Big Picture Science for May 12, 2025: NASA Under the Axe

Big Picture Science: NASA Under the Axe

The White House has proposed unprecedented cuts to NASA’s budget - the largest in the agency’s history. If approved, this withdrawal of funding would force the cancellation of many major programs, including the long anticipated Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope as well as others involved in the search for life in the universe. It would also impact the agency’s ability to do fundamental research. We look at what the loss of NASA programs could mean for the future of space science and exploration. Plus, an intriguing discovery by the James Webb Space Telescope underscores the progress we’ve made - and could lose - when it comes to searching for potential biosignatures in the universe.

Guests:

• Leonard David – Space journalist and author
• Nadia Drake – Freelance science journalist
• Carl Zimmer – New York Times science columnist

Download podcast at - https://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/nasa-under-the-axe

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