PODCAST · science
Cosmically Curious
by NHPR
A space-focused segment from NHPR hosted by Patrick McNameeKing. It's all about celebrating the night sky with a healthy dose of joy, curiosity and zero pretension.Each week we’ll cover topics ranging from the latest NASA missions, to events happening in the night sky, to space in pop culture. It’s science for everyone—whether you’re an amateur astronomer or someone who’s never held a telescope.
Episodes
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Vastness of Space
In this conversation, astrophysicist Nicole Gugliucci explains how analogies help us make sense of the cosmic distances that otherwise overwhelm the imagination.
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Extraterrestrial weather
In this episode of Cosmically Curious, Patrick McNamee King sits down with astronomer Nicole Gugliucci to explore the bizarre reality of extraterrestrial weather—from scorching sulfuric acid showers on Venus to helium raining through the interior of Saturn.
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Does the universe remember
In this segment of Cosmically Curious, host Patrick McNamee speaks with astronomer John Gianforte from the University of New Hampshire about whether the cosmos preserves a record of everything that has ever happened—and what the physics of our own sun reveals about the vastness of that question.
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New England Fall Astronomy Festival
The University of New Hampshire Department of Physics and Astronomy is holding the New England Fall Astronomy Festival, or NEFAF for short.
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What Are Fundamental Constants?
In this episode of Cosmically Curious we explore the universal rules that define reality & physics.
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Black Holes
In this episode of Cosmically Curious, host Patrick McNamee sits down with Saint Anselm College astronomer Nicole Gallucci to clear up common black hole myths, explain the bizarre physics of spaghettification, and reveal what would actually happen if our Sun suddenly turned into a black hole.
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James Webb spots signs of potential life
A distant exoplanet 700 trillion miles away is captivating astronomers, and the latest findings from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have reignited a major question: Are we alone in the universe?
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What are Voyager probes observing 50 years later
NASA’s Voyager probes are 16 billion miles away in interstellar space. Learn what two instruments are still measuring and why it matters for deep space exploration.
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Voyager Prode Part 1
Launched in the summer of 1977, NASA’s Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft were originally authorized for a brief journey to visit Jupiter and Saturn. Nearly five decades later, both probes are still operating in deep space, pushing the boundaries of human exploration.
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August 2026 Lunar Eclipse
In this segment of NHPR's Cosmically Curious, host Patrick McNameeKing sits down with UNH astronomer John Gianforte to discuss an exciting upcoming celestial event: a near-total lunar eclipse.
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The microwave mystery that baffled astronomers
How did a kitchen microwave fool astronomers? On Cosmically Curious, Dr. Nicole Gugliucci reveals the true source behind mysterious fast radio bursts.
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Perseid Meteor Showers
Learn the best viewing times, why a new moon makes this year special, and why you only need a lawn chair to watch.
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Supernova
In late 1572, long before the invention of the telescope, sky-watchers looking up at the night sky saw something impossible: a blazing new star where nothing had existed before.
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What is "dark matter"?
Dark matter makes up 85% of all matter in the universe, but is only detected by the effect it has on visible matter.
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Pulsars Cosmic Clocks
In a recent conversation, Patrick McNamee King sat down with Nicole Gallucci from Saint Anselm College to explore why these collapsed stellar remnants are far more than just deep-space anomalies—they are actually some of the most powerful scientific instruments available to us.
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Cosmically Curious: Pulsars, the lighthouse of the universe
A pulsar is the collapsed, zombie-like core of a massive star that died in a supernova explosion.
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Anti Matter
Today, we're answering a question from listener Tim Smith, who asks a deceptively simple question: Why does anything exist?
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Filters & Photons
How do you capture a full-color image when your recording medium can only see in black and white?
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Cosmica traffic jam
How many satellites can we actually fit around the Earth before it becomes a problem?
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How stars are formed
We talk a lot about stars, but how they are formed is a process that is not completely understood.
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Before the Big Bang
A look at how modern physicists tackle the ultimate origin story.
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Hydrogen & History
Construction is currently underway for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), a massive radio telescope poised to revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos.
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Warp Speed Ahead!
Physics professor Nicole Gugliucci explains the science of Star Trek’s warp drive, the Alcubierre concept, and why we're still far off from zipping through space.
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Make your own rocket fuel
We need water to live, but what else does water on Mars mean for space exploration?
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How do satellites navigate through space?
A listener question reveals a surprisingly accurate system.
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Learn about the Starlight Challenge
The Starlight Challenge is a self-guided astronomy project for anyone interested in learning more about the night sky.
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The search for extraterrestrial intelligence
What techniques do researchers use in searching for what we know as "intelligence."
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Why Artemis II is more than just a victory lap
Last week, Artemis II lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. If we already conquered the Moon decades ago, are we simply "doing laps" now?
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Citizen Science & Space Weather
With April just around the corner, we here at Cosmically Curious are celebrating Citizen Science Month a little early. This week, we sit down with Nicole Gugliucci, an Associate Professor of Physics at Saint Anselm College, to discuss the Radio JOVE Project. This unique project empowers students...
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Asteroids and Aminos
Last week, we turned our gaze toward the hidden oceans within our solar system. Today, we’re looking even closer to home—specifically at the rocky neighbors sharing our cosmic backyard.
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The Long Game
Imagine strolling along a moonlit beach at night. As you listen to the gentle lull of churning waves, you look up and see not one moon, but dozens. This isn't science fiction—it’s a glimpse into the neighborhood of our solar system’s largest gas giant. Today, we’re exploring the efforts to...
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Wobbles and Shadows
Last November, a satellite named Mauve made history as the first private space telescope to reach orbit. It’s already hitting its stride, recently clocking its first star discovery. But Mauve isn't just star-gazing; it’s on a hunt for exoplanets.
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Spring Lunar Eclipse
It’s been an exciting few days in the cosmos! On Sat., February 28, the evening sky hosted a rare parade of six planets: Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter all appeared shortly after sunset. While four were visible to the unaided eye (weather permitting), people with telescopes…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A space-focused segment from NHPR hosted by Patrick McNameeKing. It's all about celebrating the night sky with a healthy dose of joy, curiosity and zero pretension.Each week we’ll cover topics ranging from the latest NASA missions, to events happening in the night sky, to space in pop culture. It’s science for everyone—whether you’re an amateur astronomer or someone who’s never held a telescope.
HOSTED BY
NHPR
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Cosmically Curious have?
Cosmically Curious currently has 33 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Cosmically Curious about?
A space-focused segment from NHPR hosted by Patrick McNameeKing. It's all about celebrating the night sky with a healthy dose of joy, curiosity and zero pretension.Each week we’ll cover topics ranging from the latest NASA missions, to events happening in the night sky, to space in pop culture. It’s...
How often does Cosmically Curious release new episodes?
Cosmically Curious has 33 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Cosmically Curious?
You can listen to Cosmically Curious on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Cosmically Curious?
Cosmically Curious is created and hosted by NHPR.
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