Growing Worlds

What if we could actually see an exoplanet?In this episode, Jeni and Lorenzo are joined by Dr Vito Squicciarini from the University of Exeter to explore direct imaging: how astronomers block out starlight to reveal young giant planets, what their infrared light can tell us about their atmospheres, and how future telescopes could bring us closer to imaging smaller worlds.We also talk about HR 8799, Beta Pictoris and the discovery that became Vito’s Celestial Self.And since recording, Beta Pictoris has gained another planet, a perfect reminder of how quickly this field moves.

Growing Worlds is back for Season 2! In this short bonus episode, hosts Jeni and Lorenzo look back at where Season 1 took us and share what is changing as we begin a new year of the podcast.We welcome Robyn to the Growing Worlds team alongside assistant producer Carys, and reveal our plans to make the podcast more student-driven, bringing new people, ideas and voices into the show throughout the year.The heart of Growing Worlds is not changing: we will still be exploring exoplanet science with early-career researchers from around the world, discovering the people behind the research and, of course, asking the all-important Celestial Self question.Welcome back. Season 2 starts here.

After 13 episodes exploring exoplanets and the people behind the science, we close our first season by stepping behind the scenes with our assistant producer Carys joining us at the mic. We look back at our favourite moments, share our own journeys into science, and finally answer the Celestial Self question ourselves.

Explore the fascinating details of JWST as hosts Jeni and Lorenzo chat with Dr Achrène Dyrek. From her engineering degree to her found love for astronomy during her studies, listen as Achrène takes you on the journey to her inspiring role at the Space Telescope Science Institute. Discover the engineering marvels behind the making and maintenance of the space telescope, along with the challenges and surprises of the extraordinary JWST.

Join hosts Jeni and Lorenzo as they chat with Dr Andrea Bocchieri, telescope scientist for ESA’s Ariel mission and future ESA system engineer. Andrea shares his journey into exoplanet science and takes us behind the scenes of preparing a space telescope to study the atmospheres of distant worlds.From spectroscopy and telescope stability to Lagrange points and exoplanet populations, this episode explores how Ariel will help transform our understanding of planets beyond the Solar System.