Guest: Thea Weiss

As technology becomes increasingly pervasive, more and more people are perceiving the natural world through screens and simulated experiences. One day, astronauts on long-duration missions may only know natural environments through virtual reality...or perhaps the holodeck. What does this mean for our mental and physical health? In the first of two episodes featuring University of Washington psychologist and astrobiologist Thea Weiss, we discuss whether simulated nature imparts the same restorative benefits as actual nature, the concept of the uncanny valley, and a phenomenon known as "environmental generational amnesia."

Also, check out UW Astrobiology's brand-new series of public science panels, hosted by Mike!

Panel 1 "Where is the best place to look for life in the universe?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd9nGwH6DpA&t=3s&ab_channel=UWAstrobiology

Panel 2 "What is life and how did it begin?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA595wUW5PI&ab_channel=UWAstrobiology

Panel 3 "How will we find and recognize life out there?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlTsw7ZR8I8&t=1s&ab_channel=UWAstrobiology

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Thea: https://twitter.com/TheaWeiss17