Artist’s depiction of the view from TRAPPIST-1f. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle (IPAC).
Artist’s depiction of the view from TRAPPIST-1f. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle (IPAC).

Great Discoveries Mashup

Artist’s depiction of the view from the surface of TRAPPIST-1f, the 5th planet from the star. The larger object is TRAPPIST-1e, the middle crescent is TRAPPIST-1d, and the dot just left of the star TRAPPIST-1c. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle (IPAC).
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About This Episode

Discoveries have gone wild in this StarTalk All-Stars mashup as we explore great discoveries, old and new, from nuclear weapons to TRAPPIST-1. First, you’ll hear host and astrophysicist Janna Levin and comic co-host Matt Kirshen talk with Rainer Weiss, co-founder of LIGO, on the recent breakthrough discovery of gravitational waves: why the discovery was so important, how Rainer found out about the discovery on vacation, and the significance of Einstein’s early predictions of gravitational waves. Next, join Bill Nye and Chuck Nice as they discuss nuclear weapons, key inventions we need for manned-missions to Mars, GMOs, GORE-TEX and more. Following that, host and astrophysicist Emily Rice and Chuck Nice sit down with astrophysicist David Kipping to explore the TRAPPIST-1 system: how we found it and if its possibly tidally-locked exoplanets are suitable for life. Finally, Carolyn Porco – Madam Saturn herself – is joined by Chuck Nice and astrobiologist Chris McKay to investigate what we’re learning about Enceladus, including the possibilities it harbors life and its collection of erupting geysers.

NOTE: All-Access subscribers can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: Great Discoveries Mashup.

In This Episode

  • Host

    Janna Levin

    Janna Levin
    All-Stars Host, Astrophysicist, Author, Black Hole Blues and Other Songs from Outer Space
  • Host

    Bill Nye the Science Guy

    Bill Nye
    The Science Guy
  • Host

    Emily Rice

    Emily Rice
    All-Stars Host, Astrophysicist, co-founder of STARtorialist and Astronomy on Tap
  • Host

    Carolyn Porco

    Carolyn Porco
    All-Stars Host, Planetary Scientist, Cassini Imaging Science Team Leader
  • Co-Host

    Matt Kirshen
    Comedian, co-host of Probably Science podcast
  • Co-Host

    Chuck Nice

    Chuck Nice
    Comedian
  • Guest

    Rainer Weiss

    Rainer Weiss
    co-founder, LIGO; Professor of Physics, Emeritus, MIT
  • Guest

    David Kipping

    David Kipping
    Assistant Professor of Astronomy at Columbia University
  • Guest

    Chris McKay

    Chris McKay
    Astrobiologist, NASA Ames Research Center

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