A City On Mars

Dr Kelly Weinersmith is a scientist, pop-sci author, and podcaster. She is on the biosciences faculty at Rice University, a research associate at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, the Vice President of the American Society of Parasitologists and President of the Helminthological Society of Washington. After undergraduate and masters degrees at Bowling Green, she did her PhD in ecology at the University of California Davis. Her award-winning books include 2023's "A City On Mars" which we talk about here.

How do we sift through the optimism and scepticism about space exploration in general and living on the Moon and Mars in particular? How will we survive in the long term? What are the big questions about food, health, reproduction, travel, living together and becoming self-sufficient? Together with her husband Zach, "A City On Mars" is a funny, informative and accessible assessment of this challenge that everyone can enjoy.

For more on Kelly, her website is Weinersmith |

For her books, see here: Dr. Kelly Weinersmith

For her Royal Society book prize, see here: Kelly Weinersmith: To Boldly Go? | Royal Society

The Polymath World Channel brings you interviews with extraordinary researchers and academics working on the frontiers of their disciplines. Meet and hear from scientists, professors, lecturers, researchers, engineers, philosophers and astronauts.

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#PolymathWorldChannel #PursueExtraordinary #Mars #SpaceScience #SpaceExploration #NASA #ESA #SpaceX #BlueOrigin #SpaceTravel #Artemis #MarsSociety #Space #Moon #Ecology #ScienceCommunication #CityOnMars #KellyWienersmith #BehavioralEcology #Parasites #HumanReproductionInSpace #Artemis2 #MarsColonization #Regolith #Radiation #NuclearPower #Habitats #FoodProduction #Psychology

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Nuclear Propulsion

Can we travel further, faster in space with nuclear propulsion? As NASA gets ready to launch Space Reactor-1 Freedom (SR-1) in 2028 we explore the details of this technology. This mission aims to demonstrate a reactor generating over 20 kW of power, using HALEU (high-assay low-enriched uranium) fuel. People can get nervous about nuclear, but this technology can (and will) revolutionise everything about space technology, power and energy here on earth, and clean processes much needed on and off world.

Patrick Rennie is a physicist and rocket scientist. He is a Fellow and board member of the British Interplanetary Society, president of the Mars Society, and a space engineer with experience in nuclear systems.

Check out our previous episode on space planes here: Patrick Rennie on Rocket Science, Mars Exploration & Space Innovation |Polymath World #3

Check out our discussion on Mars here: Polymath World #50: The Mars Society UK | Exploring the Red Planet

The Polymath World Channel brings you interviews with extraordinary researchers and academics working on the frontiers of their disciplines. Meet and hear from scientists, professors, lecturers, researchers, engineers, philosophers and astronauts.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe. New episodes every Wednesday.

#PolymathWorldChannel #PursueExtraordinary #Nuclear #Physics #SpaceScience #SpaceExploration #HistoryOfSpace #Moon #Mars #Voyager #NASA #ESA #BritishInterplanetarySociety #MarsSociety #SpaceX #BlueOrigin #NuclearPropulsion #RTGs #NuclearThermalPropulsion #NuclearElectricPropulsion #SpaceTechnology #RocketScience #DeepSpaceMissions #SpacePowerSystems #NuclearPower #Radiation #NuclearFusion #NuclearFission #Artemis #Energy #SpaceColonization #CleanEnergy

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GENE EDITING AND TERRAFORMING MARS

Dr Erika DeBenedictus is CEO of Pioneer Labs. She is a computational physicist and synthetic biologist working at the intersection of space science and the life sciences. She studied at Caltech before moving to MIT and did her postdoc under 2024 Nobel Laureate David Baker. She also trained at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. At Pioneer Labs they use several methods, including CRISPR and other forms of gene editing, to engineer microbes such as cyanobacteria to help make Mars more hospitable to earth life. The Great Oxidation event saw cyanobacteria transform earth's atmosphere into a world inhabitable for us and the same could happen on Mars but much faster. Mars was once very earth like - could it be brought back to its life-supporting state?

The Polymath World Channel brings you interviews with extraordinary researchers and academics working on the frontiers of their disciplines. Meet and hear from scientists, professors, lecturers, researchers, engineers, philosophers and astronauts.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe. New episodes every Wednesday.

#PolymathWorldChannel #PursueExtraordinary #Mars #Terraforming #LifeSciences #SpaceScience #Microbes #PioneerLabs #Biotechnology #Astrobiology #EnvironmentalScience #SyntheticBiology #Photosynthesis #PlanetaryProtection #Engineering #Biosphere #Ethics #SpaceExploration #Climate #EvolutionaryBiology #Microbiology #PlanetaryScience #Science #DirectedEvolution #Genetics #GeneEditing #CRISPR

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COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT

Many thanks to the British Interplanetary Society for allowing me to publish this lecture on my channel. I was delighted and honoured to speak at the BIS Reinventing Space conference for a second year in a row.

What are the implications for human spaceflight and space medicine coming from the recent revolutions in computational biology? How can we use it to better assess astronaut's health and assist them in travelling further and living longer off-world? AlphaFold and its competitors are opening up new possibilities for this space age.

The Polymath World Channel brings you interviews with extraordinary researchers and academics working on the frontiers of their disciplines. Meet and hear from scientists, professors, lecturers, researchers, engineers, philosophers and astronauts.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe. New episodes every Wednesday.

#PolymathWorldChannel #PursueExtraordinary #DNARepair #SpaceMedicine #ComputationalBiology #CancerTreatment #GeneEditing #BioInk #AlphaFold #AstronautHealth #GenomicMedicine #Immunotherapy #Bioinformatics #Bioastronautics #SpaceExploration #HumanSpaceflight #Space #Genomics

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ASTROPHYSICS AND THEOLOGY

Dr David Wilkinson is an extraordinary polymath - a man with 2 PhDs and a published scholar across both science and theology. He is Professor of Theology and Principle of St John's College, University of Durham. He has authored many books including God, Stephen Hawking and the Multiverse. After initially working on the study of star formation and the chemical evolution of galaxies, he transitioned to systematic theology where he has become one of the leading researchers in the relationship between science and religion in the UK and overseas. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and the International Society for Science and Religion. He is a regular contributor to BBC Thought for the Day. He headed up the ECLAS initiative to help churches better engage with science.

David has always been an immense encouragement to me and greatly supported my doctorate on the Quaker astrophysicist Sir Arthur Eddington.

The Polymath World Channel brings you interviews with extraordinary researchers and academics working on the frontiers of their disciplines. Meet and hear from scientists, professors, lecturers, researchers, engineers, philosophers and astronauts.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe. New episodes every Wednesday.

#PolymathWorldChannel #PursueExtraordinary #Astrophysics #Astronomy #ScienceAndReligion #Theology #Stars #Christianity #DavidWilkinson #ScienceAndFaith #Physics #Belief #ScienceEducation #PersonalJourney #AcademicCareer #InterdisciplinaryStudies #Science #JohnPolkinghorne #ExtraterrestrialLife #Dialogue #Faith #ChristianLeadership #QuantumTheory #Miracles

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VNCCII

NASA ASTROBOTICS and NANOFISCH

Samantha Tauber is the visionary creator of VNCCII® and the founding architect behind the Galacta.i.ssance Movement—a bold new cultural renaissance designed to elevate consciousness, awaken the imagination, and serve as a guide to humanity for an abundant future. Through her alter ego, VNCCII®—a cosmic superheroine and celestial ally for humanity’s next evolution—Samantha fuses music, science, immersive technology, and storytelling into a living, dynamic mythos.

In July her book, VNNCCII: The Awakening of a Divine Warrior, is being flown as part of the first ever galactic library to the Moon aboard NASA's Astrobotics mission where it will land on the Griffin Lander in an effort to preserve human culture for a million years. This is in keeping with the Golden Record initiative of the legendary Carl Sagan. Samantha's passion comes from the "overview effect" made famous in the work of Frank White - how seeing Earth from space permanently changes our perspective on everything.

I worked with Samantha alongside SpaceX astronaut Chris Sembroski for a week of science communication to schools. Her story is inspiring and she is an amazing person. Enjoy her story!

https://www.vnccii.com/

https://www.galactaissance.world/

The Polymath World Channel brings you interviews with extraordinary researchers and academics working on the frontiers of their disciplines. Meet and hear from scientists, professors, lecturers, researchers, engineers, philosophers and astronauts.

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Theology

WHAT DID JESUS LOOK LIKE?

Dr John Nelson is a theologian who studied his Masters and PhD at Oxford University. He did his BA at the University of Nottingham. His thesis was on why there is no physical description of Jesus in the New Testament or any early Christian literature. John hosts events across the country with his friend and well-known sceptic Alex O'Connor and moderates discussions on Premier Unbelievable, including some Sam has featured on. Alongside writing he teaches philosophy and religious studies.

The Polymath World Channel brings you interviews with extraordinary researchers and academics working on the frontiers of their disciplines. Meet and hear from scientists, professors, lecturers, researchers, engineers, philosophers and astronauts.

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#PolymathWorldChannel #PursueExtraordinary #Jesus #NewTestament #Theology #Bible #AncientNearEast #AncientHistory #BiblicalStudies #ReligiousStudies #PhilosophyOfReligion #AncientBiography #HistoricalJesus #ObjectivityInResearch #Apologetics #GospelOfMark #ReligiousFaith

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MARS

It was great fun getting together with fellow members of the Mars Society to chat all things Mars. Between us we have rocket scientists, engineers, robotics experts, biologists and a whole lot of passion for the red planet.

The Polymath World Channel brings you interviews with extraordinary researchers and academics working on the frontiers of their disciplines. Meet and hear from scientists, professors, lecturers, researchers, engineers, philosophers and astronauts.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe. New episodes every Wednesday.

#PolymathWorldChannel #PursueExtraordinary #Mars #SpaceExploration #Space #SpaceX #BlueOrigin #NASA #MarsSociety #SpaceEngineering #HumanSettlement #SpaceTechnology #RobertZubrin #Industrialization #SelfSufficiency #SpaceResources #LunarExploration #AI #Robotics #PublicInterest #NextGeneration #HumanMissions #Technology #Challenges #Inspiration

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VIROLOGY

Dr Mirjam Schilling is a virologist researching the arbovirus family. She is a dual research fellow of Exeter College at Oxford University with a passion for exploring the impact of viruses on human and animal health. She has featured on ABC news to discuss the pandemic and its influence on climate science, as well as conducting science communication with young people on “what is a virus?" She is currently doing a second doctorate in science and religion under Alister McGrath at Oxford University.

Here are her recommended lectures for people who are interested in the subject: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGhmZX2NKiNnb-x4CccUPFrwZmJBckMRu

The Polymath World Channel brings you interviews with extraordinary researchers and academics working on the frontiers of their disciplines. Meet and hear from scientists, professors, lecturers, researchers, engineers, philosophers and astronauts.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe. New episodes every Wednesday.

#PolymathWorldChannel #PursueExtraordinary #Virology #Viruses #Biology #Medicine #InfectiousDisease #Immunology #ScienceCommunication #Arbovirus #Pandemic #COVID #Mosquito #Malaria #DrMiriamSchilling #PandemicPreparedness #MosquitoResearch #LifeSciences #MolecularMedicine #PublicHealth #InterdisciplinaryCollaboration

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NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Melody Safavizadeh has held leadership roles at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory on missions including Mars 2020 and Psyche. With a background in systems integration, electrical engineering, and spacecraft operations, she has helped tackle some of the most exciting challenges in space exploration. She is an advocate for women in STEM and passionate about educational outreach.

The Polymath World Channel brings you interviews with extraordinary researchers and academics working on the frontiers of their disciplines. Meet and hear from scientists, professors, lecturers, researchers, engineers, philosophers and astronauts.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe. New episodes every Wednesday.

#PolymathWorldChannel #PursueExtraordinary #NASA #NASAJPL #Mars #Robotics #ComputerScience #Space #SpaceExploration #PlanetaryScience #JPL #Engineering #WomenInSTEM #CareerJourney #MarsMissions #Teamwork #PersonalDevelopment #Inspiration

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