Copy of Copy of Top 50: Science

From Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars, explore the world of human spaceflight with NASA each week on the official podcast of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Listen to in-depth conversations with the astronauts, scientists and engineers who make it possible.

Houston We Have a Podcast

On Episode 270, hear from a Mars planning expert at NASA’s Johnson Space Center to learn more about what it will take to pull off a successful human mission to the Red Planet. This is the first episode in a reboot of our series about a human mission to Mars.

Houston We Have a Podcast: Mars Ep. 1: Preparing For Mars

Solfeggio frequencies recorded on the morning of the winter solstice copyright Tai Inoue at Nature Sounds 2011 

Windy Winter Solstice - Lakefield National Park, Cape York

	
On episode 394, NASA’s Artemis II Flight Director Jeff Radigan shares what it takes to lead the first human mission of the Artemis program around the Moon. 

Houston We Have A Podcast: Artemis II The Mission

On episode 395, USACE Chief Historian John Lonnquest shares the legacy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and their role in building NASA’s spaceflight infrastructure. 

Houston We Have A Podcast: Constructing NASA Infrastructure

On episode 396, NASA project scientists Maria Banks and Sue Lederer revisit recent Commercial Lunar Payload Services missions and discuss research on the Moon. 

Houston We Have a Podcast: Lunar Surface Research

Houston We Have a Podcast: The Art of Astronaut Photography

On episode 398, Chris Edelen, acting vehicle integration office manager for NASA’s Orion Program, discusses the spacecraft that will carry astronauts around the Moon on Artemis II.

Houston We Have A Podcast: Artemis II: The Orion Spacecraft

ABUNDANT LIFE: Birds singing in hardwood forest at6:30am, 21 May 2016. Recorded at Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area near Ithaca, New York. © Lang Elliott. Please play at a low volume to simulate a natural listening experience.

Microphone: quasi-binaural SASS (Stereo Ambient Sampling System) modified for use with Sennheisser MKH20 mics.

THERE IS NO END to bad news when it comes to birds. Recent studies show significant decreases in the populations of a number of our neotropical migrants, a major cause being the loss of habitat on their wintering grounds. And then there’s the predicted negative effects of climate change. So much bad news, almost each and every day!

While I certainly do not deny that there is trouble brewing and that we should do something about it, my purpose is not to wave the red flag of impending doom. Rather, my mission is to celebrate that which is good and present in our lives right now. And this morning’s recording does just that! I’ve christened it Abundant Life due to its rich variety of bird sounds. Close your eyes and listen. How many species can you identify?

"Only birds sing the music of heaven in this world."
 – haiku by Kobayashi Issa

I obtained this recording purely by chance. I had just picked up my soundscape microphone (which I’d left next to a beaver pond at 4:30am) and was heading back to my car. While walking along the trail through hardwood forest, I heard the plaintive whistle of a wood-pewee – pee-a-wee – and stopped to enjoy it. That’s when I became aware of all the other bird sounds in the air.

Excited by what I was hearing, I quickly set up my mic and hit record. I was able to get about twelve minutes of the mix before a jet thundered over at low altitude, followed a truck rumbling down a nearby road. By the time the noise subsided, a number of the birds had moved farther away, so I didn’t resume my recording.
I am very happy with nature’s gift of the day. As you can hear, there are quite a number of singers, including the following:

Eastern Wood-Pewee
Wood Thrush
Mourning Dove
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Red-eyed Vireo
Ovenbird
American Crow
Common Raven
Common Grackle
Red-winged Blackbird
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (one call and drums)
+ several other species singing more softly in the background

No, I wouldn’t classify this as a meditative zen-style recording. But I do consider it an exceptional “celebration of abundance,” of the rich variety of birds that live in our natural surroundings. I am so very grateful to witness this abundance almost daily during the spring and early summer breeding season. How pleasurable to hear so many voices all in one place … my beloved avian musicians singing their joy into the world.

no album

Abundant Life

A recording to celebrate the summer solstice in Australia. This recording was captured this year while working on the wildlife documentary Dino Bird  produced by WildBear Entertainment for National Geographic. An amazing prehistoric looking bird living in the Wet Tropics and known for having the lowest frequency call of any bird. This is a low res preview of the recording, if you are interested in the full recording please contact me. I hope you enjoy this recording! Copyright Tai Inoue at Nature Sounds 2017

Southern Cassowary - Casuarius Casuarius

This was an amazing close range encounter allowing me to captured a male Cassowary feeding with his two chicks. The high pitched whistle is the sounds of the chicks the low frequency thumping sound is the call of the male Cassowary. This is a low res preview of the recording, if you are interested in the full recording please contact me. I hope you enjoy this recording! Copyright Tai Inoue at Nature Sounds 2017

Cassowary - Casuarius casuarius (Dad and Chicks)

Morning chorus recorded near Cairns, Australia. Thank you for all the support and comments! I have made this a free download to thank you all. I hope you enjoy! - copyright Tai Inoue at Nature Sounds 2012

Dawn chorus Australia - Free download

Hello, we’re NASA. You may have seen our astronauts, rocket launches, or Mars rovers — but have you heard our sounds? From interviews with astronauts and engineers to stories that take you on a tour of the galaxy, NASA’s audio offerings let you experience the thrill of space exploration without ever leaving Earth.