This Week in Space 206: I Want to Believe

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

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