Podcasts about carnegie institution

Dr. Chaitanya Giri is a distinguished space scientist, astrochemist, and technology strategy analyst whose expertise bridges planetary science, space policy, and astropolitics. He serves as a Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation's (ORF) Centre for Security, Strategy and Technology and is an Associate Professor at FLAME University.Dr. Giri holds a Ph.D. in Astrochemistry from the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis and the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research. His scientific career includes significant tenures at the Earth-Life Science Institute at Tokyo Institute of Technology, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and the Carnegie Institution for Science. Notably, he was a co-investigator for the COSAC payload on the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission, which made groundbreaking discoveries on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Beyond his scientific research, Dr. Giri is deeply involved in science diplomacy and policy, having consulted for India's National Security Council Secretariat and served on various government review committees. He is also the author of the book India in the Second Space Age of Interplanetary Connectivity, which explores the geopolitical and economic implications of future space exploration.His latest book is ‘The Long Siege: 500 Years of India's Struggle for Technopolitical Freedom'.

Robert M. Hazen is Senior Staff Scientist at the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory and Clarence Robinson Professor of Earth Sciences at George Mason University. He received the BS and SM in geology at the MIT, the PhD at Harvard University in Earth science, and was NATO Postdoctoral Fellow at Cambridge University. Michael Wong is an astrobiologist and planetary scientist whose primary scientific interests are planetary atmospheres, habitability, biosignatures, and the emergence of life. He is co-authoring a revised edition of the textbook Astrobiology: A Multidisciplinary Approach. He also hosts a podcast that examines science, technology, and culture through the lens of Star Trek. He is working with Staff Scientist Bob Hazen to assess the network topologies of exoplanet atmospheres for potential biosignatures. Please check out these relevant links: Dr. Robert Hazen (Carnegie Science) Dr. Robert Hazen (George Mason University) Dr. Michael Wong (Carnegie Science) Dr. Michael Wong (Website) Time's Second Arrow: Evolution, Order, and a New Law of Nature Strange New Worlds: A Science & Star Trek Podcast Welcome to Dice in Mind, a podcast hosted by Bradley Browne and Jason Kaufman to explore the intersection of life, games, science, music, philosophy, and creativity through interviews with leading creatives. All are welcome in this space. Royalty-free music "Night Jazz Beats" courtesy of flybirdaudio.

Over 6,000 exoplanets have now been found, and the number is constantly rising.  This has galvanized research into whether one of them might host life. Since all forms of life on Earth require liquid water, at least at some stage in their life cycle, it is natural to suppose that in order to be habitable, an exoplanet should also have liquid water. While much of the public discussion has focussed on constraining the so-called Goldilocks zone, i.e., not too hot nor too cold for liquid water to exist, an equally key issue is how a planet would get its water in the first place. In the podcast, Anat Shahar explains how her modeling and experiments predict that plenty of water would form as a result of chemical reactions between the hydrogen atmospheres observed on many exoplanets and the magma ocean with which planets initially form..Shahar is a Staff Scientist and Deputy for Research Advancement at the Earth and Planets Laboratory at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, DC.

Welcome to the PRESSURISED version of episode 63, just the science, none of the waffle PRESSURISED: Bioluminescent Symbiosis with Margaret McFall-Ngai | The Deep-Sea Podcast | Episode 63   Our guest this month is Dr. Margaret McFall-Ngai, an animal physiologist and biochemist who is a staff researcher at Carnegie Institution for Science's Division of Biosphere Sciences and Engineering, with her lab stationed at the California Institute of Technology in Biology and Biological Engineering. Dr. McFal-Ngai talks us through her work on the stable beneficial relationship between the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes) and its partner, the luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri. Although technically not a deep-sea species, this relationship and its details might help us understand how deep-sea life creates bioluminescence and the possible life cycle impacts for the creatures involved.    Glossary Crypt - The chambers within the squid's light organ.   Support the show The podcast is self-sustaining (just) thanks to our lovely listeners. Thom and Alan take no money for the show. All money is put back into running it. Here's a link to our page on how to support us, from the free options to becoming a patron of the show. We want to say a huge thank you to those patrons who have already pledged to support us: Sophie Bagshaw Laura Check out our podcast merch here!   Feel free to get in touch with us with questions or your own tales from the high seas on: podcast@deepseapod.com We'd love to actually play your voice, so feel free to record a short audio note on our brand new answerphone! https://www.speakpipe.com/deepseapodvoicemail Thanks again for tuning in; we'll deep-see you next time!   Find out more Social media BlueSky: @deepseapod.com Twitter: @DeepSeaPod Instagram: @deepsea_podcast   Keep up with the team on social media Twitter:  Alan - @Hadalbloke Thom - @ThomLinley  Instagram:  Thom - @thom.linley  Inkfish - @inkfishexpeditions BlueSky: Thom @thomaslinley.com  Alan @hadalbloke   Reference list Interview Links A lasting symbiosis: how the Hawaiian bobtail squid finds and keeps its bioluminescent bacterial partner A lasting symbiosis: how Vibrio fischeri finds a squid partner and persists within its natural host   Credits Logo image: Dr. Margaret McFall-Ngai Theme: Hadal Zone Express by Märvel

Episode Summary In our newest episode, Bioluminescent Symbiosis, we speak with Dr. Margaret McFall-Ngai, an animal physiologist and biochemist about her work with the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes) and its partner, the luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri. McFall-Ngai provides a great synopsis of how this stable beneficial relationship not only creates light, and supports the bobtail maturation, but can also help us understand what could be going on in the light organs of deep-sea animals.     Check out our lovely new website where you can find more detailed notes, images and links to the wider reading.     In this episode… Welcome back to the Deep-Sea Podcast, your punk take on all things deep sea!    The Professor is jetsetting as always, back in Edinburgh after a stint getting all the equipment ready in the Canary Island and is now happily being confused with professional racecar drivers. He will be back in Perth shortly to celebrate the Deep-Sea center paper publishing streak and reconnect with his Capybara spirit animal.    Thom is being called out in New Zealand Parliament, for all the right reasons, and he spent some Deep-Sea conference time in China, avoiding typhoons and pondering science ideas.    We are also celebrating 300,000 podcast downloads of the podcast, and appreciate our fans immensely!    Our guest this month is Dr. Margaret McFall-Ngai, an animal physiologist and biochemist who is a staff researcher at Carnegie Institution for Science's Division of Biosphere Sciences and Engineering, with her lab stationed at the California Institute of Technology in Biology and Biological Engineering. Dr. McFal-Ngai talks us through her work on the stable beneficial relationship between the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes) and its partner, the luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri. Although technically not a deep-sea species, this relationship and its details might help us understand how deep-sea life creates bioluminescence and the possible life cycle impacts for the creatures involved.    In the news, get ready for updates on: Plenty of Science and Art collaboration news including a new collective, social media feeds and an opportunity for scientists to connect with artists.  Toxic Yellow worms, bright pink snailfish, and chewbacca corals. An immensely important treaty ratification with worldwide impact.  Headteeth, yes you read that right. ‘ On the Discord, we've been busy with: Bobtail squid fostercare New Boardgame recommendations Needle felting New community papers and a Juicy Booty Starfish   Support the show The podcast is self-sustaining (just) thanks to our lovely listeners. Thom and Alan take no money for the show. All money is put back into running it. Here's a link to our page on how to support us, from the free options to becoming a patron of the show. We want to say a huge thank you to those patrons who have already pledged to support us: Sophie Bagshaw Laura Check out our podcast merch here!   Feel free to get in touch with us with questions or your own tales from the high seas on: podcast@deepseapod.com We'd love to actually play your voice, so feel free to record a short audio note on our brand new answerphone! https://www.speakpipe.com/deepseapodvoicemail Thanks again for tuning in; we'll deep-see you next time!   Find out more Social media BlueSky: @deepseapod.com Twitter: @DeepSeaPod Instagram: @deepsea_podcast   Keep up with the team on social media Twitter:  Alan - @Hadalbloke Thom - @ThomLinley  Instagram:  Thom - @thom.linley  Inkfish - @inkfishexpeditions BlueSky: Thom @thomaslinley.com  Alan @hadalbloke   Reference list News  Links from Friends of the Show: Skype a Scientist Products | Support Skype a Scientist with the Squid Facts shop! Deep Sea Biology Society ArtSea Matchmaking Project Unseen Ocean Collective. Unseen Ocean Collective (@unseenoceancollective) • Instagram photos and videos https://bsky.app/profile/unseenocean.bsky.social Swedish Biodiversity Symposium, 21 - 23 October 2025 Deep Sea Art + Science Feed on Blue Sky   News Deep-Sea Worm Produces Orpiment, a Toxic Yellow Pigment Used in Historical Art | Scientific American Mānoa: Chewbacca coral: New deep-sea species spotted in waters off Hawai‘i, Mariana Trench | University of Hawaii News Nations ratify the world's first treaty to protect international waters Ghost sharks grow teeth on their heads to mate | ScienceDaily Descriptions of Three Newly Discovered Abyssal Snailfishes (Liparidae) from the Eastern Pacific Ocean   Discord Updates Applying Deep Learning to Quantify Drivers of Long-Term Ecological Change in a Swedish Marine Protected Area Diatoms | Board Game | BoardGameGeek Juicy Booty Starfish   Join our Patreon to get access to the Discord   Interview Links A lasting symbiosis: how the Hawaiian bobtail squid finds and keeps its bioluminescent bacterial partner A lasting symbiosis: how Vibrio fischeri finds a squid partner and persists within its natural host   Credits Logo image: Dr. Margaret McFall-Ngai Theme: Hadal Zone Express by Märvel

The ocean's coral reefs support an estimated 25% of all known marine life yet are threatened by rising ocean temperatures and bleaching. In this “After the Fact” episode from our recurring “From Lab to Life” series, we look at ways scientists are pioneering efforts to save corals. Phillip Cleves is a marine scientist who researches ways to restore and protect these important ecosystems. From his lab at the Carnegie Institution for Science at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, he describes how studying coral genetics can help uncover solutions to protect marine health—and how this research can advance human health too.

Dr. Kate Marvel is a climate scientist. She earned her PhD in theoretical physics from the University of Cambridge. She conducted post-doc research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, as well as at the Carnegie Institution for Science, and the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University. She was a columnist for Scientific American for several years. Today, we'll finish our two-part discussion of her first book for general audiences, Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet, which is published by Ecco. 

Dr. Kate Marvel is a climate scientist. She earned her PhD in theoretical physics from the University of Cambridge. She conducted post-doc research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, as well as at the Carnegie Institution for Science, and the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University.    She was a columnist for Scientific American for several years. Today we'll have the first of our two-part discussion of her first book for general audiences, Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet, which is published by Ecco. 

More than two decades ago, Adam Riess's Nobel Prize-winning work fundamentally changed our understanding of the universe. His new work is reshaping cosmology for a second time. RESOURCES:Adam Riess, astrophysicist at Johns Hopkins University. SOURCES:"The Nobel Prize Winner Who Thinks We Have the Universe All Wrong," by Ross Andersen (The Atlantic, 2025)."The answer to life, the universe and everything might be 73. Or 67," by Hannah Devlin (The Guardian, 2018)."Adam G. Riess Nobel Prize Lecture," (The Nobel Foundation, 2011)."Breakthroughs 1998," by Floyd Bloom (Science, 1998)."Observational Evidence from Supernovae for an Accelerating Universe and a Cosmological Constant," by Adam Riess, Alexei Filippenko, Peter Challis, Alejandro Clocchiatti, Alan Diercks, Peter Garnavich, Ron Gilliland, Craig Hogan, Saurabh Jha, Robert Kirshner, Bruno Leibundgut, Mark Phillips, David Reiss, Brian Schmidt, Robert Schommer, Chris Smith, Jason Spyromilio, Christopher Stubbs, Nicholas Suntzeff, and John Tonry (The Astronomical Journal, 1998)."1912: Henrietta Leavitt Discovers the Distance Key," (Carnegie Institution for Science).

The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) is poised to become one of the most powerful ground-based observatories ever built. On June 12, 2025, the U.S. National Science Foundation announced that the GMT will enter its Major Facilities Final Design Phase, bringing it one step closer to full construction. This week on Planetary Radio, host Sarah Al-Ahmed speaks with Rebecca Bernstein, Chief Scientist for the Giant Magellan Telescope Organization and astronomer at the Carnegie Institution for Science, about the groundbreaking technology behind GMT and how it will transform our understanding of the Cosmos. Later in the show, Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at The Planetary Society, returns to discuss his new op-ed in Space News on the White House’s controversial Mars plan, and why a bold vision without political consensus is unlikely to succeed. As always, we wrap up with What’s Up with Bruce Betts, chief scientist at The Planetary Society. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-gmtSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever since Pluto was demoted from planet to dwarf planet in 2006, astronomers have been wondering whether Neptune really is the most distant planet from the sun. Now, a new telescope could uncover what lies in the farthest reaches of the solar system. The Vera C Rubin Observatory released its first images this week, and soon the world's most powerful digital camera will be pointing across the whole of the night sky. Scientists are hopeful that if planet nine exists, the telescope will find it within its first year of operation. Ian Sample is joined by Dr Scott Sheppard, an astronomer at the Carnegie Institution for Science, to find out how Pluto lost its planetary status, why scientists think there could be another super-Earth, and why planet nine has been so hard to find. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Philanthropy and Rare Disease are the topics in this week's show, after a global news review with Sasha Kehoe. Philanthropy for Brain Research and Rare Disease What would you do if you had a spare €10,000 or more to donate? Well, the University of Luxembourg has just opened up a new fund to tackle Alzheimers, Parkinsons, and Rare Diseases. You could become part of their ‘Champions Circle' and get to know the researchers, the cutting edge development and help shape the future for so many people in the world with these conditions. Research is expensive and philanthropy can be targeted giving, where you get to make a difference during your lifetime.  Naturally another way to give is to leave a legacy through your will. As an entirely separate aside, it is always a good idea to leave a written will. The act of writing one can crystallise what matters most to you once you're gone, and therefore perhaps what matters most to you whilst you live.  Philippe Lamesch created and leads the Fundraising Office at the University of Luxembourg. His own background is in biological sciences, firstly at Namur in Belgium, followed by research at the and then the Carnegie Institution for Science at Stanford University. https://www.uni.lu/en/about/fundraising/how-to-donate/ Daniela Ragni, Director of the André Losch Foundation, talks about his legacy.  Given that he didn't have his own children, he created the foundation with a mission is to support youth, education and social inclusion. They work in partnerships with people and organisations over a number of years to make real and lasting changes within our community.  Daniela herself spent a couple of decades working for non-governmental organisations trying to raise money and now finds herself on the other side of the this equation, developing relationships with organisations and individuals who need financing for their ideas for the social good of the community, always with a focus on young people.  https://www.loschfondation.lu Rare Disease Associate Professor Dr. Carole Linster's scientific work has made her the leading researcher on rare childhood disease in Luxembourg. Her biomedical science studies started in UC Louvain in Brussels, followed by the prestigious de Duve Institute there, followed by UCLA in California. Here she discovered enzymes that plants depend on to produce vitamin C. Carole and co-workers also discovered several new enzymes of human metabolism, involved in the breakdown of metabolic side products that become toxic when left to accumulate. In collaboration with researchers from Australia, the US, and the UK, the Linster group identified a novel infantile rare neurodegenerative disorder that is caused by the deficiency of one of those metabolite repair enzymes (NAXD).  Carole talks about the fundamental global research that is necessary in order to tackle rare disease, which is not really that rare by definition. It is extremely time consuming for talented scientists to write proposals for grants and other fund opportunities. For this reason again, the idea of university led funds, or partnerships with organisations such as André Losch which can extend over years, takes some pressure off the constant need to ‘ask' for money. Sip of Self-Care Dr. Laura Riordan flew over from Lisbon to join our conversation. She is an Executive and Career Transitions Coach with a Ph.D. in psychology and over 20 years of coaching experience. Through her work of creating the Sustainable Mom methodology, Laura has extended her knowledge to the world of Raregivers - caregivers within families of Rare Disease. From 2019, Laura has developed retreats for rare caregivers to find relief in a supportive community and bolster their self-care practices to sustain themselves and their families at home. Laura talks about the need to look after one's own well-being in order to support a child with a chronic condition. We talk about the diagnosis odyssey, on average 5-8 years with a rare disease. This limbo in itself is a source of immense pain and stress for a family, layering on top financial stressors when often one parent has to give up work to care for a child. The Raregiver's guide trains caregivers and medical professionals on the Raregiver's methodology, a research-based stress relief methodology shared through peer-to-peer support groups and emotional witnessing workshops. The Raregivers organization is singularly focused on providing necessary mental health and wellness services to raregivers - from sustainable psychosocial training and transformative retreats to a connective peer-to-peer multilingual network. Raregivers currently supports over 22,000 rare families across 33 countries. https://www.raregivers.global Get in touch  You can contact Lisa on her website or through LinkedIN. Watch all her shows on RTL Play. Listen on Today Radio: Saturdays at 11am, Sundays at noon, and Tuesdays at 11am. Please do subscribe to the podcast, rate and review.

Philanthropy and rare disease are the topics in this week's show, after a global news review with Sasha Kehoe. Philanthropy for Brain Research and Rare Disease What would you do if you had a spare €10,000 or more to donate? Well, the University of Luxembourg has just opened up a new fund to tackle Alzheimers, Parkinsons, and Rare Diseases. You could become part of their ‘Champions Circle' and get to know the researchers, the cutting edge development and help shape the future for so many people in the world with these conditions. Research is expensive and philanthropy can be targeted giving, where you get to make a difference during your lifetime.  Naturally another way to give is to leave a legacy through your will. As an entirely separate aside, it is always a good idea to leave a written will. The act of writing one can crystallise what matters most to you once you're gone, and therefore perhaps what matters most to you whilst you live.  Philippe Lamesch created and leads the Fundraising Office at the University of Luxembourg. His own background is in biological sciences, firstly at Namur in Belgium, followed by research at the and then the Carnegie Institution for Science at Stanford University. https://www.uni.lu/en/about/fundraising/how-to-donate/ Daniela Ragni, Director of the André Losch Foundation, talks about his legacy.  Given that he didn't have his own children, he created the foundation with a mission is to support youth, education and social inclusion. They work in partnerships with people and organisations over a number of years to make real and lasting changes within our community.  Daniela herself spent a couple of decades working for non-governmental organisations trying to raise money and now finds herself on the other side of the this equation, developing relationships with organisations and individuals who need financing for their ideas for the social good of the community, always with a focus on young people.  https://www.loschfondation.lu Rare Disease Associate Professor Dr. Carole Linster's scientific work has made her the leading researcher on rare childhood disease in Luxembourg. Her biomedical science studies started in UC Louvain in Brussels, followed by the prestigious de Duve Institute there, followed by UCLA in California. Here she discovered enzymes that plants depend on to produce vitamin C. Carole and co-workers also discovered several new enzymes of human metabolism, involved in the breakdown of metabolic side products that become toxic when left to accumulate. In collaboration with researchers from Australia, the US, and the UK, the Linster group identified a novel infantile rare neurodegenerative disorder that is caused by the deficiency of one of those metabolite repair enzymes (NAXD).  Carole talks about the fundamental global research that is necessary in order to tackle rare disease, which is not really that rare by definition. It is extremely time consuming for talented scientists to write proposals for grants and other fund opportunities. For this reason again, the idea of university led funds, or partnerships with organisations such as André Losch which can extend over years, takes some pressure off the constant need to ‘ask' for money. Sip of Self-Care Dr. Laura Riordan flew over from Lisbon to join our conversation. She is an Executive and Career Transitions Coach with a Ph.D. in psychology and over 20 years of coaching experience. Through her work of creating the Sustainable Mom methodology, Laura has extended her knowledge to the world of Raregivers - caregivers within families of Rare Disease. From 2019, Laura has developed retreats for rare caregivers to find relief in a supportive community and bolster their self-care practices to sustain themselves and their families at home. Laura talks about the need to look after one's own well-being in order to support a child with a chronic condition. We talk about the diagnosis odyssey, on average 5-8 years with a rare disease. This limbo in itself is a source of immense pain and stress for a family, layering on top financial stressors when often one parent has to give up work to care for a child. The Raregiver's guide trains caregivers and medical professionals on the Raregiver's methodology, a research-based stress relief methodology shared through peer-to-peer support groups and emotional witnessing workshops. The Raregivers organization is singularly focused on providing necessary mental health and wellness services to raregivers - from sustainable psychosocial training and transformative retreats to a connective peer-to-peer multilingual network. Raregivers currently supports over 22,000 rare families across 33 countries. https://www.raregivers.global Get in touch  You can contact Lisa on her website or through LinkedIN. Watch all her shows on RTL Play. Listen on Today Radio: Saturdays at 11am, Sundays at noon, and Tuesdays at 11am. Please do subscribe to the podcast, rate and review.

The science of genetics took a wrong turn in the early 20th century and it ran through Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island. Here overlooking a former whaling port, Dr. Charles Benedict Davenport created the Eugenics Record Office and served as director of the Carnegie Institution's Station for Experimental Evolution. From these posts he promoted and pushed the Eugenics Movement in the US and throughout the world. Historian and attorney Mark Torres has explored the far reaching and sinister influence of Davenport's activities in his new book Long Island and the Legacy of Eugenics: Station of Intolerance (Arcadia Press). It is not the story of a fringe movement but of “the rage of the age.” Eugenics, which sought to control the development of the human race through such means as selective breeding, segregation, and forced sterilizations, was touted by politicians, intellectuals, academics, and even Supreme Court justices. In his work, Torres traces a sinister strategy that included legislative control, the trappings of academic credentials, and partnerships with like-minded movements like the emerging Nazi Party in Germany. On today's interview you'll hear more about the people involved, the power they wielded, and their surprising, ultimate fate. Further Research Mark Torres Long Island and the Legacy of Eugenics (Arcadia Publishing) Eugenics Record Office Collection (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) Audio Footnotes: Episode 138: Long Island Migrant Labor Camps with Mark Torres Music Intro music: https://homegrownstringband.com/ Outro music: Capering by Blue Dot Sessions CC BY-NC 4.0

Living organisms seem exquisitely organized and complex, with features clearly adapted to serving certain functions needed to survive and procreate. Natural selection provides a compelling explanation for why that is so. But is there a bigger picture, a more general framework that explains the origin and evolution of functions and complexity in a world governed by uncaring laws of physics? I talk with planetary scientist and astrobiologist Michael Wong about how we can define what "functions" are and the role they play in the evolution of the universe.Support Mindscape on Patreon.Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/12/16/299-michael-wong-on-information-function-and-the-origin-of-life/Michael Wong received his Ph.D. in planetary science from Caltech. He is currently a Sagan Postdoctoral Fellow at the Carnegie Institution for Scienceʼs Earth & Planets Laboratory. He is in the process of co-authoring two books: A Missing Law: Evolution, Information, and the Inevitability of Cosmic Complexity with Robert M. Hazen, and a revised edition of Astrobiology: A Multidisciplinary Approach with Jonathan Lunine.Web siteCarnegie web pageStrange New Worlds podcastWong et al. (2023), "On the Roles of Function and Selection in Evolving Systems."Wong and Prabhu (2023), "Cells as the First Data Scientists."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This interview is an episode from ‪‪@The-Well‬, our publication about ideas that inspire a life well-lived, created with the ‪‪@JohnTempletonFoundation‬. Watch Hazen's next interview ►   • Are non-living things… evolving? Yes,...   What can minerals tell us about the Earth's evolving colors? According to mineralogist Bob Hazen, they reveal an incredible history. Thanks to new research, we now know that minerals play immense roles in technology, agriculture, and the very origin of life itself, even down to our planet's colors. Hazen explains the mineral roadmap of Earth's transformation – starting as a black basalt-covered planet, evolving into a blue ocean world, transitioning to a red rusted landscape, and finally becoming the green, lively planet we know today. Hazen elaborates on how minerals have been essential in processes like plate tectonics and biomineralization, exemplifying the co-evolution of the geosphere and life. Using the knowledge that each and every mineral serves as a time capsule, we are able to better understand the 4.5 billion-year history - and potential future - of our Earth. ------------------------------------------------- About Robert Hazen: Robert Hazen is a renowned American mineralogist and geologist, known for his pioneering work in mineral evolution and mineral ecology. He is a Senior Staff Scientist at the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory and a Professor of Earth Sciences at George Mason University. Hazen has written over 400 articles and 25 books, contributing research as a profound leader in mineral evolution and mineral ecology. His studies delve into the complex interactions between minerals and life, contributing to our understanding of Earth's history and the potential for life on other planets. Hazen is also a passionate educator and science communicator. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About The Well Do we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? What is love? Is evolution directional? There are no simple answers to life's biggest questions, and that's why they're the questions occupying the world's brightest minds. Together, let's learn from them. Subscribe to the weekly newsletter ► https://bit.ly/thewellemailsignup ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Go Deeper with Big Think: ►Become a Big Think Member Get exclusive access to full interviews, early access to new releases, Big Think merch and more ►Get Big Think+ for Business Guide, inspire and accelerate leaders at all levels of your company with the biggest minds in business ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This interview is an episode from ‪‪@The-Well‬, our publication about ideas that inspire a life well-lived, created with the ‪‪@JohnTempletonFoundation‬. How did mineral evolution shape our planet? Robert Hazen, a renowned mineralogist, shares his fascinating insights into the co-evolution of minerals and life on Earth. Science has shown us that the universe started with a mere few dozen minerals, and those have since evolved into thousands. This discovery has proven that evolution does not only apply to living systems, like flora and fauna, but is relevant to non-living systems as well. Hazen highlights a deeper connection between these living and non-living systems, emphasizing that all evolving systems share three critical characteristics: interacting components, the generation of new configurations, and a selection mechanism. Whether it's atoms and molecules forming minerals, genes in living organisms, or musical notes creating new compositions, these principles apply universally. When considering how living and non-living systems evolve alongside one another, we can begin to understand how truly connected all of the universe's systems may be. Thanks to this knowledge, we may be closer to discovering our place in the cosmos. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Robert Hazen: Robert Hazen is a renowned American mineralogist and geologist, known for his pioneering work in mineral evolution and mineral ecology. He is a Senior Staff Scientist at the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory and a Professor of Earth Sciences at George Mason University. Hazen has written over 400 articles and 25 books, contributing research as a profound leader in mineral evolution and mineral ecology. His studies delve into the complex interactions between minerals and life, contributing to our understanding of Earth's history and the potential for life on other planets. Hazen is also a passionate educator and science communicator. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About The Well Do we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? What is love? Is evolution directional? There are no simple answers to life's biggest questions, and that's why they're the questions occupying the world's brightest minds. Together, let's learn from them. Subscribe to the weekly newsletter ► https://bit.ly/thewellemailsignup ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Go Deeper with Big Think:- ►Become a Big Think Member Get exclusive access to full interviews, early access to new releases, Big Think merch and more ►Get Big Think+ for Business Guide, inspire and accelerate leaders at all levels of your company with the biggest minds in business ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This interview is an episode from ‪@The-Well‬, our publication about ideas that inspire a life well-lived, created with the ‪@JohnTempletonFoundation‬. Watch more from Robert Hazen ►   • The missing law of nature, and how we...   According to leading mineralogist Bob Hazen, minerals may hold the key for discovering if we actually are alone in the universe. He highlights how Earth's dramatic increase in mineral diversity—from 2000 to over 6000 types—aligned with the emergence of life, which drastically altered our planet's atmosphere and chemical processes. Knowing this, scientists can now look for specific clues in minerals as they study other planets. If another planet, such as Mars, were to have similar biosignatures, it could be a clear indicator that it harbored life at some point in time. This method would not only help us discover if life existed on other planets, but, depending on the specific similarities, could tell us how closely this life resembled our own, and could prove how unique humanity truly is. ------------------------------------------ About Robert Hazen: Robert Hazen is a renowned American mineralogist and geologist, known for his pioneering work in mineral evolution and mineral ecology. He is a Senior Staff Scientist at the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory and a Professor of Earth Sciences at George Mason University. Hazen has written over 400 articles and 25 books, contributing research as a profound leader in mineral evolution and mineral ecology. His studies delve into the complex interactions between minerals and life, contributing to our understanding of Earth's history and the potential for life on other planets. Hazen is also a passionate educator and science communicator. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About The Well Do we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? What is love? Is evolution directional? There are no simple answers to life's biggest questions, and that's why they're the questions occupying the world's brightest minds. Together, let's learn from them. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Go Deeper with Big Think:- ►Become a Big Think Member Get exclusive access to full interviews, early access to new releases, Big Think merch and more ►Get Big Think+ for Business Guide, inspire and accelerate leaders at all levels of your company with the biggest minds in business ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This interview is an episode from ‪@The-Well‬, our publication about ideas that inspire a life well-lived, created with the ‪@JohnTempletonFoundation‬. You may be familiar with the “arrow of time,” but did you know there could be a second one? Dr. Robert Hazen, staff scientist at the Earth and Planets Laboratory of Carnegie Science in Washington, DC, thinks that a single arrow of time may be too limiting. A second arrow, which he dubs “the law of increasing functional information,” takes evolution into account. Specifically, Hazen explains that evolution seems to not only incorporate time, but also function and purpose. Consider a coffee cup: it works best when holding your coffee, but it could also work as a paperweight, and it would not work well at all as a screwdriver. Hazen explains that it appears the universe uses a similar way of evolving not only biology, but other complex systems throughout the cosmos. This idea suggests that while as the universe ages and expands, it is becoming more organized and functional, nearly opposite to theories surrounding increasing cosmological disorder. Hazen suggests that these two “arrows” – one of entropy and one of organized information – could very well run parallel to one another. If true, this theory could be groundbreaking in the way we perceive time, evolution, and the very fabric of reality. ----------------------- About Robert Hazen: Robert Hazen is a renowned American mineralogist and geologist, known for his pioneering work in mineral evolution and mineral ecology. He is a Senior Staff Scientist at the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory and a Professor of Earth Sciences at George Mason University. Hazen has written over 400 articles and 25 books, contributing research as a profound leader in mineral evolution and mineral ecology. His studies delve into the complex interactions between minerals and life, contributing to our understanding of Earth's history and the potential for life on other planets. Hazen is also a passionate educator and science communicator. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About The Well Do we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? What is love? Is evolution directional? There are no simple answers to life's biggest questions, and that's why they're the questions occupying the world's brightest minds. Together, let's learn from them. Subscribe to the weekly newsletter ► https://bit.ly/thewellemailsignup ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Go Deeper with Big Think ►Become a Big Think Member Get exclusive access to full interviews, early access to new releases, Big Think merch and more ►Get Big Think+ for Business Guide, inspire and accelerate leaders at all levels of your company with the biggest minds in business ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As humanity sets its sights on venturing beyond the confines of Earth, it is immensely important to acknowledge that the journey to space is not merely a technological feat, but a profoundly human endeavour. From pinpointing destinations to preparing flight plans, from developing generational ships to designing habitats, from selecting teams to establishing communities, there is a crucial element that must not be overlooked: the human dimension. From fostering a sense of community and shared purpose among spacefarers to grappling with the enforcement of laws and the establishment of governance structures in extraterrestrial settlements, addressing these aspects is essential for the success and sustainability of our off-world endeavours. Erika Nesvold's insightful book “Off-Earth: Ethical Questions and Quandaries for Living in Outer Space” serves as a timely reminder that space exploration isn't solely about the scientific and technical aspects—it's about grappling with the very human dilemmas that accompany such endeavours. In the episode of Bridging the Gaps, I speak with Dr Erika Nesvold. Dr Erika Nesvold is an astrophysicist who has worked as a researcher at NASA Goddard and the Carnegie Institution for Science. She is a developer for Universe Sandbox, a physics-based space simulator. She is a co-founder of the nonprofit organisation the JustSpace Alliance. Erika is the creator and host of the podcast Making New Worlds. We began by discussing the significance of understanding the human aspect of space exploration. The book covers a wide variety of topics and in our discussion we touch upon ethical, social and legal complexities that must be understood and adopted or redeveloped for our extraterrestrial settlements. We also discuss the concepts and principles that can be borrowed from the laws and charters devised during humanity's exploration of open seas and oceans. Central to our discussion is the importance of initiating a dialogue now to foster an understanding of how our humanity intersects with the challenges and opportunities presented by space exploration. This understanding, we discuss, is fundamental in shaping a future that upholds ethical principles and fosters social equity. Complement this discussion with “A Traveller's Guide to the Stars” with Physicist, Author and Nasa Technologist Les Johnson available at: https://www.bridgingthegaps.ie/2023/03/a-travellers-guide-to-the-stars-with-physicist-author-and-nasa-technologist-les-johnson/ And then listen to ““The Next 500 Years: Engineering Life to Reach New Worlds” with Professor Christopher Mason available at: https://www.bridgingthegaps.ie/2022/05/the-next-500-years-engineering-life-to-reach-new-worlds-with-professor-christopher-mason/

In this week's episode, both of our storytellers give us behind the scenes glimpses into why they do what they do.Part 1: While constantly staring at Mercury's craters for NASA's MESSENGER mission, a picture of the Galapagos Islands captures Paul Byrne's attention.Part 2: While serving in the navy to get his engineering degree, David Estrada is struck by the level of poverty he witnesses on the tiny island of East Timor.Paul Byrne received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in geology from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, DC on NASA's MESSENGER mission, the first spacecraft to orbit the planet Mercury. He later joined the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas, and then moved to North Carolina State University as an assistant and then associate professor. He became Associate Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis in 2021. His research focuses on comparative planetology—comparing and contrasting the surfaces and interiors of planetary bodies, including Earth, to understand planetary phenomena generally. His research projects span the Solar System from Mercury to Pluto and, increasingly, to the study of extrasolar planets. He uses remotely sensed data, numerical and physical models, and fieldwork on Earth to understand why planets look the way they do. David Estrada is originally from Nampa, Idaho. From 1998 to 2004 he served in the United States Navy as an Electronics Warfare Technician/ Cryptologic Technician – Technical. David achieved the rank of Petty Officer First Class in 2003 before receiving an honorable discharge and returning to Idaho to pursue his undergraduate education at Boise State University (BSU) where he was a Ronald E. McNair scholar. After completing his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from BSU in May of 2007, he began graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) under the direction of Professor Eric Pop. David received his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from UIUC in 2009, and his Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering at UIUC in 2013. David then joined Prof. Rashid Bashir's Laboratory of Integrated Bio Medical Micro/Nanotechnology Applications as a Visiting Postdoctoral Researcher before moving to the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Boise State University. David is the recipient of the NSF and NDSEG Graduate Fellowships. His work has been recognized with several awards, including the Gregory Stillman, John Bardeen, and SHPE Innovator of the Year awards. His research interests are in the areas of emergent semiconductor nanomaterials and bionanotechnology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's episode, both of our storytellers give us behind the scenes glimpses into why they do what they do. Part 1: While constantly staring at Mercury's craters for NASA's MESSENGER mission, a picture of the Galapagos Islands captures Paul Byrne's attention. Part 2: While serving in the navy to get his engineering degree, David Estrada is struck by the level of poverty he witnesses on the tiny island of East Timor. Paul Byrne received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in geology from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, DC on NASA's MESSENGER mission, the first spacecraft to orbit the planet Mercury. He later joined the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas, and then moved to North Carolina State University as an assistant and then associate professor. He became Associate Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis in 2021. His research focuses on comparative planetology—comparing and contrasting the surfaces and interiors of planetary bodies, including Earth, to understand planetary phenomena generally. His research projects span the Solar System from Mercury to Pluto and, increasingly, to the study of extrasolar planets. He uses remotely sensed data, numerical and physical models, and fieldwork on Earth to understand why planets look the way they do. David Estrada is originally from Nampa, Idaho. From 1998 to 2004 he served in the United States Navy as an Electronics Warfare Technician/ Cryptologic Technician – Technical. David achieved the rank of Petty Officer First Class in 2003 before receiving an honorable discharge and returning to Idaho to pursue his undergraduate education at Boise State University (BSU) where he was a Ronald E. McNair scholar. After completing his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from BSU in May of 2007, he began graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) under the direction of Professor Eric Pop. David received his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from UIUC in 2009, and his Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering at UIUC in 2013. David then joined Prof. Rashid Bashir's Laboratory of Integrated Bio Medical Micro/Nanotechnology Applications as a Visiting Postdoctoral Researcher before moving to the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Boise State University. David is the recipient of the NSF and NDSEG Graduate Fellowships. His work has been recognized with several awards, including the Gregory Stillman, John Bardeen, and SHPE Innovator of the Year awards. His research interests are in the areas of emergent semiconductor nanomaterials and bionanotechnology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Dune: Part II” is one of the year's most highly anticipated films, and it picks up where the first film left off: with Paul Atreides escaping into the desert on the planet Arrakis. It's a scorching-hot world that's covered in dunes, and home to giant, deadly sandworms.Obviously “Dune” and its setting are fictional, but could there be a real planet that resembles Arrakis? And if so, could it sustain life?Science Friday host Ira Flatow talks with Dr. Mike Wong, astrobiologist and planetary scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science, about what Arrakis' atmosphere is like, the search for life in the universe, and what sci-fi films get wrong—and right—about alien planets.Universe of Art is hosted and produced by D. Peterschmidt, who also wrote the music. The original segment was produced by Rasha Aridi. Our show art was illustrated by Abelle Hayford. Support for Science Friday's science and arts coverage comes from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Do you have science-inspired art you'd like to share with us for a future episode? Send us an email or a voice memo to universe@sciencefriday.com.

Could A Planet Like Arrakis From ‘Dune' Exist?“Dune: Part II” is one of the year's most highly anticipated films, and it picks up where the first film left off: with Paul Atreides escaping into the desert on the planet Arrakis. It's a scorching-hot world that's covered in dunes, and home to giant, deadly sandworms.Obviously “Dune” and its setting are fictional, but could there be a real planet that resembles Arrakis? And if so, could it sustain life?Ira talks with Dr. Mike Wong, astrobiologist and planetary scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science, about what Arrakis' atmosphere is like, the search for life in the universe, and what sci-fi films get wrong—and right—about alien planets.Preparing Astronauts For The Loneliness Of A Mars MissionNASA is preparing to send humans to Mars. Although the launch date has been pushed back over the years, the agency says it wants to get there in the 2030s. And it has a lot on its to-do list. NASA needs to build new rockets, new habitable living spaces, new spacesuits, and new radiation shielding, just to name a few items.But what if the one of the biggest challenges of these missions is not the engineering, but the mental health of the astronauts? Can all of the crew members get along with each other and stay alive over the course of three years in tight quarters and unforgiving environments? How will they cope with being separated from their families and friends for so long? And what lessons can they learn from astronauts who've lived on the International Space Station—and from our collective experience of isolation during the pandemic?A new documentary, out March 8, explores all these questions and more. It's called "The Longest Goodbye," and it dives into NASA's Human Factors program, which includes a group of psychologists who are trying to figure out the best way to preserve astronauts' mental health on a long and demanding mission.SciFri producer and host of Universe Of Art, D. Peterschmidt, spoke to the film's director, Ido Mizrahy, and one of its featured astronauts, Dr. Cady Coleman, about how NASA is thinking about tackling loneliness in space and what we can learn from astronauts who've already lived on the space station.Should The Aliens In “65” Have Known About Earth's Dinos?Some science fiction movies, like “Alien,” are instant classics. A good sci-fi movie weaves together themes of science and technology with a gripping narrative structure to create a memorable story that leaves the viewer with something to think about. But some (many) sci-fi movies leave the viewer with one thought: “Huh?”The 2023 movie “65” is in some ways a reversal of “Alien.” Instead of humans coming to an alien world and getting attacked by aliens, in “65,” an alien that existed 65 million years ago crash lands on Earth and gets attacked by dinosaurs. Oh, and the alien is Adam Driver. What's not to get?Sometimes, calling in a real-life scientist is the best way to wrap your head around science fiction. Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger, an astrobiologist at Cornell University, says that if there were advanced extraterrestrials near Earth during the age of the dinosaurs, our planet's life should have been no mystery to them. That's because around 300 million years ago, Earth's atmosphere had abundant oxygen and methane, two of the building blocks of life. Kaltenegger's own research has shown how Earth's atmosphere during that period would have been visible through a telescope—and indicated an even stronger potential for life than Earth's atmosphere today. She also saw “65” on a plane.Based on Kaltenegger's research, should Adam Driver have seen those dinosaurs coming? In an interview with Digital Producer Emma Gometz, she shares how telescopes can spot exoplanet atmospheres, why Jurassic Earth's atmosphere was special, and a few of her thoughts on “65.”Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

咱 ê 宇宙是有偌大？這个問題 tī 1920 年代，是 所有天文問題內底，2 个上有名 ê 天文學家 leh 諍 ê 問題，這就是歷史上有名 ê「天文大辯論」。有足濟天文學家相信講，咱 ê 銀河系 就是規个宇宙。毋過其他天文學家認為，咱 ê 銀河系 是所有星系內底 ê 其中一个。Tī「大辯論」內底，每一个論點攏講甲足詳細--ê，毋過無共識。這个答案一直到 3 年後，tī 仙女座星雲 內底揣著一粒變光星，才解決。這張相片就是證明這个答案 ê 原始玻璃底片，經過數位方式重新處理 ê 結果。Edwin Hubble 比較無仝張影像，注意著這个 光點 ê 強度會變化，煞 tī 1923 年 10 月 6 號 ê 時陣，tī 玻璃底片頂懸寫一字「變！(VAR!)」。Hubble 知影上好 ê 解說就是，這个光點是 tī 遙遠所在 ê 變光星。所以 M31 應該是 仙女座星系 才著，可能 kah 咱銀河系有成。這張 tī 100 年前做記號 ê 影像可能毋是蓋媠，毋過變光星 ê 紀錄 拍開人類智識 ê 窗仔門。這是頭一擺咱知影講，咱 ê 宇宙是大甲毋是款。 ——— 這是 NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day ê 台語文 podcast 原文版：https://apod.nasa.gov/ 台文版：https://apod.tw/ 今仔日 ê 文章： https://apod.tw/daily/20231006/ 影像：致謝 Carnegie Institution for Science 音樂：P!SCO - 鼎鼎 聲優：草莓大福 翻譯：An-Li Tsai (NSYSU) 原文：https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap231006.html Powered by Firstory Hosting

Which planets are hot? Does a planet made of diamonds exist? Why hasn't there been an astronaut on the moon for 50 years? Has a spaceship ever flown near a black hole? Are humans treating space as badly as we're treating our oceans? Students at the Gillen Brewer School interview Dr. Erika Nesvold and ask her all of these questions and more! Visit IndyKids.org to learn more about our newspaper, educational programs and how you can get involved!About Dr. Erika Nesvold:Dr. Erika Nesvold is an astrophysicist who has performed astronomy research at NASA and the Carnegie Institution for Science. She is now a developer for the astronomy video game Universe Sandbox. Erika is the author of Off-Earth: Ethical Questions and Quandaries for Living in Outer Space, and co-founder of the space ethics nonprofit the JustSpace Alliance.She can be found on Twitter and Instagram with the easy-to-find handles @erikanesvold. JustSpace can be found on Twitter @justspaceorg and on Instagram @justspacealliance.This podcast was produced and edited by Em Löwinger. Audio recordings by Áine Pennello, and IndyKids' executive director is Isis Phillips.

In his book Doubts About Darwin: A History of Intelligent Design, Thomas Woodward described how early detractors of Darwin's theory criticized the way it personified nature. After all, according to Darwin, “the origin of species,” (the title of his book) occurred “by means of natural selection.” Who did the selecting? Nature.    Darwin's argument relied on an analogy between animal husbandry and what nature does when “she selects” only the fittest to survive, thus driving evolution. However, this analogy conflated the intentionality of human breeders with natural processes, implying that nature has a will and is trying to get somewhere—which is precisely the sort of intelligent causation that Darwinism supposedly refutes.     The result is a theory that often sounds suspiciously circular. Yet there are even bigger gaps in the Darwinian view of nature. The most daunting is how an intention-free universe made the leap from non-living matter to living things in the first place. This is a crucial question because, in conventional Darwinian thinking, only living things are subject to natural selection and thus evolve. The question here isn't just how the fittest survived: It's how the fittest arrived.   But what if natural selection could operate on non-living matter? What if, instead of a process limited only to biology, Darwinian evolution was promoted to a fundamental law governing all physical reality? That's exactly what some scientists have tried to do, most recently in a much-heralded paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.   Entitled “On the roles of function and selection in evolving systems,” the paper proposes a new scientific principle called the Law of Increasing Functional Information, and it's exactly what it sounds like. Lead author Robert Hazen of The Carnegie Institution for Science explains: “We see evolution as a universal process that applies to numerous systems, both living and nonliving, that increase in diversity and patterning through time.” In other words, everything evolves in a Darwinian manner, including “atoms, minerals, planetary atmospheres, planets, stars and more.”  How? According to the paper's nine authors, nonliving systems evolve toward greater complexity if they are, 1) formed from many different components, such as atoms, molecules, or cells that can be rearranged, 2) are subject to natural processes that cause different arrangements to be formed, and 3) if only a small fraction of all these configurations survives or is “selected” for “function.”  Nonliving things, by definition, don't “survive,” which is the function nature supposedly selects for in biological evolution. So, what “function” could nature possibly select in an atom or a galaxy? Believe it or not, these authors argue that existence itself is a kind of function, and that systems that tend to go on existing will be selected by nature, and that we know this, in part, because those systems do, in fact, exist.   Hazen explains:   Imagine a system of atoms or molecules that can exist in countless trillions of different arrangements or configurations. Only a small fraction of all possible configurations will “work”—that is, they will have some useful degree of function. So, nature just prefers those functional configurations.  Writing at Evolution News, intelligent design advocate David Coppedge points out the flagrant personification happening here. Nature “prefers … functional configurations?” It does no such thing, because at least according to Naturalism it has no goal, nor any notion of “function.”   In reality, the attempt to “Darwinize the entire universe,” as Coppedge puts it, is little more than a roundabout way of admitting how well-designed the universe is, and trying to come up with a force that allowed it to design itself. It's an admission that, despite nearly two centuries of claims to the contrary, the cosmos acts like it has an end in mind. It's asking us to assume a law that explains how everything came to be based only on the observation that things are. Set aside this circular reasoning for a moment and ask the real question: If there's a law, who is the lawgiver?   This theory gets us no closer to explaining the complexity, function, purpose, design, and beauty we see in the universe if they're not the handiwork of a Creator. Does nature have a preference for the kind of universe we have? Maybe so. But if “she” does, then that preference, itself, needs an explanation. Scientists trying to turn evolution into a theory of everything might expect nature to answer, “I am who I am.” But there's only One who can truly say that. Why not give Him credit for a change?  This Breakpoint was co-authored by Shane Morris. For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org. 

Researchers at Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory and George Mason University say their method of searching for aliens outside the solar system is 90 per cent accurate. Lahaina wildfire: residents return to devastated homes. Musk pose...Tesla's humanoid robot does yoga. Garlic breath? Natural yogurt can fix that. Also in this episode:Lego blocks plan to make bricks from recycled bottlesSet your watch - here's date humans become extinctGreenpeace's Minecraft game to help save Amazon rainforestRewilding America's biggest tortoises on media mogul's ranch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Robert Hazen is a mineralogist and astrobiologist based at the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory and George Mason University. His research interests focus on life's origins, mineral evolution, and mineral ecology. Hazen, who also had a 40-year career as a professional trumpeter, has authored more than 400 articles and 25 books on science, history, and music. Robert joins the podcast to discuss the co-evolution of life and minerals, the stories rocks can tell us if we learn to read them properly, and why humans are drawn to the search for life outside of our planet.

Agriculture-related emissions account for 12% of global greenhouse gas emissions. How will hydrogen fuel our path to net-zero agriculture? In our 9th episode, Lorenzo Rosa, Principal Investigator at Carnegie Institution for Science and Assistant Professor (by courtesy) in the School of Sustainability at Stanford University, explains how hydrogen and ammonia will help us decarbonize the agriculture industry to feed the world sustainably

Dr. Michael Wong is a Carnegie Postdoctoral Fellow at the Carnegie Institution for Science's Earth & Planets Laboratory working with Robert M. Hazen, Shaunna M. Morrison, Peter Gao, and others. His primary scientific interests are planetary atmospheres, habitability, biosignatures, and the emergence of life. He is also co-authoring a revised edition of the textbook Astrobiology: A Multidisciplinary Approach with Professor Jonathan Lunine. Dr. Wong's other passions include photography, writing, public speaking, graphic design, and playing a variety of team sports. He hosts a podcast called Strange New Worlds, which examines science, technology, and culture through the lens of Star Trek. Please check out these links from the episode: Strange New Worlds Website Twitter Instagram Boldly Go! Welcome to Dice in Mind, a weekly/biweekly podcast in which we explore the meaning of life through the lens of RPGs!  In each episode, we will consider everyday stuff like science, religion, philosophy, and economics…through the lens of a specific roleplaying game and its dice mechanic. If you like what you hear, consider buying us a cup of coffee or becoming a patron.  You can also join the conversation by following us on Facebook. Music by Kevin McCloud courtesy of Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 license (https://www.youtube.com/c/kmmusic/featured).

Nuclear power plays an important role in the energy system in many big economies around the world. There are many debates related to this energy source, from energy security to addressing climate change to environmental and social justice. While some countries, like Germany, shut down the last nuclear power plants, others, like China, are still building new ones. Based on a new study published in the academic journal, Nature Energy, Ms. Lyssa Freese, a scientist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Carnegie Institution for Science, and the leading author of the research, discusses how phasing out nuclear power in the United States may change air pollution distribution and bring higher health risk to the low-income communities. Based on the past policy experience and the paper's main findings, what can policy makers learn to avoid the unintended consequences in the energy justice area from the very beginning of policy design and planning? She also shares some ideas on how the current climate policy may accelerate American energy transition, from Inflation Reduction Act to the new regulations on pollutants emission standards and road transport decarbonization.   

Located in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon is a medium size institution home to about 7300 undergraduate students. In 2022, CMU accepted about 11 % of the applicant pool.  The best way to learn about Carnegie Mellon is to tell the TALES of its founders: Born in 1835 in Scotland, Andrew Carnegie immigrated to the US in 1848. According to Wikipedia - by the 1860s Carnegie had investments in railroads, railroad sleeping cars, bridges and oil derricks. He built Carnegie Steel Company which he later sold to JP Morgan in 1901 for 480 million dollars. With this sale, Andrew Carnegie surpassed Rockefeller as the richest man in America. He spent the remainder of his life as a philanthropist – and built  Carnegie Hall, Carnegie Institution for Science, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, and of course, Carnegie Mellon University, first formed as Carnegie Institute of Technology.  Richard B. Mellon assumed the presidency of Mellon bank, after his brother, Andrew Mellon was appointed Treasury Secretary. Richard's prior experience included President of Pittsburgh Reduction Company and he was invested in the city's Coal Company. Richard and his brother Andrew made several large donations to their alma mater, University of Pittsburgh, including a large sum to create the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research, founded in 1913. In 1967 the Carnegie Institute of Technology and Mellon Institute of Industrial Research merged to form Carnegie Mellon University.   Given the backgrounds of the two men, it is no wonder that the College of Engineering is consistently ranked in the top 10 in the US and US News and World Report has the Tepper School of Business ranked as #6 this year. If you are looking for top engineering and/or business programs, CMU offers a quality education and a rich city in which to take what you learn in the classroom and apply it in a work experience.  There are TWO more cool things about CMU: First, the campus is covered in red circles that line the sidewalk at CMU. Like golden stars on Hollywood Blvd, Carnegie Mellon proudly boasts : 114 Emmy Award Winners, 43 Tony Award laureates, 9 Academy Award Winners Please NOTE: You MUST audition for the School of Drama and School of Music – your admission to the college 80% audition and 20% academic.  Second, they have an annual spring carnival. Students build incredibly colorful, innovative, and imaginative booths and super fun competitions that only the creative minds CMU students could create.  The best part of this tradition is that school shuts down for three full days so everyone can enjoy the fun.  This tells me that the college understands that college is not just about academics, but rather it is also about fun and memory making. When a college recognizes that students are rejuvenated by innovation, creation, imagination, and relaxation – they are better equipped to push through the home stretch of the school year. Click to Watch Video⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click to Read Blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE: Download 10 Sample Essays⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE: Watch Mini College Essay Training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book a Call with Dr. C⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit the website

To put it in Bill Gates' words, Ken is phenomenal at translating deeply scientific concepts for people without scientific expertise. Ken Caldeira is Senior Scientist at Breakthrough Energy and Staff Scientist at Carnegie Institution for Science. As an atmospheric scientist, he demystifies the climate impact of hydrogen leakage. Under the motto "I like to say that the questions we ask are driven by our values, the answers we get should be independent of our values”, he brings a valuable unbiased scientific perspective to the topic. 

The space around Earth is getting crowded — thousands of satellites orbit our planet. The space around Jupiter is getting crowded, too — with natural satellites. A recent spate of discoveries has brought the number of known moons to 95 — more than any other planet in the solar system. And many more probably are just waiting to be discovered. The new moons are small — no more than about five miles in diameter. And most of them are a long way from Jupiter — they take at least 11 months to make a single orbit. The discoveries were made by a group led by Scott Sheppard of the Carnegie Institution for Science. Sheppard's been involved in the discoveries of 70 of Jupiter's moons. It takes careful observations to find the moons because they're small, faint, and far away from Jupiter. Three of the newly found moons orbit in the same direction as Jupiter's rotation on its axis. They probably are chips of larger bodies that were blasted apart by big impacts. The other new moons orbit in the opposite direction. They may have been asteroids that were captured by Jupiter when they wandered close to the solar system's largest planet. The new discoveries vaulted Jupiter past Saturn, which has 83 known moons, although its numbers are likely to swell, too. And a recent study said that Saturn might have had another big moon that was pulverized by Saturn's gravity, forming the planet's rings. More about that tomorrow.  Script by Damond Benningfield Support McDonald Observatory

Ken Caldeira is a senior scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science and is also a senior scientist at Breakthrough Energy. Ken has a wide-spectrum approach to analyzing the world's climate systems - with particular interests in modeling the Earth system and the energy transition, and in using experiments and observation to study our changing coasts and coral reefs. In this episode, Ken takes us through his fascinating journey into environmental and climate science. We dive deep into navigating political influences on environmental research, the technical and social feasibility of the energy transition, and his views on wider underrepresented climate issues.  Links: Ken Caldeira's profile  Ken's Google Scholar profile Episode chapter markers Support the showSubscribe for email updates

Dr. Mike Blatt is the Regius Professor of Botany at the University of Glasgow and Adjunct Professor at Pennsylvania State University. Mike is a cell biologist and physiologist who studies cells to understand how the parts fit together to accomplish important functions in plants. He is also passionate about electronics, and he has built much of the equipment they use for their work. Mike loves winter sports, especially downhill and cross country skiing. In fact, he has skied throughout most of his life is currently looking forward to an upcoming ski trip to the Alps with his father who is still hitting the slopes in his nineties! He conducted his undergraduate studies at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver and at the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he received his BS with honors in Botany and Biochemistry. Next, Mike was awarded a PhD in Plant Biology from Stanford University while working in the Department of Plant Biology at the Carnegie Institution of Washington. During his graduate work, Mike received a Fullbright-Hays Graduate Fellowship to study at the University of Nürnberg. Afterwards, Mike traveled to Yale University Medical School to accept an NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship and then to the University of Cambridge to accept a NATO Postdoctoral Fellowship. He has served on the faculty at the University of London and Imperial College London prior to joining the faculty at the University of Glasgow. Mike has received many awards and honors throughout his career, including being named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the James Hutton Institute, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He is also Editor-in-Chief of the premier international journal Plant Physiology. In this interview, Mike discusses his experiences in life and science.

Your mum might have told you not to look into the sun because it could send you blind - good advice. The sun's brightness can also make large objects close to it difficult to spot. A team of astronomers at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington DC borrowed a specialised camera to see if it would give them a glimpse of objects ordinarily hidden by the sun's rays - and they found something big. Really big. Carnegie's Earth and Planets Laboratory astronomer Scott Sheppard spoke to Morning Report.

https://youtu.be/VjMYAkUq98I [I apologize for the audio trouble with the podcast.  The audio demons were busy! - Rich] Host: Fraser Cain ( @fcain )Special Guest: The first suspected exoplanet was identified back in 1988, and was then confirmed in 1992. Since then, the rate at which detection/confirmations have been made has been increasing. And JWST has already directly imaged its first exoplanet! What data are we able to gather from here on Earth? What are we able to learn about these planets from the data collected? How does exoplanet geology compare with our own geology here on Earth? Let's find out as we welcome planetary geologist Dr. Paul Byrne ( @ThePlanetaryGuy / https://eps.wustl.edu/people/paul-byrne ) to the WSH.    Paul Byrne received his B.A. in geology, and Ph.D. in planetary geology, from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. He was a MESSENGER postdoctoral fellow at the Earth and Planets Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, DC, and an LPI postdoctoral fellow at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas. He is an Associate Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis; before coming to WashU, he was an assistant and then associate professor at North Carolina State University.   Paul's research focuses on comparative planetary geology—comparing and contrasting the surfaces and interiors of planetary bodies, including Earth, to understand geological phenomena at the systems level. Byrne's research projects span the solar system from Mercury to Pluto and, increasingly, to the study of extrasolar planets. He uses remotely sensed data, numerical and physical models, and fieldwork in analogue settings on Earth to understand why planets look the way they do. Regular Guests: Dr. Leah Jenks ( https://leahjenks.com/ / @leahgjenks ) Beth Johnson - SETI Institute ( @SETIInstitute & @planetarypan ) Dave Dickinson ( http://astroguyz.com/ & @Astroguyz ) This week's stories: - Stars stealing planets! - A new satellite annoyance? - James Webb overturning the Big Bang?? - Water worlds! - The hazards of uncontrolled reentry. - The laws of outer space.   We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs.  Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can! Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to them too!  Every bit helps! Thank you! ------------------------------------ Do go visit http://www.redbubble.com/people/CosmoQuestX/shop for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness! http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations.  Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!) ------------------------------------ The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Planetary Science Institute. http://www.psi.edu Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org.

The first suspected exoplanet was identified back in 1988, and was then confirmed in 1992. Since then, the rate at which detection/confirmations have been made has been increasing. And JWST has already directly imaged its first exoplanet! What data are we able to gather from here on Earth? What are we able to learn about these planets from the data collected? How does exoplanet geology compare with our own geology here on Earth? Let's find out as we welcome planetary geologist Dr. Paul Byrne, to the WSH. Paul Byrne received his B.A. in geology, and Ph.D. in planetary geology, from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. He was a MESSENGER postdoctoral fellow at the Earth and Planets Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, DC, and an LPI postdoctoral fellow at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas. He is an Associate Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis; before coming to WashU, he was an assistant and then associate professor at North Carolina State University. Paul's research focuses on comparative planetary geology—comparing and contrasting the surfaces and interiors of planetary bodies, including Earth, to understand geological phenomena at the systems level. Byrne's research projects span the solar system from Mercury to Pluto and, increasingly, to the study of extrasolar planets. He uses remotely sensed data, numerical and physical models, and fieldwork in analogue settings on Earth to understand why planets look the way they do.  Be sure to follow Paul on Twitter! **************************************** The Weekly Space Hangout is a production of CosmoQuest. Want to support CosmoQuest? Here are some specific ways you can help: Subscribe FREE to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/cosmoquest Subscribe to our podcasts Astronomy Cast and Daily Space where ever you get your podcasts! Watch our streams over on Twitch at https://www.twitch.tv/cosmoquestx – follow and subscribe! Become a Patreon of CosmoQuest https://www.patreon.com/cosmoquestx Become a Patreon of Astronomy Cast https://www.patreon.com/astronomycast Buy stuff from our Redbubble https://www.redbubble.com/people/cosmoquestx Join our Discord server for CosmoQuest - https://discord.gg/X8rw4vv Join the Weekly Space Hangout Crew! - http://www.wshcrew.space/ Don't forget to like and subscribe! Plus we love being shared out to new people, so tweet, comment, review us... all the free things you can do to help bring science into people's lives.  

In Episode 95 of the Charity Charge Show, Stephen talks to Stella Kafka, Executive Director of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), whose mission is to advance the atmospheric and related sciences, technologies, applications, and services for the benefit of society. Stephen and Stella Kafka talk about the pros & cons of switching to a virtual meeting model, joining an organization from an outsiders perspective, and AMS's mission to use science to keep people safe. As executive director of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO), a non- profit worldwide scientific and educational organization of amateur and professional astronomers, Stella Kafka utilized a combination of talent, skills, and scientific accomplishments that she now brings to her new role as AMS executive director. Kafka obtained her B.S. degree in physics at the University of Athens, Greece, and a master's and Ph.D. in astronomy, with a double minor in physics and geophysical sciences from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. After completing her Ph.D., Stella held a series of prestigious postdoctoral positions and fellowships, first at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, where she received the National Optical Astronomy Observatory Excellence Award, then at IPAC/Caltech, and finally as a NASA Astrobiology Institute Fellow at the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Stella also brings with her a wealth of managerial experience. In addition to serving as the director of two research and mentorship programs for undergraduates while in Chile, Stella managed editorial, marketing, financial, business development, operations, and production aspects of journals at the American Institute of Physics (AIP). As a journal manager at AIP, Stella successfully oversaw the launch of a new journal and served as a liaison between publishing and research communities. On top of her research and management abilities, Stella brings an international perspective to her work. After growing up in Greece, she obtained a Proficiency Diploma in the French language (she has one in English, too), pursued higher education in the United States, and worked and traveled in South America (including Chile, Argentina, and Brazil). Stella is fluent in Greek and English and speaks Spanish and French. Stella enjoys interacting with people of every age and background and has honed her communication skills through mentoring students, classroom teaching, and lectures to professional and public audiences. And then, like all good communicators, she knows when to stop and listen. Stella Kafka on in person meetings fueling powerful brainstorm sessions and problem solving: At some point in trying to understand a solution to a problem, it requires a little bit of getting out of your comfort zone and discussing aspects of science that maybe you don't know very well. I find that is much easier when speaking in person than it is virtually. I think that COVID made us more efficient and more accessible in terms of utilizing different methods of communication and increasing inclusivity. However, we're still trying to replicate those in depth, in person experiences and online technology is just not there yet. I'm not really sure what the end result will be, maybe we will actually come up with some kind of visors and virtual working places that will bridge the gap we are currently dealing with. That is our challenge. Although we aren't all the way there yet, I really like the increased efficiency and the fact that we can actually do things much faster using virtual technology.

Dr. C. Robin Buell is a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar Chair in Crop Genomics in the Department of Crop & Soil Sciences and the Center for Applied Genetic Technologies at the University of Georgia. Robin studies the DNA of plants to better understand how plants do things like grow, respond to stress, reproduce, and evolve. Her work spans a wide variety of plants including crop plants (corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes), medicinal plants (those that make anti-cancer drugs), and other plants with interesting properties (basil, oregano, catnip, and cat mint). In her free time, Robin enjoys tending to the vegetables in her garden, watching college basketball and football games, and spending time with her two rescue dogs. She received her BSc in biology from the University of Maryland, her MSc in plant pathology from Washington State University, and her PhD in biological sciences/molecular biology from Utah State University. Afterwards, she conducted postdoctoral research at Michigan State University and at the Carnegie Institution of Washington (Stanford University). She served on the faculty at Louisiana State University, The Institute for Genomic Research, and Michigan State University before joining the faculty at UGA last year. Robin has been elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement for Science and the American Society of Plant Biologists. In addition, she was awarded the 2022 McClintock Prize for Plant Genetics and Genome Studies by the Maize Genetics Cooperation Advocacy Committee. In our interview, she shares more about her life and science.

Peter E. Driscoll is a Staff Scientist in the Geophysics Group in the Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, in Washington, D.C. studying the dynamic evolution of Earth and planetary interiors. His research interests focus on the thermal and magnetic evolution of the Earth. Topics he has worked on include the thermal evolution of the interior, dynamics of the core, polarity reversals of Earth's magnetic field, magnetic-limited atmospheric escape, coupled surface-interior volatile cycling, the divergence of Earth and Venus, and the internal dynamics and detectability of terrestrial exoplanets. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/out-of-the-blank-podcast/support

Scientists don't really agree on a definition for life. We may recognize life instinctively most of the time, but any time we try to nail it down with set criteria, some stubborn counterexample spoils the effort. Still, can we really search for life on other worlds, or understand the earliest stages of life on this planet, if we don't know what to look for? On this episode, Steven Strogatz speaks with Robert Hazen, a mineralogist, astrobiologist and senior staff scientist at the Carnegie Institution's Earth and Planets Laboratory, along with Sheref Mansy, professor of chemistry at the University of Alberta, to learn more about how new taxonomies and a “cellular Turing test” might help us answer this essential question. “The Joy of Why” is a podcast from Quanta Magazine, an editorially independent publication supported by the Simons Foundation. Funding decisions by the Simons Foundation have no influence on the selection of topics, guests, or other editorial decisions in this podcast or in Quanta Magazine. “The Joy of Why” is produced by Susan Valot and Polly Stryker. Our editors are John Rennie and Thomas Lin, with support by Matt Carlstrom, Annie Melchor and Leila Sloman. Our theme music was composed by Richie Johnson. Our logo is by Jackie King, and artwork for the episodes is by Michael Driver and Samuel Velasco. Our host is Steven Strogatz. If you have any questions or comments for us, please email us at quanta@simonsfoundation.org. 

Brewing a great cup of coffee is what we all strive to do daily. Over the years, our own understanding of how to do this well has grown as the body of literature and content regarding brewing science has increased. Most recently one such resource has been published from someone who has applied their expertise and scientific rigor to the subject of brewing coffee, thus creating one of the most thorough treatments on the subject to date.  On today's show e are talking with the author of the new book, "The Physics of Filter Coffee", Jonathan Gagné ! Jonathan Gagné is a scientific advisor at the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium in Montreal, and adjunct professor at Université de Montréal. He completed his Ph.D. in astrophysics in 2015 and moved to the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C. for a 3-year postdoc as a Sagan Fellow. He came back to Montreal to start a second postdoc at the Institute for Research on Exoplanets before he was hired by the Planetarium. Jonathan's expertise is focused on brown dwarfs, young stars, exoplanets, and stellar associations. He uses various telescopes throughout the world to carry his research, from the Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic in Québec, the Infrared Telescope Facilities in Hawaii and Gemini-South in Chile. In his free time, Jonathan is also passionate about coffee brewing and has dived deeply into all many aspects of how physics affect coffee preparation for pour overs and more recently espresso. He maintains a blog of his findings and understanding of coffee physics at coffeeadastra.com, and he is the author of the book The Physics of Filter Coffee. This is a wide-ranging conversation that addresses many of the key elements that impact our brewing and how we can apply practical solutions to create wonderful coffee both at home and at at scale in the shop We cover: Motivation through frustrated brewing Beginning his experimentations in coffee Studying the most significant aspects Relying on the community and their experience Applied physics in how water moves through coffee Building and refining you mental model Accounting for the variability in coffee's behavior Tracking your brews What shops can do to improve extractions at scale Different way of thinking about batch brew Coffee freshness and extraction Recommendation for appropriate bicarb levels in water for brewing Recommended tools to assess your coffee quality Links: Jonathan's Blog : www.coffeeadastra.com Jonathan on IG: @jgagneastrocoffee Buy the book! The Physics of Filter Coffee   Related episodes:

In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, parts of the world are so dependent on Russian gas that they have no option but to continue to buy it. This week's episode looks long term plans for improving energy security, particularly in Europe where the biggest focus is on increasing renewables. Whilst this sounds like great news for the climate, Europe only accounts for 10% of the worlds' emissions. For fossil fuel rich countries like the United States, energy security policy will mean pumping more oil and gas out of the ground. We visit Bonny Island in the Niger Delta where business in Liquified Natural Gas is booming to explore how other resource rich countries stand to gain from the increase in oil and gas prices. And ask, as the world makes plans to stop purchasing Russian oil and gas, what will this mean for Russia's climate policy? Presenters Kate Lamble and Jordan Dunbar speak with contributors: Simone Tagliapietra, Senior Fellow and Energy expert at European think tank, Bruegel Laura Cozzi, Chief Modeler at International Energy Agency (IEA) Ken Caldeira, Senior Scientist at Carnegie Institution of Sciences and at Breakthrough Energy Oksana Antonenko, Global Risk Analyst at Control Risks Group Researchers: Natasha Fernandes, Frances Reed and Julian Kwong Reporter: Fyneface Dumnamene is Executive Director at Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre Producer: Dearbhail Starr Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Nicola Addyman Studio Engineer: Tom Brignell

Vannevar Bush is a towering figure in US science and technology policy. A science adviser to Presidents Roosevelt and Truman during and after World War II, he mobilized the US research community in support of the war effort and was a major figure in the creation of the National Science Foundation. Although his influence on the history and institutions of US science and technology is unparalleled, the full breadth of Bush's thinking remains underappreciated today. We talk with writer and educator G. Pascal Zachary, Bush's biographer and editor of a new collection of his writings, about this remarkable polymath, the background behind his landmark report, Science, the Endless Frontier, and his surprising legacy for the information age. Links: The Essential Writings of Vannevar Bush, edited by G. Pascal Zachary. Faith & Science, an excerpt from a 1955 letter Vannevar Bush wrote to employees and supporters of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Beyond the Endless Frontier, an article series from Issues that grapples with Bush's legacy for today's science policy.

Today we are joined by Dr. Sara Seager. Dr. Seager is the Class of 1941 Professor of Planetary Science, Professor of Physics, and Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her past research is credited with laying the foundation for the field of exoplanet atmospheres, while her current research focuses on exoplanet atmospheres and the future search for signs of life by way of atmospheric biosignature gases. Professor Seager is involved with a number of space-based exoplanet searches including as the Deputy Science Director for the MIT-led NASA mission TESS, as the PI for the on-orbit JPL/MIT CubeSat ASTERIA, and as a lead for Starshade Rendezvous Mission (a space-based mission concept under technology development for direct imaging discovery and characterization of Earth analogs).Before joining MIT in 2007, Professor Seager spent four years on the senior research staff at the Carnegie Institution of Washington preceded by three years at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, NJ. Her PhD is from Harvard University, and her BSc from the University of Toronto. Among other accolades, Professor Seager is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a 2013 MacArthur Fellow. You can learn more about Dr. Seager and her work on her Twitter and her official website. Show Notes:Physics | Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyThe Smallest Lights in the Universe: A Memoir | Penguin Random HouseVenus | NASA Solar System ExplorationCould acid-neutralizing life-forms make habitable pockets in Venus' clouds? | MIT NewsList of missions to Venus | WikipediaVenus phosphine find: Unexplained gas hints at potential for alien life | CnetAnalysis of the characteristics of phosphine production by anaerobic digestion based on microbial community dynamics, metabolic pathways, and isolation of the phosphate-reducing strain by Fan, Niu, Zhang, Et al. | Science DirectPhosphine | Encyclopedia BritannicaLife on Venus claim faces strongest challenge yet | NaturePhosphine gas in the cloud decks of Venus by Greaves, J.S., Richards, A.M.S., Bains, W. et al. | Nature AstronomyRe-analysis of the 267 GHz ALMA observations of Venus by Snellen, Guzman-Ramirez, Et al. | Astronomy and Astrophysics James Webb Space Telescope | NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterAfter Million-Mile Journey, James Webb Telescope Reaches Destination | The New York Times‘Oumuamua | NASAGamma-ray Bursts | NASA Imagine The Universe!Dogon People | WikipediaAncient Aliens (TV Series 2009–) | IMDbLife on Venus? This rocket company is already planning a mission to have a closer look | the_byte

In this week's episode, we're hearing from Dr. Rebecca Shaw, the Chief Scientist at the World Wildlife Fund. Rebecca received her MA in environmental policy and her PhD in energy and resources from UC Berkeley. After finishing her PhD, Rebecca did a postdoc at the Carnegie Institution for Science at Stanford, and then worked at the Nature Conservancy and the Environmental Defense Fund before moving to her current role at WWF.  Some of the things we talk about in this episode include: Rebecca's decision to turn down a faculty position and instead pursue a career that enabled her to combine her interests in climate change science and non-profit work  How PhD training equips you to be successful at all sorts of other careers What gives Rebecca hope when it comes to climate change (including the wonderful poem Earthrise by Amanda Gorman) Rebecca's advice for women in science Why staying positive has been a key part of what has made Rebecca successful, and how she takes care of herself to be able to stay positive The importance of constantly improving both your hard skills and your soft skills Get in touch with Rebecca: LinkedIn Twitter Get in touch with Steph: Twitter Get in touch with the podcast: Twitter Facebook Instagram Email: rootstostempodcast@gmail.com Website: rootstostempodcast.podbean.com  

Dr. Andrew Fire won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2006 for the discovery of RNA interference (RNAi). Dr. Fire is the George D. Smith Professor in Molecular and Genetic Medicine, and Professor of Pathology and Genetics at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He received his AB degree in mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley. He received his PhD in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He did training at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England as a fellow. Prior to Stanford he was part of the scientific staff at the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Tune in to learn about the mechanism of RNAi, how RNAi was discovered, and the clinical applications of RNAi.