Podcasts about Planetary science

Extreme Heat: More Dangerous Than We Think?Extreme heat, one of the adverse consequences of climate change, exacerbates drought, damages agriculture, and profoundly impacts human health. Heat is the top weather-related killer in the United States, contributing to deaths that arise from heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases. As temperatures are projected to increase, so will the risk of heat-related deaths. Urban heat islands, cities with large numbers of buildings, roads, and other infrastructure, are ‘islands' of hot temperatures due to the reduced natural landscape, heat-generating human-made activities, and large-scale urban configuration. More than 40 million people live in urban heat islands in the United States, with this number only increasing as people continue to move from rural to urban areas. Around 56% of the world's total population lives in cities. Those living in large cities are more vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat, with research showing an increased mortality risk of 45% compared to rural areas. The risk of heat-related exhaustion and death is a major public health concern that is exacerbated by the climate crisis. The National Weather Service is in the process of creating a new interface known as HeatRisk, which uses a five-point scale to monitor the heat-related risk for vulnerable populations based on local weather data and health indicators. By mapping heat risk, climate scientists hope that individuals will now have a better understanding of the safety concerns associated with being outside during times of extreme heat. Understanding Heat Index DynamicsBefore stepping outside, most individuals check the daily weather prediction to get a sense of the average temperature. In order to measure the perceived temperature, climate scientists use a heat index, a calculation that combines air temperature and relative humidity to create a human-perceived equivalent temperature. Accurate prediction of the heat index is imperative as every passing year marks the warmest on record, with dangerous extreme heat predicted to become commonplace across arid regions of the world. Therefore, tracking such calculations is necessary in assessing future climate risk. Areas especially vulnerable to extreme heat heavily rely on an accurate prediction of temperature to determine if it is safe to go outside.However, there are over 300 heat indexes used worldwide to calculate the threat from heat, defeating the potential universality of this metric. Each heat index weighs factors differently, making it difficult to differentiate between various metrics. Dozens of factors are used to estimate the daily temperature based on predictions of vapor pressure, height, clothing, or sunshine levels. In addition, most heat indexes report the temperature assuming that you are a young, healthy adult and are resting in the shade, not in the sun. If outdoors, the heat index could be 15 degrees higher. If you are older, you may not be as resilient during intense temperatures.As a result, many climate scientists are calling for heat indexes that reveal the apparent risk of being outdoors on any given day. The elderly, children and infants, and those suffering from chronic diseases are more vulnerable to high temperatures than healthy, young adults, which needs to be accounted for when surveying temperature risk. Advanced Heat Assessment Tools: HeatRisk and WBGTThe National Weather Service's HeatRisk index is different from previous models as it identifies unusual heat times and places, also taking into account unusually warm nights. As such, it provides a more universal measure accounting for the degree to which people in the area are acclimated to various heat temperatures. The HeatRisk index can thus be used to gauge levels of danger associated with temperature, potentially altering an individual's behavioral patterns. For those working in outdoor fields, the WetBulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) measure can be particularly useful as a way to measure heat stress as it takes into account temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle, and cloud coverage. Different from the heat index, the WBGT includes both temperature and humidity and is calculated for areas in the shade. If not exercising or working outdoors, people can revert to the HeatRisk scale to calculate the potential hazards of being outside for longer periods. Heat Indexes are Harder to Calculate Than They AppearBecause scientists have to account for a variety of factors like geography, physics, and physiology, establishing a truly universal heat index is unlikely. For regions like Colorado, creating the criteria for a heat advisory has proven shockingly difficult. Heat indexes typically rely on temperature and humidity, however, the Colorado landscape is so dry that an advisory is very rarely triggered, even during heat waves. In such scenarios, the HeatRisk index provides a better gauge for outdoor safety. Most people underestimate the dangers of extreme heat and often ignore warning messages from local authorities. Educational programs are vital in informing the public on the dangers of extreme heat.Who is David Romps?David Romps, UC Berkeley professor of Earth and Planetary Science, is at the forefront of heat index research. Romps has found that those exposed to extreme heat suffer restricted blood flow and are often unable to physiologically compensate. Through his research, Romps believes that heat index calculations often underestimate the potential heat impacts on individuals, with the human body being more susceptible to heightened temperatures than commonly understood. Further ReadingCenter for Climate and Energy Solutions, Heat Waves and Climate ChangeHuang, et.al, Economic valuation of temperature-related mortality attributed to urban heat islands in European cities, Nature Communications, 2023National Weather Service, What is the heat index?National Weather Service, NWS Heat Risk PrototypeNational Weather Service, WetBulb Globe TemperatureSharma, More than 40 million people in the U.S. live in urban heat islands, climate group finds, NBC News, 20232023 was the world's warmest year on record, by far, NOAA, 2024Coren, The world needs a new way to talk about heat,  The Washington Post, 2023Hawryluk and KFF Health News, A New Way to Measure Heat Risks for People, Scientific American, 2022UC Berkeley Heat Index Research, David RompsUS EPA, Climate Change Indicators: Heat-Related DeathsUS EPA, What are Heat Islands? For at transcript of this episode, please visit  https://climatebreak.org/calculating-threats-from-rising-temperatures-using-heat-indexing-with-professor-david-romps/

In this episode we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Fermi Paradox by looking at a bunch of science capable of preventing and destroying civilizations. We also review our latest not-so-great attempts to land on the moon and launch a rocket that (if it worked) could carry us to Mars.

Join planetary scientist Beth Johnson as we explore a groundbreaking discovery from NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars. Scientists have identified siderite—a rare iron carbonate mineral—within ancient Martian rocks, offering new insights into Mars' once-thicker atmosphere and its now-lost carbon cycle. This discovery reshapes our understanding of the Red Planet's climate history and helps us draw powerful parallels to Earth's carbon processes. Dr. Ben Tutolo, associate professor at the University of Calgary and participating scientist on NASA's Curiosity rover team, explains that as Mars' atmosphere thinned over time, carbon dioxide was sequestered into rock formations, leading to a dramatic climate shift from a warm, wet environment to the cold, arid planet we see today. These findings provide evidence that ancient Mars was habitable and offer insights into the fragility of planetary climates. Dr. Tutolo emphasizes the parallels between Mars' atmospheric changes and current efforts on Earth to mitigate climate change by converting anthropogenic CO₂ into stable carbonates. Understanding the mechanisms of carbon sequestration on Mars could inform strategies to address climate challenges on our own planet. (Recorded live 5 June 2025.)

A Talk by Dr. Oliver White (SETI Institute)May 28, 2025Ten years ago, the New Horizons spacecraft flew by the Pluto system and revealed an unexpectedly diverse range of landscapes on that dwarf planet and its largest moon Charon -- implying much more complex geological histories for these distant worlds than anyone expected. Dr. White leads a vivid tour of their often bizarre terrains, some of which are still evolving, and explains what processes scientists think molded them into their present appearances. After a brief stop at Pluto's four small moons, Dr. White extends the tour 2 billion km farther out into space, to show us Arrokoth, the tiny "planetesimal" that New Horizons flew past three and a half years after visiting Pluto.  It is the most primitive object in the Solar System ever visited by a spacecraft.

The White House has released its Fiscal Year 2026 congressional budget justification for NASA, and the implications are staggering. If enacted, this proposal would slash NASA’s science program funding by nearly half, cancel dozens of active and upcoming missions, and reduce the agency’s workforce by one-third. Sarah Al-Ahmed is joined by Jack Kiraly, The Planetary Society’s director of government relations, to examine what’s in the nearly 500-page document, what it means for the future of space science and exploration, and how advocates can still act to save NASA science. Then, in What’s Up, Planetary Society Chief Scientist Bruce Betts shares insights on China’s newly launched asteroid sample return mission, Tianwen-2. The spacecraft will rendezvous with near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, offering new scientific opportunities amidst a moment of global uncertainty in space exploration. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-FY-2026-budget-proposalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cassie Petoskey: Hi, everyone. Thanks for being here. I'm Cassie Petoskey. I use she or they pronouns. And I'm the Director of the Waldron Student Alumni Connections Program, where our goal really is to help Weinberg College students explore career options through connecting with alumni. So thank you so much for our alumni for being here with us today. And we're going to spend some time. Amelia is going to take us through some prepared questions for our speakers. We'll get into it. Are you okay? I feel like I always talk at the worst time too. So no worries. And then we're going to save plenty of time for questions at the end. And Shai is going to moderate questions from you all. So please, we'll save plenty of time for that as you all are writing [inaudible 00:00:44] down throughout. And I think that's it without... And of course, thank you to Geoclub for partnering with us on this event. Very excited to have you all bring this idea forward and work with you all on this. So thank you. And without further ado, I'll pass to Amelia and Shai. Why don't you introduce yourselves first and then we'll go to our alumni speakers? [inaudible 00:01:06]. Amelia: Hi, everyone. Thank you so much for coming. I'm Amelia. I'm a second year. I'm a Bio and Earth Science... Technically, Earth Science minor, but whatever. And I'm the president of Geoclub. And I'm so grateful that you all attended this event. We really wanted to be able to show people what Earth and Environmental Sciences can do for you in the future and expand the idea of there are [inaudible 00:01:29]. Shai: Hi, guys. I'm Shai. I use he/him pronouns. I'm a senior majoring in Earth and Planetary Science. I'm education chair of Geoclub. So also very glad to see so many [inaudible 00:01:40] here, and I'm excited to hear all the wisdom that our alumni have to offer. Thank you guys. Amelia: Yeah. So to start us off with some questions, can you share with us more about your industry and current job function and introduce yourselves while you're at it? And if you could speak to the microphone, that would be wonderful. Cassie Petoskey: Yeah. We're recording it. Sorry. Seems silly. Max Jones: Sure. Yeah. My name is Max Jones. And speaking of the future of your careers, I'm the near future because I graduated in June actually. So I am a class of 2024. I'm currently a Master's student at the Chicago Botanic Garden and I'm working as a conservation biologist and wildlife biologist. And so right now I've just returned from seven months of fieldwork in Panama doing work on forest fragmentation and animal movements. And I'm super excited to talk about all that and then also how I've kind of gotten to this point, especially so fresh out of undergrad. And then moving forward, I'm also going to be moving to Germany this summer to work with some scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior to keep working there. And so I'm going to be talking mostly I guess about my time networking at Northwestern and then how Earth and Planetary Science and Environmental Science has led me to the strange position I'm in right now. Margaret Isaacson: Hey, everyone. So my name's Margaret Isaacson. I graduated in 2015. It's been a minute. I'm a graduate of the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department, and currently I am a conservation and outdoors division manager at the Parks and Rec department in Evanston. So I'm pretty local. My position title is a long way of saying that I oversee our local nature center and all the programs that we run out of that facility along with the park services team that oversees the maintenance of the public restrooms around town and the athletic fields around town and picnic areas. So happy and excited to be here and talk to you all. And I think what I'll focus on, but happy to answer any questions, is how my experience in the department brought me to maybe an unusual career path and sector of the workplace, which is parks and recreation. Amelia: Thank you. So what were some of the impactful classes or experiences for you in your undergrad at Northwestern that led you to pursue your career path? Margaret Isaacson: Max, I feel like yours is in more recent memory, but I'll dig back. Max Jones: Okay. For mine, I think I'd probably start with saying ironically Spanish. Spanish led me down a snowball into this world of Latin American conservation that I've found myself in. And it was really that triggered the start, but then also I had everyone in the Environmental Science Department urging me to branch out and try new things, which was something super interesting. And so then specifically which classes, I'd say the GIS class with Elsa Anderson that I took was incredibly impactful in my senior year. That's been a skill that I've used all the time going forward. And just knowing these different kinds of programs like that have made it really easy for me to quickly pick up new kinds of analysis or feel comfortable going into different fields that I might not have experience with at the time. There was that, and then I'd also say my community ecology class from... That one's with the Biology Department, although I think Environmental Science students often take that too. That one just exposed me to a lot of different kind of paper readings. And so at first I thought those classes were very unfocused, but then I realized the goal is to expose you to so many different kinds of scientific thought that then you can... You find that one paper that you get really, really into for some reason and then that ends up being the rabbit hole that you follow down into the career that you want. Margaret Isaacson: The first thing that I'm thinking about back 10 years ago is some of the field experiences that I went on with the various classes, everything from Earth 201, that [inaudible 00:05:45] like trip, which hopefully is still around, to doing lake sediment coring up in Wisconsin on a frozen lake in the middle of February. That's right. Maggie remembers that hopefully. It was very cold. It was very, very cold that day. A lot of dancing on the ice to keep warm. So these experiences in the outdoors, they built on my passion for camping, my passion for spending time in the outdoors, but I got to be doing important science while I was out there. And now as a parks and recreation professional, my job is primarily outdoors and the goal of our Ecology Center here in Evanston is to inspire families, young kids, adults, people of all ages to spend time outdoors, whether that's through a quick class, through a whole summer of summer camp. But really it was those experiences doing science outside that showed me what can I do to inspire other people. "My professors are inspiring me now. Is there something more local, maybe less academic that I can have an impact on a broad range of people?" So I think those experiential moments were really important for me and really didn't guide me directly to parks and rec, but reinforced my passion for the outdoors and for inspiring that in others. Amelia: Max, you mentioned a bit about how your connections and networking that you had here are important. I don't know if that's applicable to you, but if you'd share a bit more about that, I'd love to hear. Max Jones: Yeah. Sorry. Give me just a second. You guys, it really was like... It's a funny thing on how you get started in these things because it's never the path you originally take that ends up to where you end up in the end. Because I think I started with one of the professors who was teaching an introductory climate change course my freshman year. I worked with her on processing photos of trees for a while and then that slowly led me to meet the people at the Chicago Botanic Garden. And then even though my research interests don't perfectly align with them, I did a thesis with Trish, with Patricia Betos, as my undergrad thesis advisor. And Trish is a mover. She loves pushing people to go do more and more and more. So I ended up going and doing a thesis in Costa Rica for my undergrad field work. And this is what I mean by the snowballs because I started taking photos of trees and then I ended up in Costa Rica doing sea turtle work with Trish and then from there I met the people that I worked with on this project as well. So that's the number one thing that I always recommend is don't be afraid to follow a lead, even if you don't know exactly where it's going to lead you to in that moment. Margaret Isaacson: Yeah. I could add a little bit to that. Not so much networking here on campus, but just post-grad when you start out at an opportunity. My first job was a part-time... My first job after post-grad was a part-time position with the Ecology Center. It was limited hours. I was learning on the job how to lead programs, completely new in the environmental education field, but I then left and came back two times and in four different positions leading to the one that I'm in now. So I think, like you said, following a lead, even if you don't know necessarily where it's going to take you, building relationships with the folks that you work with, the folks that... Whether it's academic or professional or just a summer experience, those are connections that you're going to take with you along the way. They might be people that you meet again. They might not. But like you said, Max, it's going to take you somewhere. And I think I wouldn't be where I was now if I didn't have the Ecology Center, for example, in the back of my mind and just building back towards that in some ways once I found something that I was excited about. Amelia: That's great. Thank you. What has surprised you about what you learned or did during your school days that helped you in your work today? I hope something you learned helps today. Margaret Isaacson: I can speak to that a little bit. So when I was an undergrad, I had two majors. I studied French all the way at the south end of campus, and then I was up here at the north end of campus doing Earth and Planetary Sciences. And having those two degrees really helped me flex some of my critical thinking skills. I wasn't always focused on data and reading scientific papers. I was also reading French literature and writing papers about French literature. I'm not fluent in French. I'm not using that skill very much. But that flexibility between two different majors or two different ways of using your brain has really served me well in how I organize my time at work, how I manage my staff, how we think critically about designing a new program in Evanston or figuring out how to make the bathrooms clean. Somebody's got to do it, so figuring out an efficient way to do that. I think the work ethic that you learn and practice at Northwestern is going to serve you no matter what. Maybe, Max, you have more data analyst that you use in your day-to-day than I do necessarily, but I think it's those soft skills and those hard skills that are going to come into play. Max Jones: No. I 100% agree with the soft skills part because so many of the random little things you do day-to-day as a college student end up translating in very strange ways to you being in a post-grad experience. For example, I never played soccer before, but then I played IM Leagues here and then all of a sudden, I felt very comfortable going and playing IM Leagues in Panama and that was my resource to going to meet people. And so you do just learn very good social skills in college, I'd say, that then translate very well to being outside. And I think that's especially true at Northwestern when you're surrounded by people who generally like to have conversations because sometimes you come across someone that might not want to engage with you in a way that you want to engage with them and so you have now this kind of depth of experience of having good productive conversations with people and that you can use going forward. And that's something that I always found super useful. I also took a drawing class that I found really productive here. Yeah. Amelia: So sort of going back to the networking question, what advice might you have for networking within your individual industries? Max Jones: Do not be afraid to cold call people. That's the number one thing I think, is the worst that can happen is... Honestly the worst that can happen is that they remember your name and that's a best case scenario in most fields because then a few years down the line you can meet them again and be like, "Oh, hi. Do you remember me?" They say yes, then you've won technically. Yeah, because I've also talked to friends about this because they say... Especially in science, people love to collaborate in science. You'll have people wanting to collaborate even when you don't really want to. And so if you just email them and you just express your genuine interest, not just trying to find a job out of it, then I've only had people respond very positively in these scenarios. And so even if you get told, "No, we don't have an option," a friend of mine once told me that every interview or every kind of reaching out is a networking opportunity, so even if you don't get it, you've done your job for that day at least because then you've met one more person who maybe five years down the line is going to help you out. Margaret Isaacson: I would add that more than likely you're going to end up in... You potentially end up in some kind of professional sphere that has conference opportunities, whether that's something that you're attending now or looking to in the future. I was surprised. I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was surprised when I got into parks and rec that there's a parks and rec conference. There's an Illinois parks and rec conference. There's a national parks and rec conference. There's so many people in this industry that I can learn from and skills that I never thought I'd even touch. So like Max said, don't be afraid to reach out to people. They're excited to talk about what they do and how they got there and what they want to do. So I think if you don't hear from people right away, it's probably because they're busy, but hopefully they get back to you. It doesn't hurt to email them again. Yeah. Just keep a positive attitude when you're reaching out to folks. Amelia: [inaudible 00:14:20] question, what is your favorite thing about your job? Margaret Isaacson: Oh, man. There's so many things. I also thought of my least favorite things, but... Well, you guys know I'm in charge of bathrooms now. It's not so glamorous. Gosh. There's so many fun things about parks and recreation. Being able to be outside a lot of the time is pretty great. I do spend a lot of hours behind a desk like anyone, but having our seasonal special events that we get the community out for, building new opportunities too for folks to experience the outdoors. Is really powerful to see the Evanston Environmental Association and the Ecology Center are working on trying to build a new canoe launch so that we can access the canal more easily. It's going to have a really big local impact. And it's just an inspiring process to watch. There's other parts of my job, like I said, that I never thought I'd be doing, where our building is under construction right now. And I studied Earth and science. I didn't study construction or architecture, but I get to see that whole process play out. And I think you can really see a lot of variety in most professions and learn from each of those experiences. And yeah. Right now, the construction is actually really fun to see play out. Max Jones: Yeah. For me, I'd say the collaborative element is something that I really love in my profession. It's the fact that no science is ever done in a bottle, and so you're constantly just meeting with people. It feels like a very creative process as you go through it. So it's always evolving, always adapting. Even the things you think are going to be boring, like sitting on your computer all day, just coding in R, then ends up being like something's going on there. And then you just dive down the rabbit hole and then you text all the other people you're collaborating with. It's like, "Hold on. Am I seeing this correctly?" Hey, I find it very enjoyable the fact that the process is iterative and I always get a chance to learn from other people. And then, like I said earlier, people love to collaborate. So then I've had really brief meetings where they're just throwing out ideas left and right at me. And the concept of just putting together all of these people's collective knowledge and interests and passion into the project is something that really speaks to me. And then the other thing I'd say is definitely I have a very fieldwork heavy field, and I think that that is something that's I personally enjoy a lot is this balance of I get to do work outside and then I also get to do this collaborative, creative element and bring this... Synthesize it all into a living, breathing work that I can put out into the world afterwards. Amelia: Thank you so much. Not to be presumptuous, but I'm seeing some themes between the both of you, which you said you like to be outside and you like to be creative, which I think is awesome. I think that's a thing that a lot of us in the room can relate to. How have your work or how have your values and beliefs influenced how you approach your professional workplace? Margaret Isaacson: Oh. Max Jones: It's funny. I prepped for this question and I'm still not ready for it. Margaret Isaacson: So I spoke to a little bit my passion for the outdoors, passion for outdoor rec, whether that's camping, hiking, backpacking, canoeing. A lot of those things I don't do here in Chicago. There's not too many backpacking routes in Chicago, so I try to get out of town and state for those. But those core values, just spending time outside really inform my day-to-day work, like you said, Amelia. I think even just taking a little break during the workday to get some [inaudible 00:18:04] or planning a professional development program for the Ecology Center staff or the parks and rec department as a whole that gets everyone outside and gets them rejuvenated goes a long way to staff's mental health, having fun in the workplace, being inspired in the workplace, even when we have these boring administrative tasks that we have to do every day. So I think that outdoor passion is really something that's just stuck with me along the way. And then were it not for the Ecology Center existing in this parks and rec department in Evanston, I wouldn't be able to bring my passion for sustainability to work either. I think sustainability would inform a lot of the things that the department does and that the City of Evanston does. The city has its own sustainability staff. We've got a sustainable waste manager. So I would say the town is progressive in that aspect, but having a center that's dedicated to promoting sustainability and educating folks on sustainability in a fun way, not in like a, "Here's how you recycle. And here's a DIY workshop on how to," I don't know, "Swap your clothes or something with other folks." I think having that focus of a center dedicated to this brings the fun into the Department of Sustainability, and that's been really nice to take from my work in paleo-climatology to, "Okay. What are we doing now and here and in this time to help Earth?" Max Jones: I really like what Margaret said about passion driving a lot of the work because I think that's really prominent in this field, especially where passion for the subject matter is really what gets us out of bed in the morning and then gets us to go because not a lot of people choose what we do based on the money or it's not like a career path that's recommended. It's like, "Oh, you should go into Earth and Environmental Sciences because that's a high income field." It's like, "No. We're doing this because we love it." And I do think that that is something that's like... It helps motivate a lot of the work you do and a lot of the challenges you might face along the way. It's like you think that, "At the very least I'm doing this because I love it and not because anyone is telling me I should." Amelia: I totally agree. I'm guessing a lot of people in this room also have a passion that leads them to come here. I think I'm out of my questions. Does anyone else have questions that they want to ask the speakers? I mean, I have [inaudible 00:20:42] my paper. Yeah. Rose: Yeah. Thank you guys for both being here. My name is Rose. I'm [inaudible 00:20:49] major. I'm a sophomore. I'm kind of curious, when you both were juniors, seniors, what did you think you were going to do and what was the plan that you had in your mind and what were the factors, like, "Oh, grad school. Oh, this, that."? Max Jones: Do you want me to start because more recent? Margaret Isaacson: Yeah. Max Jones: Okay. My journey as an undergrad was pretty funny because I came in as an engineering student. I originally wanted to be an environmental engineer because I come from Kentucky and so then back home you're just pushed to be either a doctor, an engineer or a lawyer. And I was like, "Well, engineer sounds fun." And then I got here and then I was just surrounded by people who were following passions instead of then just what they wanted to do. And so then I began to explore this career as an ambiguous just environmental researcher in my mind, but I didn't know exactly what that was going to look like and I really didn't know what it was going to look like until very recently. I only started all of my work abroad and then all of my work as a biologist specifically late in my junior year. And so it's one of those things where it's like I feel like a lot of it will take shape in very sudden and dramatic ways. So even if you don't know exactly where you're going, there's going to be some kind of event that triggers it and it all starts moving into place in that way. At least that's how it happened for me. Margaret Isaacson: I remember my advisor asking, "What is your dream job?" And I didn't really have a good answer. I wasn't ready, like, "Oh, I want to be teacher," or like, "I want to get a PhD and go into academia," or, "I want to do this type of research forever because I'm super excited about." And I was like, "Well, I like to spend time outside. Maybe a park ranger." I literally oversee staff called park rangers now. So I made it. But I think that brought me to, "Hmm. How can I take..." I really like reading about all this research. I really like digging into it myself. I like looking at under the microscope and making that into a paper. But I didn't see myself necessarily going to grad school. It wasn't like a for sure thing. And it wasn't a certainty for me. It didn't quite set in as that's what I definitely want to do. But I saw all this cool research and wanted to know, "Well, how do we take all this amazing but very specific research and take it and communicate it to the general public? What are they getting out of all the great things that we do here on campus and elsewhere?" And that took me down the path of environmental education and science communication. I think for a little while I thought, "Oh, I'm going to maybe go and figure how to write and become a science communicator." I found local part-time jobs that were environmental education related because that was going to be how I took my expertise and my knowledge, build on that knowledge in other ways, and then inspire other people to maybe they end up getting a PhD. Maybe it's not me, but it might be them, or they're just excited about being outside and learning a new fact about local wildlife. So yeah, it was kind of circuitous. And over the last 10 years or so since finding science communication, I've gone more towards the administrative and managerial side, which is also really exciting. I like flexing those muscles and figuring out how to get a team to work all together and put on that science communication. I'm not in front of the campfire group leading the program anymore, and that's kind of a bummer sometimes, but we make it happen as a team. So you discover different talents along the way as well. Amelia: That was an awesome answer. Thank you so much. I did realize there's one more question on my paper that Rose's kind of leaned into, which is what do you wish you could tell yourself when you were in student's shoes? Margaret Isaacson: Do you wish you could tell yourself last year? Max Jones: I know, right? I do wish that... Because it's very natural that while you're wondering if what you're doing is going to work out, then you put a lot of pressure on yourself. It's like, "Why haven't I figured out what I'm going to do next right now?" And over the process of I guess the last year and a half for me, it's very much like a process of it happens. Progress happens very slowly until it just jumps forward. So you're going to feel like you're stuck and then you're repeating the same patterns a lot. It's like, "Why haven't I gotten this next connection yet? Why haven't I figured it out?" And then it really snaps into place when you least expect it. And so then you finally get that motion forwards and then things start rushing and then life moves faster again, but then it'll slowly trickle back down and then you have to ride the waves of sometimes it moves fast in terms of you're making these good connections and you're moving forward in your projects or in your career, and then other times you have to be very calm and weather the storm a little bit. So I'd say I tell myself to calm down and chill out. Margaret Isaacson: I would second that. "Just relax. It's going to work out. Okay?" I think that I was kind of similar in putting a lot of pressure on myself to do well academically. Again, not really thinking about what I wanted to do post-grad until I was in it. But I think just give yourself some grace and be patient with what you do. Work hard, but you can also be patient and not expect that you're going to do the same thing as your colleague or your friend who is in the same department. Your paths could look completely different. Clearly. Ours are completely different. So talk to your colleagues. Talk to your advisors. See what their experiences are. Ask alumni what their experiences are. But don't think that that is the experience that you have to do or take or follow. There's a lot of options and you can also pivot later. You might get into something right after graduation and then you might find out, "Oh, I'm really good at this one piece of that job and I'm going to pursue that." It's not a straight path. It's not one thing. You can always switch it up. I may switch it up. You never know. Max Jones: Yeah. If I can bounce back off that again, it's not comparing yourself to the people around you [inaudible 00:27:34] critical because then you end up in cycles where the person next to you gets a fellowship and instead of being happy for them and interested in it, you're just like, "Oh, damn. Why don't I have a fellowship yet?" And it really is like, yeah, everyone has a different path that they're going to take throughout this and it just feeds into an imposter syndrome if you let yourself make those comparisons. Margaret Isaacson: A lot of the staff who come and work at the Ecology Center are recent grads. They come and they do part-time work as program instructors. That's what I started out as. And I think I see in them bringing just so much positivity and excitement about their work. I think that's a really great thing to grab on when you're just starting out after graduating in your career. You're going to feel great about yourself if you're doing something you're excited about. You're going to meet people and learn what they do. And the staff that I work with, they work so hard, they cobble together multiple part-time jobs. They're pulling experience from multiple places and it's getting them where they need to be. Not to say that that's the path for everyone, but I think it's just important to keep a positive attitude while you're in it and know that you're not stuck when you start one thing. You don't have to do that for the rest of time. Max Jones: That was beautiful. Amelia: That was beautiful. Thank you. Shai, you want to keep taking questions? Shai: Yeah. For sure. Did anybody have any other questions they want to ask alumni? Sure. Speaker 7: Do you guys feel like your identity ties into what you do? Or do you guys feel like you found parts of yourself doing your work? Even like you said, you kind of trialed a little bit. Do you feel like that kind of connected you more to who you are and even to [inaudible 00:29:27] up to what you do? Max Jones: Yeah. It kind of radically changed how I viewed myself in a way because, yeah, so I'm from Kentucky. I'm from a low-middle-income family. And so coming here I was very out of my elements it felt like a lot of times, surrounded by very elite academic institutions. So I went through a lot of my first second year with a chip on my shoulder. But then I go start working in Latin America where scientists there have to work twice as hard as I do just because they don't speak the same language. And then all of a sudden all of that feelings of angst, I guess, flooded away because I was like everything that I've been angry about or anxious about has just been minuscule on a larger scale. Yeah. I say working in international communities like that has very much changed my perception on life and science and as an industry as a whole. Margaret Isaacson: I would add the industry that I'm in, parks and rec, is very service oriented and I've learned so much about customer service, not from a restaurant job, but from answering 311s and... So. I don't know if everyone knows what 311. You guys know what 311 is, right? Okay. Maybe. Yes. That's Maggie, right? Are you sending me the 311s? No. But I think I've found that it makes me happy to provide a service for a community and you feel fulfilled when you... Even if it's something unglamorous, like cleaning bathrooms, you still feel like, "Oh, I'm impacting people on a regular basis, on a daily basis. And with my small work or local work, it's still important." So I think finding your impact is really a powerful thing, Speaker 7: [inaudible 00:31:29] but they take... Not take away from your [inaudible 00:31:31], but like you said, having that chip on your shoulder when you look back and now that you fulfilled almost in what you're doing, [inaudible 00:31:38]. Margaret Isaacson: I was so stressed back then. You don't need to be stressed. It's okay though. You can be stressed. College is a stressful time. There's a lot going on. You guys have a lot on your plate. You're managing a lot of learning. You're managing a lot of growth. And that's just going to continue. But you're able to take that on. And this is just one experience that's going to teach... College is just one experience that's going to teach you that you're capable of taking that on. You're just going to keep taking on new things. Shai: [inaudible 00:32:13] question? Yeah. Sure. Speaker 8: How do you guys feel about your work-life balance or just your outdoorsy hobbies come [inaudible 00:32:25]? Max Jones: Do you want to say? Margaret Isaacson: Sure. My work-life, so... Okay. Speaker 8: Your balance is [inaudible 00:32:36] by [inaudible 00:32:37] having outdoorsy hobbies and also that in a job. Margaret Isaacson: Oh, I see what you're saying. Interesting. No. Work is still work, even when it's outside, but it's nice when it's outside because you get a little break from your desk. No. I think work-life balance is probably something that you all are learning even now. And it's one of those things that you're going to get into the work world and it's going to look a little bit different. You're going to be tired. But I think if you find the right gig or the right job that's going to be able to build that in and still make time for yourself. And it's important to make time for yourself even in your work. I'm not sure if that was your question, but... Yeah. Do you want to? Max Jones: Yeah. I think I understand exactly what your worry is here because I love outdoors. I love all things nature related. But I have been surrounded by people sometimes when I'm working where it's like we're in the field 10 hours a day and then they come back, they're like, "Wow. That was great, wasn't it?" And I was like, "I'm tired. I want to go home," even though I love what I've done, but then you do come across a lot of... Not a lot, but sometimes you do find scenarios where the people you're with don't view what they're doing necessarily as work. They also view it as very fun. And so then you have to set your own boundaries there where you have to be like, "Yes, I enjoy this work a lot, but this is not what I want to be doing in my free time right now. I don't want to give up another afternoon of my time to go work, even though I enjoy my work." So I have found myself in those dilemmas before where it's like you really enjoy being outside, but also after your 15th hour of it, you're just like, "Okay. Let me go read a book or something." Shai: Good question. Do you have any more question? Cassie Petoskey: I think [inaudible 00:34:28] question about the goal day-to-day. I'm guessing every day is different, but what are you doing in [inaudible 00:34:36]? What are you doing in your outside? What are the activities? And how often? Like 15 hour a day you're outside? That's [inaudible 00:34:47]. What does that look like a day? Walk us through a day. Max Jones: Okay. For me, well, my day-to-day has just changed dramatically because I finished up my field season, but when I was in the field, it would be we're up at 5:45, quick breakfast, and then we go out into the forest, and then... I was setting up camera traps and so we were specifically looking at arboreal cameras and arboreal species, like monkeys and stuff. And so we would set up cameras in the trees. And so to do that, we would have to climb trees. I'd be climbing trees myself. And so that sometimes could entail... If one tree could take almost six hours sometimes just because you'd have to take a slingshot and then put a line up in the tree. I don't want to get too into it, but... Cassie Petoskey: [inaudible 00:35:32]. Max Jones: "Get into it. Get into it." Okay. Do we want the break- Cassie Petoskey: We want to know how you climb. Max Jones: Okay. So you take a big slingshot, and then you shoot a weight with a string on it over a branch that you think can support your weight. And then you... I say think because you test it. And then you tie a climbing rope. You pull the climbing rope over. And then I just hook into a harness and then a few climbing equipments. And then I go up. And then sometimes, depending on if the tree is difficult, if there's ants in it or something, it can take me a few hours up there too. Then I took my data and then I'd come back down. And the idea was always we would do two a day. Sometimes we would push for three a day. And so that could take like... We could be working from sunrise right up until sunset. There was a few times when I was still up in a tree and I'd had to use a headlamp to finish up up there because we were just pushing so hard by the end of the day. Margaret Isaacson: Very cool. Max Jones: Now- Margaret Isaacson: Can you teach a tree climbing program for the Ecology Center, please? Max Jones: I'd love to. Margaret Isaacson: Perfect. We'll talk later. I want to tell you what my day-to-day looked like when I first started out and then where I am now because it's very different. When I was first starting on as a program instructor, so post-grad, I would come to work, I would write a lesson plan or write up a program, decide what materials I needed, gathered them. I took care of animals on a daily basis that we had for educational purposes. And then often I would be going out and leading that program. Sometimes it was a family campfire. Sometimes it was a critter visit, where I'm holding up animals and showing them to kids and letting them pet them. Super fun. Now my work is a little bit more behind the scenes. So I do a lot of emailing and a lot of administrative tasks. I coordinate with a lot of different departments, whether that's greenways, to make sure that the athletic fields are ready for the sports season, or touching base with my seasonal staff to make sure that they're doing their rounds on the lakefront bathrooms, or planning, budgeting and meeting with the program coordinators who are actually planning programs. So it's a lot of, like I said, more backend work and making sure that when we present these programs through the program instructors, the position that I used to do, to the public or through summer camp, that it's kind of ready to go, we're using taxpayer money wisely and well, and that the city has services that are meeting their needs and expectations. So it's a lot of email and payroll and some unglamorous things, but we also get outside occasionally. Shai: Do other people have question? Speaker 9: Well, with the... Thank you so much for being here for answering all our questions, but with the summer coming around, I'm sure many of us in this room are looking for internships and jobs and any experience in the field. Where do you recommend we look? And then a follow-up that would be how do you prepare for interviews? Margaret Isaacson: If you're local, Chicago Environmental Network has a ton of opportunities, wide-ranging, seasonal, full-time, part-time. That's a great site. Yeah. Of course. Chicago Environmental Network. And they have a job board. I think they also have volunteer postings. We always post our positions there and all of the area nature science adjacent companies and organizations post on there as well. Shai: We'll find that [inaudible 00:39:22] a follow-up. Speaker 9: Thank you. Max Jones: I'd say it depends a lot on what kind of work you want to get into, but I know that there's a really good job listing board. It's like UT Austin or something. I'm sure Maggie or Trish know it. But it really kind of depends on what you want to get into. Historically, the Scientists in the Parks have been a very competitive but credible internship. I don't know if they're operating this summer because of everything happening. The Shedd Aquarium I've also heard has some pretty interesting opportunities for research assistants over the summer. I had a friend who did actually like scuba diving with them and then went to found mussels in one of the Chicago rivers or something. It was pretty cool. And then I've also heard some good things about the Audubon Society. Sometimes they periodically have stuff around here. Besides that, I'd cold call or cold email professors because a lot of them have... Either they directly have a project that they might want you to work on or sometimes they'll redirect you to Master's students or PhDs. Right now in the listserv that I'm on in the Chicago Botanic Garden, we get emails forwarded to us from students at Northwestern being like, "Hi. Is anybody looking for help this summer? I'd love to work." Margaret Isaacson: I think I was on some environmental listserv of some kind. I'll try to track it down and send it to Cassie. And this was a while ago. But I remember... Gosh. Anyway. It took me to Great Basin Institute, which is out west, but they do all kinds of research and experiential education in the western states. I did that for a summer. One year I was basically a camp counselor, but they also have a lot of research positions as well that are seasonal. Max Jones: Lincoln Park Zoo also has some really cool stuff down there. The Urban Wildlife Division is... I wanted to work with them every single year I was an undergrad. It just never worked out. Yeah. Shai: [inaudible 00:41:16]. Do they have any other questions [inaudible 00:41:16]? Amelia: How do we take care of the internship [inaudible 00:41:19]? Speaker 11: When was your last interview? Margaret Isaacson: What was that? Speaker 11: [inaudible 00:41:27]. Margaret Isaacson: My last interview was two years ago, a year and a half. Yeah. So pretty recent. The way I prepared for that interview, I had a little insight being already in the department and the division that I was applying for a promotion. So I kind of knew some of the questions that they might ask me, but you can... The way that I did it is I like to think of questions that I might be asked, go ahead and answer them and just write down ideas and thoughts. For my most recent position, I also thought about what I would want as a manager. So I was applying for the position that had been overseeing what I... That's so confusing. I was a program coordinator and I applied for a promotion. So I thought, "As a program coordinator, what would I want to see in a manager? And what projects would I want to prioritize?" And I brainstormed those. But yeah, just thinking through questions that they might ask. Most interviews will ask some of those classic questions. They're always going to start out with, "Why are you applying to this job?" So your elevator pitch is really important and can speak to your passion and also experience. Yeah. Just jotting down some notes. That works for me. Maybe it doesn't work for everyone, but that's what I did. Max Jones: I haven't been in a lot of interviews at this stage of my career, honestly. Most of my interviews have been very informal conversations. And so I think that's just by luck how I've moved forward. Right now, I just haven't had any interviews, to be honest. So think Margaret's advice is sage. Margaret Isaacson: I guess I could add more. Yeah. I also have done a lot of interviews where I didn't get the job too. So sometimes you just don't know exactly what they're looking for, and that's okay. It doesn't mean that you're not experienced and that you're not knowledgeable of what you do. It just might not be what they're looking for for that position, or someone has just a little bit more in a particular area that they're excited about. I've also been on the other side of interviews where I get to see all the candidates and hear what they have to offer and see what does it look like for our department if we hire this person instead of this person and they have different experience and we're not really sure how to staff this new position, and the interviewees inform the position. So that can happen as well, where it's not necessarily just... Sometimes it's based on a feeling a little bit, which sounds kind of crazy, but... Yeah. Been on both sides. I think you can practice a lot for an interview. You can hone your speaking skills. You can keep your answers brief but interesting and show your passion, and then just know that you're going to do interviews and some of them are going to work out and some of them aren't. And that's okay. Amelia: [inaudible 00:44:31] just kind of silly. Do people ever reference the TV show in your workplace? Margaret Isaacson: All the time. One of my co-workers has Leslie Knope on her desktop. Yeah. For sure. Yeah. Yeah. Definitely. Amelia: [inaudible 00:44:46]. Margaret Isaacson: No. There are moments where we have situations we're like, "This could be a Parks and Rec episode. We should just start our own show." Yeah. Cassie Petoskey: Thank you both so much for being here. And I know we have a few more minutes, so students, if you all have the questions or just want to make connections, we'll share out LinkedIn profiles after, but I encourage you to come up and chat with the alumni for a few minutes here. But really thank you all so much for coming out. Thanks, Geoclub, for bringing forward this idea. And thanks to Max and Margaret for being here. So... Amelia: Thanks again. Shai: Thanks [inaudible 00:45:28]. Cassie Petoskey: [inaudible 00:45:28].  

Why are Titan's river deltas missing? Planetary astronomer Franck Marchis taps in for Beth Johnson to chat with Brown University's Sam Birch and explore a strange and unexpected mystery on Saturn's largest moon. Using data from NASA's Cassini mission and advanced computer modeling, Birch's team reveals that Titan's shorelines defy Earth-like expectations. Despite Titan's known rivers and seas of liquid methane, the team found a surprising absence of deltas—landforms typically formed when rivers deposit sediment at their mouths. This finding challenges existing geological expectations, as deltas are common on Earth where rivers meet larger bodies of water, and suggests that Titan's geological and climatic processes differ significantly. This discovery opens new avenues for research into Titan's sediment transport mechanisms and its potential to preserve signs of past environmental conditions or even life. (Recorded live 29 May 2025.)

A few months ago, I had the honor of appearing on AADYA Geo Talks, the podcast series launched by Bharti Sharma and the organization she founded – AADYA, whose name means “origin” in Hindi. As a geologist and world-traveller, Sharma launched this organization to promote knowledge about planetary and geoscience and create opportunities for collaborative research to address critical global challenges. During the interview, we talked about how I got into science journalism, my podcast series, and my science fiction writing. The interview lasted for more than an hour because she asked great questions about a range of wonderful topics!

Seth grew up in Maine, and his interest in science was influenced by both his environmental scientist father and one of his grade school science teachers. Seth's research is deeply multidisciplinary, and his research is not only adding to one of the longest running research projects around (the Juno Ice Field Research), it provides fantastic opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. If you'd like to learn more about Seth's work, check out his UMaine webpage: https://umaine.edu/earthclimate/people/seth-campbell/This conversation was recorded in April 2025. ~~~~~The Maine Science Podcast is a production of the Maine Discovery Museum. It is recorded at Discovery Studios, at the Maine Discovery Museum, in Bangor, ME. The Maine Science Podcast is hosted and executive produced by Kate Dickerson; edited and produced by Scott Loiselle. The Discover Maine theme was composed and performed by Nick Parker. To support our work: https://www.mainediscoverymuseum.org/donate. Find us online:Maine Discovery MuseumMaine Discovery Museum on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Bluesky Maine Science Festival on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedInMaine Science Podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram © 2025 Maine Discovery Museum

Volcanoes aren’t just an earthly phenomenon. They’re found all across the Solar System. In this compilation episode of Planetary Radio, we explore volcanic and geothermal activity on planets, moons, and distant dwarf planets. You’ll hear from Rosaly Lopes, Nick Schneider, Rae Paoletta, Robbie Herrick, Scott Hensley, and Christopher Glein as they share insights into everything from lava flows on Venus and eruptions on Io to the mysterious heat signatures of icy bodies like Eris and Makemake. This journey spans over 20 years of Planetary Radio, featuring interviews hosted by both current host Sarah Al-Ahmed and founding host Mat Kaplan. Then, our Chief Scientist, Dr. Bruce Betts, returns for What’s Up and shares new findings from NASA’s Juno mission, which recently completed close passes by Jupiter’s volcanic moon, Io. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-volcanic-worldsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Progress has been made in our search for alien life. So announced a team of scientists from Cambridge university last week who, using a powerful space telescope, have detected molecules which on Earth are only produced by simple organisms. All in all, it's been a busy week for space science. And all against a backdrop of a US government request to cut NASA's funding. The proposals would need to be approved by the Senate before any cuts are made. But scientists and journalists are asking what it could mean for the future of space science around the world. Science journalist Jonathan Amos and space researcher Dr Simeon Barber discuss.Professor of Planetary Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Richard Binzel updates the programme on plans to learn from an asteroid called Apophis, due to fly past us in four years time. Back on Earth, or rather in it, Victoria Gill gets up close to Roman remains which show that gladiators once fought lions. And Tim O'Brien, Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Manchester joins Victoria Gill in the studio to discuss the week's other science news. Presenter: Victoria Gill Producers: Clare Salisbury, Jonathan Blackwell, Debbie Kilbride Editor: Colin Paterson Production Co-ordinator: Josie Hardy

This week, we take a closer look at the weirdly twisty search for a possible planet in our outer solar system. We'll also take in the happy science of aurorae here, at Jupiter, and over Neptune, as well as a bunch of weird discoveries that has some people screaming "It's Aliens!" (it's not aliens). 

John Holdren is the Teresa and John Heinz Research Professor for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and co-director of the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program at the School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. He is a former Professor of Environmental Science and Policy in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Affiliated Professor in the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science. He is also President Emeritus and Senior Advisor to the President at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, a pre-eminent, independent, environmental-research organization. From 2009 to 2017, Holdren was President Obama's Science Advisor and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, becoming the longest-serving Science Advisor to the President in the history of the position. Before joining Harvard, was a professor of energy resources at the University of California, Berkeley, where he founded and led the interdisciplinary graduate-degree program in energy and resources. Prior to that he was a theoretical physicist in the Theory Group of the Magnetic Fusion Energy Division at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and a Senior Research Fellow at Caltech. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the MacArthur Foundation and Chairman of the Committee on International Security and Arms Control at the National Academy of Sciences. During the Clinton Administration, he served for both terms on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, leading multiple studies on energy-technology innovation and nuclear arms control. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, the American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Academy of Political and Social Science, and the Council on Foreign Relations. He is also a foreign member of the Royal Society of London and the Indian National Academy of Engineering and a former President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His many honors include one of the first MacArthur Prize Fellowships (1981) and the Moynihan Prize of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences. In 1995, he gave the acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, an international organization of scientists and public figures. He holds SB and SM degrees from MIT in aeronautics and astronautics and a Ph.D. from Stanford in aeronautics and astronautics and theoretical plasma physics.Jennifer Spence is the Director of the Arctic Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, with expertise related to sustainable development, international governance, institutional effectiveness, and public policy. Spence currently co-chairs the Arctic Research Cooperation and Diplomacy Research Priority Team for the Fourth International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV), participates as a member of the Climate Expert Group for the Arctic Council's Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, and sits as a member of the Yukon Arctic Security Advisory Council. Spence was the Executive Secretary of the Arctic Council's Sustainable Development Working Group from 2019-2023. Previously, she taught and conducted research at Carleton University and worked for a 2-year term at the United Nations Development Programme. She also worked for 18 years with the Government of Canada in senior positions related to resource management, conflict and change management, strategic planning, and leadership development. Spence holds a Ph.D. in public policy from Carleton University, a MA from Royal Roads University in conflict management and analysis, and a BA in political science from the University of British Columbia.Ralph Ranalli of the HKS Office of Communications and Public Affairs is the host, producer, and editor of HKS PolicyCast. A former journalist, public television producer, and entrepreneur, he holds an BA in political science from UCLA and a master's in journalism from Columbia University.Scheduling and logistical support for PolicyCast is provided by Lilian Wainaina.Design and graphics support is provided by Laura King and the OCPA Design Team. Web design and social media promotion support is provided by Catherine Santrock and Natalie Montaner. Editorial support is provided by Nora Delaney and Robert O'Neill. 

The search for life beyond Earth is no longer science fiction—it takes a lot of data, powerful telescopes and a bit of cosmic detective work. And at the center of this search is University of Chicago astrophysicist Jacob Bean. Bean was part of the team that made history by detecting carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of a distant planet using the James Webb Space Telescope—a major step forward in our ability to study exoplanets.Bean uses cutting-edge tools and discoveries that are reshaping how we think about planet habitability, biosignatures and our place in the universe. From potentially habitable exoplanets like K2-18b to false hopes like Gliese 486b, Bean shares why the atmospheres of these faraway worlds might hold the key to one of humanity's oldest questions: Are we alone in the universe?

This talk explores the Universe's journey from its homogeneous beginnings after the Big Bang to the formation of stars from primordial hydrogen and helium. Through nuclear fusion, stars produced light elements, and their dramatic deaths as supernovae forged elements up to iron. The Zwicky Transient Facility, a cutting-edge 2-telescope project, systematically studies the dynamic Universe. The speaker will discuss remarkable discoveries, including super-luminous supernovae, new transient phenomena, supernova progenitors, planets being engulfed by aging stars, and an abundance of pulsating and binary stars. Speaker Shrinivas R. Kulkarni, George Ellery Hale Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Science, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) In collaboration with Center for Astrophysics and Space Science

With more than 70% of its surface covered in water, Earth is rightly known as the "blue planet". But where did this water - so essential to life - originate? While some theories suggest that hydrogen was delivered to Earth from space via asteroids, new research indicates that the building blocks for water may have been present on our planet all along. We chat to Tom Barrett from Oxford's Department of Earth Sciences to find out more.    

# Journey Through the Cosmos with the James Webb Space TelescopeExplore the groundbreaking discoveries of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope in this fascinating podcast episode. Join The Space Cowboy as he guides you through the telescope's most remarkable findings, from capturing nearly 1,700 galaxy groups in the constellation Sextans to observing a star slowly engulfing a planet. You'll learn about the mysterious pattern of galaxy rotation that suggests our universe may have been born spinning, possibly within a black hole. The episode also features Webb's stunning observations of Neptune's bright auroras, Jupiter's atmospheric phenomena, and the "Cosmic Cliffs" star nursery. Discover how this $10 billion marvel is revolutionizing our understanding of the cosmos while facing potential budget challenges. Perfect for astronomy enthusiasts, space explorers, and anyone curious about our place in the universe.

Jake and Anthony are joined by Dante Lauretta, Principal Investigator of NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, and Professor of Planetary Science at the University of Arizona, to talk about—take a guess!—returning and studying pristine samples from Bennu.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 195 - Dirtiest Thing in the Cleanroom (with Dante Lauretta) - YouTubeDante Lauretta | Lunar and Planetary Laboratory & Department of Planetary Sciences | The University of ArizonaNASA's OSIRIS-REx Mission to Asteroid BennuAbundant ammonia and nitrogen-rich soluble organic matter in samples from asteroid (101955) Bennu | Nature AstronomyAn evaporite sequence from ancient brine recorded in Bennu samples | NatureContamination monitoring of the OSIRIS-REx ISO5 asteroid sample cleanroom - NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)NASA's Asteroid Bennu Sample Reveals Mix of Life's Ingredients - NASASurprising Phosphate Finding in NASA's OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample - NASANASA's Bennu Asteroid Sample Contains Carbon, Water - NASANASA's First Asteroid Sample Has Landed, Now Secure in Clean Room - NASAOSIRIS-APEX - NASA ScienceNASA Asteroid Sampling Mission Renamed OSIRIS-APEX for New Journey - NASAFollow Off-NominalSubscribe to the show! - Off-NominalSupport the show, join the DiscordOff-Nominal (@offnom) / TwitterOff-Nominal (@offnom@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceFollow JakeWeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to MarsWeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceFollow AnthonyMain Engine Cut OffMain Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | TwitterMain Engine Cut Off (@meco@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | TwitterAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo@jawns.club) - jawns.club

This week we look at how the elimination of science programs, projects, datasets, and funding may be shaping into an extinction-level event for US Space-related sciences. Come cry with us.

Somewhere out past Mars in the early hours of Easter Monday, a space probe called Lucy whizzed by an asteroid named Donaldjohanson.Lucy then sent back images showing Donaldjohanson is about five kilometres wide and shaped like a peanut.It's one of a handful of asteroids on Lucy's 12-year itinerary.So what does the billion-dollar mission hope to achieve?

Dr. Kevin France is an Assistant Professor in the Department for Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences as well as an investigator within the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Kevin's research focuses on improving our understanding of planetary systems outside of our own solar system. His research helps determine how the earth was formed, how it came to look the way it does, and how it fits into the broader perspective of planetary systems throughout the galaxy. Kevin also does laboratory and space mission work to develop the technology that will allow them to answer these questions. Kevin spends his free time enjoying an outdoor lifestyle living in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. His hobbies include hiking, skiing, biking, trail running, and spending time with his wife and 9-month old baby. He received his bachelor's degree in Physics and Astronomy from Boston University, and he was awarded his Ph.D. in Astrophysics from Johns Hopkins University. Afterwards, Kevin conducted research as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto. He next worked as a Research Associate and Fellow at the Center for Astrophysics and Space Astronomy at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and during this time, Kevin was awarded the NASA Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellowship. Kevin joined us to chat about his work as well as his life outside the lab.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Erika Kohler, a Research Space Scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. With a Ph.D. in Space and Planetary Science and a BS in Meteorology, Dr. Kohler's research focuses on providing laboratory data that can inform and validate scientific models and mission observations. She does this by designing innovative experiments that simulate the extreme environments found on other planets –  pushing the boundaries of laboratory research as we know it. Dr. Kohler has always been interested in weather and planets, and she built her career on studying these things in tandem. Setting her sights on our sister planet, Venus, she shares some intriguing insights on its atmosphere, surface, and more… Dive in now to find out: How data is collected for Venus. The complicated issues that come with landing a craft on the surface of Venus. How long it takes for probes to get to Venus, and the orbital mechanics that must be worked through. What isotopes and gasses can tell us about the history of Venus and its current conditions. New and exciting missions on the horizon. To learn more about Dr. Kohler and her work, click here now! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9

# Journey Through the Cosmos: James Webb Space Telescope's Groundbreaking DiscoveriesExplore the awe-inspiring revelations from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope in this captivating episode of "Cosmic Horizons" with The Space Cowboy. Discover the unprecedented details of NGC 1514, a dying star ejecting intricate rings of gas and dust captured by Webb's MIRI instrument. Learn about the first-ever observation of a star consuming a Jupiter-sized planet and what this means for our own solar system's distant future. The episode also covers Webb's groundbreaking thermal detection of rocky exoplanet Trappist 1b, opening new possibilities for discovering potential extraterrestrial civilizations. Join us as we examine these astronomical breakthroughs while discussing the telescope's uncertain funding future despite its remarkable scientific contributions. Perfect for astronomy enthusiasts, space exploration fans, and anyone fascinated by our cosmic neighborhood.

In a recent study, Dr. Janice Bishop of the SETI Institute, along with postdoctoral researcher Adomas Valantinas from Brown University, propose that Mars' characteristic red hue is primarily due to ferrihydrite—a water-rich iron oxide mineral—rather than the previously assumed hematite. Analyses of data collected by Martian orbiters, rovers, and laboratory experiments showed that ferrihydrite closely matches the composition of the dust covering Mars' surface. Ferrihydrite typically forms in environments abundant in cool water, suggesting Mars once had significant liquid water on its surface. The research implies that Mars transitioned from a wet to a dry environment billions of years ago. Confirming these findings would require returning samples from Mars to Earth for comprehensive analysis. Join planetary scientist Beth Johnson for a chat with Dr. Bishop about the evidence for ferrihydrite and what it could have meant for life on Mars. (Recorded live 3 April 2025.)

Could there be life on Venus? Guest: Sara Seager, Astrophysicist and Professor of Physics, Planetary Science, and Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are political tensions making people reconsider parenthood? Guest: Zachary Neal, Professor of Psychology at Michigan State University Will the gun buyback program be revived? Guest: Dr. Noah Schwartz, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of the Fraser Valley and Author of “On Target: Gun Culture, Storytelling, and the NRA” Could there be life on Venus? Guest: Sara Seager, Astrophysicist and Professor of Physics, Planetary Science, and Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT How a mouse watching the Matrix improved our knowledge of the brain Guest: Dr. Forrest Collman, Associate Director of Informatics at the Allen Institute for Brain Science How RFK Jr.'s policies can impact Canada Guest: Taylor Noakes, Independent Journalist and Public Historian from Montreal Who should be the MP for Port Moody–Coquitlam? Guest: Bonita Zarillo, NDP Candidate for Port Moody–Coquitlam Guest: Zoe Royer, Liberal Candidate for Port Moody–Coquitlam Guest: Paul Lambert, Conservative Candidate for Port Moody–Coquitlam Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Megafloods are cataclysmic floods that are qualitatively different from weather-related floods. In the podcast, Vic Baker explains our ideas as to what causes megafloods and describes the striking evidence for such floods in the Channeled Scablands of Washington State and in the Mediterranean.Vic Baker has been studying megafloods for over 50 years.  He is a Professor of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, Geosciences, and Planetary Sciences at the University of Arizona.

# Exploring the Cosmos: Latest James Webb Space Telescope Discoveries with The Space CowboyJourney through the universe's most fascinating recent discoveries in this captivating episode of Cosmic Frontiers. Join The Space Cowboy as he breaks down groundbreaking James Webb Space Telescope observations that are revolutionizing our understanding of space.Discover the unprecedented footage of a planet being slowly consumed by its star—not in one gulp as previously thought, but in a millions-of-years death spiral that's forcing scientists to reconsider our own solar system's fate. Learn about early galaxies with synchronized rotation patterns that suggest our universe itself might have been born spinning, potentially supporting mind-bending theories about cosmic origins.The episode also covers Webb's stunning revelations about unexpectedly bright hydrogen emissions from ancient galaxies, Neptune's magnificent auroras, dramatic protostellar jets, and detailed measurements of the scorching exoplanet Trappist-1b. Perfect for astronomy enthusiasts, science lovers, and anyone fascinated by the mysteries of our universe, this accessible deep dive into cosmic wonders will expand your perspective on space exploration and what Webb's revolutionary technology continues to unveil about our cosmic neighborhood.

Methane gas, planetary disks, and Martian sunsets, oh my! Shaun Duke and Paul Weimer are joined by John E. Moores for a discussion about the solar system, planetary science, Mars, and other wonders of our little corner in the universe! Unsurprisingly, we learned a lot, and so will you! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: If you have a question you'd like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from Holy Mole. You can support his work at patreon.com/holymole. See you later, navigator!

More than 3 billion people rely on seafood as a primary source of animal protein. But waters are warming, and fish are moving. Are those fish, and the communities that have relied on them for centuries, in trouble? We go around the world, from the rocky shores of New England to the picturesque island of Niue, to investigate how three popular fish are doing. Along the way, we meet people who are protecting and regrowing these fish populations in different ways and learn about their challenges and successes. This episode features reporting by Barbara Moran at WBUR, which was produced as part of the Pulitzer Center's StoryReach U.S. Fellowship. Columbia University's Duy Linh Tu contributed to the reporting.   Guests:  Tessa M. Hill, Oceanographer and Professor, Earth and Planetary Sciences, UC Davis Mona Ainu'u, Minister for the Ministry of Natural Resources, Niue Jenn Caselle, Research Biologist, Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara Climate One is hosting a series of live conversations as part of SF Climate Week 2025! Tickets for all four of our events, featuring leaders such as Jenny Odell, San José Mayor Matt Mahan, Rep. Jared Huffman, Abby Reyes, Margaret Gordon and two of this year's Goldman Prize winners are on sale now through the official SF Climate Week event calendar. Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you'll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today. For show notes and related links, visit our website. Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than 3 billion people rely on seafood as a primary source of animal protein. But waters are warming, and fish are moving. Are those fish, and the communities that have relied on them for centuries, in trouble? We go around the world, from the rocky shores of New England to the picturesque island of Niue, to investigate how three popular fish are doing. Along the way, we meet people who are protecting and regrowing these fish populations in different ways and learn about their challenges and successes. This episode features reporting by Barbara Moran at WBUR, which was produced as part of the Pulitzer Center's StoryReach U.S. Fellowship. Columbia University's Duy Linh Tu contributed to the reporting.   Guests:  Tessa M. Hill, Oceanographer and Professor, Earth and Planetary Sciences, UC Davis Mona Ainu'u, Minister for the Ministry of Natural Resources, Niue Jenn Caselle, Research Biologist, Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara Climate One is hosting a series of live conversations as part of SF Climate Week 2025! Tickets for all four of our events, featuring leaders such as Jenny Odell, San José Mayor Matt Mahan, Rep. Jared Huffman, Abby Reyes, Margaret Gordon and two of this year's Goldman Prize winners are on sale now through the official SF Climate Week event calendar. Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you'll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today. Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's take a fast-paced journey through all that's new in space and astronomy, including dark energy news, the death of supersymmetry, a closer look at remoting sensing in Earth science, and tales from the launch pad.

Let's take a fast-paced journey through all that's new in space and astronomy, including new results from Perseverance Rover, Venusian Volcanism, Mars Sample Return (or not), Intuitive Machines' failure to land upright, Firefly Aerospace's amazing success with Blue Ghost, and tales from the launch pad.

SpaceX has revolutionised space travel, making reusable rockets a reality and dramatically reducing the cost of reaching orbit. But two high-profile Starship explosions have raised concerns about the company's approach to innovation and risk.Commercial spaceflight has rapidly expanded, with private companies looking to harness space resources and build new economies beyond Earth. Reusability has been a game-changer, significantly lowering launch costs and enabling more ambitious missions.SpaceX operates with a philosophy of rapid iteration, treating test failures as learning opportunities rather than setbacks. While this approach has led to major breakthroughs, repeated failures raise questions about long-term reliability and safety. Meanwhile, growing competition from other private space firms suggests the industry is no longer dominated by a single player.With rivals gaining ground and technological hurdles ahead, does SpaceX still have the edge in the new space economy?Contributors: Professor Michelle Hanlon, Executive Director of the Center for Air and Space Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law in the USAJack Burns, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physics in the USADr Ella Atkins is Fred D. Durham Professor and Head of the Kevin T. Crofton Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department at Virginia Tech in the USADavid Thomas is Director of the Thunderbird School of Global Management's Initiative for Space Leadership, Policy and Business at Arizona State University.Presenter Charmaine Cozier Producers Vicky Carter and Louise Clarke Researcher: Katie Morgan Editor Tara McDermott Production co-ordinator Liam Morrey Technical producer Matthew DempseyImage credit: Brandon Bell via Getty Images

# Exploring Cosmic Wonders: The James Webb Space Telescope's Revolutionary DiscoveriesJourney through the stars with The Space Cowboy as this captivating podcast episode unveils the James Webb Space Telescope's most groundbreaking discoveries. From the puzzling JADES-GS-z13-1 galaxy that's clearing cosmic fog just 330 million years after the Big Bang to the unexpected revelation that most galaxies spin in the same direction, this episode delivers astronomical insights with down-to-earth charm.Discover Webb's first-ever direct observation of carbon dioxide in exoplanet atmospheres, the mysterious weather patterns of free-floating planetary object SIMP 0136, and stunning flares from our Milky Way's central black hole. The episode also showcases Webb's breathtaking imagery of star formation in Herbig-Haro 49/50 and explores how massive early galaxies like JADES-GS-z7-0 are revolutionizing our understanding of cosmic evolution.Perfect for space enthusiasts, astronomy buffs, and anyone fascinated by our universe's deepest mysteries, this episode combines cutting-edge science with accessible storytelling that will leave you stargazing with newfound wonder.

How likely is an asteroid to impact Earth? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice sit down with planetary scientist Rick Binzel, the creator of the Torino Scale, to discuss asteroid hazards, the results of the asteroid sample return, and the search for Planet 9.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/asteroids-headed-towards-earth-with-rick-binzel/Thanks to our Patrons Euclid A LoGiudice, Todd Thedell, Girolamo Castaldo, Scott E Mann, Stephen Luick, Lou Perreault, Tom Womack, jonas dravland, Carla Garner, Matthew Smith, Marcy Hansen, Dale Schurman, David LoMonaco, Manoj Chugh, Lynn Cade, James Dudley, Gaterdog44, Ally Whitchurch, George Pipe, Collin Brumm, Amanda Phillips, George Murray, Daniel Persaud, Jason Bennett, Damon, Dutt Bobba, Gregorio Sanford, Dre Adamenko, rohit chaudhary, Krys Kap, Lukasz Kosturek, Nicholas Smith, Martin Wegner, kaley knowles, SciFiGriffin, Lucas Sanjuan, Jacob Hodges, BRET ANDERSON, Irina Cher, R B, Norway man, Wayne Gosson, and Fireworks for Buddha for supporting us this week. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

Let's take a fast-paced journey thru all that's new in space and astronomy, including DESI takes a census of central blackholes, star formation in clusters, and updates on Europa Clipper, along with a deep dive into Mars science, and tales from the launch pad.

The late Paleozoic ice age began in the Late Devonian and ended in the Late Permian, occurring from 360 to 255 million years ago. It was similar to the present day in two key respects: rising atmospheric CO2 and recurrent major ice sheets. In the podcast, Isabel Montañez explains how we can use proxies to learn about the climate and ocean conditions that prevailed then. And with the help of a model, she says that we can also learn about sensitivities and feedbacks of Earth systems to rising CO2. Among other things, the model suggests that when the atmosphere reaches the present day level of CO2, significant parts of the ocean may become anoxic and ocean circulation patterns alter.Montañez is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California, Davis.

In this episode of This Week in Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik talk with Dr. Jim Green, former NASA Chief Scientist. He discusses how we can search for technosignatures that might indicate advanced civilizations in other star systems, new ideas on Mars sample return, and his fascinating experience consulting on the movie, The Martian! Also: this week's robotic landings on the Moon - one successful, one partly so; what's up with the USAF X-37B mini-shuttle; and recent news on those Energizer Bunnies of space, Voyagers 1&2. Their wings have been clipped a bit, but they just keep going... join us! News Lunar Landing Week: Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander achieved a flawless touchdown in Mare Chrisium, the Intuitive Machines Athena lander reached the Moon's south polar region but experienced issues with its navigation radar (and tipped over), and SpaceX's Starship test flight 8 successfully caught its booster for the third time but lost control of the upper stage, resulting in the breakup of the upper stage and debris over the Bahamas and Caribbean. NASA powered down additional instruments on both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 to extend their remaining power supply, including Voyager 1's cosmic ray system that helped confirm its entry into interstellar space in 2012. The secretive US Space Force X-37B space plane landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base after 434 days in orbit, completing its seventh mission, which tested new orbital capabilities, including aerobraking techniques. A newly released list showcases the world's top ten locations for dark skies and stargazing, with the US only having only one location—in Hawaii—to make the list. Dr. Jim Green His Career: Dr. Green goes over his former role as NASA's Chief Scientist and highlights key aspects of his career, including running the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) and leading NASA's Planetary Science Division, and how his interest in space first began. The Martian: Dr. Green also explains how he got involved as a consultant for Ridley Scott's movie, "The Martian," and how NASA got really involved with the film. He also shares his favorite scene from the movie. NASA's Search for Alien Civilizations: Dr. Green shares how he helped shift NASA's focus from traditional SETI to searching for technosignatures like Dyson Spheres and O'Neill structures in other star systems, securing $10 million in funding for research that could detect megastructures in our astronomical data while noting that humanity may need similar space habitats in 800 million years when the sun makes Earth uninhabitable. Mars Sample Return Strategy: Dr. Green explains how NASA's evolving plan to return samples fropm Mars includes developing Mars Ascent Vehicles that could eventually support human missions while revealing that Perseverance was deliberately designed to place sample tubes on the surface so any nation could retrieve them, making the mission more politically viable with budget offices and Congress. Humanity's Cosmic Future: Dr. Green reveals that he helped create NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program to support new companies for lunar missions. Despite early failures, he emphasized that humanity must utilize space resources and capabilities to ensure our species' long-term survival. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Jim Green Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

In this episode of This Week in Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik talk with Dr. Jim Green, former NASA Chief Scientist. He discusses how we can search for technosignatures that might indicate advanced civilizations in other star systems, new ideas on Mars sample return, and his fascinating experience consulting on the movie, The Martian! Also: this week's robotic landings on the Moon - one successful, one partly so; what's up with the USAF X-37B mini-shuttle; and recent news on those Energizer Bunnies of space, Voyagers 1&2. Their wings have been clipped a bit, but they just keep going... join us! News Lunar Landing Week: Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander achieved a flawless touchdown in Mare Chrisium, the Intuitive Machines Athena lander reached the Moon's south polar region but experienced issues with its navigation radar (and tipped over), and SpaceX's Starship test flight 8 successfully caught its booster for the third time but lost control of the upper stage, resulting in the breakup of the upper stage and debris over the Bahamas and Caribbean. NASA powered down additional instruments on both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 to extend their remaining power supply, including Voyager 1's cosmic ray system that helped confirm its entry into interstellar space in 2012. The secretive US Space Force X-37B space plane landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base after 434 days in orbit, completing its seventh mission, which tested new orbital capabilities, including aerobraking techniques. A newly released list showcases the world's top ten locations for dark skies and stargazing, with the US only having only one location—in Hawaii—to make the list. Dr. Jim Green His Career: Dr. Green goes over his former role as NASA's Chief Scientist and highlights key aspects of his career, including running the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) and leading NASA's Planetary Science Division, and how his interest in space first began. The Martian: Dr. Green also explains how he got involved as a consultant for Ridley Scott's movie, "The Martian," and how NASA got really involved with the film. He also shares his favorite scene from the movie. NASA's Search for Alien Civilizations: Dr. Green shares how he helped shift NASA's focus from traditional SETI to searching for technosignatures like Dyson Spheres and O'Neill structures in other star systems, securing $10 million in funding for research that could detect megastructures in our astronomical data while noting that humanity may need similar space habitats in 800 million years when the sun makes Earth uninhabitable. Mars Sample Return Strategy: Dr. Green explains how NASA's evolving plan to return samples fropm Mars includes developing Mars Ascent Vehicles that could eventually support human missions while revealing that Perseverance was deliberately designed to place sample tubes on the surface so any nation could retrieve them, making the mission more politically viable with budget offices and Congress. Humanity's Cosmic Future: Dr. Green reveals that he helped create NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program to support new companies for lunar missions. Despite early failures, he emphasized that humanity must utilize space resources and capabilities to ensure our species' long-term survival. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Jim Green Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

In this episode of This Week in Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik talk with Dr. Jim Green, former NASA Chief Scientist. He discusses how we can search for technosignatures that might indicate advanced civilizations in other star systems, new ideas on Mars sample return, and his fascinating experience consulting on the movie, The Martian! Also: this week's robotic landings on the Moon - one successful, one partly so; what's up with the USAF X-37B mini-shuttle; and recent news on those Energizer Bunnies of space, Voyagers 1&2. Their wings have been clipped a bit, but they just keep going... join us! News Lunar Landing Week: Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander achieved a flawless touchdown in Mare Chrisium, the Intuitive Machines Athena lander reached the Moon's south polar region but experienced issues with its navigation radar (and tipped over), and SpaceX's Starship test flight 8 successfully caught its booster for the third time but lost control of the upper stage, resulting in the breakup of the upper stage and debris over the Bahamas and Caribbean. NASA powered down additional instruments on both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 to extend their remaining power supply, including Voyager 1's cosmic ray system that helped confirm its entry into interstellar space in 2012. The secretive US Space Force X-37B space plane landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base after 434 days in orbit, completing its seventh mission, which tested new orbital capabilities, including aerobraking techniques. A newly released list showcases the world's top ten locations for dark skies and stargazing, with the US only having only one location—in Hawaii—to make the list. Dr. Jim Green His Career: Dr. Green goes over his former role as NASA's Chief Scientist and highlights key aspects of his career, including running the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) and leading NASA's Planetary Science Division, and how his interest in space first began. The Martian: Dr. Green also explains how he got involved as a consultant for Ridley Scott's movie, "The Martian," and how NASA got really involved with the film. He also shares his favorite scene from the movie. NASA's Search for Alien Civilizations: Dr. Green shares how he helped shift NASA's focus from traditional SETI to searching for technosignatures like Dyson Spheres and O'Neill structures in other star systems, securing $10 million in funding for research that could detect megastructures in our astronomical data while noting that humanity may need similar space habitats in 800 million years when the sun makes Earth uninhabitable. Mars Sample Return Strategy: Dr. Green explains how NASA's evolving plan to return samples fropm Mars includes developing Mars Ascent Vehicles that could eventually support human missions while revealing that Perseverance was deliberately designed to place sample tubes on the surface so any nation could retrieve them, making the mission more politically viable with budget offices and Congress. Humanity's Cosmic Future: Dr. Green reveals that he helped create NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program to support new companies for lunar missions. Despite early failures, he emphasized that humanity must utilize space resources and capabilities to ensure our species' long-term survival. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Jim Green Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

In this episode of This Week in Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik talk with Dr. Jim Green, former NASA Chief Scientist. He discusses how we can search for technosignatures that might indicate advanced civilizations in other star systems, new ideas on Mars sample return, and his fascinating experience consulting on the movie, The Martian! Also: this week's robotic landings on the Moon - one successful, one partly so; what's up with the USAF X-37B mini-shuttle; and recent news on those Energizer Bunnies of space, Voyagers 1&2. Their wings have been clipped a bit, but they just keep going... join us! News Lunar Landing Week: Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander achieved a flawless touchdown in Mare Chrisium, the Intuitive Machines Athena lander reached the Moon's south polar region but experienced issues with its navigation radar (and tipped over), and SpaceX's Starship test flight 8 successfully caught its booster for the third time but lost control of the upper stage, resulting in the breakup of the upper stage and debris over the Bahamas and Caribbean. NASA powered down additional instruments on both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 to extend their remaining power supply, including Voyager 1's cosmic ray system that helped confirm its entry into interstellar space in 2012. The secretive US Space Force X-37B space plane landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base after 434 days in orbit, completing its seventh mission, which tested new orbital capabilities, including aerobraking techniques. A newly released list showcases the world's top ten locations for dark skies and stargazing, with the US only having only one location—in Hawaii—to make the list. Dr. Jim Green His Career: Dr. Green goes over his former role as NASA's Chief Scientist and highlights key aspects of his career, including running the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) and leading NASA's Planetary Science Division, and how his interest in space first began. The Martian: Dr. Green also explains how he got involved as a consultant for Ridley Scott's movie, "The Martian," and how NASA got really involved with the film. He also shares his favorite scene from the movie. NASA's Search for Alien Civilizations: Dr. Green shares how he helped shift NASA's focus from traditional SETI to searching for technosignatures like Dyson Spheres and O'Neill structures in other star systems, securing $10 million in funding for research that could detect megastructures in our astronomical data while noting that humanity may need similar space habitats in 800 million years when the sun makes Earth uninhabitable. Mars Sample Return Strategy: Dr. Green explains how NASA's evolving plan to return samples fropm Mars includes developing Mars Ascent Vehicles that could eventually support human missions while revealing that Perseverance was deliberately designed to place sample tubes on the surface so any nation could retrieve them, making the mission more politically viable with budget offices and Congress. Humanity's Cosmic Future: Dr. Green reveals that he helped create NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program to support new companies for lunar missions. Despite early failures, he emphasized that humanity must utilize space resources and capabilities to ensure our species' long-term survival. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Jim Green Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

1/4: #NEO: JWST SIGHTING OF DECAMETRE MAIN BELT ASTEROIDS AND VIEW METEORITE SOURCES. JULIAN DE WITT, ARTEM BURDANOV, RICHARD BINZEL, MIT PLANETARY SCIENCE. 1958

2/4: #NEO: JWST SIGHTING OF DECAMETRE MAIN BELT ASTEROIDS AND VIEW METEORITE SOURCES. JULIAN DE WITT, ARTEM BURDANOV, RICHARD BINZEL, MIT PLANETARY SCIENCE. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08480-z1962

3/4: #NEO: JWST SIGHTING OF DECAMETRE MAIN BELT ASTEROIDS AND VIEW METEORITE SOURCES. JULIAN DE WITT, ARTEM BURDANOV, RICHARD BINZEL, MIT PLANETARY SCIENCE.  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08480-z 1958

4/4: #NEO: JWST SIGHTING OF DECAMETRE MAIN BELT ASTEROIDS AND VIEW METEORITE SOURCES. JULIAN DE WITT, ARTEM BURDANOV, RICHARD BINZEL, MIT PLANETARY SCIENCE. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08480-z 1958

This is a conversation with Naomi Oreskes, Professor of History of Science and Affiliated Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard University.Originally trained as a geologist, she became a historian of science, and has particularly focused on how certain ideas become established in public debate despite their lack of scientific foundation. She became widely known to the public with her book "Merchants of Doubt," published in 2010.In her latest work "The Big Myth," co-written with Erik Conway, she dissects the origins and construction of what she calls "market fundamentalism" - this quasi-religious belief in the market's ability to solve all societal problems.How has this ideology become so entrenched that it has become a major obstacle in addressing environmental challenges? Why does it continue to exert such influence despite growing evidence of its limitations, especially in the face of the climate crisis?We discuss these questions and many others in this insightful conversation that invites us to reflect on how certain ideas, even when refuted by facts, can continue to shape our societies and our responses to major contemporary challenges.Interview recorded on 05/12/2024Credit photo: Kayana Szymczak---Retrouvez tous les épisodes et les résumés sur www.sismique.frSismique est un podcast indépendant créé et animé par Julien Devaureix.

Let's take a fast-paced journey thru all that's new in space and astronomy, including a potentially killer asteroid, a new look at the history of Earth's water, and a mini-quasi-moon, along with a deep dive into climate change, and tales from the launch pad.

Guest | Dr. Will Grundy, Astronomer, Lowell ObservatoryHost | Matthew S WilliamsOn ITSPmagazine  

Could life hitchhike across planets? What color is the sky on Mars? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye, the current CEO of The Planetary Society, team up to discuss the science and advocacy that goes into space exploration, unraveling the threads of discovery that define humanity's quest to understand the cosmos.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here:https://startalkmedia.com/show/journey-to-the-stars-with-bill-nye/Thanks to our friends at The Planetary Society for partnering with us on this episode! To support their mission and the future of space advocacy, head over to https://Planetary.org/StarTalkThanks to our Patrons Edwin Strode, Mathew M, Micheal McDonough, Evan Fenwick, Trvis Knop, David Hardison, Sarah Kominek, Saulius Alminas, Rob Lentini, Eric Williams, Billy, John Buzzotta, Jeremy Hopcroft, Christian Harvey, Bob Cobourn, Jeremy ALford, Brandon Cortazar, James Finlay, Anastine2020, Rebecca Valenti, jordan battleson, Timothy Jarvis, and Gleb Mpakopuc for supporting us this week. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to new episodes ad-free and a whole week early.