Space Genes and Subway Scenes: Chris Mason on Planning Life’s Next Big Leap
Karl and Erum welcome Dr. Chris Mason. He’s a professor of genomics, physiology, and biophysics, as well as co-founder / COI of BiotiaNYC, Ursa Bio, and Onegevity. Chris will take you on a journey from the mysteries of space genomics to the hidden worlds of Earth's microbiomes. He discusses the intersection of advanced biology and space exploration, diving into his work with NASA’s twin study, the possibilities of planetary engineering, and his fascination with unknown DNA found even in urban subways. Chris also talks about how the convergence of ancient biological knowledge and cutting-edge technology could redefine humanity's future, both on Earth and beyond.
Chapters:
• 00:00:00 - The Spark of Science and Fresh Starts
• 00:01:23 - The Biotech Buzz in San Francisco
• 00:03:37 - Blockchain Meets Biology
• 00:07:45 - 2025’s Game-Changers: Microbes and Mars
• 00:08:52 - Into the Unknown: Dr. Chris Mason’s Journey
• 00:12:29 - Space’s Genetic Surprises
• 00:15:55 - Portable Labs Orbiting Earth
• 00:21:58 - Hidden Worlds Underfoot: Urban Microbes
• 00:32:19 - Tokyo’s Microbial Enigma
• 00:33:08 - The Peanut Paradox and Immune Myths
• 00:35:56 - Singular Cells in Vast Ecosystems
• 00:36:46 - From Genes to Blueprints: Synthetic Biology
• 00:47:31 - Terraforming at Planetary Scale
• 00:50:45 - Commercial Space Odysseys
• 00:52:53 - The Biology of Tomorrow: Dreams of Terraforming
• 00:55:59 - Wrapping Up with Visionaries
Episode Links:
The Next 500 Years: Engineering Life to Reach New Worlds by Chris Mason
Among New York Subway’s Millions of Riders, a Study Finds Many Mystery Microbes
