Citizen scientists will soon have another opportunity to become part of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and an innovative project will use a subtle effect of sunlight to learn about near-Earth objects. These are the projects funded in the first round of The Planetary Society’s Science and Technology Empowered by the Public (STEP) grant program. We’ll meet the awardees after Society chief scientist Bruce Betts provides an overview. Bruce returns for this week’s What’s Up and the space trivia contest. Discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-first-step-grant-awardees

Citizen scientists will soon have another opportunity to become part of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and an innovative project will use a subtle effect of sunlight to learn about near-Earth objects. These are the projects funded in the first round of The Planetary Society&rsquo;s Science and Technology Empowered by the Public (STEP) grant program. We&rsquo;ll meet the awardees after Society chief scientist Bruce Betts provides an overview. Bruce returns for this week&rsquo;s What&rsquo;s Up and the space trivia contest. Discover more at <a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-first-step-grant-awardees">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2022-first-step-grant-awardees</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.

The Planetary Society’s new Science and Technology Empowered by the Public (STEP) grant program will let citizens join the search for ET and enable astronomers to discover the nature of hundreds of near-Earth asteroids.

Meet the first STEP Grant awardees

They informed and entertained together throughout the first 20 years of Planetary Radio. Listen in as the Society’s chief scientist and book club edition host Mat Kaplan share the mic once again for a delightful conversation about Dr. Betts’ two new space books for young people. “Are We Alone?” introduces the search for life across the Universe, while “The Size of Space” collects many of Bruce’s brilliant and hilarious ways to cut our Solar System down to human size.


Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/book-club-bruce-betts

They informed and entertained together throughout the first 20 years of Planetary Radio. Listen in as the Society&rsquo;s chief scientist and book club edition host Mat Kaplan share the mic once again for a delightful conversation about Dr. Betts&rsquo; two new space books for young people. &ldquo;Are We Alone?&rdquo; introduces the search for life across the Universe, while &ldquo;The Size of Space&rdquo; collects many of Bruce&rsquo;s brilliant and hilarious ways to cut our Solar System down to human size.
 Discover more at: <a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/book-club-bruce-betts">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/book-club-bruce-betts</a>

Bruce Betts helps us explore the latest and last in his excellent library of space books for young people. He and host Mat Kaplan take up “Are We Alone?” and “The Size of Space.”  

Book Club Edition: Planetary Society Chief Scientist Bruce Betts’ latest for kids

This week on Planetary Radio, we mark a major leadership transition at The Planetary Society. Host Sarah Al-Ahmed sits down with Bill Nye, outgoing chief executive officer and newly appointed chief ambassador of The Planetary Society, and Jennifer Vaughn, incoming chief executive officer and former chief operating officer, for a candid conversation about this long-planned transition. Together, Bill and Jenn reflect on how the organization, under their shared leadership, grew into the world’s largest and most effective nonprofit dedicated to advancing the scientific exploration of space.

Then, Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society, joins Sarah for What’s Up. They discuss an upcoming planetary alignment on and around February 28, 2026.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-jennifer-vaughn-ceo

This week on Planetary Radio, we mark a major leadership transition at The Planetary Society. Host Sarah Al-Ahmed sits down with Bill Nye, outgoing chief executive officer and newly appointed chief ambassador of The Planetary Society, and Jennifer Vaughn, incoming chief executive officer and former chief operating officer, for a candid conversation about this long-planned transition. Together, Bill and Jenn reflect on how the organization, under their shared leadership, grew into the world&rsquo;s largest and most effective nonprofit dedicated to advancing the scientific exploration of space.
Then, Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society, joins Sarah for What&rsquo;s Up. They discuss an upcoming planetary alignment on and around February 28, 2026.
Discover more at: <a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-jennifer-vaughn-ceo">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-jennifer-vaughn-ceo</a>

A new chapter begins at The Planetary Society as Jennifer Vaughn becomes CEO and Bill Nye steps into his new role as chief ambassador. 

A new chapter at The Planetary Society: Jennifer Vaughn becomes CEO

Where did Earth’s water come from? In this episode of Planetary Radio, we explore how scientists are answering that question by studying a remarkably well-preserved record of the early Solar System: lunar samples brought back by the Apollo missions. Host Sarah Al-Ahmed is joined by Tony Gargano, postdoctoral fellow at the Lunar and Planetary Institute with the University Space Research Association and a research affiliate at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Gargano studies lunar rocks and regolith to understand how planets form, evolve, and acquire key ingredients like water over time. By analyzing subtle chemical fingerprints preserved in Apollo-era lunar regolith, his work helps constrain how much water meteorites could have brought to Earth and what that means for our planet’s path to habitability.

The episode also features a short bonus segment with actor George Takei, recorded at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures during a screening of “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.” Takei reflects on the enduring legacy of “Star Trek,” its influence on generations of scientists and explorers, and why he is excited about humanity’s return to the Moon in the Artemis era. He connects science fiction’s hopeful vision of the future with the real science helping us understand our origins today.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-earth-water-apollo-moon-dust

Where did Earth&rsquo;s water come from? In this episode of Planetary Radio, we explore how scientists are answering that question by studying a remarkably well-preserved record of the early Solar System: lunar samples brought back by the Apollo missions. Host Sarah Al-Ahmed is joined by Tony Gargano, postdoctoral fellow at the Lunar and Planetary Institute with the University Space Research Association and a research affiliate at NASA&rsquo;s Johnson Space Center. Gargano studies lunar rocks and regolith to understand how planets form, evolve, and acquire key ingredients like water over time. By analyzing subtle chemical fingerprints preserved in Apollo-era lunar regolith, his work helps constrain how much water meteorites could have brought to Earth and what that means for our planet&rsquo;s path to habitability.
The episode also features a short bonus segment with actor George Takei, recorded at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures during a screening of &ldquo;Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.&rdquo; Takei reflects on the enduring legacy of &ldquo;Star Trek,&rdquo; its influence on generations of scientists and explorers, and why he is excited about humanity&rsquo;s return to the Moon in the Artemis era. He connects science fiction&rsquo;s hopeful vision of the future with the real science helping us understand our origins today.
Discover more at: <a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-earth-water-apollo-moon-dust">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-earth-water-apollo-moon-dust</a>

Scientists are using Apollo Moon dust to trace where Earth’s water came from and how our planet became habitable. Planetary scientist Tony Gargano explains how lunar samples reveal the history of ancient impacts, with a short bonus reflection from George Takei on “Star Trek” and the Artemis era.

Meet the first STEP Grant awardees

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