Best Space Administration (NASA Podcasts (2025)

1
Moon Material Flammability 46:17

3h ago46:17

46:17

Two NASA experts discuss an experiment that will further our understanding of flame behavior on the lunar surface to keep astronauts safe. HWHAP 386.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

1
Six People Presumed Dead After Private Jet Crashes In San Diego Neighborhood 11:46

1d ago11:46

11:46

Six people are presumed dead after a private jet crashed into a San Diego neighborhood early Thursday morning. Sound Talent Group, a music talent agency based in the San Diego area, confirms that it lost three employees in the crash, including co-founder Dave Shapiro. California is suing the federal government for blocking the state’s ability to se…

1
The Science Of That Big Stunt From The New ‘Mission: Impossible’ 18:29

1d ago18:29

18:29

The “Mission: Impossible” franchise is known for its big stunts, and the newest film is no exception. Producer Kathleen Davis talks to the film’s stunt coordinator, Wade Eastwood, about the science behind one big underwater scene. Plus, psychologist Kenneth Carter joins Host Flora Lichtman to talk about what makes high-adrenaline adventurers tick. …

1
Cap And Trade Debate Includes Controversial Proposals 11:38

22m ago11:38

11:38

Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing an extension of the state's landmark climate program known as cap-and-trade. The program limits greenhouse gas emissions and raises money from polluters. And the governor has some controversial ideas for how to spend that money. Guest: Guy Marzorati, KQED The US senate is moving ahead with plans to block Californi…

1
Meet A Pioneer Of Modern Weather Prediction 18:51

2d ago18:51

18:51

Climate scientist Jagadish Shukla grew up in a small village in rural India, where people starved if the monsoon season didn’t bring rain. To help his village, he set out to become a scientist and discover a way to predict the seasons—an unthinkable idea at the time, in the 1960s and ‘70s. Shukla became a pioneer in modern weather forecasting, and …

1
Two California Counties Battle Trump Administration Over Homelessness Funding 11:30

3d ago11:30

11:30

Lawyers for San Francisco and Santa Clara counties are back in court Wednesday. They’re fighting with the Trump administration over new rules around homelessness funding. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED Teachers in Temecula can teach about race without fear of running afoul of the school board, at least for now. This comes after a California Appeals C…

1
Are Physical Buttons And Knobs Making A Comeback? 20:10

4d ago20:10

20:10

In recent years, digital touchscreens have replaced many of the buttons and knobs that control various functions in cars. But when Host Ira Flatow went shopping for a new car, he noticed that physical controls seemed to be making a comeback. But will the rise of technologies like voice recognition and automation make cars more button-centric, or le…

1
California Medicaid Recipients In GOP District See Potential Cuts As A "Disaster" 11:40

4d ago11:40

11:40

Part of President Trump's self-described big, beautiful bill includes congressional Republicans' plans to change Medicaid. The proposal would cut billions from the safety net program. Many Republican lawmakers see this as a needed savings to slash what they see as waste in the system, but recent estimates show millions of Americans stand to lose th…

1
Earth Series: What's Next for NASA Earth Science 28:21

1d ago28:21

28:21

NASA has a record of Earth observations going back more than 50 years. What might be in store for the next 50 years? In this finale of our Earth series, we hear from two scientists helping to chart the course of NASA Earth science. There are still many unanswered questions about our home planet. As the only planet that we know to have life, studyin…

1
Scientists Identify Genes For Tomato And Eggplant Size 18:48

5d ago18:48

18:48

Tomatoes come in all kinds of colors, sizes, and flavors. But what’s going on at the genetic level? What makes a tomato red or yellow? Tiny or giant? Researchers are mapping the genomes of 22 varieties of nightshades—the family of plants that includes tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants. They located the genes that control the size of tomatoes and eg…

1
Independent California Pharmacies Brace For Tariffs On Imported Medication 11:45

5d ago11:45

11:45

Law enforcement authorities are seeking help to piece together the timeline of their primary suspect in the explosion at a Palm Springs fertility clinic over the weekend. Authorities identified 25 year old Twentynine Palms Guy Edward Bartkus in connection with the bombing and said he was likely killed in the blast. (Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR) …

1
The Leap: The Volcano Whisperer 28:26

6h ago28:26

28:26

As a teenager living in St. Vincent, Richie Robertson saw first-hand what a volcanic eruption did to life on the island. Forty years later, he was the scientist the community turned to when the same volcano roared back to life. Richie’s colleague, Stacey Edwards of the UWI Seismic Research Centre, explains how Richie earned the trust of the communi…

1
Farmworker Assistance Bill Patterned After Nonprofit's Work 11:35

8d ago11:35

11:35

As the state legislature works to tackle a $12 billion budget deficit, a bill aimed at delivering vital resources right to farmworkers’ front doors is being put on hold. It’s modeled after an existing program run by Ayudando Latinos a Soñar, a nonprofit based in Half Moon Bay. Reporter: Madi Bolanos, The California Report The federal government and…

1
Commercial and International Lunar Rovers 1:00:45

5d ago1:00:45

1:00:45

Two NASA project managers discuss how astronauts will drive on the lunar surface during future Moon missions. HWHAP 385.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

1
Lesser Prairie Chicken May Lose Endangered Species Status 18:28

8d ago18:28

18:28

The lesser prairie chicken was granted endangered species status in 2023. Now the Department of the Interior is moving to revoke those protections. What can this bird known for its flamboyant courtship rituals tell us about the Trump administration’s approach to environmental policy and protections for endangered species? Host Flora Lichtman is joi…

1
Vallejo Police Hid Details Of In Custody Death 11:40

4d ago11:40

11:40

Across California, families have had to fight, sometimes for years, just to learn what happened to their loved ones in police custody. Darryl Mefferd wasn't under arrest when he died after an encounter with Vallejo police in 2016. Local officials ruled his death an accidental drug overdose and for years, that's where the story ended. But new record…

1
Tracking The Hidden Dangers Of Fighting Fires 18:30

9d ago18:30

18:30

Firefighting is a career with an inherent cancer risk, but a full understanding of what those risks are has been elusive. An important registry designed to help understand the link between firefighters and cancer was taken offline on April 1 because of federal cuts, then restored six weeks later. Host Flora Lichtman discusses this with firefighter …

1
The Universe in Living Color with SPHEREx 27:23

5d ago27:23

27:23

NASA's SPHEREx mission will map 450 million galaxies like we’ve never seen before.By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

1
Challenges of Participating in CA's Budget Process 11:30

5d ago11:30

11:30

It’s budget season at the State Capitol, which means grassroots advocates from around California come to plead for the funding they need for key community programs and projects. But, participating in the budget process and public committee hearings can be a heavy lift – especially for those outside Sacramento’s high-powered lobbyist class. (Reporte…

1
Identifying New Plants, And The Scientific Secrets Of Superfoods 29:59

11d ago29:59

29:59

What does it take to create and maintain one of the largest repositories of botanical information in the world? For starters, it can mean helicopter-ing into remote nooks of the Amazon, hiking through rough terrain, looking for strange fruits and flowers, and climbing trees to pluck specimens from the branches. Then there’s all the science required…

1
An Aging Homeless Population Amidst A Push by Newsom to Ban Encampments 11:30

11d ago11:30

11:30

In recent years, the population of homeless people has aged, with about 20% of them now 55 or older. Many have never been homeless before. (Reporter: Jane Vaughan, Jefferson Public Radio) Conservative activists are welcoming an announcement from Governor Gavin Newsom this week pushing cities to ban homeless encampments across California. Advocates …

1
Designing Hyperrealistic Body Parts, From Eyeballs To Placentas 17:34

12d ago17:34

17:34

Medical sculptor Damon Coyle walks around with a Mary Poppins bag of body parts. Fake ones, that is. At the University of Missouri, his lab creates hyperrealistic body parts designed to help medical providers practice for real-world surgeries and procedures. They make things like lifelike arms for practicing blood draws or a set of eyeballs for ocu…

1
Federal Funding Cuts May Jeopardize A Library Program Serving Blind and Print-disabled Communities 11:44

12d ago11:44

11:44

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is a federal agency that funds programs in libraries nationwide. In March, President Trump signed an executive order to slash the agency’s funding. And California's Braille and Talking Book Library, which serves the state's blind and print-disabled community, could be hit by these cuts. Reporter: Jasmine…

1
The Leap: I Was Considered A Nobody 27:18

13d ago27:18

27:18

Biochemist Kati Karikó spent decades experimenting with mRNA, convinced that she could solve the problems that had kept it from being used as a therapeutic. Her tireless, methodical work was dismissed and she was ridiculed. But that work laid the foundation for the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines that saved millions of lives, and was recogni…

1
Newly-built Passageways Help Wildlife Safely Cross Roads 11:42

15d ago11:42

11:42

Los Angeles County's Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is a 90-million-dollar bridge now under construction. It's designed to connect green spaces between a freeway so animals can cross safely. But animals don’t need these kinds of crossings to be so expensive and fancy. There are smaller and cheaper ways to cross the road. Guest: Seth Riley, Biologist, …

1
Natural Disaster Response 45:57

10d ago45:57

45:57

A NASA scientist discusses how imagery and data collected from the International Space Station can support natural disaster response teams on the ground. HWHAP 384By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

1
Cuts To NASA And A Fast-Track For Deep Sea Mining 25:11

16d ago25:11

25:11

Proposed budget cuts for NASA would jeopardize space research. And an executive order could change the political tides for deep sea mining. On May 2, the Trump Administration proposed a 24% budget cut for NASA. It would slash funding for science while setting billions aside for initiatives to send humans to the moon and Mars. New Scientist editor S…

1
California's Tiny Home Boom Signals Hope In Housing Crisis Though Challenges Remain 11:12

16d ago11:12

11:12

A bill introduced in the state legislature by Sacramento Democratic Assembly member Maggy Krell aims to increase penalties for loitering to solicit minors for sex. But a provision specifically aimed at soliciting 16- and 17-year olds has divided state Democrats, and given Republicans a political opportunity to criticize their opponents. Reporter: L…

1
How Do Bacteria Talk To Each Other? 23:30

15d ago23:30

23:30

Bacteria have been around for billions of years. Could they have come up with complex behaviors that we just don’t understand yet? Could they have their own language? Their own culture? Their own complex societies playing out right under, and in, our noses? Microbiologist Bonnie Bassler has been studying these questions for more than 30 years. She …

1
Democrats Hope a Progressive Push Can Flip one of California's Conservative Enclaves 11:26

17d ago11:26

11:26

For a long time, California's Central Valley has been a bastion of conservative political support; the red spot in a state that's awash in blue. However, there are signs that support for the right could be wavering, as President Trump's policies on trade and immigration are impacting livelihoods in the Central Valley; and some of the biggest progre…

1
T+303: The Trump 2024 Transition (with Mark Albrecht) 53:42

12d ago53:42

53:42

Mark Albrecht joins me to talk about his time on the Trump 2024 Transition Team, the thinking behind some of the policy decisions we’re starting to see in the space and national security spheres, and more. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 33 executive producers—Joonas, The Astrogators at SEE, Will and Lars from Agile, Theo a…

1
Functional Fashion From An Artist And A Caterpillar 18:45

12d ago18:45

18:45

A passion for fashion among the “bone collector caterpillar,” who wears a coat of body parts, and an artist who makes fabrics that remember. We inch into the world of extreme outerwear with the newly-discovered “bone collector caterpillar,” which wears a coat of many co…llected body parts. Why, Hanipillar Lecter? Entomologist Dan Rubinoff, who alon…

1
Trump's Proposed Budget Threatens NASA Space Research 11:23

18d ago11:23

11:23

Last week, the Trump administration announced its goal of cutting $6 billion from NASA or nearly a quarter of the space agency's budget. Science programs would be hit especially hard, like the work done by NASA facilities in California. Guest: Casey Dreier, Chief of Space Policy, Planetary Society Three people are dead, four have received medical a…

1
Earth Series: Monitoring the Air We Breathe 38:47

17d ago38:47

38:47

Take a deep breath, and you’re inhaling oxygen from Earth’s atmosphere. Take a walk outside, and the atmosphere is shielding you from harmful radiation. NASA research provides crucial data to understand air quality and the intricate processes happening in the sky above us. In this episode, hear the inside story of NASA’s research into the ozone lay…

1
Ancient Iguanas Floated 5,000 Miles Across The Pacific | A Pregnant Ichthyosaur Fossil 18:58

19d ago18:58

18:58

Millions of years ago, iguanas somehow got from North America to Fiji. Scientists think they made the trip on a raft of fallen vegetation. Also, the marine reptile’s fossilized fetus is cluing paleontologists into the lives of ancient sea creatures. Ancient Iguanas Floated 5,000 Miles Across The Pacific If you picture iguanas, you might imagine the…

1
T+302: A Tour of Marotta Controls 1:38:45

14d ago1:38:45

1:38:45

We take a tour of Marotta Controls in Montville, New Jersey, to see how they work, how they develop, produce, and test products at rate, and we learn about the most feared topic in space—valves! This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 33 executive producers—Joonas, Josh from Impulse, Heiko, Donald, Stealth Julian, Warren, Kris, Fra…

1
Communities In Far Northern California Challenged By Return Of Gray Wolves 11:12

19d ago11:12

11:12

For decades, wolves were thought to have been hunted and poisoned into extinction in California with the last sighting of the animal in the 1920s. But that changed in late 2011 when a wolf wearing a radio collar crossed into the state from Oregon. In the years since, California’s gray wolf population has grown into the dozens, threatening the livel…

1
Are There Things That We Know We Can’t Know? 18:24

14d ago18:24

18:24

In “Into the Unknown,” an astronomer explores the mysteries of the cosmos and the limits of what science can test. What is time? If the universe is expanding, what is it expanding into? What happened just before the Big Bang? Some of the most head-scratching ideas in physics strain the limits of what science can test. In her book Into the Unknown: …

1
T+301: Hypersonics and Constellations (with Caleb Henry) 42:05

17d ago42:05

42:05

Caleb Henry, Director of Research at Quilty Space, joins me to talk megaconstellations, the hypersonics industry, and more. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 33 executive producers—Joonas, Josh from Impulse, Heiko, Donald, Stealth Julian, Warren, Kris, Frank, Steve, Bob, Better Every Day Studios, The Astrogators at SEE, Joaki…

1
How NASA remembers—and forgets 1:18:43

17d ago1:18:43

1:18:43

No one person knows how to build a spaceship. What happens to NASA’s collective knowledge when thousands of employees lose their jobs?

1
Tariffs Likely To Increase Cost Of Weddings In California 11:28

17d ago11:28

11:28

Weddings are pricey affairs in California — and they’re about to get even more expensive. According to the National Bridal Retailers Association, about 90 percent of all wedding gowns sold in the U.S. are made in China. With 145% tariffs now being imposed on all Chinese goods coming into the U.S., that could mean big price increases for California …

1
Mission Control: Special Operations 57:20

17d ago57:20

57:20

Four NASA flightcontrollers discuss specialized operations like spacewalks and spacecraftarrivals that keep the International Space Station running. HWHAP383By National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Space Administration (NASA Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen