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Michael L. Wong
Postdoctoral Fellow, Planetary Science and Astrobiology, Carnegie Science Earth & Planets Laboratory
Michael Wong is an astrobiologist and planetary scientist whose primary scientific interests are planetary atmospheres, habitability, biosignatures, and the emergence of life. He also hosts a podcast called Strange New Worlds, which examines science, technology, and culture through the lens of Star Trek.
Latest Articles
Michael L. Wong asks how our understanding of the origin of life on Earth informs our search for it elsewhere.
Latest Planetary Radio Appearances
The fight to save NASA science is back. Planetary Radio host Sarah Al-Ahmed takes you to Washington, D.C., for the 2026 Day of Action, where Planetary Society members, scientists, and advocates hit Capitol Hill to oppose a proposed 46% cut to NASA's science budget.
Astrobiology is the discipline that explores the origin of life in the universe, and whether life exists anywhere other than Earth. It’s an increasingly exciting field according to University of Washington Research Associate Michael Wong. Mike reviews the current thinking and provides some of the chemical basis for life as we know it, and possibly as we don’t know it.