Press Play with Madeleine Brand
What could the next space suit look like?
NASA wants to send astronauts back to the moon, to Mars, and beyond. But their existing space suits are too bulky and from the 1970s.
NASA wants to send astronauts back to the moon, to Mars, and beyond. But their existing space suits are too bulky and from the 1970s. Dava Newman is a former NASA Deputy Administrator, and she and her team at MIT have come up with a relatively lightweight, custom fit “Bio-Suit.”
2008 Silver BioSuit™ Mock-up. Credit: Professor Dava Newman, MIT: Inventor, Science and Engineering Guillermo Trotti, A.I.A., Trotti and Associates, Inc. (Cambridge, MA): Design Dainese (Vincenca, Italy): Fabrication Douglas Sonders: Photography.
In this episode
4 storiesFeds want to end California's power to set higher fuel efficiency standards
Today, the White House said it will roll back Obama-era rules that required vehicles to average more than 50 miles per gallon by the year 2025. They also want to end California’s waiver that allows it to set even higher fuel efficiency standards.
Read the story8 minHow we missed the chance to address climate change
Scientists, politicians, teachers, and even kids knew more than 50 years ago that carbon emissions were changing the planet. We had a chance to change course and repair the damage, but failed to do so.
Read the story17 minDesigning a new space suit -- customized to each wearer
NASA wants to send astronauts back to the moon, to Mars, and beyond. But their existing space suits are too bulky and outdated -- from the 1970s.
Read the story10 minRemembering 'An American Family'
Last week, the patriarch of the Loud family of Santa Barbara died. He was 97. Don’t know the name? Well, back in 1973, Bill Loud was famous. His family was the focus of a 12-part documentary series on PBS, called “An American Family.”
Read the story12 min