Meet The ‘Planet Hunter’ Searching For Alien Life, with Jacob Bean
Big Brains15 Maj 2025

Meet The ‘Planet Hunter’ Searching For Alien Life, with Jacob Bean

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?


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Avsnitt(216)

How To Stop Gun Violence Before It Starts, with Jens Ludwig

How To Stop Gun Violence Before It Starts, with Jens Ludwig

Despite decades of policy ideas, pouring millions of dollars into the problem, and a slow pace of gun control measures, the United States hasn’t made much progress on curbing the epidemic of gun viole...

1 Maj 202530min

Can Your DNA Predict Your Future?, with Dalton Conley

Can Your DNA Predict Your Future?, with Dalton Conley

What if a single number, derived from your DNA, could predict your income, education level or even who you're likely to marry? In his new book “The Social Genome,” Princeton University sociologist Dal...

17 Apr 202534min

Can You Really Die of a Broken Heart? The Hidden Dangers of Grief, with Mary Frances O'Connor

Can You Really Die of a Broken Heart? The Hidden Dangers of Grief, with Mary Frances O'Connor

When we lose someone, we love, we often say we have a broken heart—but what if that’s not just a metaphor?In her new book “The Grieving Body: How The Stress of Loss Can Be An Opportunity For Healing” ...

3 Apr 202531min

The Science Behind Raising Successful Kids, with Ariel Kalil

The Science Behind Raising Successful Kids, with Ariel Kalil

New federal data paints a stark picture: American children are falling behind in reading and test scores, with the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged kids growing wider. But is this really just ...

20 Mars 202531min

Do Animals Understand Death?, with Susana Monsó

Do Animals Understand Death?, with Susana Monsó

What does it mean to understand death? For centuries, philosophers have argued that only humans can truly comprehend mortality. But what if they’re wrong?In this episode, we speak with philosopher Sus...

6 Mars 202532min

Why Measles Is Resurging—And The Rise Of Vaccine Hesitancy, with Adam Ratner

Why Measles Is Resurging—And The Rise Of Vaccine Hesitancy, with Adam Ratner

In 2000, the United States declared that measles had been eliminated. But just 15 years later, the disease made a comeback—and it hasn’t gone away since. In this episode, Dr. Adam Ratner, director of ...

20 Feb 202535min

The Little-Known Secrets To A Good Life, with Shigehiro Oishi

The Little-Known Secrets To A Good Life, with Shigehiro Oishi

What makes a good life? For decades, psychologists have debated whether true fulfillment comes from happiness—a life of comfort and joy—or meaning—a life of purpose and impact. But what if there's a t...

6 Feb 202533min

How Bioelectronics Could Heal Our Bodies And Minds, with Bozhi Tian

How Bioelectronics Could Heal Our Bodies And Minds, with Bozhi Tian

Imagine a future in which Band-Aids talk to your cells, pacemakers are powered by light and your gut microbiome gets a tune-up—all thanks to tiny bioelectric devices. Sounds like sci-fi, right? Think ...

23 Jan 202529min

Populärt inom Utbildning

historiepodden-se
rss-bara-en-till-om-missbruk-medberoende-2
det-skaver
alska-oss
harrisons-dramatiska-historia
nu-blir-det-historia
not-fanny-anymore
rss-viktmedicinpodden
allt-du-velat-veta
sektledare
johannes-hansen-podcast
rss-foraldramotet-bring-lagercrantz
roda-vita-rosen
sa-in-i-sjalen
i-vantan-pa-katastrofen
rss-max-tant-med-max-villman
rss-sjalsligt-avkladd
rikatillsammans-om-privatekonomi-rikedom-i-livet
vi-gar-till-historien
rss-basta-livet