Science Magazine Podcast Hunting asteroids from space, and talking to pollinators with heat
Dec 11, 2025
Freelance science journalist Robin George Andrews delves into the NASA's Near-Earth Object Surveyor mission, explaining how it aims to uncover hidden asteroids that could threaten Earth. He discusses the importance of infrared detection for sizing these objects and the implications for planetary defense. Meanwhile, Wendy Valencia-Montoya, a Ph.D. candidate at Harvard, shares her fascinating research on how thermogenic plants use heat to communicate with beetle pollinators, suggesting that heat-based signaling may predate colorful cues.
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Infrared Is Key To Sizing Asteroids
- Infrared imaging reveals asteroid sizes far more accurately than visible light measurements.
- Neo‑Surveyor will measure sizes to ~10% and find objects hidden in the Sun's glare.
140 Meters Is The 'City Killer' Threshold
- Objects ~140 meters can destroy cities and are harder to detect from Earth.
- NASA estimates ~25,000 city‑killer asteroids exist and about half remain undiscovered.
Up‑Close At JPL
- Robin visited JPL high bay and donned a bunny suit to see Neo‑Surveyor being assembled up close.
- He described the instrument enclosure as a