Water and the possibility of life on Mars
PNAS Science Sessions
Water and the possibility of life on Mars Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, researchers explain what we know about the potential for water and life on Mars and what we might learn from analysis of returned samples. In this episode,...
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Machine learning and climate risk adaptation
PNAS Science Sessions
Using reinforcement learning to plan for an uncertain climate future Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Ning Lin talks about how reinforcement learning methods plant to mitigate climate risk despite uncertainty in climate change risk...
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Parsing the Knowledge of London cabbies
PNAS Science Sessions
Insights in route planning from London taxi drivers Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Hugo Spiers, Pablo Fernández Velasco, and Eva-Marie Griesbauer share what they learned about human route planning from talking with London taxi...
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Individual decision-making and collective animal behavior
PNAS Science Sessions
Individual decision-making and collective animal behavior Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, researchers explore advances in the modeling of collective animal behaviors. In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[00:48]...
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Modeling extreme heat waves
PNAS Science Sessions
Modeling extreme heat waves Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Kai Kornhuber explains how and why climate models struggle to reproduce extreme heat wave trends. In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[00:53] Extreme...
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Estimating the social cost of carbon
PNAS Science Sessions
Reconsidering the social cost of carbon Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Frances Moore presents a re-analysis of how the social costs of carbon emissions are quantified. In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[00:50]...
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How hula hoops stay aloft
PNAS Science Sessions
How hula hoops stay aloft Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Olivia Pomerenk reveals the physics of hula hooping. In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[00:49] Applied mathematician Olivia Pomerenk talks about the...
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Climate effects and shifting Arctic coastlines
PNAS Science Sessions
Erosion, subsidence, and sea level rise on Arctic coastlines Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Roger Creel describes how compounding forces could reshape a thawing Arctic coastline. In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction...
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Movies, neurons, and AI
PNAS Science Sessions
How brains and AI systems process moving images Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Hollis Cline describes how neuroscience informed development of an artificial intelligence movie recognition system. In this episode, we cover:...
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Sustainability of plant-based meat alternatives
PNAS Science Sessions
Sustainability of plant-based meat alternatives Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, researchers discuss the environmental, health, and economic tradeoffs that limit the potential benefits of plant-based meat alternatives. In this...
info_outlineWater and the possibility of life on Mars
Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.
In this episode, researchers explain what we know about the potential for water and life on Mars and what we might learn from analysis of returned samples.
In this episode, we cover:
•[00:00] Introduction
•[01:04] Mark Thiemens explains the importance of bringing samples from Mars back to Earth.
•[02:37] Arya Udry explains the current gaps and limitations in the geological record provided by Martian meteorites.
•[03:55] Bruce Jakosky explains what we currently know about the presence and history of water on Mars.
•[05:26] Monica Grady explains how analyzing volatile species in Martian samples could provide insight into the planet’s past climate.
•[06:58] Rachel Slank describes the potential presence of liquid brines on Mars.
•[08:27] Vashan Wright used recordings from a seismometer onboard NASA’s InSight lander to estimate the volumes of liquid water that might be contained in the Martian mid-crust.
•[10:14] Mark Sephton explains what biomarkers are and what kinds we might expect to find in Martian samples.
•[11:34] Caroline Freissinet describes the discovery of long-chain organic molecules on Mars and the difficulties of conclusively identifying organic molecules as biomarkers.
•[13:32] Thiemens explains the potentially far-reaching value of continuing to support the Mars Sample Return mission.
•[14:37] Final thoughts and conclusion.
About Our Guest:
Mark Thiemens
Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
University of California at San Diego
Arya Udry
Associate Professor – Graduate coordinator
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Bruce Jakosky
Professor Emeritus
University of Colorado Boulder
Monica Grady
Professor Emirita
Open University
Rachel Slank
Postdoctoral Fellow
Lunar and Planetary Institute
Vashan Wright
Assistant Professor
University of California, San Diego
Mark Sephton
Professor
Imperial College London
Caroline Freissinet
Researcher
Laboratory for Atmospheres, Observations, and Space
French National Centre for Scientific Research
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