logo
episode-header-image
Sep 10
1h 28m

Full Interview: How to Save The “Doomsda...

NOVA
About this episode
Brent Minchew could have a plan to stop Thwaites Glacier, AKA the “Doomsday Glacier”, cold in its tracks. That’s good news because if this one glacier slips into the sea, it could flood coasts across the planet. The Caltech glaciologist covers what makes the “Doomsday Glacier” the single biggest wild card in sea level rise, the simple idea that could freeze it back to its bed, and his own improbable journey from 9/11 first responder to two of the world's top science institutions. It's a conversation about glaciers, courage, and what it takes to change the story. Learn more about NOVA and visit our YouTube channel. -------------------------- Guest Bio: Brent Minchew is a glaciologist and geophysicist at Caltech, where he leads research on the dynamics of ice sheets and sea level rise, and Chief Scientist at Arête Glacier Initiative. A former U.S. Marine, he now co-leads efforts to test real-world interventions that could stabilize the world's most vulnerable glaciers.
Up next
Yesterday
How Dogs Talk
Federico Rossano didn't care about talking dogs until science made it impossible to ignore. The cognitive scientist joins Hakeem to reveal how a viral social media trend turned into the largest citizen-science study of animal communication ever conducted, tracking over 10,000 dog ... Show More
32m 51s
Sep 8
From Marine One to Mission Antarctica
Brent Minchew responded to the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001. Before he was a glaciologist at Caltech, he was a marine aboard the Marine One presidential helicopter and was one of the first on sight after the deadly attack. Brent joins Hakeem to trace his unlikely path from a ... Show More
30m 40s
Sep 3
Glacier Rescue
Brent Minchew has a plan that could stop the “Doomsday Glacier” in its tracks, and we don’t even need new technology to do it. The Caltech glaciologist returns to unveil an intervention that could save coasts around the world: refreezing Thwaites Glacier to its own bedrock using ... Show More
38m 8s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2006
Dark Matter, Northern Lights and Mars in 3D
Shedding light on the deepest depths of the universe is Gerry Gilmore, who talks about the Big Bang and the mystery of dark matter. We also hear from Peter Muller and Giulio del Zanna about 3-D imaging of the surface of Mars and how solar flares contribute to everything from the ... Show More
1h 1m
Sep 2024
Cosmic Queries – In a Zeptosecond
<p>Can nuclear fusion become the ultimate renewable energy source? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-host Chuck Nice answer fan questions about transporters, the smallest unit of time, expansion, and other ideas that push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe.</p><p>NOTE: ... Show More
45m 3s
Aug 2023
Mapping the universe
A rocket launch, super-massive black holes and ghost particles! This past week’s scientific findings are testament to how hard-at-work cosmologists and physicists have been seeking out the fundamental building blocks of our universe and the rules that govern it. Professor of Cosm ... Show More
35m 18s
Jul 2023
#360: Collaboration vs. Competition: Advancing Space Exploration Together & Other Space Questions
Discover the unexpected twist that ignited our curiosity, the twist that pushed the boundaries of our understanding of the cosmos. Rusty from Donnybrook and Russ from Stylebridge brought forth questions that transformed our podcast into an intergalactic journey, delving into the ... Show More
53m 12s
Nov 2016
The Edge of Space
What do scientists think is outside our universe? Asks Rebecca Standridge from San Francisco in the US. It’s a question which goes right to the limits of human understanding.We look for the answer using balloons, bubbles and the world’s oldest radio telescope.If you have a questi ... Show More
30m 15s
Feb 2024
#390: Wormholes, Black Holes, and Blue Giants: Your Space Questions Answered
Are you ready to uncover the mind-bending secrets of our universe? Join us as we reveal the unexpected truth about the formation of habitable planets and the potential for multiple habitable worlds within a single solar system. You won't believe how many habitable planets could e ... Show More
53m 2s
Sep 2022
Things You Thought You Knew - Big Bang Dilemma
<p>Are we rethinking the Big Bang? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore features of the James Webb Space Telescope, magnetism and how the aurora borealis works, and if the Big Bang is being debunked. </p><p>NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or ... Show More
37m 31s
May 2025
The Universe’s Biggest Secrets
The universe is hiding things from us. This episode is about what it doesn't want you to know.Are we living inside a simulation? Is there an advanced civilization out there, watching and waiting? What happens when the universe finally dies, and how will it end?These aren't hypoth ... Show More
1h 40m
Jul 2017
Order out of Chaos: How to Create a Universe
<p>Numerous mythologies speak to the birth of our universe out of darkness and chaos, but can humans follow in the footsteps of the gods? Can we create a universe in the lab? In this episode of the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast, Robert and Joe explore the primordial darkness of ... Show More
1h 6m