Examining a new lunar crater + searching for signs of alien technology

Scientists are learning more about a recent impact crater on the moon. Plus, hunting for extraterrestrial life through technological clues.

In 2024, scientists using instruments on board the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft spotted a new large impact crater on the surface of the moon. Tyler Powell joins host Flora Lichtman to describe what they found, and what scientists are learning about the lunar surface from studying it. 

After, Sofia Sheikh describes different approaches to hunting for intelligent alien life through ‘technosignatures’. These are technological traces that could only be produced by intelligent life, like radio transmissions, industrial pollution, or city lights at night. Researchers from the SETI Institute have proposed sifting through lunar dust to look for tiny traces of a long-gone super advanced galactic civilization.

Guests:

Dr Tyler Powell is a planetary scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

 Dr. Sofia Sheikh is a Technosignature Research Scientist at the SETI Institute.

Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com.

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