NewsPronto

 
The Times


.

USA Conversation

The Conversation USA

The Conversation USA

A decade after the release of ‘The Martian’ and a decade out from the world it envisions, a planetary scientist checks in on real-life Mars exploration

  • Written by Ari Koeppel, Postdoctoral Scientist in Earth and Planetary Science, Dartmouth College
image'The Martian' protagonist Mark Watney contemplates his ordeal.20th Century Fox

Andy Weir’s bestselling story “The Martian” predicts that by 2035 NASA will have landed humans on Mars three times, perfected return-to-Earth flight systems and collaborated with the China National Space Administration. We are now 10 years past the Holly...

Read more: A decade after the release of ‘The Martian’ and a decade out from the world it envisions, a...

More Articles ...

  1. Lifecycle of a research grant – behind the scenes of the system that funds science
  2. FDA will approve COVID-19 vaccine only for older adults and high-risk groups – a public health expert explains the new rules
  3. What does it mean for Biden’s prostate cancer to be ‘aggressive’? A urologic surgeon explains
  4. Windows are the No. 1 human threat to birds – an ecologist shares some simple steps to reduce collisions
  5. Russia’s invasion united different parts of Ukraine against a common enemy – 3 years on, that unanimity still holds
  6. Trump treats laws as obstacles, not limits − and the only real check on his rule-breaking can come from political pressure
  7. Too much sitting increases risk of future health problems in chest pain patients – new research
  8. Why your electricity bill is so high and what Pennsylvania is doing about it
  9. Rethinking engineering education: Why focusing on learning preferences matters for diversity
  10. Israel has promised ‘basic amount’ of food into Gaza − but its policies have already created catastrophic starvation risk for millions
  11. 19th-century Catholic teachings, 21st-century tech: How concerns about AI guided Pope Leo’s choice of name
  12. Making eye contact and small talk with strangers is more than just being polite − the social benefits of psychological generosity
  13. Aristotle would scoff at Mark Zuckerberg’s suggestion that AI can solve the loneliness epidemic
  14. Biden is getting prostate cancer treatment, but that’s not the best choice for all men − a cancer researcher describes how she helped her father decide
  15. Independence Hall, Gettysburg and – Epcot? How Reagan helped elevate Disney to America’s roster of honored patriotic sites
  16. Nonprofit news media leaders are struggling to stop leaning on the foundations that say they should branch out more
  17. The one-size-fits-all diversity training model is broken – here’s a better alternative
  18. Do photons wear out? An astrophysicist explains light’s ability to travel vast cosmic distances without losing energy
  19. An 18th-century rebellion for liberty, equality and freedom − not in France or the United States, but Ireland
  20. Teens of any age who drink alcohol with their parents’ permission drink more as young adults, new research shows
  21. How 3D printing is personalizing health care
  22. Ancient pollen reveals stories about Earth’s history, from the asteroid strike that killed the dinosaurs to the Mayan collapse
  23. Governors are leading the fight against climate change and deforestation around the world, filling a void left by presidents
  24. Cutting HIV aid means undercutting US foreign and economic interests − Nigeria shows the human costs
  25. Tomato trade dispute between the US and Mexico is boiling over again – with 21% tariffs due in July
  26. Leaders can promote gender equity without deepening polarization − here’s how
  27. Trump’s lifting of Syria sanctions is a win for Turkey, too – pointing to outsized role middle powers can play in regional affairs
  28. Space tourism’s growth blurs the line between scientific and symbolic achievement – a tourism scholar explains how
  29. Believe it or not, there was a time when the US government built beautiful homes for working-class Americans to deal with a housing crisis
  30. In what order did the planets in our solar system form?
  31. H-bomb creator Richard Garwin was a giant in science, technology and policy
  32. Landing on the Moon is an incredibly difficult feat − 2025 has brought successes and shortfalls for companies and space agencies
  33. Touch can comfort and heal, but also harm − a psychologist explains why gestures don’t always land as intended
  34. Why we fall for fake health information – and how it spreads faster than facts
  35. Cultivating obedience: Using the Justice Department to attack former officials consolidates power and deters dissent
  36. New chancellor, old constraints: Germany’s Friedrich Merz will have a hard time freeing the country from its self-imposed shackles
  37. Trump’s vision for Air Force One will turn it from the ‘Flying White House’ to a ‘palace in the sky’
  38. ‘Manu jumping’: The physics behind making humongous splashes in the pool
  39. Trump’s battle with elite universities overlooks where most students actually go to college
  40. Governments continue losing efforts to gain backdoor access to secure communications
  41. Placenta bandages have far more health benefits than risky placenta pills − a bioengineer explains
  42. Birthright citizenship case at Supreme Court reveals deeper questions about judicial authority to halt unlawful policies
  43. Disarming Hezbollah is key to Lebanon’s recovery − but task is complicated by regional shifts, ceasefire violations
  44. Disarming Hezbollah is key to Lebanon’s recovery − but the task is complicated by regional shifts, ceasefire violations
  45. Unprecedented cuts to the National Science Foundation endanger research that improves economic growth, national security and your life
  46. What Pope Leo XIV’s coat of arms and motto reveal about his dedication to the ideals of St. Augustine − an art historian explains
  47. Hurricane disaster planning with aging parents should start now, before the storm: 5 tips
  48. Congress began losing power decades ago − and now it’s giving away what remains to Trump
  49. Algebra is more than alphabet soup – it’s the language of algorithms and relationships
  50. US safety net helps protect children from abuse and neglect, and some of those programs are threatened by proposed budget cuts