Have We Found Evidence of Life on Venus?
An international team has detected phosphine gas in the clouds above Venus. Naturally-produced phosphine on Earth is created by anaerobic bacteria. We’ll listen to portions of the media briefing at which this result was announced. Then we’ll get perspective on the find from the Planetary Society’s Casey Dreier. Astrophysicist and Venus atmosphere expert Javier Peralta will share his reaction and a big find of his own on our nearest planetary neighbor. Links and more are at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/0916-2020-venus-phosphine-discovery-casey-dreierSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16 Syys 202048min
Space Policy Edition: The Moon-to-Mars Strategy, with Dr. Scott Pace
How spacefaring nations prioritize funding can be just as important, if not more so, than the capabilities of the commercial sector, says Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar, President and CEO of the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration. She joins the show to talk how these complement each other, and why the SLS and Orion programs deserve support along with work by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin. Mat and Casey also catch up on the dizzying amount of space news in July, including important progress on NASA’s budget from the U.S. House of Representatives. Explore more here. https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/0911-2020-spe-scott-paceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11 Syys 202051min
A Planetary Mystery is Solved, and it’s Bill Nye’s Anniversary!
JPL’s Marc Rayman, former Dawn mission director, reveals the secrets of those bright spots on dwarf planet Ceres. First though we celebrate Bill Nye’s 10th anniversary as CEO of The Planetary Society. Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Vaughn is followed by the Science Guy himself. And there’s a Nye invention at the heart of this week’s What’s Up space trivia contest. Links and more are at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/0909-2020-marc-rayman-ceres-bill-nye-jennifer-vaughn-10th-anniversarySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
9 Syys 202056min
The Sirens of Mars Call to Us
Georgetown University planetary scientist Sarah Stewart Johnson has written a beautiful book that chronicles our long quest for life on the Red Planet. That search may finally be reaching a climax with the new Perseverance rover and the beginnings of sample return. A copy of The Sirens of Mars will go to the winner of yet another What’s Up space trivia contest. In a nice coincidence, Bruce Betts will tell us where to find a brilliantly bright Mars in the night sky. Links and more are at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/0902-2020-sarah-stewart-johnson-sirens-of-marsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2 Syys 202052min
Katie Mack and The End of Everything
Known as Astrokatie to her 370 thousand Twitter followers, astrophysicist and cosmologist Katie Mack has written a funny, fantastic guide to the end of the universe. The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking) explores five major scenarios for the big finish of the cosmos that scientists currently consider to be possible. We’ll award a copy of Katie’s book to the winner of this week’s What’s Up space trivia contest. Links and more are at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/0826-2020-katie-mack-end-of-everythingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26 Elo 202048min
Make Room! Worlds May Crowd Some Habitable Zones
Newly-published research led by Stephen Kane finds room for as many as 6 habitable zone planets around some stars. Why then is Earth on its own? The UC Riverside planetary scientist and astrobiologist will explain. Host Mat Kaplan is not prepared in the least for the latest space trivia contest question posed by Planetary Society chief scientist Bruce Betts. Do you read The Downlink? The Planetary Society’s great newsletter includes space headlines we review. Links and more are at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/0819-2020-stephen-kane-habitable-zone-worldsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19 Elo 202057min
Another Ray Gun Heads for Mars. We Hear It Working.
First there was ChemCam on Mars rover Curiosity. Now, SuperCam is on its way to the Red Planet aboard Perseverance. We’ll talk with principal investigator Roger Wiens about the new and improved, laser-firing instrument that delivers rock spectra and other science from a distance. SuperCam’s microphone will finally let us listen to the Martian wind and more. Mastcam-Z is right next to SuperCam on the Perseverance mast. You’ve turned it into great acronyms that we’ll share in What’s Up. Links and more are at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/0812-2020-roger-wiens-supercam-mars-microphoneSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12 Elo 202048min
Space Policy Edition: Why the SLS is a National Asset, and Why That Matters
How spacefaring nations prioritize funding can be just as important, if not more so, than the capabilities of the commercial sector, says Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar, President and CEO of the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration. She joins the show to talk how these complement each other, and why the SLS and Orion programs deserve support along with work by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin. Mat and Casey also catch up on the dizzying amount of space news in July, including important progress on NASA’s budget from the U.S. House of Representatives. Learn more here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
7 Elo 20201h 31min
