How Biotech Will Shape Our Future on Mars and Beyond ft. Natalie Ma

In this episode of Science Renegade, Natalie Ma, Head of Business Development at Deep Origin and a synthetic biologist at the cutting edge of biotech, AI, and space research, explores how biology and artificial intelligence could shape the future of humanity—on Earth and beyond. She discusses removing bottlenecks in scientific progress, using AI to accelerate drug discovery and make medicine more accessible, and leveraging biotechnology to support life in space. From engineering microbes to terraform Mars to creating self-sustaining space colonies, Natalie shares her vision for how biology can become humanity’s ultimate survival toolkit. The conversation also touches on the challenges of transitioning from academia to startups, the future of antibiotics, and why physics is essential in drug development—offering a fascinating glimpse into the convergence of science, innovation, and exploration.