:03
>> That's incredible when you think about
9:04
it. 3,300 sources and what amounts to a
9:07
pen prick on the entire sky. This image
9:10
represents 86 observations added
9:13
together, totaling over 3 million
9:15
seconds of Chandra observing time.
9:18
They've also created a fascinating
9:20
sonification of the catalog, translating
9:23
the astronomical data into sound. The
9:26
sonification encompasses the new map
9:28
that includes all of Chandra's
9:30
observations from its launch through
9:32
2021, showing how X-ray sources appear
9:36
and reappear over time through different
9:38
musical notes. In the visualization,
9:41
each X-ray detection is represented by a
9:43
circle and the size of the circle is
9:45
determined by the number of detections
9:47
in that location over time. You can see
9:50
the core of the Milky Way in the center
9:52
and the galactic plane stretching
9:53
horizontally across the image.
9:56
>> And here's the exciting part. Since
9:58
Chandra continues to be fully
10:00
operational, the catalog keeps growing.
10:03
The video transitions to and beyond
10:06
after 2021 as the telescope continues to
10:09
collect new observations.
10:11
>> This catalog represents decades of
10:13
cutting edge science and will continue
10:16
to be an invaluable resource for
10:17
astronomers studying everything from
10:19
stellar evolution to the nature of black
10:22
holes. It's a testament to the longevity
10:25
and continued productivity of the
10:26
Chandra mission.
10:28
>> Now for something completely different.
10:30
Avery. Scientists have found an
10:32
ingenious new use for earthquake
10:34
sensors, tracking dangerous space debris
10:37
as it falls back to Earth.
10:40
>> This is such a clever solution to a
10:42
growing problem. Every year, thousands
10:44
of discarded satellites orbit our
10:46
planet, and an increasing number are
10:48
falling back into Earth's atmosphere.
10:50
While most disintegrate before hitting
10:52
the ground, some survive long enough to
10:54
pose real dangers. Researchers from
10:56
John's Hopkins University and the
10:58
University of London have demonstrated
11:01
that existing seismic monitoring
11:03
networks can track these falling
11:05
satellites with remarkable accuracy. The
11:08
investigation was led by Benjamin
11:10
Fernando, a post-doctoral fellow at
11:12
John's Hopkins, who studies seismic
11:15
activity on both Earth and other
11:17
planets.
11:18
>> Here's how it works. When falling
11:20
objects re-enter Earth's atmosphere at
11:22
high speed, they generate sonic booms.
11:25
These sonic booms create shock waves
11:27
that ripple through the ground, and
11:29
seismometers can detect this seismic
11:31
energy just like they detect
11:33
earthquakes.
11:34
>> The team demonstrated this by analyzing
11:36
the April 2nd, 2024 re-entry of China's
11:40
Shenzo 15 orbital module. This module
11:44
was about three and a half feet in
11:46
diameter and weighed over 1.5 tons.
11:49
Definitely dangerous if any component
11:52
reached Earth's surface. Using 127
11:55
seismometers in Southern California,
11:57
they tracked the module as it traveled
11:59
at hypersonic velocities between Mach 25
12:03
and Mach 30, roughly 10 times faster
12:06
than the world's fastest jet. From the
12:08
seismometer data, they reconstructed the
12:10
object's trajectory, determining it
12:13
followed a northeasterly path over Santa
12:15
Barbara and Las Vegas. What's
12:17
particularly impressive is that their
12:19
reconstruction placed the flight path
12:21
about 25 m north of the predicted
12:24
re-entry path from orbital tracking
12:26
alone. This highlights the limitations
12:29
of current tracking methods once objects
12:32
enter the denser parts of the
12:33
atmosphere. The seismic data also
12:36
revealed the breakup pattern. Initially,
12:38
the signals showed the spacecraft was
12:40
mostly intact during its high altitude
12:42
trajectory. Later signals indicated
12:45
complex waveforms showing fragmentation.
12:48
About 8 to 11 unique breakup events
12:51
within just 2 seconds. This gradual
12:54
degradation pattern is crucial
12:56
information. It suggested that dense
12:58
reinforced components likely survived
13:01
long enough to reach the lower
13:02
atmosphere, increasing their chances of
13:04
landing intact. Beyond just tracking
13:07
where debris lands, this method
13:09
addresses environmental concerns.
13:11
Falling debris can produce tiny
13:13
particulate matter containing toxic
13:15
propellants or radioactive materials.
13:17
For example, Chileain scientists found
13:19
man-made plutonium in a glacier that
13:22
they suspect came from the Russian
13:23
spacecraft Mars 96, which disintegrated
13:26
in 1996.
13:28
The ability to track debris in near real
13:31
time, providing accurate locations
13:33
within minutes instead of days or weeks,
13:36
would help authorities respond faster,
13:38
protect people, and identify hazardous
13:40
materials. It could also provide
13:42
aircraft warnings and support
13:44
environmental monitoring. As Fernando
13:47
points out, as launches increase and
13:49
more large satellite constellations
13:51
reach the end of their design lives,
13:53
tools like this will become increasingly
13:55
important. We need as many different
13:57
ways as possible to track and
13:59
characterize space debris.
14:01
>> Avery, our next story is going to make
14:03
exoplanet hunters rethink some of their
14:05
most exciting discoveries. It turns out
14:08
that 98% of what we thought were
14:10
potential water worlds might actually be
14:13
lava planets. This is a real wakeup call
14:16
for the scientific community, Anna. New
14:18
research led by Rob Calder at the
14:20
University of Cambridge suggests that
14:22
nearly all known sub Neptune exoplanets,
14:25
previously thought to be potential
14:27
oceanbearing highen worlds, are far more
14:30
likely to be composed of molten rock.
14:33
Sub Neptunes are the most commonly
14:35
discovered type of exoplanet, larger
14:37
than Earth, but smaller than Neptune.
14:39
Yet their exact nature has remained
14:42
elusive because our solar system offers
14:44
no direct equivalent. Understanding what
14:47
these worlds are made of is crucial for
14:49
the search for life and for refining our
14:52
models of planetary formation.
14:54
>> The problem stems from what scientists
14:56
call degeneracy when one set of
14:58
observations can be interpreted in
15:00
multiple ways. Take the case of planet
15:03
K2-18b.
15:05
Researchers celebrated its methane rich
15:08
ammoniapore atmosphere as evidence of a
15:10
hyenan planet with thick hydrogen
15:12
atmosphere overlying vast oceans. But
15:15
here's the twist. Calder and his team
15:18
point out that molten rock can also
15:20
dissolve ammonia just like water can. So
15:23
the absence of ammonia doesn't
15:24
necessarily mean there are oceans. It
15:27
could just as easily indicate a magma
15:29
ocean. To test their theory, the
15:31
researchers developed a new model called
15:33
the solidification shoreline. This tool
15:36
connects the amount of energy a planet
15:38
receives from its star with a stars
15:40
effective temperature. By plotting known
15:43
exoplanets against this framework, they
15:45
could estimate whether a planet was
15:47
likely to have maintained a magma ocean
15:49
since formation. Using the Proteus model
15:52
to simulate internal heat dynamics, they
15:54
found that 98% of sub Neptune exoplanets
15:58
fall above this shoreline. That means
16:00
they receive enough stellar energy to
16:02
keep their interiors hot and molten
16:05
rather than allowing them to cool into
16:07
solid bodies. For astrobiologist and
16:10
exoplanet hunters, the implications are
16:12
significant. The Hyian world hypothesis
16:15
had offered an enticing vision. planets
16:18
that might host life in vast subsurface
16:20
ocemospheres.
16:23
This new research suggests that vision
16:25
may have been premature.
16:27
>> It's important to note that this doesn't
16:29
close the door on water worlds
16:30
altogether. It simply urges caution
16:33
against over interpretation and reminds
16:35
us that planetary evolution can take
16:38
multiple paths. As Calver and his team
16:40
make clear, the lack of reliable
16:42
atmospheric mass data across many
16:44
exoplanets limits current models. While
16:48
this conclusion might seem like a
16:49
setback, it actually offers a more
16:52
stable foundation for future research,
16:54
it's better to have a realistic
16:56
understanding of what these planets are
16:58
than to chase false hopes of
16:59
habitability.
17:01
>> Exactly. Science progresses through
17:03
these kinds of corrections and
17:05
refinements. We're building a more
17:07
accurate picture of the cosmos, even if
17:09
it means letting go of some earlier
17:11
assumptions.
17:12
>> And Anna, for our final story today, we
17:15
have something both beautiful and
17:17
sobering. A glimpse into the future fate
17:20
of our own sun.
17:22
>> The James Web Space Telescope has
17:24
captured stunning new images of the
17:26
Helix Nebula, one of the closest
17:29
planetary nebula to Earth. And what it
17:31
reveals is absolutely breathtaking.
17:33
Avery,
17:34
>> also known as the Eye of God, the Helix
17:37
Nebula is located about 650 light years
17:41
away in the constellation Aquarius. It's
17:43
the result of a sunlike star that
17:46
exhausted its nuclear fuel and shed its
17:48
outer layers into space, leaving behind
17:51
a dense core called a white dwarf. Web's
17:54
near infrared camera captured pillars of
17:57
gas that look like thousands of comets
17:59
with extended tails, tracing the
18:01
circumference of an expanding shell of
18:04
gas. These structures form when
18:06
blistering winds of hot moving gas from
18:09
the dying star crash into slower moving,
18:12
colder shells of dust and gas that were
18:14
shed earlier in the stars life.
18:17
>> What makes Web's view so special is the
18:19
level of detail it reveals. The image
18:22
shows the stark transition between
18:24
different temperature zones. Hot ionized
18:26
gas near the center where the white
18:28
dwarf sits, cooler molecular hydrogen
18:31
farther out, and protective pockets
18:34
where more complex molecules can begin
18:36
to form within dust clouds.
18:38
>> The color in the image represents
18:40
temperature and chemistry. Blue marks
18:42
the hottest gas being blasted by the
18:44
white dwarf's radiation. Yellow regions
18:47
show gas that's cooled as it moves away
18:50
from the white dwarf. And the coolest
18:52
material at the edge of the nebula
18:53
appears red. This isn't just a pretty
18:56
picture. It's showing us stellar
18:58
recycling in action. The gas and dust
19:01
being expelled don't disappear. They're
19:03
incorporated into the interstellar
19:05
medium, enriching clouds with heavy
19:08
elements forged in the stellar interior.
19:10
This is the raw material from which new
19:13
stars and planets will eventually form.
19:15
According to NASA, this image is
19:17
essentially a window into our own
19:19
future. In about 5 billion years, our
19:23
sun will enter this same phase, creating
19:25
a similar nebula as it fades into a
19:27
white dwarf. The Helix Nebula has been
19:30
imaged many times over the nearly two
19:32
centuries since it was discovered by
19:34
both groundbased and space-based
19:36
observatories. But web's near infrared
19:39
view brings unprecedented detail,
19:42
revealing structures that were invisible
19:44
to previous telescopes.
19:46
>> Scientists can use these detailed
19:48
observations to refine their
19:50
understanding of stellar evolution, how
19:52
stars end their lives, and how they
19:55
distribute the elements they've created
19:57
back into the galaxy. Every shell of gas
20:00
represents a different episode of mass
20:02
loss, creating a timeline of the stars
20:05
final stages. It's a powerful reminder
20:08
that even in death, stars continue to
20:10
shape the universe. The atoms that will
20:12
one day form new worlds, perhaps even
20:15
new life, are being forged and
20:17
distributed in nebula like this right
20:20
now.
20:20
>> It's both humbling and inspiring to see
20:23
our cosmic future laid out so clearly.
20:26
The Helix Nebula shows us that endings
20:28
in space can be as magnificent as
20:31
beginnings. And that wraps up today's
20:33
journey through the cosmos. From
20:35
terraforming dreams to atmospheric water
20:38
harvesting on Mars, from X-ray cataloges
20:41
mapping millions of cosmic sources to
20:44
earthquake sensors tracking falling
20:46
satellites. We've covered incredible
20:48
ground today. We've also learned to be
20:50
more cautious about those exciting water
20:53
world discoveries and witnessed the
20:55
beautiful death of a sunlike star
20:57
through Web's remarkable eyes. It's been
21:00
quite a day in space in Astronomy News.
21:02
>> Thanks for joining us on Astronomy
21:04
Daily. Remember, you can find us at
21:06
astronomyaily.io
21:08
for all our episodes, show notes, and
21:11
more space news.
21:12
>> And don't forget to follow us on social
21:14
media at astroaily pod. We love hearing
21:18
from our listeners about what stories
21:20
excite you most.
21:21
>> Until next time, keep looking up.
21:24
>> Clear skies, everyone.
21:28
Stories told
21:36
stories told
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stories