TWiS 206: I Want to Believe - When We Meet the Aliens

What happens next when science can confidently announce the discovery of an alien life form? Whether it's a fully functioning civilization or a lowly Martian microbe, the implications are vast. Dr. Brianne Suldovsky of Portland State University has studied this mostly ignored question and come up with some interesting conclusions--and, like the best science, more questions. How this can best be communicated in an age of mistrust in large institutions and science is a vexing one, and the conversation looked at it from a variety of angles. And--it was fun. Join us! Headlines: Artemis 2 Heat Shield Passes Inspection Despite Social Media Panic SpaceX Nears Version 3 Starship Launch After Delays New Naked-Eye Comet and Lyrid Meteor Shower Viewing Tips Main Topic: Communicating the Discovery of Extraterrestrial Life Lack of Research on Public Communication of Alien Life Discoveries Religious Backgrounds and How They Shape Views on Science and Space Public Trust, Misinformation, and Institutional Perception Challenges Risks, Uncertainties, and Ethics in Announcing Life Discoveries What Happens if Private Companies Discover Alien Life First Measuring Public Beliefs: the Extraterrestrial Belief Scale and Conspiracies Religious, Psychological, and Societal Impacts of Alien Life Announcements Direct Public Involvement in Decisions About Contacting Alien Life Navigating AI, Social Media, and Pattern Recognition in Spreading Space News Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Brianne Suldovsky Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit