Katie Stack Morgan

The Infinite Monkey Cage teleports to California for this special episode recorded at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. They are joined by comedian and talk-show host Conan O'Brien, alongside JPL's Dr Katie Stack Morgan and Dr Kevin Hand, and discuss the incredible missions that are hunting for signs of life within our own solar system. From the iconic Mars Rovers currently exploring the martian surface, to amazing future missions to Jupiter's icy moon Europa, the panel discuss the tantalising prospect of finding signs of life this close to home, and the incredible engineering and ingenuity that goes into planning these missions.Producer: Alexandra Feachem

Join Katie Stack Morgan, project scientist for NASA's Perseverance rover, and Sanjeev Gupta, planetary geologist, as they dive into the thrilling discovery of a potential biosignature on Mars. They discuss the significance of the Sapphire Canyon findings and the complex geology of the 'spotty rocks.' Oliver Morton offers insights into the challenges of bringing samples back to Earth, including funding hurdles and political intrigues. The conversation unpacks how this discovery could reshape our understanding of life beyond Earth!