You've heard the news about a possible detection of ancient life on Mars... now get the inside scoop from one of the paper's key authors. Dr. Michael Tice is a research scientist and planetary geologist at Texas A&M, and has a lot to say about how the research was pulled from the year-old drill sampling, the incredible rigor that was applied to their findings, and what's next in this amazing story. It's the one we've all been waiting for--a possible indication of life beyond our own planet!
Headlines:
NASA's Interim Chief Declares Mission to Beat China Back to the Moon
Starlink Satellite Photobombs Maxar Image of Secret Chinese Airbase
James Webb Telescope Captures Stunning Interstellar Jet "Flatulence"
Main Topic: Signs of Ancient Life Discovered on Mars by Perseverance
Dr. Michael Tice Explains Potential Biosignatures in Jezero Crater
Discovery of Unusual "Leopard Spots" Linked to Possible Microbial Activity
Redox Reactions and Organics Suggest Favorable Conditions for Life
Debate Between Biological and Abiotic Explanations for Findings
Cutting-Edge Rover Instruments Push Detection Limits
Challenges of Confirming Life Without Sample Return to Earth
Future Work Needed: Sample Return Missions and Analogs on Earth
Broader Reflections on Mars Science, Search for Life, and Technology Choices
Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
Guest: Dr. Michael Tice
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1:04:06
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1:04:06
TWiS 176: Beyond the Solar System - With Dr. Alan Stern, PI for New Horizons
What's next in deep space exploration? Dr. Alan Stern, planetary scientist and the Principal Investigator for the New Horizons mission to Pluto, joins us to discuss what we learned about Pluto, the prospects for a future Pluto orbiter, the news from the Kuiper Belt, and to talk about his experiences as a commercial suborbital astronaut. Oh, and he might just mention that he was short-listed to fly on the space shuttle! Alan is one of those people that just has one adventure after another... did I mention that he dove on the Titanic? Yeah, that kind of guy. Join us for an hour of deep space adventure.
Headlines:
U.S. Faces Warnings of Losing Lunar Race to China
NASA Selects a New Associate Administrator
Third Interstellar Comet Spotted With Unusual CO2 Cloud
Main Topic: Pluto, the New Horizons Mission, and the Future of Planetary Exploration
Why Pluto Was Chosen as a Prime Target for Exploration
Building and Launching New Horizons: Team Effort and Challenges
Emotional Moments as Pluto Data Arrived on Earth
Precise Navigation: Getting New Horizons Safely to Pluto
Pluto's Surprising Geological Activity and Complexity
Major Discoveries at Pluto's Moon Charon
Exploring Arrokoth: Insights into Planetary Formation
The Search for a Possible Third Flyby Target in the Kuiper Belt
The Importance of Long-Term Funding for New Horizons
NASA Budget Threats Could End Multiple Key Space Missions
The Possible Role of Kuiper Belt Objects in Delivering Organics to Earth
How Flybys at Pluto and Arrokoth Reshaped Theories of Planetary Systems
Prospects for Future Pluto Orbiters and Human Spaceflight
Advocacy for Continued U.S. Leadership in Deep Space Exploration
Host: Rod Pyle
Co-Host: Fredrick (Rick) Jenet
Guest: Alan Stern
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57:02
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57:02
TWiS 175: More AI in Space - Crews and AI with Dr. Daniel Selva
So you're on a months-long flight to Mars... seven months with five people and one computer as crewmates. You've been told to put any fears of a HAL-9000 computer takeover of your mission out of your mind, but can you, really? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Selva of Texas A&M joins us to talk about his recent study of crew interactions and trust with AI using, well, computers, and the HERA habitat simulator at NASA's Johnson Space Center. The results were not entirely as expected! Join us for this fascinating look at crew-AI interaction in spaceflight procedures and emergencies.
Headlines:
SpaceX Starship Flight 10 Nails Test Milestones, Despite Some Reentry Damage
Simulated Satellite Deployments and Heat Shield Experiments Show Progress for Starship
SETI's 1977 "Wow Signal" Mystery Gets Closer to Natural Explanation
China Prepares for 2030 Moon Landing with New Hardware Tests, Spurs US Lunar Competition
Main Topic: AI Helpers for Diagnosing Space Emergencies (Interview with Dr. Daniel Selva)
Dr. Selva's Background and Journey from Europe to Texas A&M and Space AI Research
Using AI Agents to Assist Astronauts During Long-Duration, Deep Space Missions
Details of the DAPHNE Virtual Assistant Study: Lab and NASA Analog Experiments
Surprising Results: AI Shows Big Benefits in Lab, Mixed Results with Experienced Crews
Individual Differences: Experience, Trust, and Task Complexity Influence AI Effectiveness
Real-World Limitations: Emergency Charts vs. AI, Training, and Interface Design Challenges
Broader Implications: Evolving AI to Assist Mission Control, Crew Autonomy, and Future Tech
Fun Sci-Fi Comparisons: Favorite AI Assistants in Movies and the Reality of Human-AI Collaboration
Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
Guest: Dr. Daniel Selva
Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.
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58:15
TWiS 174: Gifts From Orbit - With Lynn Harper
The International Space Station has been serving as a major research center in space for over 25 years, but its time is coming to an end with a planned deorbit in 2030. Should we end this expensive experiment in space, or are we squandering a $150 billion resource? Lynn Harper, the Lead for Integrative Studies at the NASA Ames Space Portal, joins us to discuss some of the amazing research taking place aboard the ISS. We've all heard about crystal growth and so forth, but how about the promising work done on cancer treatments? Or the growing of replacement retinas? Perhaps the potential breakthroughs for treating Alzheimer's disease might interest you? These and many more will be the focus of our conversation.
Headlines:
NASA Earth Science Faces Massive Cuts Under Interim Administrator Sean Duffy
James Webb Telescope Discovers New Moon Orbiting Uranus
SpaceX Gears Up for Starship Flight 10, Hopes for First Success of the Year
Main Topic: International Space Station Spinoffs & NASA's InSPA Breakthroughs
NASA's InSPA Program Pushes Space-Based Research for Terrestrial Benefits
Microgravity Research Triggers Life-Changing Advances in Medicine and Technology
Space-Grown Protein Crystals Revolutionize Cancer Treatments, Save Lives and Billions
ISS Tissue Engineering Enables Next-Generation Organ and Cell Therapies
Accelerated Disease Modeling in Space Fast-Tracks Drug Discovery for Alzheimer's, ALS, and Cancer
Space-Based Manufacturing Dramatically Improves Semiconductor and Fiber Optic Quality
The Case for Extending ISS Operations to Maintain Biomedical & Industrial Progress
Future Visions: Overlapping Space Stations and Expansion into Commercial Free-Flyers and Industrial Complexes
Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
Guest: Lynn Harper
Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.
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1:08:05
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1:08:05
TWiS 173: The Return of the Malik - The Wild Proposals on NASA's Table
Tariq is back from the Far East and bursting with space news! This week we'll look at the passing of Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell, potential re-tasking of NASA's Juno probe from Jupiter to the interstellar interloper, 3I/Atlas--Avi Loeb wants it, of course--the third launch of ULA's Vulcan rocket, Artemis 2 lunar flyby updates, Virgin Galactic's new spaceplane (can they ever make a profit?), a proposed Pluto orbiter--with a planned mission of 50 years--and much more, on This Week in Space!
Headlines:
Remembering Apollo 13's Jim Lovell
ULA's Vulcan Rocket Hits New Milestone With Powerful Launch
Could Juno Chase an Interstellar Visitor?
NASA Eyes Pluto Orbiter Mission Persephone
Virgin Galactic Preps Next-Gen Delta Spaceplane
Strange "Helmet" Rock Spotted on Mars
Artemis II Orion Capsule Fuels Up for 2026 Launch
Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
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The new space age is upon us, and This Week in Space leaves no topic untouched. Every Friday, join Editor-in-Chief of Ad Astra magazine, Rod Pyle and Managing Editor of Space.com, Tariq Malik as they explore everything related to the cosmos. You can join Club TWiT for $10 per month and get ad-free audio and video feeds for all our shows plus everything else the club offers...or get just this podcast ad-free for $5 per month.
New episodes posted every Friday.