In this episode of The Curious Cosmos, join Derrick Pitts for an interview with real-life aerospace engineer Brandon Burroughs! Get the inside scoop on the building of the Space Launch System, learn how the rocket industry works, and discover what it's like to research, design, and build the tech that will bring humans deeper into space than ever before. Links for this episode: Learn more about Brandon Burroughs and his work!Learn more about the NASA's Space Launch System, which Brandon spent...

Join Derrick Pitts and his long time friends and colleagues, Sam Storch and Steve Russo, as they bring you behind the scenes of the planetarium! Learn all about the history of planetariums, the many people and experiences they encountered over the course of their careers, and what makes planetariums such a special place for learning about the universe. Links for today's episode: Learn more about the East Kentucky Science Center, where Steve fished his career and still volunteersLearn more...

Join Derrick Pitts for a conversation with Carter Emmert, head of astrovisualization at the American Museum of Natural History, to learn all about how data visualization can help us to see our universe in whole new ways! Links for today's episode: Learn more about Carter Emmart and his work at the American Museum of Natural HistoryExplore the data visualization work being done by Carter's colleagues at Linköping University in SwedenLearn more about OpenSpace, the open source data...

Join Derrick Pitts for a conversation with John Blackwell, high school astronomy teacher and director of the Grainger Observatory at Philips Exeter Academy. Listen in as the two discuss the importance of teaching scientific citizenship, what John's students are currently working on, and what it's like teaching high schoolers about astronomy in the digital age. Links for today's episode: Learn more about John Blackwell and his work in Exeter Academy's Grainger ObservatoryLearn more about...

For years, the possibility of a manned mission to Mars has filled our newsfeeds and imaginations, but what actually needs to be done to make that dream a reality? In this episode of The Curious Cosmos, Derrick Pitts is joined by science writer Mary Roach discuss her book, Packing for Mars, and all the important (and often off-kilter) work being done to prepare for that mission here on Earth! Check out Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void, and Mary's other booksExplore the...

In this episode of The Curious Cosmos, Derrick is joined by astophysist, inventor, and media personality Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi, to discuss everything from cutting edge physics, the future of human spaceflight, and Hakeem's unique and inspiring path to science. Learn more about Dr. Oluseyi, and check out his memoir, A Quantum Life: My Unlikely Journey from the Streets to the StarsExplore the advancements physicist have made on gravitational wave astronomy and the cosmic microwave backgroundLearn...

Join The Franklin Institute's Derrick Pitts for a conversation with astrochemist and founder of advocacy org Black in Astro, Ashely Walker. Listen as they discuss resources for Black scientists entering the field, the importance of diversity within astronomy and other hard sciences, and Ashley's work exploring the environments of the ice giant planets Uranus and Neptune! Links for this episode: Learn more about Ashley's research, Black in Astro and the work of the organization's leadership...

In this episode of The Curios Cosmos, Derrick Pitts sits down with Leslie Kean, an investigative journalist who's work led to the US government acknowledging the existence of unidentified flying objects! But what does this recognition mean for space science? Listen as the two discuss the reclassification of UFOs to unidentified aerial/anomalous phenomenon (UAPs), how stigma has prevented even the most credible sightings from being seriously studied, and the important role scientists will...

Join Derrick Pitts for a conversation with astronomy educator Vivian White, who's curiosity and unique career has led her everywhere from partnerships with NASA to teaching Buddhist monks in Bhutan! Links for this episode: Learn more about Vivian White, and check out her book, The Total Skywatcher's Manual, a guide for astronomy enthusiasts of any background.Want to check out remote telescopes for yourself? Derrick recommends these from Slooh, OWN, Skynet University, and Bareket...

In the inaugural episode of Curious Cosmos, join Derrick for a conversation with real-life astronaut Christopher Ferguson! Listen and discover what it's like to be a Top Gun pilot, the experience of looking down at Earth from orbit, and what the future of human spaceflight might look like. Links for this episode: Learn more about Christopher FergusonCurios about what it looked like when Chris saw a hurricane while in orbit? Check out this footage of Hurricane Florence, captured by NASA from...

Welcome to Derrick Pitts' brand new podcast, The Curious Cosmos! Join The Franklin Institute's beloved Chief Astronomer and Planetarium Director for a peek behind the curtain of space science, discovering the wonders of our universe and the people shaping our understanding of the cosmos. Be sure to subscribe, it's gonna be a blast!