January 2026

RARE Research Featured in Upcoming PBS NOVA Documentary

Research conducted at the Rensselaer Astrobiology Research and Education (RARE) Center will be featured in an upcoming episode of PBS NOVA, titled Asteroids: Spark of Life? The film explores how asteroid impacts may have contributed key ingredients necessary for the emergence of life on Earth and potentially elsewhere in the solar system.

The documentary highlights astrobiology research led by Karyn L. Rogers, Director of the RARE Center, and her student Meri Herrero, whose work examines interactions between asteroid-derived materials and planetary environments. Filming took place at the RARE laboratories during a site visit last March.

Created by filmmaker Ruth Berry, Asteroids: Spark of Life? will be the first film of NOVA’s 2026 season, highlighting the national significance of research conducted at the RARE Center.

The episode will air on January 21 at 9:00 PM EST on PBS and will also be available for online streaming at pbs.org/nova, NOVA’s YouTube Channel, and on the PBS app.