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Freezing temperatures, dust storms, radiation, marsquakes – living on Mars right now would be hellish. And getting there remains a multi-year journey. But what if we could make it habitable? Could we one day build settlements on the Red Planet or send human scientists to search for life?

That’s the premise of the TV series For All Mankind, which explores a future where the space race continued after the moon landing and humanity kept spreading out across space. But in the name of a good story, real science occasionally took the backstage. 

In this episode, TV columnist Bethan Ackerley speaks to NASA Astronaut Garrett Reisman, who was also a consultant on the show, as well as planetary scientist Tanya Harrison who’s worked on multiple NASA missions to Mars. Between them, they explore how far off we really are from living on Mars, what it would take to surmount the remaining challenges – and why it’s still a dream worth pursuing in the real world.

Listen here: CultureLab: What would life on Mars be like? by Bethan Ackerley

From the Cold War space race and humanity’s first steps on the moon to science fiction and the Star Trek frenzy, space travel has transcended contemporary history books and pop culture. But today, it seems more relevant than ever. As we stand on the precipice of irreversible climate change, continuous war, and energy crisis, space travel and the possibility of inhabiting new planets seem to many as a necessary step forward for humanity. For others, space travel holds the risks of serving as luxury tourism for the elites as well as a competitive playground for the world’s commercial giants. What are the prospects and implications of space travel and how will it affect us all? The SNF Dialogues discuss with Dr. Tanya Harrison, planetary scientist, Mars expert, and Co-founder/Director of the Earth and Planetary Institute of Canada, seeking answers to the above questions. 

Listen here: To infinity and beyond: Space Travel, Mars and Ethics by SNF Dialogues (Anna-Kynthia Bousdoukou)

Dr. Tanya Harrison, aka @TanyaOfMars a bona fide former NASA Scientist and martian geomorphologist, answers your burning questions about our cold, red neighbor planet. Is that dust storm for real? How well did Ridley Scott represent those gullies? What about water?

We discuss Dr. Tanya’s groundbreaking work and this amazing movie.

Aired on WRIR: 11/18/21

Released in 2015 by 20th century fox, The Martian was directed by none other than Ridley Scott. Adapted by Drew Goddard from the book by Andy Weir, it stars Matt Damon as botanist Mark Watney, one of 6 intrepid astronauts collecting samples from the surface of the red planet.

Listen on Apple Podcasts: “The Martian” (2015) feat. TANYA OF MARS, Dr. Tanya Harrison (NASA, Planet Labs) by They Came From Outer Space

One of the most exciting possibilities for life beyond Earth doesn’t require us going very far. While Mercury and the Moon have no atmosphere and Venus is an inferno-esque hellscape, Mars offers a tantalizing possibility for a new line of life, independent of Earth, here in our Solar System. With the same raw ingredients and more than a billion years of a watery, wet past, Mars could have had, or might even still have today, some form of life on its surface.

Part of the reason Mars is so exciting for us is that we’ve been there: at least, robotically, with a series of orbiters, landers, and even rovers. We’ve seen and learned so much about the red planet, including some tantalizing hints of what might be biological activity. But there’s so much more to learn, and we’re reaching the limits of what we can accomplish without having human beings walk on the Martian surface.

On this episode of the Starts With A Bang podcast, we’re joined by Mars expert Dr. Tanya Harrison, who’s worked on three generations of Mars Rovers and is a strong advocate for a variety of future missions to Mars. Join us for this fascinating conversation where she lays out what we know, what remains uncertain, and what we’ll need to do if we want to take those next, critical steps. (And, as a bonus, she corrects one or two of my misconceptions along the way!)

Read more: Starts With A Bang Podcast #93 – Mars from the ground by Ethan Siegel

Mars expert Tanya Harrison shares the details on some of the newest discoveries about Mars’ history, including the discovery of an impact crater thought to be linked to a megatsunami in Mars’ ancient ocean and the discovery of opals, a water-rich gem, in Gale Crater. Stick around for What’s Up as we let you know what to look for this week in the night sky.

Listen here: More on Mars’ Watery History by Planetary Radio (The Planetary Society)

Tanya Harrison never thought she was going to be an astronaut. But she was determined to go to space. And she did just that – through satellites, first to Mars, and now looking back at our own third rock from the Sun as she uses satellites to map places near and far. We talked with her about what it’s like to be a Martian, making science more accessible to those with disabilities, and what it’s like to view some of the most beautiful places on Earth.

This episode was produced by Shane M Hanlon and mixed by Collin Warren. Artwork by Karen Romano Young. Interview conducted by Ashely Hamer.

Read more: 3-True Story: A Martian on Earth by Shane Hanlon

Mars may be the most studied, most discussed planet in our universe. What is this fascination?

On this edition, Dean and Anna welcome Dr. Tanya Harrison – geologist, planetary scientist, and purveyor of Professional Martian LLC. She’s a science communicator and educator known on social media as Tanya of Mars. 

Read more: Looking Up: Tanya of Mars by Dean Regas and Anna Hehman

More info: Project Geospatial: Tanya of Mars