The Space Between

#35: Quantum computers on the moon (data centers in space, part 2)

Order a "What the Fractal?" t-shirt now! Explore The Space Between Astronomy Podcast merch store: * ⁠https://the-space-between-podcast.printify.me/⁠ [https://the-space-between-podcast.printify.me/] --- In this episode of The Space Between, we venture to the far side of the Moon—not for radio silence or alien bases, but for quantum computation. As the race to scale quantum systems heats up on Earth, researchers and futurists are eyeing the cold, quiet vacuum of space as a natural habitat for the most sensitive computers ever conceived. We explore the radical proposition: what if the next leap in quantum computing doesn’t happen in Silicon Valley or Shenzhen—but in a permanently shadowed crater beyond Earth’s radio reach? From ultra-low temperatures to freedom from electromagnetic noise, the Moon’s far side offers conditions you can’t replicate on Earth. But it also demands infrastructure that doesn’t yet exist—nuclear power, laser comms, robotic maintenance, and maybe even lunar laws. We break down the physics, the politics, and the speculative tech stacks behind this idea, including how it might transform secure communications, deep space AI, or even help humanity process the next Event Horizon Telescope image in days instead of years. Along the way, we dig into who’s quietly laying the groundwork—from space agencies to quantum labs—and why this isn’t just science fiction anymore. Also in the mix: China’s moonbase ambitions, the latest on NASA’s Artemis III delays, and a short, weird detour into whether lunar helium-3 mining might actually fund quantum servers on the Moon. It’s an episode where moonshots meet moonlight, and the future of computing might just be hiding in the shadows.

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#34: Space and storytelling with Helena Cochrane

Order a "What the Fractal?" t-shirt now! Explore The Space Between Astronomy Podcast merch store: * ⁠https://the-space-between-podcast.printify.me/ [https://the-space-between-podcast.printify.me/] ---In this episode of The Space Between, we sit down with astrophotographer, filmmaker, and YouTuber Helena Cochrane to explore how art, science, and storytelling collide under the night sky. From her first steps into astrophotography to her journey as a film student, Helena has built a unique voice in science communication, blending cinematic visuals, personal perspective, and educational outreach. We talk about the challenges of imaging the heavens from the often-cloudy landscapes of Scotland, the creative crossover between film and astrophotography, and the ways YouTube has allowed her to connect with a global audience hungry for both beauty and knowledge. Along the way, we dig into the role of storytelling in science: how framing the cosmos through narrative makes astronomy more accessible, inspiring, and fun for people everywhere. Expect an engaging conversation full of insights on creativity, communication, and the joy of sharing the stars, where lenses, landscapes, and laughter all come together. --- JOIN OUR LIVE SHOW ON EVERY FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH AT THIS LINK! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://riverside.fm/studio/kolby-van-camps-studio-eMegK⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://riverside.fm/studio/kolby-van-camps-studio-eMegK] Follow us on Instagram! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/spacebetweenpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://instagram.com/spacebetweenpod] Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/YkMtpMsytu [https://discord.gg/YkMtpMsytu] Order Kolby's new album! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kolbyvancamp.hearnow.com/portraits-volume-ii⁠ [https://kolbyvancamp.hearnow.com/portraits-volume-ii] --- Helena's links: Subscribe to her YouTube channel! ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HelenasAstrophotography⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@HelenasAstrophotography] Join her Discord! ⁠https://discord.com/invite/N3yaPxyH3g⁠ [https://discord.com/invite/N3yaPxyH3g] Follow her on Instagram and Facebook! ⁠https://www.instagram.com/helenas_astro⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/helenas_astro] ⁠https://www.facebook.com/HelenaAstrophotography⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/HelenaAstrophotography] Join her Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/helenasastro⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/helenasastro]

#33: Data centers in space (part 1)

Order a "What the Fractal?" t-shirt now! Explore The Space Between Astronomy Podcast merch store: * https://the-space-between-podcast.printify.me/ [https://the-space-between-podcast.printify.me/] --- In this episode of The Space Between, we explore a bold new frontier in digital infrastructure: data centers in space. As the world’s appetite for computing power skyrockets, fueled by AI, cloud services, and ever-expanding networks, traditional data centers are hitting limits on land, water, and energy. The solution some scientists and entrepreneurs propose? Lift the cloud above the clouds. We examine the technical promise and pitfalls of orbital data centers: abundant solar power and radiative cooling in the vacuum of space versus the harsh realities of radiation, latency, and orbital debris. From Europe’s ASCEND project to startups like Starcloud and Axiom Space’s station-based plans, we trace how quickly this idea is shifting from sci-fi concept to funded prototypes. But it’s not all efficiency and green promises. We dig into the environmental tradeoffs, the risk of “sky pollution” for astronomy, and the legal gray zones of data sovereignty beyond Earth. Alongside that, we unpack the week’s wilder headlines: alien embryos from meteorites in Panama and a fake comet hoax named C/2025 Q2 ZTF, and ask how to separate real innovation from viral distraction. Expect a conversation that blends cutting-edge tech, climate urgency, and cosmic perspective, where sustainability, skepticism, and the stars all intersect. Articles: ⁠ChatGPT Deep Research on orbital data centers: * https://chatgpt.com/s/dr_68d0eeade4b881918f9b8cff86b79ce9 [https://chatgpt.com/s/dr_68d0eeade4b881918f9b8cff86b79ce9] Primary sources about the P/2025 Q2 (PANSTARRS) comet: * https://www.cobs.si/comet/2657/ [https://www.cobs.si/comet/2657/] * https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=c%2F2025%20q2 [https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=c%2F2025%20q2] * https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K25/K25R67.html [https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K25/K25R67.html] Official Starcloud website: * https://www.starcloud.com/ [https://www.starcloud.com/] Starcloud whitepaper: * https://starcloud.com/wp/ [https://starcloud.com/wp/] --- JOIN OUR LIVE SHOW ON EVERY FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH AT THIS LINK! ⁠⁠⁠https://riverside.fm/studio/kolby-van-camps-studio-eMegK⁠⁠⁠ [https://riverside.fm/studio/kolby-van-camps-studio-eMegK] Follow us on Instagram! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/spacebetweenpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://instagram.com/spacebetweenpod] Order Kolby's new album! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kolbyvancamp.hearnow.com/portraits-volume-ii⁠ [https://kolbyvancamp.hearnow.com/portraits-volume-ii]

#32: The Web-Halo Model with Dr. Samuel Brieden

In this episode of The Space Between, we explore a breakthrough in cosmological modeling: the Web-Halo Model, developed by Dr. Sam Brieden and his team. For decades, cosmologists have relied on the halo model to describe how matter clumps together in the universe, but it struggled to capture the messy middle ground between isolated galaxies and vast cosmic structures. The Web-Halo Model goes further, folding in the sheets and filaments of the cosmic web itself. Instead of treating haloes as standalone dark matter “bubbles,” WHM describes them as substructures within filaments and sheets — a hierarchy that mirrors how the universe actually forms. The result is a parameter-free model that matches simulations with unprecedented precision, providing sharper tools for interpreting sky surveys like Euclid, Rubin, and DESI. We discuss why this matters for extracting information from weak gravitational lensing, what it means to move closer to first-principles cosmology, and how language and metaphor help bridge the gap between abstract theory and public understanding. Expect a conversation that blends astrophysics, philosophy, and the future of how we map the universe’s scaffolding. --- Articles: Web-Halo Model (WHM): Accurate non-linear matter power spectrum predictions without free parameters [https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.10902] Follow Dr. Brieden on X here! [https://x.com/Cosmosamu]--- JOIN OUR LIVE SHOW ON EVERY FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH AT 9p CENTRAL TIME (GMT-5) AT THIS LINK! ⁠⁠https://riverside.fm/studio/kolby-van-camps-studio-eMegK⁠⁠ [https://riverside.fm/studio/kolby-van-camps-studio-eMegK] Follow us on Instagram! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/spacebetweenpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://instagram.com/spacebetweenpod] Order Kolby's new album! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kolbyvancamp.hearnow.com/portraits-volume-ii⁠ [https://kolbyvancamp.hearnow.com/portraits-volume-ii]