The Science of SETI: Inside the First Modern Textbook
From SETI Live by SETI Institute
March 27, 2026 · 45 min · Season 4 · Episode 12
About this episode
Astronomer Jason Wright discusses his new textbook on the science and methods of searching for extraterrestrial intelligence.
How do scientists actually search for extraterrestrial intelligence? Astronomer, professor, and Drake Award winner Jason Wright joins host Beth Johnson on SETI Live to discuss his new textbook, The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence: Theory and Practice. The book brings together the science, methods, and history of SETI into a single framework for students and researchers. SETI has evolved dramatically in the past few decades—from early radio searches to modern investigations of technosignatures, including laser signals, infrared waste heat, and other possible evidence of advanced civilizations. In this conversation, we explore: Why SETI now deserves a full academic textbook The many ways scientists search for alien technology The history and philosophy behind the field What would actually count as a real detection How researchers are training the next generation of SETI scientists Learn more about The Penn State Extraterrestrial Intelligence Center: https://www.pseti.psu.edu/ Access the textbook: https://iopscience.iop.org/book/mono/978-0-7503-4796-9 (Recorded live 19 March 2026.)
People in this episode
Host: Beth Johnson
Guest: Jason Wright
Topics covered
- extraterrestrial intelligence
- SETI methods
- academic textbook
- technosignatures
- history of SETI
- detection of alien technology
Keywords
- SETI
- extraterrestrial intelligence
- Jason Wright
- academic textbook
- technosignatures
- alien technology
- SETI history
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: SETI Institute, The Penn State Extraterrestrial Intelligence Center
Books & works: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence: Theory and Practice
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