IM Interview

Discovery Space experts chat online about astronomy, cosmology, physics, NASA, space travel, aliens, exoplanets, Mars and more.

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Wildfires and Observatories
As the Station Fire threatens the Mt. Wilson Observatory in California, Ian O'Neill manages to chat with astronomer Scott Kardel.

Staring Down The Barrel Of WR 104
WR 104 is a star that is currently undergoing the violent throes of massive star death.

The Recurrent Nova of RS Ophiuchi
Ian O'Neill chats with Dr. Richard Barry, an astrophysicist, about a very special binary star system.

Dark Energy, Surfing Spacetime
Warp drive propulsion may be a sci-fi favorite, but can the technology ever become a reality? Dr. Richard Obousy says 'yes'.

Antimatter Spaceships
Spacecraft powered by antimatter aren't just for Star Trek -- they're theoretically possible. We chat with an expert.

Protecting Earth from Asteroids
Former astronaut Rusty Schweickart talks about an incoming space rock's most unpredictable factor: humanity.

Supernova-Sized Mystery
A new discovery reveals before-and-after images of a big star gone supernova. An astrophysicist chats about the implications.

Future NASA Missions Could Be to Asteroids
NASA Engineer Robert Landis discusses what's needed to accomplish such a mission.

'Super' Dwarf Galaxies Protected by Dark Matter Force Fields
Astrophysicist Chris Conselice explains how dwarf galaxies are surviving gravitational torture.

What Do Aliens Look Like?
If we ever met extraterrestrial beings, what might they look like? SETI astronomer Seth Shostak speculates.

The Last Russian Space Tourist
Billionaire Charles Simonyi took time out of his intensive training to chat with Discovery Space.

Do Icy Moons Have Oceans?
Could Europa and Enceladus harbor life beneath their ice? A planetary scientist chats about the chances.

Hunting for Dark Energy
Dark energy may be invisible, but we can see its influence. Astronomer William Forman explains how new evidence of it was captured.

Faking Mars Missions
To simulate a manned Mars mission, seven people lived inside of a cylinder for 100 days. The commander shares her thoughts on the excursion.

Special Feature: UFOs Over Earth
Go behind the scenes of the Discovery Channel's new series on UFOs with interviews, op-eds, video and more.

UFO Investigator
MUFON investigator John Ventre discusses reports of strange sightings, alien encounters and Discovery's new "UFO's Over Earth" show.
Exoplanet Photos
Dave Mosher chats with exoplanet expert Sara Seager about the first-ever direct photos of distant planets.

'Drive-By' MESSENGER
Planetary geologist Sean Solomon explains what Mercury mysteries the spacecraft MESSENGER has solved.

The Smell of Space
NASA asked chemist Steve Pearce to study a strange space scent astronauts have reported smelling after space walks.

World's Next Big Atom Smasher
The next big atom smasher is already in the works. Dave Mosher chats with project head Barry Barish.

Space Art
Dave Mosher chats with William K. Hartmann, a prominent space artist and planetary scientist, about his artwork and life.

NASA's New Ares Rocket
As NASA preps the Space Shuttle retirement hangers, Dave Mosher gets the scoop on the latest rocket to blast off of the drawing board.

Earth's Leaky Atmosphere
Why is Earth's atmosphere leaking out into space? Dave Mosher chats with an expert to get to the bottom of this.

Moon-Bound Mystery Team
The Google Lunar X PRIZE competition has become a heated battle and Dave Mosher chats with the Mystery Team.

Orion's Hot Secrets
Dave Mosher chats with an astrophysicist about new Orion Nebula research showing large planets could be rarer than thought.

Digging for Life on Mars
Dave Mosher chats with Mark Lemmon, the Phoenix Mars Lander's lead imaging scientist, about the ongoing mission.

Special Feature: Looking Back at 50 Years of NASA
Check out the top NASA videos, classic image galleries, and expert takes on the space agency’s golden anniversary.

Echoes of the Beginning
Dave Mosher chats online with this renowned radio astronomer about the first stars and galaxies, his scientific legacy, and jazz.

Journey to the Asteroid Belt
Dave Mosher chats with Mark Sykes, director of the Planetary Science Institute, about the Dawn mission.

Planting the Thirty-Meter Telescope
Dave Mosher chats with Ed Stone, renowned Voyager scientist and vice chairperson for the TMT.

Smashing the Universe's Mysteries
Dave Mosher chats with Steve Goldfarb, a University of Michigan particle physicist.