Explore the impact of the National Science Foundation's funding freeze on researchers, Richard Alley's prestigious National Medal of Science win, and the environmental crisis of ghost fishing gear in Thailand. Plus, delve into the global response to asteroid 2024 YR4's potential Earth impact. Join us as we discuss the intersection of science, policy, and planetary defense.

Sources:

https://www.statnews.com/2025/01/30/trump-funding-freeze-national-science-foundation-suspends-salary-payments/

https://www.psucollegian.com/news/penn-state-s-richard-alley-wins-national-medal-of-science/article_9309f796-df72-11ef-a513-d38fdbf705ea.html

https://news.mongabay.com/2025/01/underwater-citizen-science-reveals-the-specter-of-ghost-fishing-gear-in-thailand/

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/jan/30/asteroid-spotted-chance-colliding-with-earth-2032

Outline:

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:00:43) National Science Foundation suspends salary payments, leaving researchers unable to pay their bills

(00:03:12) Penn State’s Richard Alley wins National Medal of Science

(00:06:05) Underwater citizen science reveals the specter of ghost fishing gear in Thailand

(00:09:03) Asteroid spotted that has 1.3% chance of crashing into Earth in 2032