NASA's Curiosity rover has been exploring Mars' Gale Crater for over a decade. A new analysis of samples collected there reveals something remarkable: more than 20 different organic molecules preserved in ancient rock, including the first detection of a nitrogen-bearing heterocycle on Mars, a type of molecule that's a precursor to compounds essential for life as we know it.

While these molecules aren't evidence of life, they tell us that the chemical building blocks for life were present in ancient Martian environments. In this episode, we talk with Amy Williams, an astrobiologist and associate professor at the University of Florida, about what this discovery means for our understanding of Mars' habitability. Then, Planetary Society Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins us for What's Up, where we compare the results to samples collected from asteroid Bennu.


Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-diverse-organics-gale-crater-mars

NASA's Curiosity rover has been exploring Mars' Gale Crater for over a decade. A new analysis of samples collected there reveals something remarkable: more than 20 different organic molecules preserved in ancient rock, including the first detection of a nitrogen-bearing heterocycle on Mars, a type of molecule that's a precursor to compounds essential for life as we know it.
While these molecules aren't evidence of life, they tell us that the chemical building blocks for life were present in ancient Martian environments. In this episode, we talk with Amy Williams, an astrobiologist and associate professor at the University of Florida, about what this discovery means for our understanding of Mars' habitability. Then, Planetary Society Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins us for What's Up, where we compare the results to samples collected from asteroid Bennu.
 Discover more at: <a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-diverse-organics-gale-crater-mars">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-diverse-organics-gale-crater-mars</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.

Amy Williams, astrobiologist and associate professor at the University of Florida, discusses a landmark experiment that revealed more than 20 organic molecules preserved in ancient Martian rock. We explore what this chemical discovery tells us about Mars' ancient habitability.

Twenty organic molecules found in an ancient Martian rock

Author, poet, and science communicator Diane Ackerman is our guest. Her wonderful collection of poems, with one devoted to each of the worlds in our Solar System, was first published in 1976. Carl Sagan said she had produced, “...a stunning book of poetry in The Planets. The work is scientifically accurate and even a convenient introduction to modern ideas on the planets, but much more important, it is spectacularly good poetry, clear, lyrical, and soaring. . . One of the triumphs of Ackerman’s pastoral is the demonstration of how closely compatible planetary exploration and poetry, science and art really are.” “The Planets” is now available in a brand new edition, and is as sublime, entertaining, and enlightening as it was half a century ago.


Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/book-club-diane-ackerman

Author, poet, and science communicator Diane Ackerman is our guest. Her wonderful collection of poems, with one devoted to each of the worlds in our Solar System, was first published in 1976. Carl Sagan said she had produced, &ldquo;...a stunning book of poetry in The Planets. The work is scientifically accurate and even a convenient introduction to modern ideas on the planets, but much more important, it is spectacularly good poetry, clear, lyrical, and soaring. . . One of the triumphs of Ackerman&rsquo;s pastoral is the demonstration of how closely compatible planetary exploration and poetry, science and art really are.&rdquo; &ldquo;The Planets&rdquo; is now available in a brand new edition, and is as sublime, entertaining, and enlightening as it was half a century ago.
 Discover more at: <a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/book-club-diane-ackerman">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/book-club-diane-ackerman</a>

Celebrated author and poet Diane Ackerman joins us for a lively conversation about the new edition of her wonderful collection. Carl Sagan described it as spectacularly good poetry.

Book Club Edition: Diane Ackerman and “The Planets: A Cosmic Pastoral”

The Planetary Society's 2026 Day of Action brought something new this year. For the very first time, the advocacy day was followed by a showcase of NASA funded science in an event called Igniting Discovery.

Host Sarah Al-Ahmed speaks with Jack Kiraly, Director of Government Relations at the Planetary Society, about how the event came together, and with first-time advocate Julianna Charlene Kolczynski, whose passion for space traces back to her grandfather's dreams. Megan McKeown, Director of Governmental Affairs at the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, opens the event. Then we hear from the scientists themselves: Blake Schreurs of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, planetary scientist Kirby Runyon of the Planetary Science Institute, Christine McCarthy of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Brent McBride of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, biomechanics PhD student Liliana Delgado of the University of Nebraska Omaha, and science communicator Sarah Treadwell, also known as Space Case Sarah. Planetary Society member Ari Gozlan closes with a reflection on what it means to celebrate science after the Day of Action. Plus, Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins Sarah for What's Up.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-igniting-discovery

The Planetary Society's 2026 Day of Action brought something new this year. For the very first time, the advocacy day was followed by a showcase of NASA funded science in an event called Igniting Discovery.
Host Sarah Al-Ahmed speaks with Jack Kiraly, Director of Government Relations at the Planetary Society, about how the event came together, and with first-time advocate Julianna Charlene Kolczynski, whose passion for space traces back to her grandfather's dreams. Megan McKeown, Director of Governmental Affairs at the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, opens the event. Then we hear from the scientists themselves: Blake Schreurs of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, planetary scientist Kirby Runyon of the Planetary Science Institute, Christine McCarthy of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Brent McBride of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, biomechanics PhD student Liliana Delgado of the University of Nebraska Omaha, and science communicator Sarah Treadwell, also known as Space Case Sarah. Planetary Society member Ari Gozlan closes with a reflection on what it means to celebrate science after the Day of Action. Plus, Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins Sarah for What's Up.
Discover more at: <a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-igniting-discovery">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-igniting-discovery</a>

For the first time, the Planetary Society's annual Day of Action was followed by Igniting Discovery, a showcase of the NASA-funded science we're fighting to protect, held in the US Senate building. 

Igniting Discovery: A showcase of NASA-funded research

Every year, members of The Planetary Society travel to Washington, D.C., to make their voices heard on Capitol Hill. This year, just days after the Artemis II crew splashed down off the coast of San Diego, the Presidential Budget Request dropped once more, proposing a 46% cut to NASA's science budget. 

Planetary Radio host Sarah Al-Ahmed was on the ground capturing the passion, the preparation, and the people behind one of the largest Days of Action in the Planetary Society's history. In this episode, we hear from Bill Nye, Planetary Society chief ambassador. Sarah speaks with Planetary Society CEO Jenn Vaughn, charter members and advocates David Johnson and Philip Shane, healthcare researcher and human factors scientist Gabe Segarra, astrobiologist and postdoctoral fellow at Carnegie Science Earth & Planets Laboratory Michael Wong, and Colossus Computing CEO Jason Cerundolo and CTO Alex Swehla.

Plus, Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins us for What's Up, where we discuss the missions at stake if NASA's science budget is cut.


Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-day-of-action

Every year, members of The Planetary Society travel to Washington, D.C., to make their voices heard on Capitol Hill. This year, just days after the Artemis II crew splashed down off the coast of San Diego, the Presidential Budget Request dropped once more, proposing a 46% cut to NASA's science budget.&nbsp;
Planetary Radio host Sarah Al-Ahmed was on the ground capturing the passion, the preparation, and the people behind one of the largest Days of Action in the Planetary Society's history. In this episode, we hear from Bill Nye, Planetary Society chief ambassador. Sarah speaks with Planetary Society CEO Jenn Vaughn, charter members and advocates David Johnson and Philip Shane, healthcare researcher and human factors scientist Gabe Segarra, astrobiologist and postdoctoral fellow at Carnegie Science Earth &amp; Planets Laboratory Michael Wong, and Colossus Computing CEO Jason Cerundolo and CTO Alex Swehla.
Plus, Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins us for What's Up, where we discuss the missions at stake if NASA's science budget is cut.
 Discover more at: <a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-day-of-action">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-day-of-action</a>

The fight to save NASA science is back. Planetary Radio host Sarah Al-Ahmed takes you to Washington, D.C., for the 2026 Day of Action, where Planetary Society members, scientists, and advocates hit Capitol Hill to oppose a proposed 46% cut to NASA's science budget.

Twenty organic molecules found in an ancient Martian rock

In 1 playlist(s)

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips