Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Only six people have received The Planetary Society’s Cosmos Award for Outstanding Public Presentation of Science. We were honored to present it to author and historian Dava Sobel in May of 2025. She has created a brilliant library of books that illuminate the lives and work of great scientists, many of whom have been under-appreciated. Each of Dava’s works is also overflowing with the wonder of science and discovery. It’s no wonder we decided to feature Dava and her books in the Society book club. That month-long celebration was capped by a live, online interview conducted by Dava’s friend and fan Mat Kaplan.  Here’s that conversation.  Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/book-club-dava-sobelSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pack your cosmic suitcase. This week on Planetary Radio, host Sarah Al-Ahmed is joined by Mark McCaughrean, astronomer, science communicator, and former Senior Advisor for Science & Exploration at the European Space Agency, to talk about his new book, “111 Places in Space That You Must Not Miss.” Part of the popular “111 Places” travel series, the book transforms the guidebook format into a tour across the Solar System and beyond, from Apollo landing sites on the Moon to Europa’s hidden oceans, and even the afterglow of the Big Bang. Mark shares highlights from the book, stories from his career on missions like Hubble, Rosetta, and the James Webb Space Telescope, and reflections on how science and imagination come together to inspire exploration. And in this week’s What’s Up, Planetary Society Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins Sarah to talk about his brand-new children’s books, “The Size of Space” and “Are We Alone?,” part of our growing series with Lerner Publishing Group. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-111-places-in-spaceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Planetary Radio, we look forward to International Observe the Moon Night on October 4, 2025. Host Sarah Al-Ahmed speaks with Staci Horvath, outreach coordinator for NASA’s Solar System Exploration Division at Goddard Space Flight Center and director of International Observe the Moon Night, and Theresa Summer, astronomy educator at the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, about the history of the event, how it connects people around the world, and the many ways you can participate. We also hear from Kate Howells, public education specialist at The Planetary Society, about her new book, “Moons: The Mysteries and Marvels of Our Solar System,” which combines striking space images and original illustrations to showcase the surprising diversity of moons in our Solar System. And Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins Sarah for What’s Up with tips for observing the Moon and other wonders in the night sky. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-international-observe-the-moon-nightSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Franklin Foer, a Staff Writer at The Atlantic and author of 'How NASA Engineered Its Own Decline', explores the shifting landscape of space exploration. He argues that NASA's reliance on SpaceX signifies a worrying decline in national capability. The conversation dives into the clash between individualism and collectivism in American society, the changing identity of NASA, and critiques of Musk’s commercial philosophies. Foer emphasizes the cultural significance of space exploration and the romantic ideals once associated with it.

For decades, Uranus has puzzled scientists. Unlike the other giant planets, Voyager 2’s 1986 flyby suggested the ice giant emitted no excess heat. Now, thanks to new analyses of Voyager data, decades of ground-based and space-based observations, and refined models, scientists have confirmed that Uranus does radiate more heat than it receives from the Sun. Host Sarah Al-Ahmed speaks with atmospheric scientist Michael Roman (Assistant Professor at the Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez in Chile) about his team’s new study showing Uranus emits around 12.5% more energy than it absorbs. Together, they explore what this means for our understanding of Uranus’s atmosphere, its bizarre seasonal cycles, the planet’s violent past, and why these findings strengthen the case for a future flagship mission to the Solar System’s overlooked ice giants.Stick around for What’s Up with Bruce Betts, Planetary Society chief scientist, for a look at Uranus’ newly discovered moon and a new random space fact. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-uranus-energy-balanceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BASILISK, the first esports organization dedicated to promoting science, has teamed up with The Planetary Society and Caltech’s Institute for Quantum Information and Matter to bring the banner of “Science Victory” to gamers around the world. Their roster includes world champions in StarCraft II, chess, Magic: The Gathering, and fighting games, all united by a shared mission to inspire the next generation of scientists. Joining us to talk about this unique collaboration is Kyle Hill, award-winning science communicator and BASILISK’s head of science education and outreach. Kyle shares how his career in science communication led him from YouTube into the world of professional gaming, where science and play are coming together in powerful new ways. Then, stick around for What’s Up with Bruce Betts, our chief scientist, as we share our favorite space-themed video games and a new random space fact. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-basiliskSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kielan Hoch, a Giacconi Fellow at the Space Telescope Science Institute, and Emily Rickman, an ESA science operations scientist, dive into the intriguing YSES-1 exoplanetary system featuring two giant planets. They discuss remarkable findings from the James Webb Space Telescope, including the discovery of a dusty circumplanetary disk around one planet and high-altitude silicate clouds in the atmosphere of another. The conversation also touches on future advancements in imaging exoplanets and the potential revelations from the proposed Habitable Worlds Observatory.

Frank White, an influential author and space philosopher, coined the term 'Overview Effect' after interviewing over 100 astronauts. He shares profound stories of how viewing Earth from space transforms perspectives on humanity and our planet. Frank discusses the duality of human nature reflected in space exploration, the growing community around the Overview Effect, and how such experiences can foster global unity. He also explores future human evolution in space and the enduring impact of these transformative insights.

What do “Star Trek,” space advocacy, and the fight to save NASA science have in common? In this episode of Planetary Radio, we share a special panel recorded live at STLV: Trek to Vegas 2025, featuring Robert Picardo, actor and Planetary Society board member who played the Emergency Medical Hologram on ”Star Trek: Voyager,” and Tim Russ, actor, telescope enthusiast, and Voyager’s Lt. Tuvok. They’re joined by Andrew Pauly, director of marketing at The Planetary Society, and Ambre Trujillo, the Society’s digital community manager, for a conversation about how science fiction inspires real-world space exploration — and how fans can take action to protect it. Later in the episode, Jack Kiraly, director of government relations at The Planetary Society, discusses the recent wave of NASA employee departures and what it could mean for the future of space science. Then, in What’s Up, our Chief Scientist Bruce Betts reflects on the end of NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer mission. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-a-star-trek-futureSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just three interstellar objects have ever been detected in our Solar System, each arriving from the depths of interstellar space. In this episode, we explore the latest: 3I/ATLAS, a newly discovered interstellar comet first spotted on July 1, 2025. Bryce Bolin, research scientist at Eureka Scientific, joins host Sarah Al-Ahmed to share what makes this object special. As one of the few astronomers who has studied all three known interstellar objects—1I/ʻOumuamua, 2I/Borisov, and now 3I/ATLAS—he offers unique insight into how these rare visitors expand our understanding of planetary systems beyond our own. We also check in with Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society, for a look at the upcoming ESA and JAXA’s Comet Interceptor mission, which may one day chase down a future interstellar comet. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-3i-atlasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.