Was the WOW! Signal a Sign of Extraterrestrial Life? With Dr. Robert Dixon

Was the WOW! Signal a Sign of Extraterrestrial Life? With Dr. Robert Dixon

Author: John Michael Godier May 27, 2026 Duration: 19:38

An exploration of the Wow! Signal, picked up at the Big Ear radio telescope in 1977. This signal remains unexplained to this day, and represents the best candidate we've ever detected of a signal of intelligent alien origin.Dr. Robert Dixon directed the Ohio State SETI program at the Big Ear Radio Telescope from 1973 to 1997, which was the world's first full-time search for signs of extraterrestrial life from radio signals using a large radio telescope. In 1977 he was one of the first people to be shown the Wow! Signal by discoverer Jerry Ehman.The Wow! Signal with Discoverer Dr. Jerry Ehmanhttps://youtu.be/x67K-Vq1KWkThe Mystery of the Wow! Signalhttps://youtu.be/aseyBWZa3pYThe Big Ear Wow! Signal (30th Anniversary Report)http://www.bigear.org/Wow30th/wow30th.htmSETI in the 1970shttp://www.bigear.org/oldseti.htmThe Elusive Wow: Searching for Extraterrestrial IntelligenceRobert H. Grayhttps://amzn.to/2S3GWn3Supermind by John Michael Godierhttps://amzn.to/38RSYpwPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/EventHorizonShowWebsite: https://www.eventhorizonshow.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmgeventhorizonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmgeventhorizon/Music featured on Event Horizonhttps://stellardrone.bandcamp.com/https://migueljohnson.bandcamp.com/https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/https://aeriumambient.bandcamp.com/FOOTAGE:NASAESA/HubbleESO - M.KornmesserESO - L.CalcadaESO - Jose Francisco Salgado (josefrancisco.org)NAOJUniversity of WarwickGoddard Visualization StudioLangley Research CenterBig Ear Radio Telescope bigear.orgPixabay


Curiosity about the cosmos often starts with a simple question, and that's where John Michael Godier's Event Horizon finds its rhythm. Hosted by author and futurist John Michael Godier, this podcast delves into the profound and the perplexing at the edges of our understanding. Each episode builds a narrative, weaving together discussions on astronomy, astrophysics, and the latest space science news with broader themes of technology, history, and futurism. The conversations are grounded by special guests who bring expertise and diverse perspectives, turning complex ideas into engaging explorations. You'll find the dialogue moves from the concrete details of scientific discovery to the speculative implications for our future, all with a thoughtful and accessible tone. This isn't just a recap of headlines; it's a deep dive into the context and consequences of what we're learning about the universe. For anyone who looks up at the night sky and wonders about black holes, the potential for life elsewhere, or where our technology might take us next, this podcast offers a compelling space to linger on those big ideas. The production emphasizes clarity and depth, making even the most daunting topics feel within reach. Tune in for a regular journey to the frontiers of science and human thought.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

John Michael Godier's Event Horizon
Podcast Episodes
Is Earth The Best Type of Planet For Life? With Fraser Cain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:18
What type of planet is the best for life in the universe?Are other exoplanets better for life than earth? What about ocean worlds? Also, what is the latest with the JWST and Oumuamua and Comet Borisov.And is Avi Loeb's p…
Are There Alien Artifacts in Our Solar System? with Dr. James Benford [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:42
Von Neumann probes, self-replicating spacecraft, or Alien lurkers and alien artifacts all represent the idea that somewhere in our solar system there could be evidence of an alien civilization and that they may have been…
Why Humans Will Never Colonize Mars with Gizmodo’s George Dvorsky [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:50
George Dvorsky says in his article 'Humans Will Never Colonize Mars' on Gizmodo that,“The suggestion that humans will soon set up bustling, long-lasting colonies on Mars is something many of us take for granted. What thi…
A Quantum Beginning for a Two-Sided Universe with Dr. Neil Turok [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:56
How did it all begin? How did this universe in which we live come to be? The story begins in the early 20th century with Georges LeMaitre who originated the concept that an expanding universe could be extrapolated back t…
Looking for the Origin of our Universe with Dr. Brian Keating [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:57
John Michael Godier and Brian Keating discuss the experiment he designed to look at the physics of the big bang as well as why he rushed releasing his findings.Brian Keating is a professor of physics and author of Losing…
Why is Betelgeuse Dimming? With Dr. Edward Guinan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:55
Why is Betelgeuse dimming? Is Betelgeuse about to explode? Betelgeuse is a variable red super giant star located in the Orion constellation. Most estimations have it going supernova within the next 100,000 years, but cou…
Will Human Civilization End? with Dr. David Grinspoon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:26
How Long Will Human Civilization Last? When did the Anthropocene start?Looking for life on Europa and Pluto, do ice shell worlds have a better chance for life than terrestrial worlds?Dr. David Grinspoon is an Astrobiolog…