Dr. Richard Freedman is an astrophysicist who works on astronomical and laboratory spectroscopy, including creating model spectra for brown dwarfs and exoplanets.
Before joining the SETI Institute, Dr. Freedman worked at NASA Ames Research Center, generating large molecular opacity files for use in Earth and planetary modeling studies.
Dr. Freedman’s work on opacity generation continues with various research groups worldwide.
<https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/23/opinion_column_starlink_interference/>
# Musk is messing with the Cosmic Dawn. Will alien hunters save the day for all mankind?
## Science friction at the far end of time for SpaceX and astronomy
"Elon Musk's Starlink flying circus is many things. It's a multi-thousand satellite global internet provider, growing by hundreds of new orbiting relays a month. It's part of intricate geopolitical power games between the Pentagon, the US government, Ukraine, and Musk himself.
"It loves photobombing astronomy photographs, as the satellites drift across fields of view that were intended to snap distant starlight. But for its latest trick, it's humming loudly over the faintest whispers from the dawn of the universe. …"
Big Picture Science for July 21, 2025: The Play’s the Thing
REPEAT
Has children’s play become too safe? Research suggests that efforts to prioritize safety harms children’s mental and physical development during play and contribute to anxiety. One solution: introduce risk into play. We visit an adventure playground where kids play unsupervised with anything from scraps of metal to hammers and nails. Plus, what are the evolutionary benefits of play? After all, we’re not the only species who like to roughhouse, sled, or chase balls. And, reclaiming play for those who have outgrown recess.
Guests:
* David Toomey - Professor of English, University of Massachusetts. Amherst and author of “Kingdom of Play: What Ball-Bouncing Octopuses, Belly-Flopping Monkeys, and Mud-Sliding Elephants Reveal About Life Itself.”
* Mariana Brussoni - Developmental psychologist who studies children's outdoor risky play, and professor at the University of British Columbia in the Faculty of Medicine
* Yoni Kallai - Interim director, head playworker and co-founder of play:groundNYC
* Peter Gray - Psychology researcher at Boston College and author of "Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life"
This repeat podcast originally aired on May, 13 2024
Download podcast at - https://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/the-plays-the-thing
You can listen to this and other episodes at http://bigpicturescience.org/
Get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support!
We've "Found" Alien Life Before. But This Time It's Different... Via @thoughty2 #Space #Astrophysics #OrbitalMechanics #Astronomy #SETI 
We've "Found" Alien Life Befor...
Why do alien encounters always involve the alien putting something up the ass?
A #Galactic Habitable Zone excludes stars too close to the galactic center. Our Sun is a nice distance away from the galactic center, about 28,000 light years. Keeping out of the way of the Galaxy’s spiral arms is another requirement of the Galactic #HabitableZone https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/news/galactic-habitable-zones
Something has come in from Interstellar space so Avi Loeb claims ownership of it....
"Extraordinary Claims Requires Extraordinary Evidence"
Please dude, just stop.
Big Picture Science for July 14, 2025: Nuts and Bolts
REPEAT
How frequently do you think about fasteners like screws and bolts? Probably not very often. But some of them a storied history, dating back to Egypt in the 3rd century BC. They aren’t just ancient history. They help hold up our bridges and homes today. Join us as we dissect a handful of engineering inventions that keep our world spinning and intact.
Guests:
* Roma Agrawal - structural engineer and author of "Nuts and Bolts: Seven Small Inventions That Changed the World (in a Big Way)"
* Ron Gordon - watchmaker, New York City
This repeat podcast originally aired on May 6, 2024
Download podcast at - https://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/coffee-of-the-future
You can listen to this and other episodes at http://bigpicturescience.org/
Get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support!
Cool science. Not aliens.
QT Prof. Abel Méndez @profabelmendez.bsky.social
2025 July 15
One month from today marks the 48th anniversary of the Wow! Signal, a moment that continues to inspire scientific curiosity. We’re preparing to share new results that offer fresh insights into this enduring mystery. #WowSignal #SETI #Astrophysics #AreciboWow https://phl.upr.edu/wow/data
https://bsky.app/profile/profabelmendez.bsky.social/post/3ltzgfr2m3o2v
Yeah, but only if they're traveling Within 200 light years of earth. This ball of rocks and dirt is in the middle of the galactic sticks.
Your Next Flight Might Signal Our Existence to Alien Civilizations. Via @sciencealert #Space #Astrophysics #OrbitalMechanics #Astronomy #SETI
Your Next Flight Might Signal ...
ist euch eigentlich schon mal aufgefallen, das die Geräte für die Suche nach intelligentem Leben alle von der Erde weg schauen ?
Das kann kein Zufall sein.
A recently released documentary film celebrates the concept of first contact with aliens and highlights the importance of SETI research in promoting peaceful coexistence in our galaxy. OK, it’s not quite a documentary, but Pixar’s Elio is a fun, fascinating and fabulous adventure story. The film tells the tale of our first encounter with aliens, lots of them, and how that contact will change our perception of the cosmos.
The ocean on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus has the right pH for life — barely. Via @spacedotcom #Space #Astrophysics #OrbitalMechanics #Astronomy #SETI #Science 
#Chemistry
The ocean on Saturn's icy moon...
SETI Institute in the News: June 2025
This month, the SETI Institute made headlines across science and culture, highlighting new frontiers in our understanding of life on Earth, in space, and what it means to search for life.
Read the full stories: https://www.seti.org/news/seti-institute-in-the-news-june-roundup-2025/
The LaserSETI project, a pioneering initiative from the SETI Institute, continues to push the boundaries of optical SETI search using visible light. LaserSETI is designed to detect optical technosignatures, rather than the radio technosignatures searched for with the ATA and VLA.
Read more: https://www.seti.org/news/laserseti-expands-new-station-in-puerto-rico-and-spotlight-in-london/
Big Picture Science for Jul7 07, 2025: Coffee of the Future
REPEAT
Drinking a cup of coffee is how billions of people wake up every morning. But climate change is threatening this popular beverage. Over 60% of the world’s coffee species are at risk of extinction. Scientists are searching for solutions, including hunting for wild, forgotten coffee species that are more resilient to our shifting climate. Find out how the chemistry of coffee can help us brew coffee alternatives, and how coffee grounds can be part of building a sustainable future.
Guests:
* Christopher Hendon - Assistant Professor of Computational Materials Chemistry, University of Oregon
* Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch - Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Australia
* Aaron Davis - Senior Research Leader of Crops and Global Change, Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew
This repeat podcast originally aired on April 8, 2024
Download podcast at - https://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/coffee-of-the-future
You can listen to this and other episodes at http://bigpicturescience.org/
Get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support!
Reviving SETI with High-Energy Astronomy https://www.universetoday.com/articles/reviving-seti-with-high-energy-astronomy 
#Exoplanet #Exoplanets #AlienWorlds #AlienLife #Extraterrestrials #Space #Science #SolarSystem #SETI
Could signs of #Mars 
life be hidden in its thick layers of clay? Via @spacedotcom #RedPlanet #Martian #Space #Astrophysics #OrbitalMechanics #Astronomy #SETI
Could signs of Mars life be hi...
