Aired May 27, 2025

Our guest is Dr. Lígia Fonseca Coelho, a 51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellow from Cornell University! Dr. Coelho holds a PhD in bioengineering with a specialization in astrobiology, complemented by a solid foundation in microbiology. Her research primarily investigates biosignatures, focusing on biological pigments, extreme environments, and planetary field analogs. Lígia's academic interests encompass innovation and space biology, where she designs experiments aimed at enhancing astronaut comfort in extreme conditions. In 2022, she led a pioneering project collaborating with aerospace engineers to launch the first menstrual cup into space. Currently, Lígia focuses on characterizing microbes to study their ecosystems and detectability on Earth, within our solar system, and on icy exoplanets.