

Rebecca Charbonneau, "Mixed Signals: Alien Communication Across the Iron Curtain" (Polity, 2024)
Jan 8, 2025
Dr. Rebecca Charbonneau, a historian of science with a PhD from Cambridge, discusses the fascinating intersection of extraterrestrial communication and Cold War politics. She uncovers how American and Soviet scientists collaborated despite geopolitical tensions, revealing untold stories from the Soviet perspective. The conversation highlights the dual role of scientific pursuits in military contexts and the impact of national biases on messages intended for alien life. Charbonneau's insights transform our understanding of the quest for cosmic connection against a backdrop of rivalry.
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Transcript
Episode notes
1 2 3 4 5 6
Intro
00:00 • 2min
Cold War Signals: Science and the Search for Aliens
01:40 • 8min
Science and Military: Radio Astronomy in the Cold War
09:46 • 9min
SETI: A Cold War Perspective
18:54 • 11min
Scientific Collaboration Behind the Iron Curtain
30:16 • 6min
Communication Challenges in Cold War SETI
36:32 • 13min