In this episode of the Space Madness podcast, Dr. Michaela Musilova shares her inspiring journey as an astrobiologist and analog astronaut. From her early fascination with space to overcoming challenges in her education and career, Michaela discusses her research on extremophiles and their potential for Mars colonization. She reflects on her experiences at Caltech, leading analog missions, and the evolution of science communication in the digital age. Currently, she is working on the Astro 7 Summits project, which combines astrobiology research with climate change awareness, as she climbs the tallest mountains on each continent.

Today I talk with Program Scientist Dominic Benford from NASA HQ. We discuss the history of the great observatories program dating back to the immediate post-Apollo era, and go into some depth about the sensor and cooling technologies necessary for extremely distant observations. We also talk about how there are thousands of ways to tie a necktie. We explore Dominic's journey from undergraduate researcher to NASA HQ technology development leader, and his wish to pass that mantle on to the next generation.

In this episode of the Space Madness podcast, host Jeff Nosanov speaks with Dr. Octav Cristea, an Emory University transplant surgeon and urologist with a research focus on space medicine. They discuss the complexities of human health in space, particularly focusing on kidney stones and urinary issues that arise in microgravity. Dr. Cristea shares insights from his journey into space medicine, the physiological challenges astronauts face, and the future of medical practices in space exploration.