A New Era For SETI Research: More on the Breakthrough Initiatives

We follow last week’s conversation with Ann Druyan about the $100 million funding of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence by visiting with two of the scientists who will do the work: Dan Werthimer of UC Berkeley and Karen O’Neil of the Green Bank Telescope. Emily Lakdawalla and Bill Nye return to their regular slots, while Bruce and Mat ogle this year’s slick new Lunar Rover model.

Related Links:

• The Breakthrough Initiatives
• SETI@Home
• Green Bank Telescope (Site)
• Brilliant Ad for the 1971 LRV Inspire—You Know You Want One
• Vote LightSail!
• What's up in solar system exploration: August 2015 edition

This week's prizes are a fabulous Planetary Radio t-shirt and a cool LightSail patch!

This week's question:

About how many galaxies, including dwarf galaxies, are in the Local Group that includes the Milky Way?

To submit your answer:

Complete the contest entry form at http://planetary.org/radiocontest or write to us at [email protected] no later than Tuesday, August 18th at 8am Pacific Time. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Last week's question:

What is the only Apollo Lunar Module whose Ascent Stage probably still survives in space?

Answer:

The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:

If you were a car company trying to market the Apollo mission Lunar Roving Vehicle, what would you name it, and what would your slogan be? There is no right answer. Answers will be judged based on humor and/or effectiveness or whatever other criteria we feel like.

Answer:

See the video that won our “Rebrand the Lunar Rover” contest.