Sara Seager

Sara Seager, an MIT planetary scientist and author of "The Smallest Lights in the Universe," dives into the exciting search for exoplanets and extraterrestrial life. She shares her childhood wonder for the stars and discusses the Seager equation for habitable planets. Seager explores the implications of gases on alien atmospheres, the technological advances in detecting distant worlds, and the vast potential for life in the cosmos. The conversation also touches on innovative projects like the Starshade initiative and the emotional connections between cosmic exploration and human experiences.

Astrophysicist Sara Seager discusses pushing boundaries in discovering exoplanets through collaboration and innovation. She reflects on vulnerability, mentorship, and the importance of failure in driving success. The podcast explores her work on potentially habitable planets, overcoming challenges in teamwork, and the upcoming launch of the James Webb Space Telescope.

David Charbonneau, an astrophysicist from Harvard, and Sara Seager from MIT, discuss their groundbreaking work on exoplanets, for which they received the 2024 Kavli Prize in Astrophysics. They explore the incredible diversity of exoplanets, including hot Jupiters and mini-Neptunes, and dive into innovative methods for studying their atmospheres. The conversation highlights the search for biosignatures of life on distant worlds and the future of exoplanet discovery, underscoring the excitement in this rapidly evolving field.