Shows
SpaceBitesw/BennyIIAS Diaries: "the Dream" w/Haylee Mroz & Jehan ShalabiIf you’ve ever felt like your dream was too wild, too far, or too much — this one’s for you.In this episode of IIAS Diaries, I sit down with Haylee Mroz to talk about the dream — where it started, how it faded, and what brought it back to life. From hiding under a dining table pretending it was a rocket ship, to flying high-G aerobatics in a pressurized spacesuit, Haylee opens up about the quiet beginnings of her astronaut journey and the moment she finally said, “This is where I’m meant to be.”We get into...
2025-07-2546 min
SpaceBitesw/BennyCosmic Convos 3: the Legacy Survey of Space & Time w/ Sean MacBrideThe Legacy Survey of Space and Time, is a groundbreaking 10-year survey led by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile. With the most powerful digital camera ever built. LSST will scan the entire southern sky every few nights, building a dynamic, high-resolution map of the universe.Sean MacBride is a PhD student driven by two goals: improving the instruments we use to observe the cosmos, and making sense of the data they produce to better understand our universe.Together, LSST and Sean are getting ready to change the game. Sean helps commission the LSST...
2025-07-061h 04
SpaceBitesw/BennyEverything You Ever Wanted to Know About DinosaursWhat exactly is a dinosaur? Where did they come from? Why were some the size of buses and others no bigger than chickens? And did they really all go extinct?In this episode, we travel back over 250 million years to uncover the full story of the dinosaurs — from their humble, cat-sized origins to their rise as the most dominant animals Earth has ever seen. And yes… birds are dinosaurs.Let’s go back in time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2025-07-0412 min
SpaceBitesw/BennyCosmic Convos 1: Astronauts & Their Spacesuits w/ Stephanie JohnstonWhat are spacesuits, and why are they essential for astronauts? In this episode, we explore these questions with Stephanie Johnston, a former NASA engineer and astronaut trainer who worked on spacesuit innovations for the Artemis Program.Tune in for a fascinating conversation that blends science, stories, and inspiration.Join the community: 🔹spacebitesbenny@gmail.com🔹https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceBiteswBenny/Stephanie’s Social Media🔹 Linked in:https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniejohnston334/🔹Website: https://gatheringmoonbows.com/about/NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson, It Takes a NASA V...
2025-06-0757 min
SpaceBitesw/BennyIIAS Diaries: "The Grit Factor" w/ Noel PadinjattekaraIn this episode of IIAS Diaries, I sit down with Noel Padinjattekara — a driven and down-to-earth aspiring astronaut based in Boston, with roots in Kerala, India. By day, he’s worked in biotech and medical research with some of the top institutions in Boston. But his sights have always been set much higher — quite literally.Noel shares how childhood flights to India and sketching rockets in school sparked a lifelong dream: becoming a NASA astronaut. Today, he's building toward that goal — training as a pilot, diving into hypoxia and G-force simulations, and preparing to join the U.S. Air F...
2025-05-261h 00
SpaceBitesw/BennyIntro2Cosmology: The CMBWe journey back 13.8 billion years to uncover the oldest light in existence — the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB).Often called the universe’s “baby picture,” the CMB is more than a snapshot — it's a fossil of the Big Bang itself, etched into the sky in microwaves. We’ll break down what the CMB is, how it formed, how it’s detected, and why it changed the course of cosmology forever. From blackbody radiation and photon decoupling to pigeons, Planck, and primordial ripples, this episode unpacks how a faint hiss across the sky became the smoking gun for the Big Bang.
2025-05-2129 min
SpaceBitesw/BennyThe Universe in a NutshellIn this episode, we zoom all the way out — before we dive into equations, galaxies, or dark energy — to ask the most important question: What even is cosmology? References: 🔵 Introduction to Cosmology - Barbara Rayden🔵 Lecture notes in Cosmology - Oliver PiattellaShould read: 🔵 The First Three Minutes – Steven Weinberg🔵 Cosmos – Carl Sagan🔵 The Road to Reality – Roger Penrose Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2025-05-2104 min
SpaceBitesw/BennyCosmic Convos 2.2: Ripples In Spacetime w/ R. Bertrand DelgadoGravitational waves are ripples in spacetime that reveal the universe’s most powerful events. In this episode, we break down the physics of waves, how GW travel through space and time, and why space itself can stretch and squeeze. We explore sources like pulsars and black hole mergers, the astrophysical types of GW, and the mysteries of cosmic inflation—how it solves the flatness and monopole problems and shapes the universe’s expansion.We also discuss the importance of science outreach, representation, and giving back.Interferometers: https://lisa.nasa.gov/Ligo: https://www.ligo.c...
2025-03-1151 min
SpaceBitesw/BennyCosmic Convos 2.1: Intro to General Relativity w/ R. Bertrand DelgadoWhat if time wasn’t absolute? What if space could bend and stretch like a cosmic fabric? In this 2 part episode, we dive into the mind-bending physics that reshaped our understanding of the universe. We start with Newton’s laws and build our way up to Einstein’s revolutionary ideas—introducing 4D spacetime, the metric, and how geodesics define motion in curved space. Through history, we discuss the development of general relativity and unravel the mysteries of black holes, Hawking radiation, and why Einstein’s equations hold the key to the universe’s biggest cosmic puzzles.Tune in as we bre...
2025-03-101h 00
SpaceBitesw/BennyString TheoryWhat is string theory? What are the particles that make up our universe? In this action-packed episode, we discuss general relativity, quantum mechanics, and the super cool string theory. Take a bite of this space chunk!String Theory Explained (Video) Standard Model SuperSymmetry Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2024-12-2928 min
SpaceBitesw/BennyMapping the Cosmos with Alex PotterWhat are galaxies, and how do we study them? In this special episode, we dive into these cosmic questions with guest Alex Potter, a 4th year student at Durham University working on studying galaxies using the DESI project. Together, we explore the universe, discuss life in the charming small town of Durham, and reveal Alex’s plans for the future with his physics degree. Tune in for an insightful mix of science, stories, and inspiration!READ MORE: https://www.desi.lbl.gov/Interactive visualization: https://www.desi.lbl.gov/education-outreach/interactive-visualizations/Read more ab...
2024-12-2228 min
SpaceBitesw/BennyWhat is astro-particle physics?In this special episode, I share my journey through astroparticle physics, my experiences as a student, and the fascinating three-body problem. We’ll explore how the tiniest particles connect to the grandest cosmic structures, dive into my research on binary star systems, and relate it to the Netflix series The Three-Body Problem.This episode is dedicated to my family—for their unwavering support, curiosity, and the love that keeps me grounded as I explore the stars.Music: artlist.io 3body problem | Netflix trailer: 3 Body Problem | Final Trailer | NetflixDownl...
2024-12-1726 min
SpaceBitesw/BennyQuantum ComputersAre electrons particles or waves? What are quantum computers? Do we live in a multiverse?In this episode, I’m joined once again by Dillane as we dive into the fascinating world of quantum computers. We’ll explore the fundamentals of quantum mechanics that power these cutting-edge machines and discuss Google’s latest breakthrough, the Willow quantum chip. Don’t forget to hit the bell icon and follow to stay updated and receive alerts whenever a new episode drops.Learn more about Google’s Willow: https://blog.google/technology/research/google-willow-quantum-chip/Apple increases encryption...
2024-12-1530 min
SpaceBitesw/BennyWho am I? What is SpaceBites?In this debut episode of Spacebites, I introduce myself and share the inspiration behind this podcast.Whether you're a seasoned stargazer or just curious about the universe, this episode sets the stage for an exciting adventure through space and science. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2024-12-1301 min
SpaceBitesw/BennyDark Matter with Dillane WehbeWhat is the universe made of? In this episode, I delve into the contents of the universe- dark matter and dark energy. The LCDM Model and the Euclid Mission. Featured in this episode is Dillane Wehbe, co-founder of Toutix and ex-division one athlete. Dillane keeps the episode fresh with his pop culture references and unique humour as I delve into the mysteries of our universe.music credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-DdNejsGKI Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2024-12-1138 min