BlueSciCon Episode 39: Sustained Exploration of the Inner Solar System

Live from AbSciCon 2015 Beverages: Various Listen: [mp3 download] Questions to consider: How can human civilization develop a successful strategy for the sustained exploration of the inner solar system for the next 200 years? What planets and astronomical bodies should we target? Can space exploration be profitable? Is space colonization desirable? [ca_audio url=”http://beerwith.bmsis.org/BlueSciCon_39_JUN2015.mp3″ width=”500″ height=”27″ css_class=”codeart-google-mp3-player”]

June 8, 2015

Astrobiology on All India Radio

Dr. Preeti Nema was recently featured as a guest on All India Radio (AIR)–the national radio station of India–to discuss the science of astrobiology. Dr. Nema’s talk was part of the English-language “Radioscope” audio science magazine, which is broadcast across India from New Delhi to educate the general public about the latest happenings in science and its relevance to the common person. [ca_audio url=”http://files.bmsis.org/PreetiNema_radioscope12June2015-10pm.mp3″ width=”500″ height=”27″ css_class=”codeart-google-mp3-player”] [mp3 download] [click to visit the AIR website]

June 1, 2015

The Problems with Talking to Aliens

A recent article in the Kernel features Michael Busch, Dimitra Atri, and Jacob Haqq-Misra on the subject of sending messages into space. The Lone Signal project of 2013 was an attempt at sending a crowdfunded message toward the star Gliese 526, and the article discusses both the funding perils and security concerns over this and other attempts at broadcasting messages that extraterrestrial intelligence might receive. [read the article at the Kernel]

May 27, 2015

Podcast: Complementary Currency

Our “BlueSciCon” podcast for May features a conversation with our 2014 essay contest winner Kamir Hiam titled “Redesigning Human Motivation and Aiming for the Stars“. Space exploration requires costly investment, and the lack of an immediate return on this capital provides little economic incentive for a long-term exploratory program. Likewise, optimal solutions to environmental challenges sometimes compete against marketplace forces, which can create difficulties in motivating new behaviors. In his winning essay, Kamir Haim proposes that “complementary currency” could provide […]

May 20, 2015

Laurie Barge Discusses Self-Organizing Systems

Dr. Laurie Barge recently discussed her research on self-organizing processes at the University of Washington astrobiology seminar. Processes that tend toward self-organization are of interest to astrobiologists like Dr. Barge, who seek to understand conditions that could have led to the origin of life in Earth’s early history. Dr. Barge’s research focuses on understanding the chemical environments that exist in seafloor hydrothermal systems, where out-of-equilibrium conditions could have provided the right mix of ingredients for life to begin. [watch a […]

May 12, 2015

Talking Exoplanets with Elementary Schoolers

NASA/BMSIS research intern Palmer Fliss engaged a group of thirty 5th graders at Fammatre Elementary School in San Jose, CA. Nina Hyatt, the teacher of the class, expressed “It was so great for my fifth graders to have an opportunity to talk to a “real live scientist! So many fascinating questions were asked, and conversations shared! And, after the bell rang, they were so immersed in their drawing projects that I needed to practically chase them out of the classroom!”. […]

May 7, 2015

Extraterrestrial Outreach

Dr. Sara Walker recently led a conversation at the Valley Engineering Science & Technology Club in Sun City West, Arizona. Dr. Walker discussed the search for extraterrestrial life in the 21st century with this organization that includes active and retired scientists and engineers. [read about the event]

May 7, 2015

BlueSciCon Episode 38: Redesigning Human Motivation and Aiming for the Stars

Kamir Hiam Listen: [mp3 download] Questions to consider: How does the modern global market economy inhibit innovative solutions to civilization’s environmental challenges? What is complementary currency, and how do new forms of complementary currency emerge? How can complementary currencies help to direct human behavior? Could too many forms of complementary currency lead to an economic “bubble”, followed by a market collapse? How can innovative economic ideas foster the human exploration of space? [ca_audio url=”http://beerwith.bmsis.org/BlueSciCon_38_MAY2015.mp3″ width=”500″ height=”27″ css_class=”codeart-google-mp3-player”]

April 28, 2015

Podcast: The Descent of Math

Our “BlueSciCon” podcast for April features a conversation with Dr. Sara Walker about her recent essay titled “The Descent of Math“. Scientists and philosophers have often remarked that it seems incredible that we are able to understand the universe at all. Our civilization’s ability to manipulate the physical environment has allowed us to create possibilities that were never before seen in history. In her essay for FQXi’s current contest, Dr. Walker discusses the possibility that evolutionary processes tend toward producing […]

April 21, 2015

Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman

A new science series titled “Through the Wormhole” features BMSIS research scientist Dr. Sara Walker as a guest expert on an upcoming show. The episode is titled “Are We Here for a Reason?” and is scheduled to air on Wednesday, May 13th on Discovery’s Science Channel at 10:00 PM ET/PT. Hosted by Morgan Freeman, the series explores some of the deep mysteries of astronomy, cosmology, and existence. [Visit the site for “Through the Wormhole”]

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