Smart Talks with IBM NASA and AI: Decoding Our Universe
Jan 13, 2026
Kevin Murphy, Chief Science Data Officer at NASA, dives into the powerful collaboration between NASA and IBM, utilizing advanced AI to analyze satellite data. They discuss the impact of these foundation models in addressing global challenges, like aiding Kenya's reforestation efforts and tracking harmful algae blooms in the UK. The conversation explores innovative applications of Prithvi, a groundbreaking model, and its use in emergency response, climate forecasting, and understanding Earth’s changes. Exciting insights await about how AI is reshaping our understanding of the universe!
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Kenya's Mass Tree‑Planting Moment
- Kenya launched a national holiday, National Tree Growing Day, to mobilize citizens for reforestation.
- Ambassador Philip Thigo described the government's 15 billion tree target over eight years as both ambitious and urgent.
NASA's Data Are A Public Treasure
- NASA collects roughly 25 petabytes of observational data yearly and will double that with new launches.
- That scale transforms satellite data into a vast public resource for many downstream applications.
Gravity Reveals Hidden Water
- GRACE satellites revealed subsurface water changes by measuring tiny variations in gravity.
- That unexpected capability lets researchers track aquifer depletion and glacier mass remotely.