Science Magazine Podcast Shielding astronauts from cosmic rays, and planning the end of fossil fuels
16 snips
Jan 29, 2026 
Ailey Dolgan, freelance science reporter on space radiation, explains shielding strategies, biological countermeasures, and experimental astronaut‑health tech. Joshua Lappin, historian-engineer, and Emily Grubert, civil engineer and environmental sociologist, unpack how shrinking fossil networks can fail, the concept of minimum viable scale, and why planned retirements matter. Short, sharp conversations on protecting people in space and managing energy decline.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Deep Space Radiation Is Distinct And Dangerous
- Leaving Earth's magnetosphere exposes astronauts to galactic cosmic rays and occasional intense solar storms that increase radiation risk.
- These deep-space radiation sources are fundamentally different and more dangerous than low Earth orbit exposures.
Apollo Offers Limited Human Data
- Apollo astronauts reported retinal flashes from penetrating radiation and some cataracts, but sample size was tiny and missions short.
- Ailey notes Apollo crews lived long lives, but the cohort was biased and exposures were brief.
Use Storm Shelters And Hydrogen-Rich Mass
- Design spacecraft with storm shelters and use hydrogen-rich materials to absorb solar storm radiation.
- Equip crews to shelter quickly when predicted solar events provide short warning times.
