For the Love of Science

In this special episode, hear the story of BAERI’s founding from the founders themselves: husband and wife team Robert Bergstrom and Sharon Sittloh.

In this episode we hear from planetary scientist Victoria Hartwick who works with the Mars Climate Modeling Center at NASA Ames. The conversation includes a discussion about Dr. Hartwick’s paper that explores whether wind turbines on Mars could be a viable source of energy for future humans on that planet, then ranges to how clouds form in the highest reaches of the atmosphere, how climate models work, and how planetary climates, including our own here on Earth, are affected by the space environment around them.

Exoplanet - Any planet outside of our solar system (i.e., a planet revolving around a star that is not our Sun)

Climate model - Computer programs that simulate weather patterns over time

Kelvin - The temperature scale used in exoplanetary science

Ablation - The breaking up of a meteor when it travels through Earth’s atmosphere

Noctilucent clouds - Pearlescent extremely high-altitude clouds visible at dawn and dusk. They are formed on meteoric smoke.

What’s it like to work as a climate scientist today? In this episode I speak with climate scientist Kristina Pistone about her research, her role on the sustainability commission for the city of Sunnyvale in California, and how our current system of science funding impacts her ability to do her work. 

More about Kristina: https://baeri.org/people/kristina-pistone

How to save a planet podcast: https://gimletmedia.com/shows/howtosaveaplanet/llh8gxg/is-your-carbon-footprint-bs

In this two-part series we meet two researchers who will soon be working with data from the recently launched James Webb Space Telescope. In Part II, I speak with Jesse Bregman, an astrophysicist who has spent his 50 year career at NASA Ames, and been part of some pretty amazing leaps in infrared astronomy. The conversation ranges from the backyard telescope he and his brother built, to how astrochemistry research could lead us to an understanding of the origins of life on Earth.

You can learn more about Jesse's work by going to researchgate.net/profile/bregman-jesse.

In this two-part series we meet two researchers who will soon be working with data from the recently launched James Webb Space Telescope. In this episode, Part I, I speak with early career astronomer Taylor Bell about his work categorizing exoplanets and the path that led him to where he is today.

You can learn more about Taylor and his work by visiting taylorbell.ca

Fourteen current and alumni researchers at the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute answer the question: What does science mean to you?

We hear from:Geert BarentsenAnn Marie CodyChristina HedgesSusan HobanDarlene LimAmber McCullumZara MirmalekSommer NicholasJuan Torres PerezEmily SchallerCindy SchmidtAlex SehlkeKatie SternNikki Tulley

This episode was edited and scored by Danny Clay.

This two-part series is all about exoplanets, planets outside of our solar system, and how they and the stars they orbit are a key part of the search for extraterrestrial life.

In this episode, Part 2, we talk with two more BAERI folks, astronomer Geert Barentsen and science communicator Kassie Perlongo, about their citizen science accelerator, Planet Hunters Coffee Chat, where they teach you how to dig into space telescope data to look for planets, and other potentially weird things, yourself.

This two-part series is all about exoplanets, planets outside of our solar system, and how they and the stars they orbit are a key part of the search for extraterrestrial life.

In this episode, Part 1, we talk with two BAERI researchers, Christina Hedges and Ann Marie Cody, also a PI at the SETI Institute. We’ll hear about their work on exoplanets, weirdly behaving stars, and how it connects to the search for alien superstructures. 

In this episode we speak with two team members of NASA’s Earth Science Project Office (ESPO), and learn about the essential, behind the scenes work they’re doing to help scientists get out into the field and collect the data they need to better understand our planet.

Guests:

• Sommer Nicholas, Deputy Project Manager, ESPO
• Katie Stern, Deputy Project Manager, ESPO

Learn more at espo.nasa.gov

For the Love of Science is produced by the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute. Learn more at: baeri.org

Music by Danny Clay.

Dr. Emily Schaller talks about running SARP, a unique NASA internship that gives undergraduate students hands-on experience in atmospheric science research.

Learn more at baeri.org/sarp

Listen to SARP alumna Katie Dong's interview with Oregon State University.