This Week In Space podcast: Episode 118 —Understanding the Darkness

On Episode 118 of This Week In Space , Rod Pyle and guest co-host Isaac Arthur talk with Alina Kiessling and Jason Rhodes, both research scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, about the concepts of dark matter and dark energy and their broader implications for cosmology, exoplanet research, and more.

For many of us, dark matter and dark energy are two of the least understood areas of cosmology and astrophysics. Both Kiessling and Rhodes are working on major space telescope projects to research "dark physics," as they will explain. Guest co-host Isaac Arthur asks compelling, comprehensive questions about physics and cosmology while Rod asks things like "is dark energy dangerous?" because, let's face it, someone has to ask the dumb questions. Join us for the fascinating deep dive into dark forces!

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Space news of the week

• Runaway Chinese Rocket
• Go Polaris Dawn
• Starliner Update
• Euclid Space Telescope
• Nancy Roman Space Telescope
• Isaac Arthur and Dark Matter
• The Universe: Dark Energy Powers the Galaxy
• Dark Matter & Dark Energy
• Building Blocks
• DOE Explains...Dark Matter
• Roman - Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

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About This Week In Space

This Week in Space covers the new space age. Every Friday we take a deep dive into a fascinating topic. What's happening with the new race to the moon and other planets? When will SpaceX really send people to Mars?

Join Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik from Space.com as they tackle those questions and more each week on Friday afternoons. You can subscribe today on your favorite podcatcher.