Kevin Hand

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

Kevin Hand, an astrobiologist and planetary scientist, discusses the tantalizing search for extraterrestrial life in our solar system. He highlights the Europa Clipper mission, which aims to explore Jupiter's moon Europa, a potential habitat beneath its icy surface. Hand delves into extreme environments where life could exist, comparing them with Martian subsurface activities. They also explore how past missions, like Voyager, laid the groundwork for today's quest, igniting curiosity about the adaptability of life beyond Earth.

Join planetary scientist Kevin Hand from NASA, who specializes in extraterrestrial ocean worlds, and oceanographer Julie Huber from Woods Hole, as they dive into the mysteries of oceanic life beyond Earth. They discuss the fascinating parallels between deep-sea organisms and potential alien life, explore how life may have originated in Earth's oceans, and examine the prospects of NASA's Europa Clipper mission. With a mix of humor and science, they tackle the challenges of exploring these extreme environments, both on our planet and in outer space.