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.com
• Her book is The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy
• Her podcast rules: https://palebluepod.com/

Links & references in the episode:

• Foundational archao-astronomer Owen Gingerich
• Cultural astronomer Jarita Holbrook
• LIGO chirp sounds & information
• NASA datasets
• NASA's exoplanet archive

Our 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.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Life in the Milky Way

04:09 Astrophysics vs. Astronomy: Understanding the Differences

10:30 Data Collection in Astrophysics

16:42 The Breakthrough of Gravitational Waves

21:13 The Sound of Space: Gravitational Waves and Data Representation

22:19 Multi-Messenger Astronomy: A New Era of Discovery

24:48 The Cosmic Gold Rush: Understanding Element Formation

26:21 Data Overload: The Stress of Astronomical Discoveries

28:50 Big Data in Astronomy: The Challenge of Analysis

31:12 AI in Astronomy: The Future of Data Processing

33:33 Bias in Data: The Challenges of Observational Astronomy

36:14 Null Results: The Importance of Scientific Rigor

38:37 The Search for Life: Habitable Zones in the Milky Way

40:54 Existential Reflections: Finding Meaning in the Vastness of Space

42:05 Exploring Space Data: Resources for the Curious

Keywords

Milky 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 rigor

Behind 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.

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