This episode is brought to you by NordVPN. When you need a VPN, make sure you get the best....the one we use personally. For special New Year deal, visit www.nordvpn.com/spacenutsSpace Nuts Episode 490: Origins of Life, Mars Missions, and Cosmic DistancesJoin Andrew Dunkley and Professor Jonti Horner in this enlightening Q&A episode of Space Nuts, where they tackle some of your most pressing cosmic queries. From the origins of life on Earth to the challenges of traveling to Mars, and how we accurately measure distances in space, this episode is brimming with intriguing discussions that will expand your understanding of the universe.Episode Highlights:- Origins of Life: Christian shares his exciting research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, exploring the origins of life and its implications for other planetary bodies. Andrew and Jonti discuss the significance of these findings and how they relate to the conditions necessary for life to emerge.- Traveling to Mars: Rennie asks about the potential pitfalls of a Mars mission. Discover the realities of traversing the asteroid belt and the safety measures in place to ensure a successful journey to the Red Planet.- Measuring Cosmic Distances: Lawrence raises a thought-provoking question about how astronomers judge distances in space, especially with the effects of gravitational lensing. Andrew and Jonti explain the distance ladder method used to measure astronomical distances and the challenges involved.- Future of the James Webb Space Telescope: Lee inquires about the possibility of building additional James Webb Space Telescopes. Andrew and Jonti discuss the complexities of space telescope production and the exciting prospects for future astronomical missions.For more Space Nuts, including our continually updating newsfeed and to listen to all our episodes, visit our website. Follow us on social media at SpaceNutsPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music, Tumblr, Instagram, and TikTok. We love engaging with our community, so be sure to drop us a message or comment on your favorite platform.If you'd like to help support Space Nuts and join our growing family of insiders for commercial-free episodes and more, visit https://www.spacenutspodcast.com/aboutStay curious, keep looking up, and join us next time for more stellar insights and cosmic wonders. Until then, clear skies and happy stargazing.00:00 - Introduction to the episode and questions02:15 - Discussion on the origins of life and Christian's research10:30 - Challenges of traveling to Mars and the asteroid belt18:00 - How astronomers measure distances in space26:45 - Future of the James Webb Space Telescope30:00 - Closing thoughts and listener engagement✍️ Episode ReferencesProceedings of the National Academy of Scienceshttps://www.pnas.org/Astrobiology Researchhttps://www.astrobiology.com/James Webb Space Telescopehttps://www.jwst.nasa.gov/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts--2631155/support.