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b"We have a new podcast! It\\u2019s called\\xa0Universe Of Art, and it\\u2019s all about artists who use science to bring their creations to the next level. Listen on\\xa0Apple Podcasts,\\xa0Spotify, or\\xa0wherever you get your podcasts.\\n\\n\\xa0\\nProtecting Other Planets From Earth\\u2019s Germs\\nFor decades, people have been trying to figure out how to avoid contaminating other planets as they explore them\\u2014an idea called planetary protection. As missions venture forth to places such as Mars or Jupiter\\u2019s moon, Europa, the need to protect worlds that could support life becomes more critical. And at the same time, as space programs begin to bring samples back to Earth from places like Mars or asteroids, planetary protection becomes a concern in another way\\u2014the need to protect Earth from potential unknown life forms from the cosmos.\\nSending humans to another world raises the stakes even more. NASA has a limit of no more than 300,000 spores (single-celled organisms) allowed on board robotic Mars landers. But human bodies contain trillions of microorganisms, making it impossible for human missions to achieve the same level of microbial cleanliness as robotic landers.\\nDr. Nick Benardini is a NASA official responsible for ensuring that the proper precautions are made to prevent humans from contaminating outer space. Ira Flatow spoke to him about how to avoid spreading microbes between planets.\\n\\n\\xa0\\nAsk An Expert: An Evolution Education\\nMost people raised in the U.S. were taught about evolution in science class growing up. But how much do you actually remember? Charles Darwin\\u2019s On the Origin of Species or Gregor Mendel\\u2019s pea plant experiments may ring a bell, but it\\u2019s likely most of us could use a refresher.\\nA good grasp on the science of evolution is extra important these days, argues Prosanta Chakrabarty, author of the new book, Explaining Life Through Evolution, and curator of fishes at Louisiana State University. In 2008, Louisiana\\u2019s governor signed the Louisiana Science Education Act, which allows schools to teach creationism as an alternative to evolution.\\nChakrabarty joins Ira to talk about the science behind evolution and take questions from listeners.\\nRead an excerpt of the book here.\\n\\n\\xa0\\nTo stay updated on all-things-science,\\xa0sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.\\nTranscripts for each segment will be available the week after the show airs on\\xa0sciencefriday.com."