Big Picture Science for Mar 31, 2025: Skeptic Check: Asteroid Mining

Big Picture Science: Skeptic Check: Asteroid Mining

REPEAT
Asteroids are rich in precious metals and other valuable resources. But mining them presents considerable challenges. We discuss these, and consider how these spinning, rocky resources might be the key to a space-faring future. But an economist points out the consequences of bringing material back to Earth, and a scientist raises an ethical question; do we have an obligation to keep the asteroids intact for science?

Guests:

• Jim Bell - Planetary scientist in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University.
• Martin Elvis - Astronomer and author of “Asteroids: How Love, Fear, and Greed Will Determine Our Future in Space.”
• Ian Lange - Economist and associate professor at the Colorado School of Mines and author of a paper on the feasibility of asteroid mining.

This repeat podcast originally aired on March 18, 2024

Download podcast at - https://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/skeptic-check-asteroid-mining

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://bigpicturescience.org/

Get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support!

Big Picture Science for Mar 18 2024 - Skeptic Check: Asteroid Mining

 

Big Picture Science - Skeptic Check: Asteroid Mining

Asteroids are rich in precious metals and other valuable resources. But mining them presents considerable challenges. We discuss these, and consider how these spinning, rocky resources might be the key to a space-faring future. But an economist points out the consequences of bringing material back to Earth, and a scientist raises an ethical question; do we have an obligation to keep the asteroids intact for science?

Guests:

• Jim Bell - Planetary scientist in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University.
• Martin Elvis - Astronomer and author of “Asteroids: How Love, Fear, and Greed Will Determine Our Future in Space.”
• Ian Lange - Economist and associate professor at the Colorado School of Mines and author of a paper on the feasibility of asteroid mining.

Download podcast at - https://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/skeptic-check-asteroid-mining

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://bigpicturescience.org/

Get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support!

Big Picture Science for 03/03/14 - Space for Everyone

Big Picture Science - Space for Everyone

Is space the place for you? With a hefty amount of moolah, a trip there and back can be all yours. But when the price comes down, traffic into space may make the L.A. freeway look like a back-country lane.

Space is more accessible than it once was, from the development of private commercial flights … to a radical new telescope that makes everyone an astronomer … to mining asteroids for their metals and water to keep humanity humming for a long time.

Plus, move over Russia and America: Why the next words you hear from space may be in Mandarin.

Guests:

• Leonard David – Space journalist, writer for SPACE.com
• Mario Juric – Astronomer working on data processing for the LSST – the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope
• John Lewis – Chemist, professor emeritus of planetary sciences, University of Arizona, chief scientist, Deep Space Industries
• Philip Lubin – Professor of physics, University of California, Santa Barbara
• James Oberg – Retired NASA rocket scientist, space historian, and a self-described space nut

Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/Space_for_Everyone

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Blog Picture Science, the companion blog to the radio show.