Dr Alex Layendecker / Sex in space

On today’s episode of the podcast, Toshi was thrilled to be able to talk with Dr. Alex Layendecker of the Advanced Spacelife Research Institute (ASRI) about all things sex in space. Together, they spoke about:  Why there was a need for a private research organisation to investigate sex in space When we might expect to see regular people going to space The short and long-term risks of sex in space Has anyone had sex in space?  The first married couple in space Why ASRI’s research focuses on more than just the act of sex And how humans might evolve in off-Earth environments  ASRI is a 501c3 non-profit research organisation that is dedicated to the study of human sexuality and reproductive factors as they apply to outer space environments. Dr. Layendecker is the founder and current director of ASRI. He is a 2008 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and served seven years as a USAF space operations officer for spacecraft launch and recovery, before transferring to the USAF Reserve as an HH-60G helicopter pilot for Combat Search and Rescue. He completed a Master of Public Health (2013) and PhD in Human Sexuality (2016) for the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, where his doctoral research focused on human sexuality and reproduction in off-Earth environments, the history of research in this area, and the research gaps that must be filled in the future in order to make long-term settlement of other worlds a viable possibility.   Timestamps:  00:00 – Intro  01:19 – What is the Advanced Spacelife Research Institute all about?  02:36 – Dr. Layendecker’s background and research 06:23 – Old space vs new space 08:30 – When might regular people have access to space? 11:29 – The race to fill all the research gaps 13:57 – The first symposium for the study of human reproduction and sexual health in space 15:09 – Short and long-term risks about sex in space 17:40 – Why this research is so important  21:45 – Has anyone had sex in space?  31:20 – The animals that have mated in space 32:11 – Why the research focus is not just on the act of sex  34:36 – How will humans evolve in off-Earth environments?  38:01 – Funding research into sex in space  41:30 – The future of space travel  43:28 – Would Dr. Layendecker travel to space?  46:15 – Conclusion   Find more about Dr. Layendecker and the Advanced Spacelife Research Institute here: ASRI: https://www.asri.space/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrosexresearch Twitter: https://x.com/ASRI4Space  Links mentioned in the podcast:  The International Scientific Symposium for the Study of Human Reproduction & Sexual Health in Space: https://www.space-reproduction.org/ SpaceBorn United: https://www.spacebornunited.com/ The Overview Effect by Frank White: https://www.amazon.com.au/Overview-Effect-Exploration-Evolution-Library/dp/162410262X  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.