Radiolab Screaming Into the Void
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Sep 5, 2025 Dive into the mysterious sounds of a fish that screams into the night and the strange world of silent counterparts. Journey through personal and scientific stories about gazing into the vastness of the universe, featuring insights from groundbreaking women astronomers. Explore cosmic loneliness and the quest for communication with extraterrestrial life. Each tale prompts reflection on our connection to the universe and the beauty of our shared existence, all set against the enchanting backdrop of Manhattan's night sky.
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The Singing California Fish
- Andrew Bass describes a bottom-dwelling fish that sings with a vibrating swim bladder to attract mates.
- He recounts that hundreds can chorus for hours and that males tend eggs after females leave for weeks.
The Sneaker Male Strategy
- Lulu explains discovery of 'sneaker' males that lack singing muscles and instead furtively fertilize eggs.
- She describes the singer caring for eggs while the sneaker male departs, leaving the singer to tend young.
Silence As Strategy And Risk
- Lulu reflects on human silence versus speaking up, comparing it to the fish's strategies.
- She suggests silence can be protective but that speech sometimes must risk exposure to enact change.
