Best Fraser Cain Podcasts (2025)

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Ep. 774: How Does Bad Science Happen? 37:14

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2h ago37:14

37:14

Astronomy Cast Ep. 774: How Does Bad Science Happen? By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Nov 8, 2025. Scientific expertise is under attack on all fronts with concerns coming from politicians and the public. While most of this is unwarranted and politically motivated, there can be germ of truth. Bad science does happen, but how? How is …

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Ep. 774: How Does Bad Science Happen? 41:07

2h ago41:07

41:07

Hosted by: Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela L. Gay. Streamed live on Nov 8, 2025. [Editor's Note: Fraser says "Episode 773" at the head of the show. Not to worry, he was just confused. They recorded a few episodes out of sequence. I fixed the issue in the regular non-FullRaw episode.] Scientific expertise is under attack on all fronts with concerns comin…

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Dick Harpootlian: Dig Me a Grave 48:27

18h ago48:27

48:27

Dick Harpootlian might be a name you recognize. He’s from South Carolina, and he’s one of Alex Murdaugh’s defense attorneys. He’s also been a prosecutor. And one of his most disturbing defendants was serial killer Donald “Pee Wee” Gaskins. Dick tells me the story from his book: Dig Me a Grave. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor dea…

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[Space Bites+] Early Signs of Dark Matter Detection // Search for Exomoons // No Liquid Water for Mars 22:02

3d ago22:02

22:02

Has dark matter been found? A galaxy made of the first stars, China’s reusable rocket reaches orbit but doesn’t stick the landing, a possible explanation for the matter/antimatter asymmetry, and in Q&A+, Gaia helps pin down a supernova that hit the Earth 10 million years ago. Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8jlLE-…

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[Q&A+] Galaxy Graveyard, Binoculars vs Telescope, Chinese Space News | Q&A 377 16:20

4d ago16:20

16:20

Is the galaxy a graveyard with no alternative? Is it worth saving for a telescope instead of buying a binoculars now? What would cause more damage, an icy comet or a rocky asteroid? And in Q&A+, should the Triangulum galaxy get a better PR team? Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2bX4fPfvhCA…

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[Q&A+] Alternatives to The Big Bang, Theia Impact Place, Telescope Images | Q&A 376 15:53

6d ago15:53

15:53

Are there viable alternative theories to The Big Bang? Do we know where the Giant Impact happen? And does a smart telescope ruin sky gazing? And in Q&A+, should you be excited about Project Hail Mary? Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SNRDtQWRBL0

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Ep. 773: What Would You Do With $1 Billion For Astronomy? 31:51

3d ago31:51

31:51

Astronomy Cast Ep. 773: What Would You Do With $1 Billion For Astronomy? By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Nov 9, 2025. We are powerless fans of space exploration. But what if some fool gave us the authority and funding to make our space dreams a reality? Someone asked us what we'd do with a billion dollars. What missions? Which tele…

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Ep. 773: What Would You Do With $1 Billion For Astronomy? 39:17

7d ago39:17

39:17

Hosted by: Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela L. Gay. Streamed live on Nov 9, 2025. We are powerless fans of space exploration. But what if some fool gave us the authority and funding to make our space dreams a reality? Someone asked us what we'd do with a billion dollars. What missions? Which telescopes? But what if we had more? 100 Billion! A trillion! A…

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Yepoka Yeebo: Anansi’s Gold 45:00

8d ago45:00

45:00

The popular former president of Ghana was once accused of hiding gold from the West African country’s government. But it turns out that he was targeted by an audacious con artist who pulled off one of the 20th century's longest running and most spectacular frauds. Author Yepoka Yeebo tells me the story in her book: Anansi's Gold. Support this podca…

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[Space Bites+] BREAKING Comet News // Huge New Glenn Update // Lightning on Mars 22:29

9d ago22:29

22:29

Super Heavy buckles during testing, New Glenn is getting a huge upgrade, Starliner will try being a cargo ship, and a different comet ATLAS breaks up. And in Space Bites+, a galaxy found that is made of primordial hydrogen and helium. Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ojqYOUqa83Y…

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[Q&A+] Capitalism in Space, Orbit vs Moon, Extraterrestrial Lightning | Q&A 375 21:53

11d ago21:53

21:53

How can capitalism exist in space? Which will be commercially successful first, Earth orbit or the Moon? Did we observe lightnings on other planets? And in Q&A+, could aliens be watching Earth as a reality TV show? Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TCMOLAaeEPo

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[Q&A+] Boots on Mars When? What's on The Dark Side? Why Colonize the Moon? | Q&A 374 18:19

13d ago18:19

18:19

What is a realistic date for humans to land on Mars? What really hides on the dark side of the Moon? Is Moon a better place for a colony than Mars? And in Q&A+, do Dyson spheres or swarms make any sense? Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIH9t8kurIk

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Ep. 772: 2025 Gift Guide 31:47

12d ago31:47

31:47

Astronomy Cast Ep. 772: 2025 Gift Guide By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Nov 9, 2025. It's time once again for our annual gift-giving guide. We've got recommendations for books, movies, TV shows, games, and of course astronomy gear to satisfy the space nerds in your family. The Christmas season is almost upon us, and with it comes e…

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Ep. 772: 2025 Gift Guide 31:53

10d ago31:53

31:53

Hosted by: Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela L. Gay. Streamed live on Nov 9, 2025. It's time once again for our annual gift giving guide. We've got recommendations for books, movies, TV shows, games and of course astronomy gear to satisfy the space nerds in your family. The Christmas season is almost upon us, and with it comes excuses to inject science in…

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Rod Sadler: Depraved Obsession 55:58

15d ago55:58

55:58

For more than a decade, a serial killer stalked teenage boys in Michigan. Ronald Lloyd Bailey was eventually caught. But the story becomes more complicated because of Bailey’s experience at one of the state’s most respected psychiatric hospitals. Author Rod Sadler tells me the story in his book: Depraved Obsession. Support this podcast by shopping …

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[Space Bites+] Overturning Dark Energy // NASA's Eyes on 3I/ATLAS // Super Fast Solar System 20:07

17d ago20:07

20:07

NASA releases a ton of new images of 3I/ATLAS, new research claims to overturn dark energy, Chinese astronauts don’t have a safe way to get home, and the Solar System might be moving faster through the Universe than we thought. And in Space Bites+, an explanation for bright galaxies in the early Universe. Watch the video here (with no ads) or on Yo…

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[Q&A+] Ginormous Space Interferometer, China's Mars Sample, Boring Interstellar Objects | Q&A 373 22:49

18d ago22:49

22:49

Can we just combine all the space telescopes into a giant interferometer with insane resolution? When will new interstellar objects become mundane? Which rock should China take from Mars to Earth? And in Q&A+, what's going on with Vera Rubin's data? Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QpVOXtIRm9w…

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[Q&A+] Furthest Known Galaxy, Gravitational Slingshot Speed Limit, Toppling Starship | Q&A 372 17:50

20d ago17:50

17:50

What's the furthest galaxy we've seen with JWST? What the maximum speed possible to achieve with gravitational slingshots? Is lunar Starship destined to topple? And in Q&A+, how many interstellar objects have we missed? Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qijpsdVdkxE

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Ep. 771: Comet Tails 32:32

21d ago32:32

32:32

Astronomy Cast Ep. 771: Comet Tails By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Nov 8, 2025. With the arrival of the comet 3I/Atlas (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System), the world is getting a crash course in comets, their behavior, and of course their tails. Today we're going to talk about comets and their tails, why they exist, ho…

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Ep. 771: Comet Tails 37:50

18d ago37:50

37:50

Streamed live on Nov 8, 2025. With the arrival of the comet 3I/Atlas (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System), the world is getting a crash course in comets, their behavior, and of course their tails. Today we're going to talk about comets and their tails, why they exist, how they grow, why they can be different colors and how they can be so…

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Ceri Jackson: The Boy from Tiger Bay 59:25

22d ago59:25

59:25

Almost 40 years ago, a brutal murder on Valentine’s Day shook the country of Wales. When a 20-year-old is murdered in a dark corner of Cardiff’s infamous Tiger Bay area, the police launch an investigation. But did they arrest the wrong people because they were desperate to close the case? Author Ceri Jackson tells me the story from her book: The Bo…

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[Space Bites+] Black Holes That Shouldn't Exist // New Glenn Launches and Lands // NASA's Back 18:59

24d ago18:59

18:59

Two impossible black holes collided, New Glenn sends ESCAPADE to Mars and lands its booster, the dangers of micrometeor storms on the Moon, and in Space Bites+, the weird weather on Venus. Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HWkHYG8Zk5g

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[Q&A+] Outdated Tech in Space, Control Over the Moon, Optimism for China's Space Program | Q&A 371 21:30

25d ago21:30

21:30

Was James Webb already outdated by the time it launched? Who will control the Moon when we get the lunar bases? Why am I optimistic about China's space program? And in Q&A+, if Earth had rings, what would be the best place to observe them? Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wWFkdPF4JBQ…

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[Q&A+] Multiple Great Filters, Comet Hit Recovery, Good Budget Telescope | Q&A 370 19:21

26d ago19:21

19:21

What if there is not one but many Great Filters? Could humans recover from a massive comet hit? What telescope should you get under $1000? And in Q&A+, can the Sun capture interstellar objects? Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/y9Nhqf4z1B0 Here's a link to the full, unedited livestream: https://youtube.com/live/w8pm…

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Ep. 770: The Ethics of Mars Exploration 41:51

28d ago41:51

41:51

Astronomy Cast Ep. 770: The Ethics of Mars Exploration By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Nov 3, 2025. Hosted by: Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela L. Gay. It is arguable that humanity now has the technological ability to live on Mars. It would be done at enormous expense and sacrifice, and there are some tricky problems that we haven't solv…

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Ep. 770: The Ethics of Mars Exploration 51:14

25d ago51:14

51:14

Streamed live on Nov 3, 2025. Hosted by: Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela L. Gay. It is arguable that humanity now has the technological ability to live on Mars. It would be done at enormous expense and sacrifice, and there are some tricky problems that we haven't solved yet. Although we could live on Mars, should we? There is a famous quote from Jurassi…