When NASA loses staff, their expertise and experience can\u2019t be easily replaced.<\/strong> The latest episode of Planetary Radio: Space Policy Edition explores team dynamics at NASA with Janet Vertesi, PhD, a sociologist who has spent years embedded in NASA science teams. She discusses her alarm at the prospect of indiscriminate firings at the agency, and at the potential loss of institutional knowledge that won\u2019t easily be rebuilt. Pictured: An artist\u2019s impression of NASA engineers disappearing. Image credit: Casey Dreier\/NASA.<\/i><\/p>\n Where are all the aliens?<\/strong> This is the central question of the Fermi Paradox. Our latest article unpacks why some scientists think that we should have made contact with intelligent extraterrestrials by now, and explores some theories about why we haven\u2019t.<\/p>\n Sub-Neptunes may be the most common type of planet in our galaxy.<\/strong> This week\u2019s Planetary Radio features an interview with planetary geochemist Chris Glein, PhD, about his team\u2019s research on the sub-Neptune exoplanet TOI-270 d and the secrets it may be revealing about this class of world.<\/p>\n Attention all asteroid hunters!<\/strong> The Planetary Society is accepting proposals for the 2025 round of Shoemaker NEO grants, which fund experienced amateur observers and underfunded professional observers throughout the world who make vital contributions to research on near-Earth objects. The deadline for proposals is May 14, 2025. See our Request for Proposals for more details.<\/p>\n ICYMI: The Planetary Society book club with Hakeem Oluseyi.<\/strong> Astrophysicist, engineer, and science communicator Hakeem Oluseyi joined our latest virtual book club meeting to talk about his inspiring coming-of-age memoir about his rise from an impoverished childhood and crime-filled adolescence to the top ranks of research physics. You can watch a recording of the event here. Our next book club pick is \u201cMars: Photographs from the NASA Archives.\u201d Planetary Society members can join the book club and attend live Q&As with authors. Not yet a member? Join today.<\/p>\n Join us at the Humans to the Moon and Mars Summit.<\/strong> Taking place May 28-29, 2025, in Washington, D.C., this summit explores the future of human space exploration from scientific, engineering, and policy perspectives, and more. This year\u2019s event will feature Planetary Society board member and planetary scientist Britney Schmidt, PhD, as well as former Planetary Radio host Mat Kaplan. Planetary Society members can use the promo code PlanetarySocietyMARS2025<\/strong> for a 10% discount on registration.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Planetary](\"https:\/\/planetary.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/email\/newsletter\/email-tps-logo-small.png\"){kind=logo}
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