Devon Stork: Engineering microbes for a multi-planetary future

What will it really take for humans to live beyond Earth? In this episode of Galaxy Balance, Cory Smith sits down with Devon Stork, synthetic biologist and founding member of Pioneer Labs, a nonprofit research institute advancing biotechnology for use in space. Devon’s work focuses on engineering microbes that can survive extreme extraterrestrial environments and transform local resources, like Martian regolith, into usable materials such as soil, building substrates, and biological infrastructure. The conversation explores why microbes, not humans, are likely to be the first true settlers on Mars; how in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) reshapes the economics and feasibility of space habitation; and why biology’s unique strengths, self-replication, adaptability, and subtle chemistry, make it essential for a multi-planetary future. We also dive into: Designing microbial “chassis” that require minimal infrastructure Converting Martian regolith into fertile, perchlorate-free soil Open science and rapid communication as a catalyst for frontier research The ethics of terraforming and preserving extraterrestrial environments How science fiction, evolution, and long-term thinking inform real scientific strategy The role of AI and large-scale data in accelerating biological discovery This episode blends hard science with speculative foresight, offering a grounded look at how life itself may become the foundation for humanity’s expansion beyond Earth.