Searching for life in the Milky Way

Is there life in our galaxy? How would we know if we spotted it? Dr. Moiya McTier, astrophysicist and folklorist, joins us to talk about her Ph.D. research on exactly that, plus the many surprising ways we get data about our universe (plus some existential pondering, of course)! Warning: we will be talking about the vastness of space and it's *no joke*!If you're overwhelmed by the universe but want to be its friend, be sure to check out Moiya's fantastic podcast Pale Blue Pod! I'm also a guest on an episode this week hooray :).Follow Moiya!@GoAstroMo on all the things!Moiyamctier.comHer book is The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our GalaxyHer podcast rules: https://palebluepod.com/Links & references in the episode:Foundational archao-astronomer Owen GingerichCultural astronomer Jarita HolbrookLIGO chirp sounds & informationNASA datasetsNASA's exoplanet archiveOur music is from Music Radio Creative and we are proudly part of the Daily Tech News Show ecosystem! Find me at @jonesrooy and jonesrooy.com.Chapters00:00 Exploring Life in the Milky Way04:09 Astrophysics vs. Astronomy: Understanding the Differences10:30 Data Collection in Astrophysics16:42 The Breakthrough of Gravitational Waves21:13 The Sound of Space: Gravitational Waves and Data Representation22:19 Multi-Messenger Astronomy: A New Era of Discovery24:48 The Cosmic Gold Rush: Understanding Element Formation26:21 Data Overload: The Stress of Astronomical Discoveries28:50 Big Data in Astronomy: The Challenge of Analysis31:12 AI in Astronomy: The Future of Data Processing33:33 Bias in Data: The Challenges of Observational Astronomy36:14 Null Results: The Importance of Scientific Rigor38:37 The Search for Life: Habitable Zones in the Milky Way40:54 Existential Reflections: Finding Meaning in the Vastness of Space42:05 Exploring Space Data: Resources for the CuriousKeywordsMilky Way, life, astrophysics, astronomy, gravitational waves, data collection, science communication, cultural astronomy, world building, aliens, gravitational waves, multi-messenger astronomy, data analysis, AI in astronomy, bias in data, habitable zones, cosmic discoveries, Milky Way, space exploration, scientific rigorBehind the Data is a podcast that uncovers the hidden stories within the data shaping our world. From political polls to global happiness trackers, we dive into the datasets that influence the decisions we make—while showing you why data isn’t just numbers, but a way to understand the world. Whether you're a data newbie or a seasoned pro, each episode makes complex data approachable, revealing surprising insights and the human side of every dataset. Come for the discoveries, stay for the stories.We are proud to be part of the Daily Tech News Show network of podcasts.Subscribe and leave a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.