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Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Episode 138: The Sun, Star of Our Cosmic Show
Episode 138

Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Episode 138: The Sun, Star of Our Cosmic Show

The Sun is the star of our cosmic show, but there’s a lot we don’t know about it. Dr. Joseph Westlake, director of NASA’s Heliophysics Division, talks about how NASA studies the Sun for the benefit of all.

Small Steps, Giant Leaps · National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

September 18, 202421m 34s

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Show Notes

The Sun is the ultimate source of life in our solar system, a radiant powerhouse that bathes Earth in the energy necessary for everything from photosynthesis to weather patterns. Its warmth and light sustain us. However, the Sun’s influence isn't always benign. Its solar wind—a stream of charged particles—can disrupt our technology, causing communications blackouts and GPS glitches. In this episode, Dr. Joseph Westlake, director of NASA’s Heliophysics Division, joins us to shed light on why the Sun is such a critical focus for space research.