{"podcast":{"title":"Bedtime Astronomy","slug":"bedtime-astronomy-6846704","podcast_index_feed_id":6846704,"rss_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/show/6097902/episodes/feed","website_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bedtime-astronomy--6097902","image_url":"https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2430c737ca34b0c45f223ff600df2e1f.jpg","author":"Synthetic Universe","episode_count":420,"summary":"Welcome Bedtime Astronomy Podcast. We invite you to unwind and explore the wonders of the universe before drifting off into a peaceful slumber. Join us as we take you on a soothing journey through the cosmos, sharing captivating stories about stars, planets, galaxies, and celestial phenomena. AI-narrated, human-researched. We use synthetic voices to deliver deeply researched scientific content without compromise. The tech just lets us focus on what matters: bringing you mind-expanding content. Let's go through the mysteries of the night sky, whether you're a seasoned stargazer or simply curious about the cosmos, our bedtime astronomy podcast promises to inspire wonder, spark imagination.","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/bedtime-astronomy-6846704"},"episode":{"title":"From Micro to Interstellar: The Future of Optical Propulsion","slug":"from-micro-to-interstellar-the-future-of-optical-propulsion","published_at":"2026-05-10T09:00:16+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/bedtime-astronomy-6846704/from-micro-to-interstellar-the-future-of-optical-propulsion","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/bedtime-astronomy-6846704","url":"https://www.spreaker.com/episode/from-micro-to-interstellar-the-future-of-optical-propulsion--71593809","audio_url":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/71593809/alphacentp.mp3","summary":"Researchers at Texas A&M University have created micron-scale “metajets” that use laser light for precise, contactless 3D movement. Built from engineered metasurfaces, these devices convert light into controlled force—enabling propulsion and levitation without traditional mechanics. Unlike conventional systems, maneuverability is embedded directly into the material, not the light source. This scalable approach to optical propulsion could extend far beyond the lab, potentially powering future spacecraft. If paired with high-energy lasers, the concept could one day enable faster journeys to distant targets like Alpha Centauri—bringing long-range space travel closer to reality. Thank you for listening to Bedtime Astronomy — your guide to the cosmos. New episodes on space exploration, NASA missions & the latest astronomy breakthroughs. This episode includes AI-generated content.","meta_description":"Researchers at Texas A&M University have created micron-scale “metajets” that use laser light for precise, contactless 3D movement. Built from enginee…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2572,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/bedtime-astronomy-6846704/episodes/from-micro-to-interstellar-the-future-of-optical-propulsion/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/bedtime-astronomy-6846704/from-micro-to-interstellar-the-future-of-optical-propulsion.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}