News Roundup: The Birth of the Moon, E.T. Life, and LHC Season Two
12:09 minutes
The origin of our moon is an enduring mystery for planetary scientists. One theory supposes that another planet slammed into Earth, and in the aftermath of that collision, the moon emerged. Rachel Feltman, who runs the “Speaking of Science” blog at the Washington Post, talks about three studies out this week that inch us closer to an answer. Plus, she reviews a few new findings about life’s prevalence in the cosmos.
And last weekend, the first protons made the rounds in a newly souped-up Large Hadron Collider. After two years of tune-ups, the world’s biggest physics machine is turning back on—at nearly twice the proton-smashing power. The BBC’s Jonathan Webb joins us for a preview of what physicists are hoping to turn up, and how long the search for new particles might take.
Segment Guests
Rachel Feltman
Rachel Feltman is a freelance science communicator who hosts “The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week” for Popular Science, where she served as Executive Editor until 2022. She’s also the host of Scientific American’s show “Science Quickly.” Her debut book Been There, Done That: A Rousing History of Sex is on sale now.
Jonathan Webb
Jonathan Webb is science reporter for BBC News in London, England.
Meet the Producers and Host
About Annie Minoff
@annieminoffAnnie Minoff is a producer for The Journal from Gimlet Media and the Wall Street Journal, and a former co-host and producer of Undiscovered. She also plays the banjo.
About Christopher Intagliata
@cintagliataChristopher Intagliata was Science Friday’s senior producer. He once served as a prop in an optical illusion and speaks passable Ira Flatowese.