Astro Ben Podcast

Astro Ben Podcast

By Ben GambleScienceAstronomy
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Astro Ben Podcast episodes

  • Christopher E. Mason: Professor of Genomics, Physiology, and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine.

    Christopher E. Mason is a professor of Genomics, Physiology, and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine and specialises in research on the long term effects of space flight on the human body! He is also the author of the thought provoking book, "The next 500 years: engineering life to reach new worlds". In this episode, Ben and Chris discuss Chris's role as principal investigator for the NASA Twins Study, the possibility of life on other world's and whether Chris would be interested in a one way trip to Mars

    0:00 Intro to Professor Chris Mason

    00:38 Lex Friedman Podcast

    01:20 The Mason Laboratory

    03:20 Origins of The Twin Study

    06:00 Twin Study experiment year plan

    08:03 Most surprising results of twin study and is test still going on?

    10:30 What are telomeres?

    13:07 Working with private companies/individuals in Space

    15:38 Safety of individuals on mission to mars

    18:33 Mason Lab contracts

    19:22 "The next 500 years - engineering life to reach new worlds"

    24:50 Where will humanity be (physically) in that time?

    25:50 The even further future (billions/trillions of years)

    27:44 Are we alone in the universe?

    29:23 Is it inevitable that humans will merge with machines?

    30:48 Day in the life of Professor Mason

    32:08 Proudest moments

    34:07 Advice to young people interested in 'humans in Space'

    35:51 Professor Mason in Space

    37:26 One Way Trip

    39:08 Wrap Up and socials

    Follow Professor Chris Mason

    Website: http://masonlab.net/

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/mason_lab?lang=en

    Buy His Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Next-500-Years-Engineering-Worlds/dp/0262044404

    Stay connected with us!

    Use #Astroben across various social media platforms to engage with us!

    Website: www.astroben.com

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrobenpodcast/

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gambleonit

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-astro-ben-podcast/

    Please subscribe and rate - Ad Astra!

    41 min
  • Bill Nye the Science Guy: Engineer, Science Communicator, TV Presenter and total Legend!

    Bill Nye (otherwise known as "Bill Nye the Science Guy") is an American mechanical engineer, science communicator, and television presenter. He is best known as the host of the hit shows Bill Nye the Science Guy and the Netflix show Bill Nye Saves the World. Bill is also the CEO of The Planetary Society and his new series, The End is Nye, premieres August 25, 2022 on Peacock.

    In this episode, Ben and Bill discuss the importance of space, how science communication has evolved and what to do if an asteroid is heading for Earth!

    00:00 Intro to Bill Nye (who needs no introduction)

    00:50 What it is like to be Bill Nye The Science guy

    03:07 How has science communication changed over years?

    06:34 Are people more interested in science now (2022)?

    07:40 The importance of critical thinking

    09:06 The Planetary Society & The Planetary Academy

    10:42 How Bill Nye got into science

    13:40 What does space "represent" to Bill

    16:33 Bills new series: The End is Nye

    17:47 Asteroid heading to Earth - what do we do?

    19:57 Can and who would save us?

    21:00 Elon Musk & SpaceX

    22:30 Has Bill Nye been to space?

    23:42 Is there life out there in the universe?

    26:00 Cosmic perspective and climate change

    27:21 What does Bill think is the meaning of life?

    31:14 Participate!

    32:14 Wrap up & Socials

    Follow Bill Nye

    Website: https://www.billnye.com/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billnye

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billnye/

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillNye

    "The End is Nye" coming to Peacock August 25th

    Stay connected with us!

    Use #Astroben across various social media platforms to engage with us!

    Website: www.astroben.com

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrobenpodcast/

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gambleonit

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-astro-ben-podcast/

    Please subscribe and rate - Ad Astra!

    35 min
  • Professor Sara Seager: Astrophysicist and professor of planetary science and physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

    Professor Sara Seager is an astrophysicist and a Professor of Physics, Professor of Planetary Science, and a Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she holds the Class of 1941 Professor Chair. She has been a pioneer in the vast and unknown world of exoplanets, planets that orbit stars other than the sun. Her ground-breaking research ranges from the detection of exoplanet atmospheres to innovative theories about life on other worlds to development of novel space mission concepts.

    In space missions for planetary discovery and exploration, she was the Deputy Science Director of the MIT-led NASA Explorer-class mission TESS; she was PI of the JPL-MIT CubeSat ASTERIA; is a lead of the Starshade Rendezvous Mission (a space-based direct imaging exoplanet discovery concept under technology development) to find a true Earth analog orbiting a Sun-like star; and most recently has directed a mission concept study to find signs of life or life itself in the Venus atmosphere and is PI of a small mission to Venus targeted for launch in 2023.

    Her research earned her a MacArthur "genius" grant and other accolades including: membership in the US National Academy of Sciences; the Sackler Prize in the Physical Sciences, the Magellanic Premium Medal; and has been awarded one of Canada's highest civilian honors, appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada. Professor Seager is the author of, "The Smallest Lights in the Universe: A Memoir".

    00:00 Introduction to Episode 40

    00:47 Introduction to Sara Seager (Ben impressed by a blackboard)

    03:20 Starshade (here)

    06:04 What is an exoplanet?

    07:28 When was the first exoplanet detected?

    08:15 How many exoplanets are there?

    08:57 When did Sara start her career chasing exoplanets?

    09:57 Scepticism around exoplanets

    12:27 How many planets in the universe could support human life?

    13:17 Science behind interstellar

    14:44 Do we have to send humans/robots to exoplanets?

    15:36 Solar gravitational telescope (hypothetical)

    16:37 Proxima Centuri

    17:38 How long would it take to get there?

    18:06 Starshot and challenges

    19:30 How do people to react to committing to finding another Earth?

    21:06 How do you plan your work?

    22:48 Asteria

    24:44 Is there life on Venus?

    27:03 World reaction to finding life on Venus

    29:06 Are we alone in the universe?

    30:51 The Smallest Lights in the Universe: A Memoir.

    31:48 Optimism

    32:44 Advice to young people

    Follow Professor Sara Seager

    Website: https://www.saraseager.com/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profseagerexoplanets

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/profsaraseager

    You can buy Sara's book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Smallest-Lights-Universe-Memoir/dp/0525576258

    Stay connected with us!

    Use #Astroben across various social media platforms to engage with us!

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrobenpodcast/

    Website: www.astroben.com

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gambleonit

    Please subscribe and rate - Ad Astra!

    37 min
  • Rob Brougham: Director and Co-Founder Braided Communications (deep space communication)

    Braided was created to solve a seemingly unsolvable problem - how can astronauts on future deep space missions communicate effectively with Earth, despite the distance induced latency? With the creation of Braided Communications, Rob Brougham has been able to blend his experience in technology and communications with his passion for healthcare and astrophysics.

    In this episode Rob try's (not for the first time) to explain to Ben how Space Braiding works and why it is so important for the future of Space exploration.

    00:00 Intro to Episode 39: Rob Brougham

    00:57 Bringing on Rob/Small talk

    01:34 London Space Network

    02:28 Rob tries again to explain to Ben how Space Braiding works

    04:39 Typed Communication

    07:22 Deep space communication

    11:24 How far could Space Braiding work?

    15:18 UK Space Agency

    19:21 Radiation effects Space Braiding?

    22:01 Space testing

    23:26 Braided meetings

    28:05 Benefits of business partners in entrepreneurship

    32:00 Origin of name Space Braiding

    34:00 Wrap up and social media's

    Follow Braided Space

    https://braided.space

    Please follow Braided Space on LinkedIn for updates:

    https://www.linkedin.com/company/braided-communications

    Stay connected with us!

    Use #Astroben across various social media platforms to engage with us!

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrobenpodcast/

    Website: www.astroben.com

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gambleonit

    Please subscribe and rate - Ad Astra!

    36 min
  • Bianca Cefalo: Co-founder & CEO of Space DOTS (Dimensionally Optimized Technology Satellites)

    Bianca Cefalo is the Co-founder & CEO of Space DOTS, and Director of International Business Development at Carbice Corp. In this episode, Ben and Bianca discuss what is Space DOTS mission, the humbling lessons on space entrepreneurship, the challenges of being a female space CEO and what can you launch on something the same size as your iPhone!

    00:00 Intro to Bianca & Space DOTS

    00:41 May 4th be with you

    02:24 Female Space Entrepreneurship

    06:10 What is Space DOTS? (Dimensionally Optimized Technology Satellites)

    12:26 Limitations of Pico sats?

    17:13 Space Junk - concern to Space DOTS?

    19:17 The UK Space Agency

    22:41 Lessons of entrepreneurship

    26:55 Process of launching a prototype (literally)

    30:54 Vision for Space DOTS

    33:46 Wrap up & socials

    Follow Bianca & Space Dots

    Website: https://www.space-dots.com/

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancacefalo/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bianca_cefalo_/

    Stay connected with us!

    Use #Astroben across various social media platforms to engage with us!

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrobenpodcast/

    Website (coming soon): www.astroben.com

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gambleonit

    Please subscribe and rate - Ad Astra!

    36 min
  • Sophia Gad-Nasr: PHD candidate in cosmology and astro particle physics. @Astropartigirl

    Sophia Gad-Nasr is a PhD candidate in cosmology and astro particle physics at the University of California in Irvine. Her work focuses on figuring out how the Universe came to be what it is today, primarily via studying dark matter and galaxy evolution. Sophia is also an avid science communicator who loves to share mind-blowing facts about the mysteries of the Universe with the world.

    In this episode, Ben and Sophia discuss wormholes, time travel and the importance of making sure science fiction movies and TV are kept in check by real science (sometimes).

    00:49 Intro to Sophia

    01:20 What is the universe?

    02:48 Where is the Earth in the Milky Way?

    04:40 James Webb Telescope

    06:44 Sophia's career focus - dark matter

    08:26 Self interacting dark matter

    10:22 How do you study dark matter?

    14:50 University of California

    17:00 Neutrino's

    19:00 Science on social media - science communication

    20:45 Science consulting with film & TV companies (Sophia's experience with 12 monkeys)

    24:25 Balancing science with science fiction

    26:34 The future of humanity

    30:00 Sophia's future plans

    32:38 Sophia's recommendations for area's of interest for future studies

    Social's:

    Website: https://astropartigirl.com/

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Astropartigirl

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astropartigirl/?hl=en

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@astropartigirl?lang=en

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Astropartigirl

    Stay connected with us!

    Use #Astroben across various social media platforms to engage with us!

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrobenpodcast/

    Website (coming soon): www.astroben.com

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gambleonit

    Please subscribe and rate - Ad Astra!

    39 min
  • Ksenia Ozkok (Synkova): Founder & CEO at re.gravity I Marketing for space companies | Personal Branding for Space & Tech Leaders

    From a Communications Specialist at an oil and gas company to founding her own creative agency Réaliste (with sub-brand Re.gravity), Ksenia has always had a real passion for personal branding.

    She's worked with organisations as UNOOSA, SpaceWatch.Global, SPACEBIT, and SGAC and has recently launched her own space-related personal branding course that helps people navigate through the jungles of social media marketing and unlock their space influencer-self.

    00:27 Introducing Ksenia Ozkok

    01:17 Ksenia's company

    02:48 Importance of personal branding

    04:46 Tech leaders social media presence

    05:18 Ksenia's preferred social's

    09:00 Personal side of branding

    10:45 Ksenia's first course

    14:38 Imposter syndrome and motivation to be a science communicator

    20:00 Motivation and accountability in a course

    21:22 From course to practical application - success stories

    25:52 Ksenia's background

    32:06 Wrap up and social's

    Social's:

    Ksenia's Website: https://spacexenia.com/crashcourse

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spacexenia/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spacexenia/?hl=en

    For mentoring, marketing consulting, workshops, speaker or other enquiries: [email protected]

    Stay connected with us!

    Use #Astroben across various social media platforms to engage with us!

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrobenpodcast/

    Website (coming soon): www.astroben.com

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gambleonit

    Please subscribe and rate - Ad Astra!

    34 min
  • Izzy House: Author of Space Marketing - "Competing in the new commercial space industry"
    Space Marketing is at the heart of Izzy's career. She combined both of her passions of marketing and space into one expertise. With an extensive marketing background and three marketing degrees, she turns the lens of marketing onto the space industry. In this episode, Ben and Izzy discuss her first book "Space Marketing", the first book in a series of space marketing books. This guide is useful to most businesses that are struggling with marketing, not just space-based companies.

    00:41 Introducing Izzy House

    01:00 What is Izzy's book "Space Marketing" and how did it come about?

    09:33 Izzy's target demographic?

    10:46 Importance of marketing

    13:52 Social Media challenges

    18:15 How new is Space Marketing?

    20:38 Big Data

    22:48 What metrics are useful in Space Marketing?

    27:53 Marketing Examples (SpaceX/Virgin Galactic)

    32:04 Future books?

    34:38 Wrap up and details on how to get Izzy's book

    Izzy's Book:

    GET THE BOOK ON AMAZON!* CLICK HERE AND AUDIBLE! CLICK HERE

    Want to signup to be on the email list? CLICK HERE

    Izzy's Website:

    www.izzy.house

    Stay connected with us!

    Use #Astroben across various social media platforms to engage with us!

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrobenpodcast/

    Website (coming soon): www.astroben.com

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gambleonit

    Please subscribe and rate - Ad Astra!

    37 min
  • Scott "Kidd" Poteet: Mission Pilot (and future astronaut) of Polaris Dawn, retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, former Thunderbird #4 Demonstration Pilot.

    Scott "Kidd" Poteet is a retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who served 20 years in various roles that include Commander of the 64th Aggressor Squadron, USAF Thunderbird #4 Demonstration Pilot, USAF Weapons School Graduate, Operational Test & Evaluation Pilot, and Flight Examiner.

    In this episode, Ben chats with Scott about the newly announced Polaris program and how he feels about being selected as the mission pilot for "Polaris Dawn," SpaceX's next step in making humanity a space-faring civilisation.

    00:43 Introducing Scott Poteet

    01:00 'Kidd'

    02:02 What is Polaris Dawn?

    03:48 Speed of SpaceX's training

    05:50 The role of Mission Pilot

    09:12 How did SpaceX set the mission goals for Polaris Dawn?

    11:29 The first commercial EVA walk

    14:30 How Scott met Jared

    16:54 What is Jared really like?

    21:50 Astronaut Dreams

    29:11 Inspiration and Polaris - measuring success

    34:24 Scott's family reaction to hearing Scott is going to space

    37:10 Wrap up and socials

    The Polaris Program

    Website: https://polarisprogram.com/dawn/

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/polarisprogram

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polarisprogram/

    Scott's Social Media

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/kiddpoteet

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/kiddpoteet?utm_medium=copy_link

    Stay connected with us!

    Use #Astroben across various social media platforms to engage with us!

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrobenpodcast/

    Website (coming soon): www.astroben.com

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gambleonit

    Please subscribe and rate - Ad Astra!

    40 min
  • Janet Ivey: Creator and CEO of Janet's Planet & President of Explore Mars

    The mission of Janet and Janet's Planet is to encourage young people to stand in their awesomeness and inspire future generations to use their innate intelligence and creativity to create a better future in Space.

    In this episode, Ben has his own "Janet's Planet" experience and learns about Janet's strategies to connect with kids, the importance of science communication, and what it would mean to have a kid in space!

    00:25 Introducing Janet Ivy

    01:10 Origin of Janet's Planet

    04:52 Importance of female science communication

    07:48 Importance of STEAM or STREAM

    11:20 Creativity and Empathy in robotics

    16:34 Is Space becoming a more realistic career path for kids?

    22:25 Strategies for engaging with kids

    26:30 Message to teachers

    27:20 Explore Mars

    28:50 A child in space?

    32:38 What Janet has learnt about herself

    36:44 Wrap up and socials

    You can follow Janet here: https://www.janetsplanet.com/

    You can attend the "Human to Mars" summit here: https://www.exploremars.org/

    Social Media

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janetsplanetofficial/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JanetsPlanet

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/janet-s-planet/

    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/JanetsPlanetOfficial

    Stay connected with us!

    Use #Astroben across various social media platforms to engage with us!

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrobenpodcast/

    Website (coming soon): www.astroben.com

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/gambleonit?lang=en

    Please subscribe and rate - Ad Astra!

    39 min

About Astro Ben Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Whether you work in the Space industry or dreamed about becoming an astronaut as a kid, we all have some sort of a connection to Space.