Pi members, we're delighted to bring you another space-based program for this month's General Meeting.
Here is the talk summary by talented space topic podcaster Sarah Al-Ahmed: Beyond the Pale Blue Dot: The Hunt for Habitable Exoplanets
In the last few decades, the search for exoplanets—planets orbiting stars beyond our solar system—has transformed from a speculative endeavor to one of the most exciting fields in space science. With over 5,500 confirmed exoplanets, we are now closer than ever to finding worlds that might harbor life. In this talk, Sarah Al-Ahmed, host of Planetary Radio at The Planetary Society, will explore the current state of exoplanet detection, discuss how the James Webb Space Telescope is revolutionizing the field, and share next steps in our hunt for habitable worlds.
Here is Al-Ahmed's Bio
Sarah Al-Ahmed's childhood passion for science fiction and astronomy set her on a lifelong mission to share her love of space with the world. Now she is living her dream as the host and producer of Planetary Radio, The Planetary Society's weekly space exploration podcast.
Sarah holds a bachelor's degree in astrophysics from the University of California at Berkeley, where she specialized in exoplanet detection and cosmology. After some time as a data-taker for a supernova research team using instruments at Lick Observatory in Mt. Hamilton, California, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in science communication. Sarah spent six years as a museum guide, writer, and show producer at the historic Griffith Observatory. She was a monthly contributor to Griffith Observer magazine and a content creator for All Space Considered, the observatory's monthly astronomy news program.
Sarah joined The Planetary Society as Digital Community Manager in 2020, using her science communication skills to cultivate The Planetary Society's online communities. In 2023, she became the new host and producer of Planetary Radio, taking over for Mat Kaplan, the show's creator and host of over two decades. Each week, she shares interviews with scientists, entertainers, and authors as Planetary Radio explores the human adventure across our solar system and beyond.
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