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Why Earth may someday look like Mars

1,337,750 views | Anjali Tripathi • TEDxBeaconStreet

Every minute, 400 pounds of hydrogen and almost 7 pounds of helium escape from Earth's atmosphere into outer space. Astrophysicist Anjali Tripathi studies the phenomenon of atmospheric escape, and in this fascinating and accessible talk, she considers how this process might one day (a few billion years from now) turn our blue planet red.

Every minute, 400 pounds of hydrogen and almost 7 pounds of helium escape from Earth's atmosphere into outer space. Astrophysicist Anjali Tripathi studies the phenomenon of atmospheric escape, and in this fascinating and accessible talk, she considers how this process might one day (a few billion years from now) turn our blue planet red.

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxBeaconStreet, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

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Discover new planets with Planet Hunters!

Learn why atmospheric escape matters for Earth’s helium — and how avoiding helium balloons can help.

About the speaker

Anjali Tripathi

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Anjali Tripathi explores planets to uncover the processes that make and destroy them.

Kevin J. Zahnle and David C. Catling | Scientific American, 2009 | Article

"Our Planet’s Leaky Atmosphere"

A good overview of atmospheric escape – the processes at work and the implications for planets in the Solar System.

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NASA Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) Mission

Explore the MAVEN mission and its latest discoveries about how Mars’ atmosphere and climate have changed over time and continue to change today.

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Exoplanet Data Explorer

Keep up with the current number of planets discovered beyond our Solar System and find out everything about them.

Sara Seager | Princeton University Press, 2010 | Book

Exoplanet Atmospheres: Physical Processes

A technical reference book that puts atmospheric escape into the context of everything else related to exoplanetary atmospheres.

Andy Weir | Watch

The Martian

Near and dear to my heart because of the time I’ve spent at JPL working on the Mars Rovers, this is a fun read. Even though it’s a work of fiction, it conveys the exhilaration of working on space missions at NASA.

Bill Bryson | Broadway Books, 2004 | Book

A Short History of Nearly Everything

If you want more background about astronomy or any other science topic, this is a witty, easy-going work that puts it all together. Great perspectives on how unlikely it is that we’re here and how much had to go right to get here – both from the side of nature and scientific discovery.

Brian Cox | Watch

Wonders of the Solar System and Wonders of the Universe

Wonderful programs tying together disparate astronomical objects to make clear points about the forces and features that govern the Universe. Brian Cox is a delightful guide, who chooses the best examples to highlight insightful points. I never give an outreach talk without first re-watching parts of this show for inspiration.

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This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxBeaconStreet, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Discover new planets with Planet Hunters!

Learn why atmospheric escape matters for Earth’s helium — and how avoiding helium balloons can help.