The disappearing act of Saturn's young rings
Saturn's rings are so young that they may have formed when dinosaurs walked the Earth. Richard Durisen, a Professor Emeritus of Astronomy from Indiana University Bloomington, and Paul Estrada, a Research Scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, join Planetary Radio to discuss their research on the surprisingly recent formation of Saturn's rings and why they are disappearing over time. Then Bruce Betts and host Sarah Al-Ahmed share what's in the upcoming night sky and chat about creepy-crawly constellations. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2023-saturn-young-ringsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
21 Juni 20231h 5min
The oldest organic molecules in the known Universe
Justin Spilker and his colleagues at Texas A&M University have detected the oldest and most distant organic molecules in the known Universe using the James Webb Space Telescope. Justin joins Planetary Radio to talk about the discovery and what it means for our understanding of star formation in the early Universe. We also share what to spot in the night sky this week and pay homage to the first women in space in this week’s What’s Up. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2023-oldest-organic-molecules See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14 Juni 202351min
Starstruck with Sarafina El-Badry Nance
Sarafina El-Badry Nance joins Planetary Radio to discuss her new book, Starstruck: A Memoir of Astrophysics and Finding Light in the Dark. We share a beautiful poem about exploration that will soon be on its way to Europa and let you know how you can put your name on the upcoming Europa Clipper mission. Then we check in with Bruce Betts for What's Up and an update on this week's night sky. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2023-starstruckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
7 Juni 202354min
Space Policy Edition: The policy implications of active SETI
Would meeting an extraterrestrial civilization be good or bad for humanity? Astronomer Dr. Jacob Haqq Misra argues that knowing the outcome in advance is fundamentally impossible, which results in a range of policy implications. Should we camouflage Earth's technosignatures or pour money into perhaps the most transformative event in human history? Should we fear the dark or embrace the unknown? Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2023-spe-policy-implications-of-active-setiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2 Juni 20231h 17min
The Science You’ve Enabled
The Planetary Society has just announced the latest awards in its Science and Technology Enabled by the Public (STEP) Grant program. With regular host Sarah Al-Ahmed on vacation, Mat Kaplan returns to introduce the principal investigator for a project that will prepare us to grow food on the Moon and Mars. Another PI and his team plan to analyze extreme life in super salty lakes. Planetary Society Chief Scientist Bruce Betts heads the STEP Grant program. He’ll give us an overview, and a quick look at the satisfying success of the previous projects. Stick around as Mat joins Bruce for this week’s What’s Up. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2023-step-grant-principal-investigatorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
31 Maj 202350min
Exoplanet enigma: Unpacking the discovery of a "forbidden" planet
This week on Planetary Radio, Shubham Kanodia, the lead on a paper about a so-called“forbidden planet,” TOI 5202 b, joins us to talk about this strange world and why it's upending our understanding of planetary formation. Then Bruce Betts and Sarah Al-Ahmed will team up for What's Up, a look back at this week in space history, and a preview of the upcoming night sky. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2023-forbidden-planetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24 Maj 202350min
Inspiring the next generation through space education
In this week's episode of Planetary Radio, we're honoring the educators who inspire young, curious minds to explore the marvels of the Cosmos. We’ll speak with guests from The Planetary Academy, the Griffith Observatory School Program, and Mt. Wilson's STEM Education program, all of whom are paving the way for the next generation of space enthusiasts and explorers. Then we'll check in Bruce Betts for What's Up so you know what to watch for in the upcoming night sky. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2023-inspiring-the-next-generationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17 Maj 20231h 15min
The case for saving VERITAS
NASA's VERITAS mission to Venus is currently on an indefinite hold. Darby Dyar, Deputy Principal Investigator for the mission, joins Planetary Radio to share the human story behind the spacecraft. She provides an insightful overview of the mission's background, its intended scientific contributions, and how listeners can help advocate for the mission. Then Bruce Betts guides us through upcoming night sky events and looks forward to asteroid Apophis' close flyby of Earth in 2029. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2023-the-case-for-saving-veritasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10 Maj 20231h
