New episode: Female Biology and Science in Space

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Shawna Pandya, MD is one of the leading voices in space medicine today.

She is a physician-scientist, aquanaut, TEDx speaker, martial artist, advanced diver, skydiver, pilot-in-training explorer, the Director of IIAS Space Medicine Group, and a space medicine and austere environment researcher.

In this episode, you'll learn just how close humanity is to having the first commercial space station, how the female body responds to space flight conditions and the fascinating medical research scientists are conducting in the zero gravity environment.

We are living in the golden era of space exploration.

The major change sparking new developments in the space industry is the involvement of private companies. It's no longer just a government project or a geopolitical race from the Cold War era.

Space entrepreneurs have entered and are expediting what is possible. Blue Origin (Jeff Bezos) and SpaceX (Elon Musk) are making headlines but are far from the only ones.

Missions like the James Webb Space Telescope explore deeper into the universe than ever before, searching for the origins of galaxies, stars, and life itself. NASA plans to open the International Space Station for more commercial activities, including private astronauts and research initiatives. This move is expected to stimulate innovations in microgravity research and manufacturing.

The space industry is worth trillions and, as Shawna explained in the episode, we could see the first commercial space station by the end of this decade!

But there is one significant challenge humanity is facing:

The cosmos is an extreme environment, putting the human body under deadly stress.

So my question to Shawna was - how does the female body respond to space?

Today, women constitute 12% of all astronauts. How has being in space affected their menstrual cycles, reproductive health, ovarian longevity, bone density, and hormones? We discuss it all in the episode.

This is important to think about now, because as Shawna put it:

We are going to space for humanity so we need to do it with all of humanity

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There are even bigger questions:

A shared and visionary goal within the space industry is for humans to live and thrive across multiple planets.

Wild, I know, but human ingenuity is incredible so if someone is dreaming about it, it will eventually happen. And when it does - will we be able to reproduce in space? What will just thinking about it teach us about pregnancy and life?

As I learned, scientists and entrepreneurs are already looking for answers while you are reading this sentence! From figuring out how to have intercourse in space to exploring whether it is possible to conceive a baby out there.

This spaceship is launching. Join me and Shawna in this episode to get on it ;)

About MOTHER-podcast

MOTHER is a movement of bold ideas about the female body.

In Season 1, we dive into fascinating science and new technology pushing the boundaries of the female experience as we know it.

You’ll hear from scientists, entrepreneurs, artists, sex workers, astronauts, and innovators unpacking questions like:

• Could psychedelics be a game changer for women?
• Can we live healthier and longer if we slow down how fast our ovaries age?
• What did Darwin get wrong about the female animal?
• What if we rebrand the menstrual cycle as the vital sign of our longevity?
• Can humans reproduce in space?
• How does our sexuality link to creativity and expression?
• And much, much more!

The name for the podcast "MOTHER" is inspired by the creative force inside us all - the force that creates ideas, businesses, spaces, communities, and life itself.