Mars is a frozen, irradiated desert world with almost no hope for life…but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, we explore the mechanics of building a Martian atmosphere, warming the planet, thawing the ice caps, jump-starting a new hydrologic cycle, and bringing back the Martian oceans.
Sep 2023
Peter Thiel // The Diversity Myth, 30 Years Later
Nearly 30 years after publishing “The Diversity Myth,” Peter Thiel sits down with Mike Solana to unpack what the book got right and wrong. Thiel argues that social distractions have stunted scientific progress, slowed economic growth and weakened our geopolitical standing. How di ... Show More
1h 8m
Dec 2020
Patri Friedman // Starting Over
What if we just... left? The challenges facing our cities are enormous. Our problems could take years to correct, or decades. The purpose of this season is to explore new ways to reinvigorate our cities, but it's worth entertaining the alternative. What if we built something new, ... Show More
33m 22s
Sep 2023
Subsurface oceans: The hidden potential of Earth-like exoplanets
Lujendra Ojha, assistant professor at Rutgers University, joins Planetary Radio to discuss how subsurface liquid water on exoplanets orbiting red dwarf stars could increase the likelihood of finding habitable worlds beyond our Solar System. Then we check in with Bruce Betts, chie ... Show More
50m 28s
Apr 2025
Why is Mars red? A new clue to the history of habitability in Martian dust
For decades, scientists hypothesized that Mars’ reddish color came from hematite, an iron oxide thought to have formed through dry oxidation after Mars lost its water. But new research suggests the story is more complex—and more watery—than we once imagined. In this episode, plan ... Show More
54m 56s
Aug 2023
Mars Life Explorer: The search for extant life on the red planet
Many missions are working to understand Mars' past habitability, but could there still be microbial life on the red planet today? This week on Planetary Radio, we discuss the proposed Mars Life Explorer mission with Amy Williams, assistant professor of geology at the University o ... Show More
57m 43s
Nov 2024
S27E135: Miranda's Oceanic Mystery, Mars' Green Spotted Rocks, and the 2035 Martian Walk Target
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 135
*Could Uranus Moon Miranda Have a Subsurface Ocean?
A new study suggests that Uranus' moon Miranda may harbour a liquid water ocean beneath its peculiar jigsaw-like surface. The findings, published in the Planetary Science Journal, challenge existi ... Show More
20m 42s
Apr 2025
Earth Series: The Ocean, Now in Full Color
Life all over the planet—even far from the coasts—depends on the oceans. A pair of NASA satellites, PACE and SWOT, is giving us a fresh look at Earth’s water. PACE tracks color changes driven by tiny plankton, which give us a big-picture view of ocean life. By measuring sea level ... Show More
35m 40s
Aug 2024
Mpox crisis deepens, and liquid water on Mars
In the news, we speak to the WHO about the rise in cases of the new variant of Mpox. Also, the final piece of Stonehenge is traced back to its origin, and Nasa's InSight lander finds evidence of liquid water on Mars. Plus, how horses almost deceived scientists into believing they ... Show More
32m 23s