Regina Barber

It's a search that goes way back, way before James and I took control of our family's computers, to 1924. when many researchers were excited about Mars, and Mars' orbit was close to Earth, making it a prime time to listen to signals from the planet. And so an unconventional astronomer named David Todd convinced multiple radio stations in the U.S. and one in South America to go silent.

David Todd even convinced the U.S. Army and Navy to listen for anything unusual in radio signals.

David Todd even convinced the U.S. Army and Navy to listen for anything unusual in radio signals.

David Todd even convinced the U.S. Army and Navy to listen for anything unusual in radio signals.

But humans have continued to look for signs of intelligent life in the universe. And James says we've barely scratched the surface.

But humans have continued to look for signs of intelligent life in the universe. And James says we've barely scratched the surface.

But humans have continued to look for signs of intelligent life in the universe. And James says we've barely scratched the surface.

And that's where our scientific efforts have mostly been, looking at radio transmissions from outer space. SETI has looked for spikes, chirps, and unusual things from radio telescopes for about 60 years. But James and others think there's so much more data to sift through outside of these radio signals.

And that's where our scientific efforts have mostly been, looking at radio transmissions from outer space. SETI has looked for spikes, chirps, and unusual things from radio telescopes for about 60 years. But James and others think there's so much more data to sift through outside of these radio signals.

And that's where our scientific efforts have mostly been, looking at radio transmissions from outer space. SETI has looked for spikes, chirps, and unusual things from radio telescopes for about 60 years. But James and others think there's so much more data to sift through outside of these radio signals.

So today on the show, a legitimate look at the search for intelligent life in space, the ways we look, and how scientists are taking the search to the next level. I'm Regina Barber, and you're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR. OK, James, let's just like get into it. There's this equation that people throw around.

So today on the show, a legitimate look at the search for intelligent life in space, the ways we look, and how scientists are taking the search to the next level. I'm Regina Barber, and you're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR. OK, James, let's just like get into it. There's this equation that people throw around.

So today on the show, a legitimate look at the search for intelligent life in space, the ways we look, and how scientists are taking the search to the next level. I'm Regina Barber, and you're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR. OK, James, let's just like get into it. There's this equation that people throw around.

It's an equation that tells us the likelihood that there's alien life that could send us a signal. It's called the Drake equation. Can you break that down for us?

It's an equation that tells us the likelihood that there's alien life that could send us a signal. It's called the Drake equation. Can you break that down for us?

It's an equation that tells us the likelihood that there's alien life that could send us a signal. It's called the Drake equation. Can you break that down for us?

And the Drake equation doesn't take into account time. I personally was like, OK, the universe is like 13.8 billion years old. Our sun is like around 4.6 billion years old. I feel like there could have been civilizations that were coming on. I mean, that point. But that equation doesn't take that into account.

And the Drake equation doesn't take into account time. I personally was like, OK, the universe is like 13.8 billion years old. Our sun is like around 4.6 billion years old. I feel like there could have been civilizations that were coming on. I mean, that point. But that equation doesn't take that into account.

And the Drake equation doesn't take into account time. I personally was like, OK, the universe is like 13.8 billion years old. Our sun is like around 4.6 billion years old. I feel like there could have been civilizations that were coming on. I mean, that point. But that equation doesn't take that into account.

Okay, so this illustration, this equation comes from a man who kind of began what led to like modern SETI.