Phil Plait

Astronomer Phil Plait discusses the challenges of building a house on the Moon, including low gravity, lunar dust, and extreme temperatures. They explore NASA's plans for moonhouses by 2040 and the Moon's potential as a base for space exploration. The hosts engage in mystery sound segments and discuss audience contributions.

Astronomer Phil Plait joins us to discuss his new book, Under Alien Skies, in which he describes what it would be like (through human eyes and real physical experiences) to actually travel to Saturn, Mars, asteroids, and distant stars. Also, we discuss the recent surge in UFO sighting as well as his famous talk at The Amazing Meeting more than a decade ago in which he asked all science communicators and critical thinkers to approach those who believe in pseudoscience with empathy and respect instead of scorn and vitriol. And, we run through the history of James Randi's popularization of the big-S Skeptic movement.- Phil Plait’s Substack: https://badastronomy.substack.com/- How Minds Change: www.davidmcraney.com/howmindschangehome- David McRaney’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidmcraney- YANSS Twitter: https://twitter.com/notsmartblog- Show Notes: www.youarenotsosmart.com- Newsletter: https://davidmcraney.substack.com

In a captivating conversation, Dr. Phil Plait, an astronomer and science communicator known for his Bad Astronomy blog, discusses the cosmic threats lurking in our universe. He delves into how meteoroids pancake upon atmospheric entry and the peculiarities of meteorite impacts on humans. The chat balances humor and education, touching on solar flares' risks to technology and proactive measures against asteroids. Phil also highlights the crucial role of honest conversations about these dangers, especially when it comes to parenting.

Phil Plait, the Bad Astronomer, discusses the upcoming Great North American Solar Eclipse, the Pentagon's UFO report, and moon landing conspiracy theories. Topics include eclipse excitement, lunar settlements, UAPs, and Plait's new book 'Under Alien Skies'.

In this insightful discussion, Phil Plait, an astronomer who played a key role in the Hubble Space Telescope team, shares fascinating tales from his scientific journey. He recounts how the discovery of the first exoplanet occurred alongside a mistake, showing that errors are vital to progress. Plait emphasizes that science is not just a collection of facts—it's a process of inquiry that thrives on testing and revising ideas. Embracing mistakes, he argues, fosters knowledge and understanding, making the journey of discovery all the more rewarding.