Welcome Greg Brennecka:
We’re joined on the Starline by an actual meteor master. He’s a staff scientist and cosmochemist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. His book “Impact: How Rocks from Space Led to Life, Culture and Donkey Kong” discusses the impact meteorites have made on the earth. We welcome Greg Brennecka.
Greg, let’s go Beyond the Mic. Meteorites have changed the earth, in big ways from killing the dinosaurs to delivering complex organic molecules that allows life to thrive. Where did you find your first meteorite?
How did discovering meteorites put you on a path to where you are now?
The Double Asteroid Redirection Test is a NASA mission to redirect an asteroid if it is heading toward earth. By changing the cosmic pinball game that is going on with asteroids, could pushing one away cause a pinball reaction in the cosmos where a bigger one is sent our way?
This book puts a complex topic in easy terms, so what’s are in a meteorite?
So as you look at a slice of a meteorite, what discoveries have you been able to make at this snapshot of the cosmos?
NASA’s latest mission new James Webb telescope will change your work in what way?
The Rockin’ 8:
It’s time for the Rockin’ 8, 8 random questions; answer with the first thing that comes to your mind. There is no Pressure.
1. Best place to find a meteorite?
2. Favorite constellation to look through a telescope?
3. Least favorite Mario Kart character since we know you choose Ditty Kong for the banana throwing?
4. Teacher whose class you slept through in school growing up?
5. You’ve been cited in over 2200 articles on various science subjects, what’s your secret hobby?
6. Time to ask the question that might get you in trouble. Is Pluto a planet?
7. Favorite wine from the Livermore Valley?
8. Least favorite meteor movie?
One Big Question:
What will be the next big discovery you expect in the next 10 years in your field?
With water such necessary resource will the search for water on other planets be necessary?
With 300 meteorites from mars what will be the next big discovery from Mars?
Favorite place in Tempe?
The Wrap:
He thought “Don’t Look Up” was funny but didn’t like “Deep Impact”, slept through his history class, but he sorry. His book “Impact: How Rocks from Space Led to Life, Culture and Donkey Kong” is out now. Our thanks to Greg Brennecka for taking the time to talk with us today.
And that my friends is a Beyond the Mic Short Cut.
Listen to other conversations with authors here.
