Big Picture Science

From the Trifid and Lagoon Nebulae to dark matter mysteries - the Vera Rubin Observatory is capturing images unparalleled in depth and detail. Don't miss this stellar episode @VRubinObs.bsky.social bigpicturescience.org/episodes/sco...

Professional + amateur astronomers = exoplanet discovery. @AllPlanets.bsky.social describes how a @SETIInstittue.bsky.social citizen science collaboration is advancing exoplanet research bigpicturescience.org/episodes/sco...

Catching a wavelength: The Vera Rubin Observatory uses six filters from near-infrared to near-ultraviolet to unlock cosmic secrets. Find out what they reveal about stellar nurseries and galaxies in this week's episode, Scoping the Universe: bigpicturescience.org/episodes/sco...

The James Webb Space Telescope is revolutionizing how we study mysterious Fast Radio Bursts with its incredible resolution and sensitivity. But what exactly ARE they? bigpicturescience.org/episodes/sco...

Fast Radio Bursts: millisecond flashes from distant galaxies that have astronomers puzzled. Could they be from magnetars? Black holes? Something else entirely? Amanda Cook and Seth Shostak speculate bigpicturescience.org/episodes/sco...

The Vera Rubin Observatory's "cosmic treasure chest" captures high redshift galaxies, the Virgo cluster, AND asteroids all in one stunning image. Clare Higgs @VRubinObs.bsky.social describes how the telescope did it in our latest episode. bigpicturescience.org/episodes/sco...

Amateur astronomers are confirming exoplanets using small digital Unistellar telescopes. Franck Marchis @AllPlanets.bsky.social shares how citizen scientists discovered TOI-4465 b We’re Scoping Out the Universe: bigpicturescience.org/episodes/sco...

We're scoping out the universe with first images from the Vera Rubin Observatory @VRubinObs.bsky.social, the first observatory named after a woman. Plus, citizen scientists help discover exoplanets. bigpicturescience.org/episodes/sco...

Powerful telescopes are key to discovering new phenomena and even life on other planets. Franck Marchis @setiinstitute.bsky.social @allplanets.bsky.social, discusses exoplanets and other recent discoveries. bigpicturescience.org/episodes/sco...

Everything may seem calm and serene when you look into the night sky. Recent energetic radio bursts across the universe might beg to differ. On this episode, we’re “Scoping Out the Universe.” bigpicturescience.org/episodes/sco...

Restoration ecologist Clay Frazer describes working with Wisconsin landowners to allow beavers to return to river networks and how installing flow devices in rivers help control flooding. bigpicturescience.org/episodes/lea...

Traditional ecological knowledge specialist Michael Waasegiizhig Price describes the effort of Anishinaabe people to recover lost language and traditions, including their once sacred relationship with “amik”, the beaver. bigpicturescience.org/episodes/lea...

Marveling at beaver constructed dams, Molly asks author Leila Philip if beavers are artists, engineers, or architects. “Definitely all three,” Leila says, as they visit beaver dams and ponds in Connecticut. bigpicturescience.org/episodes/lea...

“If we want to survive the kind of storm events that are coming at us with climate change, we need the kind of water storage that's created” says writer Leila Philip on why beavers help provide water resiliency. bigpicturescience.org/episodes/lea...

River scientist Denise Burchsted describes the concept of paleo rivers - ancient river networks that no longer flow now but which beavers can revive if we let them do their beaver thing. bigpicturescience.org/episodes/lea...

The fur trade nearly wiped out 400 million beaver in North America. Now the animal once valued only for its pelts, or considered a pest, is being brought back to repair our damaged river systems. bigpicturescience.org/episodes/lea...

The return of beavers to river systems comes as our nation’s wetlands are disappearing, and new federal policies are stripping protection for many of those that remain. BPS traipses through soggy meadows to learn why beavers are key to water resilience. bigpicturescience.org/episodes/lea...

Molly is awed at the size and beauty of newly-created beaver ponds on walks with Leila Philip, author of Beaverland, in Connecticut as Leila discuss why beavers are making a comeback. bigpicturescience.org/episodes/lea...

Beavers have a reputation as a nuisance. You probably don’t associate them with the future of environmental restoration. Find out why nature’s engineers are being returned to our nation’s rivers. bigpicturescience.org/episodes/lea...

Beavers landscaped North America once, can they do it again? Find out how wetlands can be saved and a waterway can become more resilient if we “Leave it to Beavers.” bigpicturescience.org/episodes/lea...

Beavers are nature’s original engineers. Long before Europeans arrived in North America, the oversized rodents kept river systems healthy. They did it once, can they do it again? What happens when we "Leave it to Beavers". bit.ly/3H7tjPL

It sounds like a joke, “Two beavers walk into a creek…” But the dam and the million-gallon pond of water they create could bring serious relief in drought-prone areas. We discover how we might benefit if we "Leave It to Beavers" on this week's episode: bit.ly/3H7tjPL

When was the last time you felt like you played? Maybe you spent time doing a puzzle or leveling up in a video game. To understand which of our activities actually count as "play", we have to learn what defines it: bigpicturescience.org/episodes/the...

Like many animals, humans tend to play less as we grow older. But play is valuable for adults too, says research professor Peter Gray. Why adults lose the urge to play and how to recapture your inner child. bigpicturescience.org/episodes/the...

Who better to discuss the importance of play than the experts? In this episode, kids share with us what they love about playing with old tires, nails, and old oil drums versus traditional playground equipment. bigpicturescience.org/episodes/the...

Avoiding risk in play entirely means children miss out on a lot, explains psychologist Mariana Brussoni. From building self confidence to understanding their physical limits, taking risks during playtime is important. bigpicturescience.org/episodes/the...

Researchers are recommending that parents allow their kids to engage in more "risky" play. One way to accomplish this is by playing at an adventure playground, like the one host Molly Bentley visited in New York City. Here, the kids make the rules. bigpicturescience.org/episodes/the...

Play is important for a child's development. But has children's play become too safe? This week, we look at how risky play can be beneficial for both physical and mental health. bigpicturescience.org/episodes/the...

When you picture an animal playing, what do you think of? A dog chasing a ball? A cat playing with string? Well, it's not just mammals that enjoy playtime. Find out the playful creature that surprised author David Toomey the most on this week's episode: bigpicturescience.org/episodes/the...

Play reinforces important neural networks, explains science writer David Toomey. Tune in to this week's episode to hear more about what tickling rats has taught us about the neurology of play and its link to social behavior: bigpicturescience.org/episodes/the...