Astronomer and host Michelle Thaller takes a look at the big questions of the cosmos and what the answers can reveal about life here on Earth. From podcast powerhouse PRX, with support from the Sloan Foundation.

Visit our site: orbital.prx.org

Orbital Path

podcast

stories

Orbital Path: el 12

Cochlea

Podcasts

When University of Washington researcher David Rhoades discovered that plants could communicate with each other, he was laughed out of science. But now, three decades later, science is reconsidering.

More about this episode: http://transistor.prx.org/2015/05/early-bloom/

Early Bloom was produced by Peter-Frick Wright and Robbie Carver of 30 Minutes West. It was hosted for this episode of Transistor by Genevieve Sponsler and mixed for Transistor by Erika Lantz.

Transistor Episode 14: Early Bloom

This week, producer Stephanie Foo tells a story about dating online that is unlike any we've ever heard before.

Sponsors:
Xero (http://www.xero.com/podcasts)
Mailchimp (http://www.mailchimp.com)
Stamps.com (http://www.stamps.com, offer code "reply")

#27 The Fever

No one knows what it is, or why we can't see it. All we know is that without it, the universe would fall apart. 

Performed by Kevin Corrigan, Chet Siegel, Ed Herbstman, Dennis Pacheco, Alexis Lambright, Rob Webber, and Anna Sale. Written by Diana McCorry, and produced by Jonathan Mitchell. Inspired by listener Christopher Tunnell.

Dark Matter

Host Michelle Thaller talks with astronomer and author Phil Plait of Slate's Bad Astronomy blog about this conundrum: why are humans so quick to give aliens the credit for mysteries of the cosmos?

About the Show: Astronomer and host Michelle Thaller takes a look at the big questions of the cosmos and what the answers can reveal about life here on Earth. From podcast powerhouse PRX, with support from the Sloan Foundation.  

Visit our site: orbital.prx.org

Episode 1: Must Be Aliens

Dr. Michelle Thaller talks to Prof. Lisa Randall, a theoretical particle physicist at Harvard, about her new book, Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs: The Astounding Interconnectedness of the Universe. The scientists explore what caused the dinosaurs' extinction and the role dark matter plays in the universe and our world.

About the Show: Astronomer and host Michelle Thaller takes a look at the big questions of the cosmos and what the answers can reveal about life here on Earth. Produced by Lauren Ober. From podcast powerhouse PRX, with support from the Sloan Foundation.

Visit our site: orbital.prx.org

Episode 2: Mass Extinctions Get Personal

The most rare objects in the night sky are only visible in some extreme places. Dr. Michelle Thaller introduces us to Dr. Anna Moore, a scientist whose trips to Antarctica help us better understand the solar system.

Learn more about the show at orbital.prx.org.

Episode 3: The Most Dramatic Sky

Astronomer Michelle Thaller talks with Ashley Davies, a research scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, about the importance of volcanoes in the creation of Earth and how the study of volcanoes in space can help us understand life here. Davies has journeyed to remote volcanoes like Mt. Erebus in Antarctica and Erta Ale in Ethiopia as a way to help map volcanoes like those on Jupiter's moons, Io and Europa, and in turn come that much closer to understanding how life began.

Episode 4: In Praise of Volcanoes

In this special Mother's Day episode, Michelle talks with her mom about what it was like raising a space-obsessed daughter in Wisconsin and watching her grow into a scientist.

Orbital Path is produced for PRX by Lauren Ober. Subscribe iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Image: Michelle's sister (top L), Michelle (top R), and their mom in the '80s.

Episode 5: Michelle & Her Mom

From space, the view of earth has no boundaries for countries, no barriers to achievement. Michelle Thaller speaks with Aprille Ericcson, a senior engineer at NASA, about her career path and about current challenges recruiting more women and minorities into engineering and space science.

Produced by Lauren Ober. Learn more at orbital.prx.org.

Episode 6: A World Without Boundaries

When Proxima b's discovery appeared in <em>Nature</em> on August 24, the media breathlessly announced a new Earth-like planet just 4.2 light years away from Earth. 

Astronomers have, for years, anticipated a planet orbiting Proxima Centauri. Michelle Thaller talks with astrophysicist Dr. Patricia Boyd about NASA’s ongoing search for exoplanets and what’s the next step in human exploration of other worlds.

Episode 9: Howdy, Neighbor

The sun can seem like a friendly celestial body. It is the source of summer, crops, and basically all life on Earth. But the sun has a dark side too. Just as sun decided when life on Earth could begin, it will also decide when life on Earth will definitely end.

Dr. Michelle Thaller speaks with Dr. C. Alex Young, Associate Director for Science in the Heliophysics Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. We'll hear about the impressive fleet of spacecraft NASA uses to monitor the sun, including the upcoming Solar Probe Plus, an exciting new mission to delve closer to our star than ever before.

Photo: Coronal mass ejection courtesy of NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/sdo/potw603-brief-outburst/index.html

Learn more about Orbital Path with Michelle Thaller at orbital.prx.org.

Episode 10: Done in the Sun

An Orbital Path episode all about… an orbital path! Planet 9's, to be exact. The replacement for Pluto as our solar system’s ninth planet is out there somewhere, and astronomers can see the ripples it creates, especially at this time of year.

Episode 12: In Search of Planet 9

In honor of the discord that shows up around the Thanksgiving table,   we present tales of kids who don't quite the concept of family togetherness. The Mortified Podcast is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Listen @ getmortified.com/podcast

80: It's A Family Affair

SleepyCast

SleepySecrets S2:SS1 - [The Three Muskequeers]

SleepySecrets S2:SS5 - [Yellow Fever Madness]

Reveal

The wrong guy

PRX is a leading media company, shaping the future of audio by connecting talented producers with their most engaged, supportive audiences.
PRX builds technology and creates cutting-edge content that reaches millions of listeners worldwide.

For 15 years, PRX has operated public radio’s largest distribution marketplace, offering thousands of shows including This American Life, The Moth Radio Hour and Reveal. Named one of Fast Company’s "Ten Most Innovative Companies in Media" in both 2015 and 2017, the company has pioneered new approaches to technology and talent.

In 2014, PRX launched Radiotopia, a curated network of extraordinary podcasts anchored by 99% Invisible from Roman Mars. The network has quickly grown to over 19 million downloads per month (November 2017, Podtrac).