Podcast: Cool Worlds Considers Communicating with Aliens

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Credit: Cool Worlds

You may enjoy this week’s episode from the Cool Worlds Podcast all about leaving evidence of our civilization for alien visitors, or even a future civilization here on Earth. The episode, “Nick Searra – Alien Communication, Golden Record, Future Relics,” covers a lot of ground from the Pioneer and Voyager missions to the idea of placing time capsules about our civilization on the Moon or even within the orbit of Jupiter.

The guest is Nick Searra, who is Founder and Executive Directory of the Interstellar Foundation. The Interstellar Foundation has a clear mission – to create messages that represent the diversity and creativity of humanity, inspire future generations of explorers, and communicate with potential extraterrestrial life.

On the site, you an read about the Foundation’s Aspire One, which was an effort to create a lunar record to preserve Earth’s cultural and scientific heritage on the Moon. Preserved records include UNESCO archives, World Heritage images, and other scientific, historical, and cultural material. This message is already on its way to the Moon via this week’s launch of the Blue Ghost lunar lander.

A second messaging mission, Aspire Two, is now in development.

The podcast discussion and related website basically cover the continuation of work stared by Carl Sagan with the launch of Pioneer 10 back in 1972. I recommend you check out both of them.

Image (Credit): Sample images from Aspire One. (Interstellar Foundation)

Podcast: The Future of NASA and the Space Industry

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Credit: Planetary Radio

For a good summary of the current situation at NASA and the potential potholes ahead, I recommend you listen into The Planetary Society’s Planetary Radio podcast titled “Space Policy Edition: The Challenges of Change at NASA.”

You can hear host Casey Dreier, who is Chief of Space Policy for The Planetary Society, talk with Marcia Smith, the Founder and Editor for Space Policy Online. It is a candid conversation that spares no punches at NASA management for its secrecy related to delays with the Artemis program.

A few issues that stayed with me include:

  • Why all the criticism of the Space Launch System (SLS), as well as the accolades for the still unproven Starship, when the Starship was barely an idea at the time the SLS was being designed and built?
  • Elon Musk represents a “single point of failure” in the US space program.
  • The incentives of the space billionaires, which is generally curiosity and self-aggrandizing similar to climbing Mount Everest, cannot replace the dedication to national (and even international, in the case of Artemis) interests represented by the US astronauts.

I am sure you will have your own takeaways. It is a good way to spend an hour of your time.

Podcast: Neil deGrasse Tyson in the Hot Seat

Posted on by onespaceman2000

Last week’s Real Time with Bill Maher included an interview with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, which did not go very well given the line of questioning. Mr. Maher was trying to entrap Dr. Tyson into some anti-woke politics, but he did not play along.

With all the topics Dr. Tyson could address on the show, it was a waste of time for viewers to witness this ambush. Mr. Maher continues to forget that he is a comedian and his guests come onto the show to have some fun. You can listen to the mess here.

Fortunately, the Overtime show after the main show, which focuses on questions from the audience, finally addressed some space-related questions, including one about Mr. Musk’s plans to go to Mars. Dr. Tyson said the costs, risks, and return on investment do not currently justify such a mission. However, he pointed out that once it becomes a space race with China then it may be something worth pursuing.

It was an interesting answer, and yet it seemed to ignore that we already have decided as a nation to go to Mars under the Artemis program even with the cost, risks, and lack of return on investment. It has a different time-table than Mr. Musk’s vision, but it is a plan that seems to be in place at the moment.

Maybe Dr. Tyson believes that too will be a space race similar to what it going on now with China regarding a Moon landing. It seems more likely than not at the moment.

Anyway, ignore the main show and tap into the Overtime show for some fun space-related discussions.

Podcast: Discussion with Ray Kurzweil

Posted on by onespaceman2000

Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews futurist Ray Kurzweil in this repeat StarTalk episode from November 2022 titled “Could We Someday Liver Forever? With Ray Kurzweil.” It is a heavy conversation about living forever as we integrate technology even more into our lives. Throughout the conversation Neil makes reference to a book coming out in 2023. In fact, the book came out in June of this year, which is probably why the episode is available again.

Here is a description of the new book from the publisher:

In this entirely new book Ray Kurzweil brings a fresh perspective to advances toward the Singularity—assessing his 1999 prediction that AI will reach human level intelligence by 2029 and examining the exponential growth of technology—that, in the near future, will expand human intelligence a millionfold and change human life forever. Among the topics he discusses are rebuilding the world, atom by atom with devices like nanobots; radical life extension beyond the current age limit of 120; reinventing intelligence by connecting our brains to the cloud; how exponential technologies are propelling innovation forward in all industries and improving all aspects of our well-being such as declining poverty and violence; and the growth of renewable energy and 3-D printing. He also considers the potential perils of biotechnology, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence, including such topics of current controversy as how AI will impact employment and the safety of autonomous cars, and “After Life” technology, which aims to virtually revive deceased individuals through a combination of their data and DNA.

The culmination of six decades of research on artificial intelligence, The Singularity Is Nearer is Ray Kurzweil’s crowning contribution to the story of this science and the revolution that is to come.

You will want listen to the podcast interview, and afterward you might even want to pick up the book.

Credit: Viking

Podcast: Alan Alda Interviews Astronaut Cady Coleman

Posted on by onespaceman2000

If you missed it, check out Alan Alda’s podcast Clear & Vivid for his recent interview with NASA astronaut Cady Coleman.

It’s a thoughtful interview as only Mr. Alda can do it. Ms. Coleman discusses her experiences on the International Space Station (ISS), which she calls a “floating palace.” Ms. Coleman has been part of three space missions, including two space shuttle missions as well as a stay on the ISS.

Ms. Coleman discusses funny episodes in her career, such as losing control of bbq sauce in zero gravity, as well as her overall feeling that the ISS represents something positive for all of humanity, regardless of the crazy movie plots where the astronauts and cosmonauts are at each other’s throats. She pointed out that the ISS was nominated for a Nobel peace prize back in 2014, which she thought was an appropriate gesture.

Overall, its a good conversation that may give you more insight into how one lives in space in such tight quarters.

Listen in if you get a chance.