David Kipping on Exomoons and the Fermi Paradox

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Could life exist on moons orbiting distant planets? Are We Alone? What if the key to understanding life's origins lies in the moons of distant worlds?

Exoplanetary scientist David Kipping is here to answer these big questions. He is a professor at Columbia University, the leading mind behind exomoons, and also the host of the Cool Worlds Lab.

He shares his groundbreaking research, including the discovery of Kepler-1708 b-i, a potential exomoon candidate. He explains why moons, like Earth’s, might be the unsung heroes in stabilizing conditions for life and how the latest tools, like the James Webb Space Telescope, are changing the game for astronomers.

But that’s not all. You’ll hear about the role of panspermia (yes, life traveling between planets!), the fine-tuning of our universe, and what it takes to push the boundaries of scientific communication.

If you’ve ever pondered the question, “Are we alone?” or simply love a good cosmic mystery, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Tune in now for an eye-opening journey through the cosmos and beyond!

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Key Takeaways: 

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:58 David Kipping's background and motivation
• 05:09 The role of moons in the origin of life
• 10:59 Bayesian frameworks and panspermia
• 19:30 Exomoon detection and research strategy
• 32:40 JWST observations and data analysis
• 41:14 Balancing scientific communication and public engagement
• 50:48 Future missions and their impact on exomoon research
• 54:49 Advice for young scientists and final thoughts 
• 57:32 Outro 

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Additional resources: 

➡️ Learn more about David Kipping:

📱 Website: https://www.coolworldslab.com/

✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/david_kipping

🔔 YouTube Channel: Cool Worlds Lab

✍️ Kepler-1708 b-i Study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-021-01539-1

➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list 

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast 

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Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

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