Welcome to New Frontiers, a new show that's all about exploring science, discovery and innovation that's happening right here at the University of Arizona.

I'm your host, Erika Hamden.

I'm a professor of astrophysics here at the U.A.

And I'm so excited to share these stories with you because they're all about the work that I love doing, discovering things about the universe, and then sharing those discoveries with everybody so they realize what an incredible world we live in.

My own journey of discovery started when I was in first grade, when both of my parents, who are scientists, told me about things like the Big Bang and Evolution, and they sent me on this track of learning how incredible the world and the universe actually is.

So since then, I've been following my dreams of becoming an astronomer and maybe becoming an astronaut.

And I've always wanted to go to space.

But I also feel like, well, if I can't go to space, at least something that I build can go to space.

So that's why, as a professional astronomer, one of my favorite projects is a telescope called Fireball.