Are there diseases in space?
About this episode
The episode explores the potential for diseases in space and the measures taken to protect Earth from extraterrestrial pathogens.
Space missions are searching for evidence of extra-terrestrial life. CrowdScience listener George in Kenya wants to know what could be up there, and if there’s a risk it could harm humanity. With rovers currently analysing samples on Mars, missions searching for the building blocks of life on Jupiter’s icy moons, George’s concern that there could be diseases in space is timely. Presenter Anand Jagatia sets out to try and find an answer while keeping his feet on the Earth. He meets astrobiologist Dr Michaela Musilova, who runs experiments to try and understand what kinds of microbes could survive on other planets. In her work at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, she recreates Mars-like environments that test lifeforms’ resilience to the rigours of the Red Planet. And if there are harmful pathogens in space, how do we make sure these missions don't bring them back to Earth? Anand talks to ‘planetary protection officer’ Silvio Sinibaldi from the European Space Agency, who explains what experts are doing to protect us. He helps Anand get suited and booted in specialist clothing so they can enter a highly sterile environment called a ‘clean room’, where things being sent to space are…
People in this episode
Host: Anand Jagatia
Guests: Dr Michaela Musilova, Silvio Sinibaldi, Paul Meacham
Topics covered
- space exploration
- astrobiology
- planetary protection
- microbes in space
- Mars missions
- extraterrestrial life
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NASA, European Space Agency
Places: Mars, Jupiter, Kenya, Earth, Red Planet, Airbus Defence and Space
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