Astrobiologist, planetary scientist, author and science communicator David Grinspoon has just been named a lifetime fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He returns to Planetary Radio for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of our search for life across the solar system and beyond. We also learn what it was like to grow up in a home visited regularly by Carl Sagan and Isaac Asimov. Plus, get out your pencils and calculators! Bruce Betts delivers another cosmic arithmetic challenge in the space trivia contest. Discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-david-grinspoon

Astrobiologist, planetary scientist, author and science communicator David Grinspoon has just been named a lifetime fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He returns to Planetary Radio for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of our search for life across the solar system and beyond. We also learn what it was like to grow up in a home visited regularly by Carl Sagan and Isaac Asimov. Plus, get out your pencils and calculators! Bruce Betts delivers another cosmic arithmetic challenge in the space trivia contest. Discover more at <a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-david-grinspoon">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-david-grinspoon</a>

Planetary Radio brings you the human adventure across our Solar System and beyond. We visit each week with the scientists, engineers, leaders, advocates, and astronauts who are taking us across the final frontier. Regular features raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Join host Sarah Al-Ahmed and Planetary Society colleagues including Bill Nye the Science Guy and Bruce Betts as they dive deep into space science and exploration. The monthly Space Policy Edition takes you inside the DC beltway where the future of the US space program hangs in the balance. Visit planetary.org/radio for an episode guide and much more.

Planetary Radio brings you the human adventure across our Solar System and beyond. We visit each week with the scientists, engineers, leaders, advocates, and astronauts who are taking us across the final frontier. Regular features raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Join host Sarah Al-Ahmed and Planetary Society colleagues including Bill Nye the Science Guy and Bruce Betts as they dive deep into space science and exploration. The monthly Space Policy Edition takes you inside the DC beltway where the future of the US space program hangs in the balance. Visit planetary.org/radio for an episode guide and much more.

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Planetary Radio brings you the human adventure across our solar system and beyond. We visit each week with the scientists, engineers, leaders, advocates, and astronauts taking us across the final frontier. Regular features raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Join host Sarah Al-Ahmed and Planetary Society colleagues including Bill Nye, the Science Guy, and Bruce Betts, chief scientist for The Planetary Society, as they dive deep into the latest space news. The monthly Space Policy Edition takes you inside the DC beltway with Casey Dreier and Jack Kiraly to discuss the politics of space exploration in the US and advocacy actions you can take to support the missions that matter. Visit planetary.org/radio for the space trivia contest, an episode guide, and much more.

Planetary Radio brings you the human adventure across our solar system and beyond. We visit each week with the scientists, engineers, leaders, advocates, and astronauts taking us across the final frontier. Regular features raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Join host Sarah Al-Ahmed and Planetary Society colleagues including Bill Nye, the Science Guy, and Bruce Betts, chief scientist for The Planetary Society, as they dive deep into the latest space news. The monthly Space Policy Edition takes you inside the DC beltway with Casey Dreier and Jack Kiraly to discuss the politics of space exploration in the US and advocacy actions you can take to support the missions that matter. Visit planetary.org/radio for the space trivia contest, an episode guide, and much more.

Astrobiologist and author David Grinspoon shares his thoughts about the search for life, where we might find it and how planetary science works.

Astrobiologist David Grinspoon on life, the universe and everything

Volcanoes aren’t just an earthly phenomenon. They’re found all across the Solar System. In this compilation episode of Planetary Radio, we explore volcanic and geothermal activity on planets, moons, and distant dwarf planets. You’ll hear from Rosaly Lopes, Nick Schneider, Rae Paoletta, Robbie Herrick, Scott Hensley, and Christopher Glein as they share insights into everything from lava flows on Venus and eruptions on Io to the mysterious heat signatures of icy bodies like Eris and Makemake. This journey spans over 20 years of Planetary Radio, featuring interviews hosted by both current host Sarah Al-Ahmed and founding host Mat Kaplan. 

Then, our Chief Scientist, Dr. Bruce Betts, returns for What’s Up and shares new findings from NASA’s Juno mission, which recently completed close passes by Jupiter’s volcanic moon, Io.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-volcanic-worlds

Volcanoes aren&rsquo;t just an earthly phenomenon. They&rsquo;re found all across the Solar System. In this compilation episode of Planetary Radio, we explore volcanic and geothermal activity on planets, moons, and distant dwarf planets. You&rsquo;ll hear from Rosaly Lopes, Nick Schneider, Rae Paoletta, Robbie Herrick, Scott Hensley, and Christopher Glein as they share insights into everything from lava flows on Venus and eruptions on Io to the mysterious heat signatures of icy bodies like Eris and Makemake. This journey spans over 20 years of Planetary Radio, featuring interviews hosted by both current host Sarah Al-Ahmed and founding host Mat Kaplan.&nbsp;
Then, our Chief Scientist, Dr. Bruce Betts, returns for What&rsquo;s Up and shares new findings from NASA&rsquo;s Juno mission, which recently completed close passes by Jupiter&rsquo;s volcanic moon, Io.
Discover more at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-volcanic-worlds">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-volcanic-worlds</a>

Explore volcanoes across the solar system, from lava flows on Venus to icy eruptions on Enceladus and methane activity on Eris, with highlights from past Planetary Radio interviews. Plus, Bruce Betts shares new Juno insights from Jupiter’s moon Io.

Volcanic worlds across the Solar System

As debates over NASA's future heat up, questions about the value of space exploration are popping up everywhere. This week on Planetary Radio, we're tackling the tough questions head-on with The Planetary Society's staff, including Casey Dreier, chief of space policy, and Ambre Trujillo, digital community manager. They break down the biggest misconceptions about space science, public versus private investment, and why exploration still matters in an ever-changing world. 

Then Jack Kiraly, director of government relations, joins us for a space policy update. We discuss the growing movement to save NASA science, how community action is ramping up, and what’s happening behind the scenes on Capitol Hill. 

And in What's Up with Bruce Betts, we explore some of the most recent NASA spinoffs, technologies developed for space that are making life better here on Earth.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-space-science-under-fire

As debates over NASA's future heat up, questions about the value of space exploration are popping up everywhere. This week on Planetary Radio, we're tackling the tough questions head-on with The Planetary Society's staff, including Casey Dreier, chief of space policy, and Ambre Trujillo, digital community manager. They break down the biggest misconceptions about space science, public versus private investment, and why exploration still matters in an ever-changing world.&nbsp;
Then Jack Kiraly, director of government relations, joins us for a space policy update. We discuss the growing movement to save NASA science, how community action is ramping up, and what&rsquo;s happening behind the scenes on Capitol Hill.&nbsp;
And in What's Up with Bruce Betts, we explore some of the most recent NASA spinoffs, technologies developed for space that are making life better here on Earth.
Discover more at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-space-science-under-fire">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-space-science-under-fire</a>

We tackle the biggest questions about NASA's value, space exploration, and why public investment matters. Join us for a Q&A with Casey Dreier and Ambre Trujillo, and a space policy update with Jack Kiraly.

Space science under fire: Your questions answered

This week on Planetary Radio, we explore the decades-long journey of Kosmos 482, a Soviet-era Venus probe that spent 53 years orbiting Earth before its dramatic return on May 10, 2025. Ben Fernando, a postdoctoral researcher in seismology and planetary science at Johns Hopkins University, joins us to explain the history of Kosmos 482 and how seismology and acoustic sensors are helping scientists detect and locate objects impacting Earth. Then Bruce Betts, our chief scientist, joins us for What's Up, where we look back at the largest human-made objects ever to crash back to Earth.


Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-kosmos-482

This week on Planetary Radio, we explore the decades-long journey of Kosmos 482, a Soviet-era Venus probe that spent 53 years orbiting Earth before its dramatic return on May 10, 2025. Ben Fernando, a postdoctoral researcher in seismology and planetary science at Johns Hopkins University, joins us to explain the history of Kosmos 482 and how seismology and acoustic sensors are helping scientists detect and locate objects impacting Earth. Then Bruce Betts, our chief scientist, joins us for What's Up, where we look back at the largest human-made objects ever to crash back to Earth.
 Discover more at: <a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-kosmos-482">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-kosmos-482</a>

A Soviet-era Venus probe, Kosmos 482, spent 53 years in Earth's orbit before crashing back to the planet. Seismologist Ben Fernando explains its history, reentry, and how seismic technology could help track space debris.

Astrobiologist David Grinspoon on life, the universe and everything

In 1 playlist(s)

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips