The Science of ‘Project Hail Mary’

Most every page of Andy Weir’s latest sci-fi novel, Project Hail Mary, glows with the promise of science and technology. In Weir’s first novel, 2011’s The Martian, the protagonist endures interplanetary travel, and struggles to survive on a harsh new world. However, in Project Hail Mary, the hero faces a far greater challenge: interstellar travel to collaborate with an E.T. in hope of saving an imperiled planet Earth!  Are the science and technology of Project Hail Mary realistic, promising too much, or under promising?  Hear more from Dr. Maggie Turnbull and Dr. Pascal Lee as they add some beautiful realism to your personal exploration of Project Hail Mary. Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming. In partnership with The SETI Institute and Wonderfest. Photos courtesy the speakers. Commonwealth Club World Affairs is a public forum. Any views expressed in our programs are those of the speakers and not of Commonwealth Club World Affairs.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billionaire investor and climate activist Tom Steyer says he’s running for governor “to make California affordable again.” And that, he says, requires someone willing to take on big corporations and other powerful interests. Steyer made his name founding the San Francisco hedge fund Farallon Capital, which currently manages more than $40 billion in assets. After stepping away from finance in 2012, he launched NextGen America, a youth civic engagement organization focused on causes such as climate action, immigration reform, and economic justice. He later raised his national profile when he ran for president in 2020. If elected, Steyer has promised to launch the most ambitious affordable housing push in state history, take on utility monopolies he blames for runaway energy bills, and ensure that corporations pay what he calls their fair share. The candidate points to his record as a political outsider who has spent millions of his own dollars winning ballot fights on climate, health care, and redistricting. Steyer joins Commonwealth Club World Affairs as part of our “Race for Governor 2026” series of candidate forums. Come meet the candidate, hear his vision for California, and ask your questions before you cast your vote for California’s next governor.   Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming. Photo courtesy the speaker. Commonwealth Club World Affairs is a public forum. Any views expressed in our programs are those of the speakers and not of Commonwealth Club World Affairs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Feb. 28, the United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran, killing the country’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Iran responded with an extensive missile and drone campaign targeting Israel, U.S. bases, and multiple Gulf states. President Donald Trump said the attacks would give Iranians a chance to “take back” their country and has predicted a quick ending to the war, calling it “a little excursion.”  But the situation on the ground has proven much more complicated. The war is disrupting oil supplies, causing a global spike in gas prices. And the United States might be responsible for a deadly strike on an Iranian elementary school that killed at least 175 people, according to preliminary results of a military investigation reported by The New York Times.  Join us to hear expert analysis of the war and what it means for the region. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades we’ve seen nations exercise geopolitical dominance tied to their production and control of fossil fuels – especially oil. But that leverage may be changing. Last year, China installed nearly twenty times the amount of wind and solar as the United States. In ⁠this essay⁠ in The National Interest, the authors lay out a global political and economic realignment already underway. Petrostates, like those in OPEC, are increasingly at odds with electrostates like China and many in the EU. This isn’t to say that electrostates are not without resource challenges – they’re seriously dependent on mineral supply chains – but the challenges are different, as are the opportunities. When 70% of the world’s population lives in fossil-fuel-importing countries, how are these diverging resource paths shaping the global balances of power?  Guests: Tatiana Mitrova, Global Fellow, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University Vijay Vaitheeswaran, Global Energy & Climate Innovation Editor, The Economist Li Shuo, Director, China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit https://climateone.org/podcasts Highlights: 00:00 – Intro 04:30 – Tatiana Mitrova on petrostates and the idea of electrostates 10:00 – Electrostates are already taking market share from petrostates 13:30 – How Mitrova sees balance of power shifting as world electrifies 17:15 – Vijay Vaitheeswaran on the concept of an electrostate 26:00 – How cheap electricity could allow developing nations to skip over fossil fuels 34:00 – Vaitheeswaran on how U.S. should take on industrial policy in this moment 38:00 – Li Shuo: China’s latest 5-year plan suggests it will double down on clean tech sector 41:00 – China installed nearly twenty times wind and solar as U.S. last year 49:30 – China is on track to become firs ********** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on ⁠Patreon⁠, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today at ⁠patreon.com/ClimateOne⁠.  Ad sales by ⁠Multitude⁠. Contact them for ad inquiries at ⁠multitude.productions/ads⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In October of 1066 William of Normandy defeated King Harold II of England on a battlefield near Hastings, and the effects of that Norman Conquest would reshape England’s culture, politics, language and religion for more than 1,000 years. But the seeds of that event were sown more than 60 years earlier, when the teenage daughter of a Norman duke arrived on England’s shores to marry its king. Her name was Emma, and her career as queen and matriarch would span the reigns of seven of England’s kings: she married two kings, two of her sons became kings as did two of her stepsons, and her father-in-law was king. Writer Patrica Bracewell, author of the Emma of Normandy trilogy, will explore the life of this powerful woman who became the wealthiest woman in England, a patron of the arts, a savvy political strategist, and a pivotal figure in the family politics that governed England. Medievalist Elaine Treharne will discuss communities of learning in 11th century England, focusing particularly on the manuscripts produced by religious establishments. Among these are some of the most magnificent volumes ever produced in the pre-print era that show how much emphasis was placed on education, piety and commemoration in this period. Musician Shira Kammen and her ensemble In Bocca al Lupo will present a short program of medieval music inspired by and about the queens of this tumultuous era. Join Humanities West to explore Emma of Normandy, the challenges she faced, the victories she led, and the world in which the woman who was the only twice-crowned queen of England lived. The Commonwealth Club of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming. A Humanities Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. In association with Humanities West. Speaker photos courtesy the speakers; painting: William Blake's The Ordeal of Queen Emma. Commonwealth Club World Affairs is a public forum. Any views expressed in our programs are those of the speakers and not of Commonwealth Club World Affairs. Organizer: George Hammond  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At its most functional level, clothing serves as essential physical protection from the environment, soft armor and tangible comfort. Visually, clothing is one of the most immediate ways to assert individual identity, signaling values and collective belonging to others at first sight. But, when public discourse is polarized and words feel inadequate, clothing becomes a powerful nonverbal language—communicating solidarity, protest, fear or hope at a glance. During periods of political tension and social exhaustion, clothing serves as a palpable reminder of who we are when the world is in flux, offering a sense of control in an uncontrollable world. When institutions feel fragile and the future unclear, getting dressed is no longer trivial—it’s an act of care, self-definition, and sometimes even quiet resistance. With insights from fashion industry leaders—educators, designers, reporters, and historians—this panel conversation will address the importance of clothing—as a marker of identity, symbol of resistance, and sign of belonging—in times of crisis.  About the Speakers Laura L. Camerlengo is curator in charge of costume and textile arts with the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. She has organized, co-organized and presented numerous costume and textiles exhibitions for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with a focus on sharing the stories of women and artists of color. Her recent publications include Patrick Kelly: Runway of Love (co-edited by Dilys E. Blum, 2021), and Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style (2024), as well as contributions to West 86th. She holds a Master of Arts degree from Parsons School of Design, The New School / Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in the History of Decorative Arts and Design. Moderator Natalie Smith is the Fashion Department chair and a full-time tenured instructor at City College of San Francisco. She also works as a freelance fashion show and event producer, stage manager, model coach, and voice-over artist. Natalie earned her Associate of Arts degree in interior design from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM). Anna Chiu is the founder and creative director of Kamperett, a women’s wear brand based in San Francisco, where its flagship atelier and studio are located. Shaped by her German and Chinese heritage, her work brings a forward-looking perspective to clothing through an artistic lens. She has dressed women for the Met Gala, countless award shows and red-carpets, including Angelina Jolie, Ali Wong, and Rashida Jones and Chloe Zhao. Kamperett takes an intentional approach to sustainability, with all pieces designed and made in California. Tony Bravo is the San Francisco Chronicle’s arts & culture columnist. His areas of coverage include visual art, the LGBTQ community, style, pop culture and “only in San Francisco” stories. He is also a frequent live interviewer and hosts the “Show & Tell” event series at Four One Nine. Bravo is also an adjunct instructor at the City College of San Francisco Fashion Department, where he teaches journalism. The Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming. A Grownups Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. Commonwealth Club World Affairs is a public forum. Any views expressed in our programs are those of the speakers and not of Commonwealth Club World Affairs. Organizer: Denise Michaud  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The phrase “eat the rich”—attributed to Jean-Jacques Rousseau during the French Revolution—has exploded across Gen Z and Millennial consciousness through films such as Parasite, The Menu, and Glass Onion; the resurgence of democratic socialism; and viral moments like Amazon union leader Christian Smalls wearing the slogan to the White House. Motörhead’s anthem of the same name—which Peaches Christ has performed live—provides the evening’s sonic backbone. On Friday the 13th, we’re putting a drag queen, a centi-millionaire running for Congress, a children’s book author who writes about werewolves who devour predatory men, and other provocative voices on the same stage—and asking them all the same question: Who’s really eating whom?” Enjoy an original performance by Peaches Christ, warm-up conversation with Saikat Chakrabarti, main-stage panel with Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Peaches Christ, and other guests moderated by Michelle Meow. Moderator Michelle Meow is the producer and host of "The Michelle Meow Show" on KPIX+. She is also a member of Commonwealth Club World Affairs' Board of Governors, and the former president of the board of San Francisco Pride.  Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming. The appearance in Commonwealth Club World Affairs programs of candidates for office are not a recommendation or endorsement of their views or candidacy; the Club is a nonprofit, nonpartisan forum that does not take positions on candidates or ballot measures. See more  Michelle Meow Show programs at Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California. Speaker photos courtesy the speakers. Commonwealth Club World Affairs is a public forum. Any views expressed in our programs are those of the speakers and not of Commonwealth Club World Affairs.   This program contains EXPLICIT language.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March is Women’s History Month, and we’re marking it by featuring the voices of women shaping California at every level of leadership.  This program brings together three trailblazing statewide elected officials—Eleni Kounalakis, Fiona Ma, and Malia Cohen—for a timely conversation about California’s past, present, and future through a woman’s perspective. Moderated by Nancy Tung, chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, this discussion will explore how women leaders are carrying forward hard-won progress, governing in the moment, and building a more equitable future for the next generation. About the Speakers Ambassador Eleni Kounalakis is the 50th lieutenant governor of California and the first woman elected to the office. From 2010 to 2013, Kounalakis served as U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Hungary and in 2015 published her acclaimed memoir, Madam Ambassador, Three Years of Diplomacy, Dinner Parties and Democracy in Budapest. Prior to her service, Kounalakis spent 18 years as an executive at one of California’s most respected housing development firms, AKT Development. Throughout her career, she served on numerous boards and commissions, including California’s First 5 Commission, the San Francisco War Memorial, San Francisco Port Commission, and the Association of American Ambassadors. Eleni Kounalakis graduated from Dartmouth College in 1989 and earned an MBA from U.C. Berkeley’s Haas School of Business in 1992. She holds honorary doctorates of law from the American College of Greece and the University of Piraeus and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.  State Controller Malia M. Cohen was elected in November 2022, following her service on the California State Board of Equalization (BOE), the nation’s only elected tax commission responsible for administering California’s $100 billion property tax system. She was elected to the BOE in November 2018 and was chair in 2019 and 2022. As chief fiscal officer of the world’s fifth-largest economy, Controller Cohen’s primary responsibility is to account for and protect the state’s financial resources. Cohen served as president of the Board of Supervisors of San Francisco. As a supervisor, she served as chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and the Audit and Oversight Committee. During this time, she also served as president of the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System (SFERS). Cohen was born and raised in San Francisco and attended public schools. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Fisk University and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University.  Fiona Ma, C.P.A., is California’s 34th state treasurer. She was first elected on November 6, 2018, with more votes than any other treasurer candidate in the state’s history and reelected on November 8, 2022. She is the first woman of color and the first woman Certified Public Accountant (CPA) elected to the position. Her office processes about $3 trillion in banking transactions a year. She provides transparency and oversight for the government’s investment portfolio and accounts, as well as for the state’s surplus funds.  Moderator Nancy Tung was elected as chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party in April 2024. She previously served as an elected member of the party’s local leadership for four years. She deeply understands the impact the Democratic Party has on our local elections and is guiding a new caucus of moderate Democrats in the party. Nancy’s core issues are public safety, improving public schools, increasing the housing stock, and supporting small businesses. Outside of politics, Nancy is a career prosecutor, having served at the state and local level for 24 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the war on diversity upends government, corporate and education policies, the history of the idea of diversity has never been more important. David Oppenheimer, a diversity skeptic turned diversity admirer, chronicles how diversity became a foundational value of higher education over the last 200 years, how it evolved as it was adopted by commerce and science, and what the implications are of the current backlash.The diversity principle—the idea that people with different backgrounds, experiences, identities, and viewpoints produce better work by engaging with one another—was a core tenet of the first modern research university, founded in Germany in 1810. It was the inspiration for John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty, a touchstone of academic freedom; a hallmark of Charles Eliot’s remaking of Harvard in the late 19th century to promote the “clash of ideas”; and a foundation of the 20th-century efforts toward equality of Thurgood Marshall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Pauli Murray. In telling the story of the diversity principle through the experiences of these and other remarkable thinkers, Oppenheimer argues for affirming diversity as a central value of education and an “essential ingredient for a robust intellectual and political culture.” Join us for a fascinating discussion about an important concept that underpins our intellectual, social, and economic lives. A Humanities Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. ORGANIZER George Hammond Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than perhaps any other state, Hawaii has major incentives to decarbonize. Imported oil accounts for about 90% of Hawaii's total energy consumption, and electricity prices are more than three times the national average. So it may not be surprising that Hawaii was the first state in the nation to set a 100% renewable energy goal by 2045. But that’s a hard goal to achieve, especially given the realities of geographic isolation and the costs of importing fuel and materials.  Hawaii Governor Josh Green is bullish about the island state’s decarbonization and wants all options on the table. That includes making liquified natural gas part of the mix, along with solar, wind, and geothermal. His administration passed the first “green fee” which imposes a tax on Hawaii visitors and is expected to generate $100 million for climate resilience projects. What can we learn from Hawaii’s decarbonization process?  Guests:  Josh Green, Governor of Hawaii Rylee Brooke Kamahele, Youth Plaintiff, Navahine v. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation Tessa M. Hill, Oceanographer and Professor, Earth and Planetary Sciences, UC DavisFor show notes and related links, visit ⁠ClimateOne.org⁠. Highlights: 00:00 Intro 03:08 Josh Green on achieving Hawaii’s climate goals 07:11 Josh Green on offshore wind 13:17 Josh Green on the effect of the wildfires and the recovery 18:09 Josh Green on decarbonizing 20:22 Josh Green on the health effects of the climate crisis 23:30 Rylee Brooke Kamahele on growing up 24:26 Rylee Brooke Kamahele on community action 29:06 Rylee Brooke Kamahele on the outcome of the lawsuit 34:27 Rylee Brooke Kamahele on the responsibility of older generations 37:55 Tessa M. Hill on rapidly changing oceans 41:43 Tessa M. Hill on the impact to common fish 44:44 Tessa M. Hill on the winners and losers of the changing oceans ********** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on ⁠Patreon⁠, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today at ⁠patreon.com/ClimateOne⁠.  Ad sales by ⁠Multitude⁠. Contact them for ad inquiries at ⁠multitude.productions/ads⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices