Dana Taylor

Hello, I'm Dana Taylor, giving our audience a heads up. USA Today has a new podcast coming. It's called Untested, and it's about one detective's relentless pursuit of a serial sex offender. A warning, this program includes discussions of sexual assault and suicide. It may not be suitable for all listeners. Here's a preview.

Hello, I'm Dana Taylor, giving our audience a heads up. USA Today has a new podcast coming. It's called Untested, and it's about one detective's relentless pursuit of a serial sex offender. A warning, this program includes discussions of sexual assault and suicide. It may not be suitable for all listeners. Here's a preview.

Instead of suspending it, saying that there's a possibility it happened, but I can't prove it, I want to say that it didn't happen. You know what I'm saying? I would rather that anyways.

Instead of suspending it, saying that there's a possibility it happened, but I can't prove it, I want to say that it didn't happen. You know what I'm saying? I would rather that anyways.

Hello, and welcome to The Excerpt. I'm Dana Taylor. Today is Thursday, April 3rd, 2025, and this is a special episode of The Excerpt. Last month, a team of aerospace engineers at MIT released their findings from a research study on the effects of climate change on satellites in the Earth's upper atmosphere. What happens when today's treasure, satellites that give us access to broadband internet,

Hello, and welcome to The Excerpt. I'm Dana Taylor. Today is Thursday, April 3rd, 2025, and this is a special episode of The Excerpt. Last month, a team of aerospace engineers at MIT released their findings from a research study on the effects of climate change on satellites in the Earth's upper atmosphere. What happens when today's treasure, satellites that give us access to broadband internet,

and accurate weather forecasts, among other things, become tomorrow's trash? Or in other words, where does all that space junk go? And what does climate change have to do with it? Here to discuss the impact of global warming on satellites is Will Parker, PhD candidate in aeronautics and astronautics at MIT, lead author of the study. Thanks for joining me, Will.

and accurate weather forecasts, among other things, become tomorrow's trash? Or in other words, where does all that space junk go? And what does climate change have to do with it? Here to discuss the impact of global warming on satellites is Will Parker, PhD candidate in aeronautics and astronautics at MIT, lead author of the study. Thanks for joining me, Will.

First, is it time to change our thinking regarding the vastness of space and looking at the total number of satellites? I understand there are more than 11,900 circling the Earth right now. Is it already too crowded up there?

First, is it time to change our thinking regarding the vastness of space and looking at the total number of satellites? I understand there are more than 11,900 circling the Earth right now. Is it already too crowded up there?

According to the Associated Press, there are more than 7,300 satellites in low orbit, which is where we count on our space junk disintegrating, right? Can you explain this to me as though I were one of your children, just how this part of the atmosphere works?

According to the Associated Press, there are more than 7,300 satellites in low orbit, which is where we count on our space junk disintegrating, right? Can you explain this to me as though I were one of your children, just how this part of the atmosphere works?

What did your study reveal regarding the impact of climate change on the ability of the Earth's atmosphere to keep debris from piling up in space?

What did your study reveal regarding the impact of climate change on the ability of the Earth's atmosphere to keep debris from piling up in space?

Do you have increased concerns about the Kessler syndrome where collisions of space junk create a cascade of increasing debris? What's currently being done to prevent satellites from colliding?

Do you have increased concerns about the Kessler syndrome where collisions of space junk create a cascade of increasing debris? What's currently being done to prevent satellites from colliding?

Well, by your estimation, how much time remains to offset greenhouse gas emissions before we see a significant decrease in the number of satellites that can be maintained in low orbit?

Well, by your estimation, how much time remains to offset greenhouse gas emissions before we see a significant decrease in the number of satellites that can be maintained in low orbit?

And the adverse effects will not be distributed evenly across the globe, correct?

And the adverse effects will not be distributed evenly across the globe, correct?