As the NASA New Horizons probe reaches Pluto after its nine-year journey, scientists from the ANU Planetary Institute discuss why Pluto is still important, even if it has been 'demoted' to dwarf planet.

In this ANU science podcast ANU science communicator Dr Phil Dooley interviews Professor Trevor Ireland from the Research School of Earth Sciences, who studies planetary processes, and astrobiologist Charley Lineweaver from the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Find out how the New Horizons flypast will shed light on how the galaxy formed, and how life on Earth came about. And most importantly, should Pluto be reinstated as a planet?

Listen to the ANU science podcast on Pluto .