Best Brian Dunbar Podcasts (2025)

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How Webb Illuminates Stars’ Cloudy Origins 22:43

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1M ago22:43

22:43

In the space between stars, dark clouds of gas, dust, and ice mingle in a chemical laboratory unlike any on Earth. Ewine van Dishoeck, an astronomer who studies molecules in space and who helped develop an instrument aboard NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, explains how Webb is revealing new details about the formation of stars and planets. This r…

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On a Desert Island with the 2025 Class of Astronaut Candidates 1:13:40

1M ago1:13:40

1:13:40

NASA’s all-American 2025 astronaut candidates share a little aboutthemselves by playing a fun icebreaker game. HWHAP 402.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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What Webb Is Teaching Us About Our Solar System 27:32

1M ago27:32

27:32

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is hard at work answering our biggest questions about the birth of our universe and faraway galaxies. But some astronomers are pointing its powerful eyes much closer to home. In this episode, Caltech astronomer Katherine de Kleer explains how Webb is rewriting our understanding of objects within our solar system–fr…

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6,000 Exoplanets and Counting 22:12

2M ago22:12

22:12

On September 17, 2025, NASA announced that the number of exoplanets, planets outside our solar system, tracked by NASA has reached 6,000. In the three decades since the groundbreaking detection of exoplanet 51 Pegasi b, the first confirmed planet orbiting a Sun-like star, astronomers have concluded that exotic worlds are everywhere.…

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Court update: Mangione terror charges dropped 11:36

2M ago11:36

11:36

This is the podcast that takes a step back to unpick and understand this story, and we'll also be bringing you news updates. A judge in New York state has dismissed two terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, the alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. However, Judge Gregory Carro ruled a charge of second-degree murder against Mang…

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Artemis II: Launch 46:21

2M ago46:21

46:21

NASA Artemis II launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson shares herpath to the console and what it takes to launch the first crewed Artemismission to the Moon. HWHAP 401.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Advancing NASA 33:01

2M ago33:01

33:01

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy joins us for our milestone 400th episode to share his journey and vision for advancing NASA into the future. HWHAP 400.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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NASA's Zero Gravity Research Facility 19:07

2M ago19:07

19:07

A steel vacuum chamber 50 stories deep at NASA’s Glenn Research Center lets researchers simulate near-weightlessness by letting test hardware freefall for 5.18 seconds.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Webb's Exoplanet Research Sounds Like Sci-Fi—But It's Real 23:43

2M ago23:43

23:43

Some exoplanets—like a gas giant with rain made of glass and 5,000-mile-per-hour winds—sound like worlds dreamed up by a science fiction writer. But they’re real. From light-years away, scientists can uncover details about planets orbiting distant stars and even ask whether some exoplanets could support life. Néstor Espinoza, an astronomer at the S…

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A Record-Breaking Astronaut 52:17

2M ago52:17

52:17

NASA astronaut Suni Williams reflects on her recent record-breakingmission on board the International Space Station. HWHAP 399.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Artemis II: The Orion Spacecraft 48:17

2M ago48:17

48:17

Acting Vehicle Integration Office Manager for NASA's Orion Program Chris Edelen discusses the spacecraft that will carry astronauts around the Moon on Artemis II. HWHAP 398.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Turning Space Data Into Sound 26:58

2M ago26:58

26:58

From black holes to star clusters, scientists are turning space data into sound with a process called sonification. Dr. Kimberly Arcand, visual scientist with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, joins us to explore how data sonification lets more people experience the cosmos and give researchers a new way to interpret science one note …

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The Art of Astronaut Photography 1:19:55

3M ago1:19:55

1:19:55

NASA astronauts Don Pettit and Matt Dominick share their experiences capturing stunning photography from the International Space Station. HWHAP 397.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Lunar Surface Research 46:59

3M ago46:59

46:59

NASA project scientists Maria Banks and Sue Lederer revisit recent Commercial Lunar Payload Services missions and discuss research on the Moon. HWHAP 396.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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StarBurst: Gamma-ray Hunter 19:51

3M ago19:51

19:51

StarBurst, a satellite the size of a washing machine, aims to detect the initial blast of gamma-rays, the most powerful bursts of energy in the universe. These huge explosions can occur when dense neutron stars collide, forging metals like gold and platinum. These metals are some of the building blocks of planets — like Earth.…

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Why Webb's Earliest Galaxies Are Blowing Scientists' Minds 27:54

3M ago27:54

27:54

With the James Webb Space Telescope, we are seeing the early universe like never before. Webb produces beautiful images and detailed scientific data that leave astronomers in awe. In this episode, Mic Bagley, a NASA scientist on the Webb team, guides us through new discoveries made possible by Webb. Mic tells the story of a remarkable galaxy discov…

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Constructing NASA Infrastructure 40:36

3M ago40:36

40:36

USACE Chief Historian John Lonnquest shares the legacy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and their role in building NASA’s spaceflight infrastructure. HWHAP 395.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Artemis II: The Mission 46:14

3M ago46:14

46:14

NASA’s Artemis II Flight Director Jeff Radigan shares what it takes to lead the first human mission of the Artemis program around the Moon. HWHAP 394.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Hubble: An Engineering Marvel 23:31

3M ago23:31

23:31

The Hubble Space Telescope has changed humanity’s understanding of the universe. Now in orbit for 35 years, it remains a remarkable feat of engineering.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Crew-11 1:23:23

4M ago1:23:23

1:23:23

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 quartet each dive into their paths to space and what lies ahead aboard the International Space Station. HWHAP 393.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Ask an Astronaut on Our Anniversary 38:13

4M ago38:13

38:13

Houston We Have a Podcast celebrates eight years! Three astronauts from the agency’s most recent class discuss their first year of training and answer questions from our listeners. HWHAP 392.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Fighting Wildland Fires with Drones 11:19

4M ago11:19

11:19

Fighting wildland fires by air at night is especially hazardous. NASA’s ACERO Project aims to make firefighting safer, day or night, with drones and smarter airspace management.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Mars is Hard. Here's Why. 46:03

4M ago46:03

46:03

NASA astronaut Stan Love discusses the challenges of sending humans to Mars and what it will take to get us to the Red Planet. HWHAP 391.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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A New Era of X-ray Astronomy with IXPE 26:32

4M ago26:32

26:32

IXPE, or the Infrared X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, is NASA’s first space telescope dedicated to studying X-ray polarization from extreme objects like black holes and quasars.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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How Lying In Bed For 60 Days Helps Astronauts 27:17

4M ago27:17

27:17

In space, microgravity changes the body. Body fluids shift from the legs toward the head, the back of our eyes flatten, we lose muscle strength, our bones lose some of their density, and even the amount of blood pumped by the heart with each beat drops. To learn more about how microgravity affects the human body and develop new ways to help astrona…

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Exploration Park 39:13

5M ago39:13

39:13

Two NASA experts talk about Exploration Park, a research facility near Johnson Space Center will enable collaboration with the agency on space hardware development. HWHAP 390.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Runway to the Stars 34:54

5M ago34:54

34:54

A NASA aircraft operations expert discusses the aviation history and work being done at Ellington Field in Houston as a training ground for astronauts. HWHAP 389.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Risk Management at NASA 33:38

5M ago33:38

33:38

Big or small, we all take risks nearly every day. But how does NASA manage it? Dr. Mary Skow, NASA’s first agency risk management officer, explains.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Private Astronaut Mission Management 53:28

5M ago53:28

53:28

NASA and Axiom Space mission managers discuss how they work together to enable private astronaut missions ahead of Axiom Mission 4’s launch. HWHAP 388.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Cosmic Dawn with Nobel Laureate John Mather 18:47

5M ago18:47

18:47

The James Webb Space Telescope is doing something astronomers dreamed about for decades: peering into our universe’s early past, a period known as cosmic dawn. A new NASA documentary—also called Cosmic Dawn—chronicles the inside story of Webb’s design, construction, and launch. John Mather, who won the 2006 Nobel Prize for Physics, proposed the tel…

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Mission Control: Eye of the Storm 1:01:43

5M ago1:01:43

1:01:43

A NASA Flight Director and Capsule Communicator, or CAPCOM, discuss their roles and journeys to some of the most recognizable positions in Mission Control. HWHAP 387.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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NASA's Air Traffic Management-eXploration Project 30:06

5M ago30:06

30:06

NASA’s Air Traffic Management-eXploration Project aims to accommodate the growing demand of traditional and emerging aircraft that share the friendly skies.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Moon Material Flammability 46:17

5M ago46:17

46:17

Two NASA experts discuss an experiment that will further our understanding of flame behavior on the lunar surface to keep astronauts safe. HWHAP 386.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Earth Series: What's Next for NASA Earth Science 28:51

6M ago28:51

28:51

NASA has a record of Earth observations going back more than 50 years. What might be in store for the next 50 years? In this finale of our Earth series, we hear from two scientists helping to chart the course of NASA Earth science. There are still many unanswered questions about our home planet. As the only planet that we know to have life, studyin…

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Commercial and International Lunar Rovers 1:00:45

6M ago1:00:45

1:00:45

Two NASA project managers discuss how astronauts will drive on the lunar surface during future Moon missions. HWHAP 385.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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The Universe in Living Color with SPHEREx 27:23

6M ago27:23

27:23

NASA's SPHEREx mission will map 450 million galaxies like we’ve never seen before.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Politics and appearance: Mangione's supporters explained 27:21

6M ago27:21

27:21

A deep dive into the supporters of Luigi Mangione, featuring some exclusive new data, and considering how this case might be influencing US social attitudes to political violence.BBC World Service Disinformation reporter Jacqui Wakefield joins us to discuss why some people around the world have taken to this case so passionately. We’re also joined …

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Natural Disaster Response 45:57

6M ago45:57

45:57

A NASA scientist discusses how imagery and data collected from the International Space Station can support natural disaster response teams on the ground. HWHAP 384By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Behind the memes: Luigi Mangione and Brian Thompson 25:11

6M ago25:11

25:11

A deep dive into the lives of Luigi Mangione and the man he is accused of murdering – healthcare executive Brian Thompson. Who is the real Luigi Mangione and what do we know about his alleged victim? BBC reporter Mike Wendling joins us from Chicago to tell us more about the health insurance CEO Brian Thompson, who was gunned down outside a New York…

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Earth Series: Monitoring the Air We Breathe 39:17

6M ago39:17

39:17

Take a deep breath, and you’re inhaling oxygen from Earth’s atmosphere. Take a walk outside, and the atmosphere is shielding you from harmful radiation. NASA research provides crucial data to understand air quality and the intricate processes happening in the sky above us. In this episode, hear the inside story of NASA’s research into the ozone lay…

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Mission Control: Special Operations 57:20

6M ago57:20

57:20

Four NASA flightcontrollers discuss specialized operations like spacewalks and spacecraftarrivals that keep the International Space Station running. HWHAP383By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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The Mangione conspiracy theories 33:30

6M ago33:30

33:30

Pokemon, number 286, eyebrow length – we explore the popularity of conspiracy theories and where they come from. This episode unpicks some of these theories and why they spread on platforms like TikTok and Reddit. Over three million posts went up on social media the week after the shooting of healthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the arrest of suspect …