Effects of living in space (Feb. 19, 2026)

On Thursday's show: AI-focused data centers have increased the demand for memory chips that drive many electronics consumers use. And that is driving up prices we pay to get them. Technology columnist Dwight Silverman explains, and he offers advice for how to spot AI being used in campaign ads or social media posts.

Also this hour: As Johnson Space Center continues preparations for the next Artemis mission and America’s return to the moon, it reminds us that NASA’s long-term vision includes using the moon as a stepping-stone for future missions to Mars. But there is a lot to consider about what human beings spending extended time on the moon or Mars will mean. We talk that over with Rice University biology professor Scott Solomon, author of Becoming Martian: How Living in Space Will Change Our Bodies and Minds.

Then, we discuss the role the Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary plays in protecting birds that migrate through Texas.

And, as Olympic hockey games near their pinnacle this week, we talk with Chie Chie Yard, the first Houston native to play hockey in the Olympics. These days, she plans major events for the National Hockey League, and she is one of this year’s Houston Hockey Hall of Fame inductees.

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