The Final Frontier

The United States says it has a weapon in orbit but has revealed little about what it does. Could the announcement deter an adversary, or could uncertainty make a confrontation in space more dangerous? On this episode of Plausibly Live, I look at the possibilities behind that announcement, from disrupted signals to damaged satellites, and at a question Star Trek fans may recognize: what happens when your instruments show you where a target was instead of where it is? Captain Picard’s famous maneuver offers a surprisingly useful way into the problem. Then it’s back to Earth, where Brooks is selling $150 Mariners sneakers. The tribute to retiring broadcaster Rick Rizzs is a nice touch. After 44 years as a Mariners fan, though, I have some thoughts about what the team is asking us to celebrate.