Down to Earth with Terry Virts

Latest Episodes:

EPS 67: What is happening in Space? Sep 09, 2022

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What is happening in Space? Will the Artemis program take us back to the Moon? Should we be cooperating with Russia? Are there fish in Europa’s oceans? And what about all that space junk? All this and more in Terry’s conversation with Time magazine’s Jeffrey Kluger. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry

EPS 66: Gun Laws Down Under – is Australian policy more effective? Aug 25, 2022

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Steve James joins me in today’s episode – Steve is a former inspector of Police for Victoria and was Ministerial Adviser for Drug Policy for Australia and New Zealand Government for 11 years, who is currently enjoying retirement. He has a fascinating background, joining a cadet programme at age 15, following crime from the early days, moving onto drug expertise, explosives and organised crime. We have a thought-provoking debate on the pros and cons of gun law in Australia and the US, and we discuss the research behind mass shootings, and how potentially unreliable facts and figures can be manipulated to create misconceptions around mass shootings. A fascinating comparison of two very different geographies with some striking differences and similarities. A great episode for anyone interested in international gun law. Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry

EPS 65: What’s the whackiest science story ever? (Joe Palca, an NPR science reporter) Aug 18, 2022

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What’s the whackiest science story ever? How about the OJ chase upending Al Gore and the Space Station? Heir’s 30 years of science reporting adventures from NPR’s own Joe Palca. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry

EPS 64: Are electric cars and solar panels making us completely dependent on China? Aug 11, 2022

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We are moving towards electric vehicles and wind & solar power make us wholly dependent on China. Is it even possible to build the number of EVs that are being promised today? And how do we get gas prices back down to Earth? Get the answer to these questions and more with Mark Mills.

EPS 63: Can Russia win in Ukraine? Aug 03, 2022

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Will Russia win in Ukraine? How can the West defeat their militarily? Why does Putin think he’s a modern-day Peter the Great? Best-selling author and Washington Post columnist Max Boot discusses these questions and more. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry

EPS 62: Dark matter, the early universe and galaxy formation with Dr Katie Mack. Jul 14, 2022

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Katie joins me for the third time to cover the Large Hadron Collider, and how its third run investigates the fundamental physics of the universe. Katie explains all about the collider giving us a layperson's introduction and delving into some of the big questions and aims of the new project. The new run for 3 years of data collection, collecting more data than all previous experiments. Will they find new particles, higher dimensions of space? A fantastic episode, sure to stretch your mind and teach you something about space. Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry

EPS 61: Texas politics: how bad can it get? Jun 30, 2022

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Pretty bad, y'all. The Texas Republican party’s recently approved platform has gone too far in trying to turn government into a religious institution and is a direct threat to democracy. The platform, really a "manifesto," includes these gems: encouraging Texans to secede from the Union with a ballot initiative in 2023. Proclaiming gun rights to be given from God, and that Texas should have no gun-free zones anywhere in the state. Proclaiming that homosexuality is an immoral lifestyle choice, abandoning most LGBT and all abortion rights. Defunding and abolishing almost all taxes, education regulations, and most government agencies including the EPA, Department of Energy, and even NASA. Explicitly limiting voting rights in a very racist way, including abolishing the 1965 Voting Rights Act. And the granddaddy of them all, the “big lie,” proclaiming the 2020 election invalid and Joe Biden an illegitimate “acting President.” Follow along as we talk through the Texas GOP’s greatest hits. Texas deserves better, because America needs a legitimate alternative to the Democratic party, and today's GOP is not that. At least not in the Lonestar State. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry

EPS 60: Batter up; Jeff Conine on becoming a baseball legend Jun 22, 2022

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Terry is joined today by baseball legend Jeff Conine, who gives us a rundown of his baseball career, which oddly enough, began with racquetball - going from pitcher to batter, from championships to major leagues. They cover everything about American college, sports scholarships, wins, losses, friends, teams, managers, parents, to the best showers in the league and the worst pitches to play on. Eva International Media Ltd https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry

EPS 59: From Russia With Love Jun 15, 2022

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Melani Robinson, writer for NY Times, Huffington Post and creator of several scripted TV series. She is currently working on a memoir of her experience in Russia and chats to Terry about this modern love story, in which she moves to Russia as a newlywed with her husband for his work. Join Terry and Melani as they chat and compare their experiences living in Russia; – from Las Vegas to southern Russian casinos – from the Russian and Italian mob to the KGB – from Russian grocery shopping to ordering Russian McDonald – from antique dealers to taxi drivers A fascinating glimpse into Russian life 15 years ago told by a brilliant storyteller. Eva International Media Ltd https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry

EPS 58: Slava Ukraine Jun 09, 2022

Show notes

Terry speaks with Major General Dmytro Marchenko on the invasion of Ukraine. We hear from General Marchenko on his views of the Ukrainian army and how united and strong they are in the face of the Russian invasion. Despite Russia having such a large force behind them, their fatalities far out way that of the Ukrainian army. The General tells us his views on the invasion, discusses the Russian violence towards civilians and sets the record straight on some Russian propaganda. He believes they can finish the war by the summer if they have the right weapons but implores the west to send more military aid as soon as possible. An honour to speak with him today to get such a close insight into the emotion and hardship that all Ukrainian people are going through at this time. Julia James. Translator Eva International Media Ltd https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry

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