logo
episode-header-image
Jun 6
11m 47s

Trump wants to put humans on Mars: what ...

SPRINGER NATURE LIMITED
About this episode

In this Podcast Extra, we examine President Donald Trump's calls for NASA to land humans on Mars. Although the White House has proposed spending some US$1 billion in 2026 on Mars plans, critics say the final cost will likely be hundreds of billions of dollars spread over a number of years.


This call comes amidst plans to drastically reduce NASA's funding, and the proposed cancelling of dozens of the space agency's missions, including projects to study Earth, Mars and Venus.


News: Trump wants to put humans on Mars — here’s what scientists think

News: Five key climate and space projects on Trump’s chopping block

News: Are the Trump team’s actions affecting your research? How to contact Nature


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
Ancient DNA reveals farming led to more human diseases
00:48 The past 35,000 years of diseaseAncient DNA evidence shows that the advent of agriculture led to more infectious disease among humans, with pathogens from animals only showing up 6,500 years ago. The DNA, extracted from human teeth, shows the history of diseases present in ... Show More
37m 6s
Jul 4
Audio long read: How to speak to a vaccine sceptic — research reveals what works
Questions and doubts about vaccines are on the rise worldwide and public-health specialists worry that these trends could worsen. But while the shift in public attitudes towards immunizations can leave scientists, physicians and many others feeling disheartened, a surge of resear ... Show More
16m 13s
Jul 2
3D-printed fake wasps help explain bad animal mimicry
In this episode:00:45 Why animals evolve to be imperfect mimicsMany harmless animals mimic dangerous ones to avoid being eaten, but often this fakery is inaccurate. To help explain why evolution sometimes favours imperfect mimicry, a team 3D printed a range of imaginary insects. ... Show More
27m 19s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2024
What does the U.S. election mean for NASA?
  Presidential elections in the United States don’t just shape the country’s future — they set the course for space exploration. This week, Casey Dreier, the chief of space policy at The Planetary Society, analyzes what the incoming Trump administration could mean for NASA’s fund ... Show More
59m 41s
Mar 2025
An extinction-level event for NASA science
NASA's science missions have transformed our understanding of the Universe, from breathtaking images of deep space to robotic explorers on Mars. But now, a reported 50% cut to NASA's science budget threatens to shut down missions, halt discoveries, and devastate the future of spa ... Show More
1h 7m
Jun 3
ICYMI: Uncertainty at NASA After Trump Pulls Musk Ally's Nomination
President Donald Trump said he would name a new nominee for NASA administrator, just days before billionaire Jared Isaacman, the current pick and a close ally of Elon Musk, was to face his planned Senate confirmation vote. It wasn’t immediately clear why Trump was dropping the no ... Show More
11m 32s
Mar 2025
Mind over Mars: The psychology of space exploration, with Suzanne Bell, PhD
Astronauts on a future mission to Mars will face many challenges, including three years in a tiny spacecraft and a Mars habitat, with just a few other crew members and a 22-minute delay for any communication back to Earth. Psychologist Suzanne Bell, PhD, head of NASA’s Behavioral ... Show More
42m 5s
Dec 2024
Meet Leaders Of 3 Local Conservation Projects | Preserving ‘Space Junk’ Left On Mars
What makes three very different conservation projects so successful? These experts say it’s getting the community involved. And, archaeologists make a case for tracking and preserving artifacts left on Mars to chronicle humans’ first attempts at interplanetary exploration.Meet 3 ... Show More
18m 21s
Jun 4
Jared Isaacman: What went wrong at NASA | The All-In Interview
(0:00) David Friedberg welcomes Jared Isaacman (1:10) Jared's background: billion-dollar founder, pilot, commercial astronaut (7:15) Relationship with Elon Musk, road to becoming a commercial astronaut (16:37) Becoming Trump's nominee to lead NASA, the major issues at NASA and hi ... Show More
1 h
Jan 2025
Make science great again
Nasa's OSIRIS-REx mission to collect a sample from an asteroid has been a great success. Asteroid Bennu's sample yields a watery pool of history, thanks to an international team of scientists including the London Natural History Museum's Sarah Russell. Also, in a week of tumultuo ... Show More
40m 41s
May 2024
Day of Action 2024: The Planetary Society goes to Washington
Every year, passionate space advocates from the United States travel to Washington, D.C., to ensure that their vision for the future of space exploration gets the funding and support it needs. Nearly 100 advocates gathered this year on Monday, April 29, 2024, to call for increase ... Show More
54m 29s
Apr 9
Elon Musk Brings His Vision for Mars to NASA
The SpaceX founder has backed a friend to lead the space agency and make a Mars mission a priority. Wall Street Journal reporters Emily Glazer and Micah Maidenberg talk about Musk’s efforts to align NASA’s priorities with his own, and what could happen to its moon program Artemis ... Show More
13m 56s