128. Seeking a Message from Space: SETI's Search for Extraterrestrial Life with Dr. Jill Tarter

Dr. Lynda sits down with Dr. Jill Tarter to talk about SETI (the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), Jill’s 40 year journey, pioneering that field as a female scientist, and how positive a more “cosmic perspective” could be in our lives and our shared futures.  [00:00 - 03:00 ] OPENING [03:01 - 09:45] The search for extraterrestrial intelligence Stars have the same constant temperature [09:46 - 15:30] Desert varnish Collaboration in the search for life in other worlds Possibility of life in inhospitable environments [15:31 - 25:10] Looking at the stars in the sky as a child Being the only female in a class of engineering students Locking the dorms for the female students at night You can do anything you want if you’re willing to work hard enough Learning “carpe diem” very early in life [25:11 - 33:15] Defining success in a way that’s meaningful to you The Drake equation [33:16 - 38:15] Looking for life beyond Earth using more standard academic research New equipment and telescopes show us something that we didn’t expect at all [38:16 - 41:30 ] A layman’s explanation of the Drake equation It’s not the longevity of the engineers but it’s how long the technology are used [41:31 - 48:00] The best-case scenario on finding extraterrestrial life  Appreciate how vast the universe we inhabit is Adapting a cosmic context in the way we view the world [48:01 - 48:45] CLOSING