In the last episode, we left a doomed Sarah, David and Dr. Cellarius as they plunged helplessly into the sun. But their inevitable deaths will not be in vain. We’ll still have some time on this episode to learn about the structure of our main star before they reach the core and get burned to crispy cinders. This is part two of our guest-written episode by William J. Meyer. And you can check out William’s own work at FireOnTheMound.com and StrangeLovePodcast.com And a big thanks to guest...

Our lives literally revolve around it. That big yellow ball in the sky - The Sun. But what do we really know about El Sol? Is it just a big ball of gas and flame? Or is there more to it than that? On this episode, Sarah and David venture into the Sun's corona, to meet with Dr. Andrea Cellarius. A very bright and flame-boyant scientist. This is the first part of a two-part episode, guest written by friend of the show William J. Meyer. You can find William's own spectacular podcasts at...

The Brown Dwarf. Is it a star? Is it a planet? Is it a tabletop war gaming miniature? Is it an obscure Red Dwarf fan fiction series? We need speculate no more, as observational astronomer Dr. Aleks Scholz of St. Andrews Observatory returns to the podcast with a detailed answer for us. We also announce details of our brand new Hostile Worlds merchandise store on TeePublic. Want a Hostile Worlds-branded t-shirt, hoodie, poster, sticker, or mug? Then you're in luck! Things to Learn What's...

Welcome to Venus, the second planet from the sun and the closest other planet to Earth. So, why do we always think of Mars as the closest and likeliest candidate for off-world exploration and habitation? On this episode, Sarah and David head to the only planet named after a female deity. With Sarah at the controls, David explores the surface of a planet which, despite its “hot and hellish landscape”, has more similarities to our own “Pale Blue Dot” than we realise. Things to Learn • Does...

As the crew of The Tardigrade prepare to land on Venus, Matthew heads back down to Earth to get some supplies. Whilst back on the home planet, he pays a visit to St. Andrews Observatory to have a look at the James Gregory Telescope - the biggest telescope in Scotland. The custodian of this fine piece of equipment is Dr. Aleks Scholz, an observational astronomer who studies problems in star and planet formation. This was a good opportunity for us all to learn something new, so Aleks is...

The solar system is a big place, and while Colin's testing the shuttle, Sarah and Matthew have a visitor. David drops by to explain a bit about relativity and distance within the solar system and the universe in general. And watch out for mighty Zordon of the Orcs. Things to Learn What happens when you're travelling close to the speed of light? What's a light second? How fast are you travelling right now, and why don't you realise it? Why do two trucks seem to take ages over passing each...

Since leaving Titan last month we’ve been doing a bit of deep space exploration in The Tardigrade. And although space can look a bit… empty, it’s actually as hostile an environment as you’re ever likely to find. Out here we’re totally reliant on some pretty fragile materials and equipment keeping us alive. I’m sure everything will be fine of course, but what if something did go wrong? On this episode we’ll create a simulation that shows a rather unfortunate “virtual Colin” tossed out into...

Welcome to Titan, the biggest moon of Saturn, and the only known cosmic body other than Earth, that we know for certain has actual lakes and seas on its surface. But that isn’t the only reason that makes this frozen moon such an interesting and fascinating place. On this episode, our crew leave the comfort and warmth of our ship, The Tardigrade, to explore the surface of Titan. Their mission is to report back on the curiosities and mysteries of this hazy extraterrestrial landscape. A...

The Tardigrade is on its way to Titan, the biggest moon of Saturn. We're about to break through its hazy orange atmosphere and land on its surface. Our ship won't be the first human-built device to land on Titan though. The Huygens probe made this place its home back in 2005, when it was dropped off here by the Cassini spacecraft. The Cassini-Huygens mission has taught us so much about this fascinating region of the outer solar system over the last 20 years. Now we want to take you to...

Would you like to go on an audio tour around some of the most fascinating yet deadly places in the universe? Of course you would. Well, consider this inaugural episode of Hostile Worlds to be your invitation and boarding pass. I say boarding pass, because we'd like you to join us on board The Tardigrade. An all-purpose exploration vehicle that can float, fly, dive, or dig through any environment. It's (nearly) time to go and visit all the places you'd die to see, and places you'd die if...

Join us on a journey to some of the most inhospitable, humbling, and frighteningly beautiful places in the known universe. Hostile Worlds is podcast that lets you explore alien landscapes and extra-terrestrial terrain – all from the comfort of your headphones. From the freezing hydrocarbon oceans of Titan, to the scorched, and suffocating wastes of Venus – we’ll take you on an educational and immersive audio tour to all the places you’d die to see… and places you’d die if you saw. You’ll...

Welcome to The Hostile Worlds Podcast. Subscribe on your Podcast App of choice!

Welcome to The Hostile Worlds Podcast. Subscribe on your Podcast App of choice!