Discovering bacteria on Mars would be big news. But nothing would scratch our alien itch like making contact with intelligent life. Hear why one man is impatient for the discovery, and also about the new tools that may speed up the “eureka” moment. One novel telescope may help us find E.T. at home, by detecting the heat of his cities.

Also, the father of modern SETI research and how decoding the squeals of dolphins could teach us how to communicate with aliens.

Guests:

•  Lee Billings – Journalist and author of Five Billion Years of Solitude: The Search for Life Among the Stars

•  Oliver Guyon – Optical physicist, astronomer, University of Arizona and Suburu telescope; 2012 McArthur Genius award winner

•  Jeff Kuhn – Physicist, Institute for Astronomy in Honolulu, Colossus Telescope

•  Frank Drake – Astronomer, SETI Institute

•  Denise Herzing – Behavioral biologist and research director of the Wild Dolphin Project

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