Composite image showing stars and gas in the Milky Way. Oranges, purples, and reds dominate the image. A symbolic sound wave cuts through the image. Credits: NASA/CXC/SAO/K.Arcand, SYSTEM Sounds (Matt Russo/Andrew Santaguida)

EPISODE 160: TURNING SPACE DATA INTO SOUND

From black holes to star clusters, scientists are turning space data into sound with a process called sonification. Dr. Kimberly Arcand, visualization scientist with the 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 at a time.

Small Steps, Giant Leaps

Tap into the experiences of NASA’s technical workforce as they develop missions to explore distant worlds—from the Moon to Mars, from Titan to Psyche. Learn how they advance technology to make aviation on Earth faster, quieter and more fuel efficient. Each biweekly episode celebrates program and project managers, engineers, scientists and thought leaders working on multiple fronts to advance aeronautics and space exploration in a bold new era of discovery. New episodes are released bi-weekly on Wednesdays.

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Illustration of a jet of energy shooting from a black hole. The gamma-rays are depicted as bright and purple against the blackness of space. Credit: NASA/Swift/Cruz deWilde

EPISODE 159: STARBURST: GAMMA-RAY HUNTER

Aug 06, 2025 | Transcript | 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. Read More

The Hubble Space Telescope returns to orbit as an improved telescope after its second servicing mission in February 1997. Photo Credit: NASA

EPISODE 158: HUBBLE: AN ENGINEERING MARVEL

Jul 23, 2025 | Transcript | 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. Read More

Photo from below of a drone flying against a deep-blue sky. The drone is white with a pointed red nosecone. Credit: Don Richey

EPISODE 157: FIGHTING WILDLAND FIRES WITH DRONES

Jul 09, 2025 | Transcript | 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. Read More

Composite image of IXPE data showing the Tycho supernova remnant, which looks like a purple, fluffy dandelion against a starry field. Dark purple and white have been combined with data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory (red and blue) and overlaid with the stars in the field of view as captured by the Digitized Sky Survey. Image Credit: X-ray (IXPE: NASA/ASI/MSFC/INAF/R. Ferrazzoli, et al.), (Chandra: NASA/CXC/RIKEN & GSFC/T. Sato et al.) Optical: DSS Image processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/K. Arcand, L.Frattare & N.Wolk

EPISODE 156: A NEW ERA OF X-RAY ASTRONOMY WITH IXPE

Jun 25, 2025 | Transcript | 26:33

IXPE, or the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, is NASA’s first space telescope dedicated to studying X-ray polarization from extreme objects like black holes and quasars. Read More

Illustration of Europa Clipper spacecraft above Jupiter's icy moon Europa. The surface is blue and icy. Jupiter, partially lit, looms in the background. The spacecraft reflects the Sun's light. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

EPISODE 155: RISK MANAGEMENT AT NASA

Jun 11, 2025 | Transcript | 33:08

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. Read More

Illustration of a drone as viewed from below. The drone is either landing or taking off between skyscrapers. Another drone flies above it. Credit: NASA

EPISODE 154: NASA’s AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT-EXPLORATION PROJECT

May 28, 2025 | Transcript | 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. Read More

Spacecraft inside a facility. It has a conical shape with a shiny interior. The outer shell is white. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

EPISODE 153: THE UNIVERSE IN LIVING COLOR WITH SPHEREX

May 14, 2025 | Transcript | 27:23

NASA's SPHEREx Observatory will use 102 color filters to collect data on more than 450 million galaxies along with more than 100 million stars in the Milky Way in order to explore the origins of the universe. It will also study the abundance of water ice and organic molecules throughout the galaxy. Read More