On the NPR TED Radio Hour, Sunday 9th  August, Newstalk FM

'In Search Of:

How far would you go to find something that's just out of reach, or maybe, not even real? 

The tribe on the other side of the hill 

Seth Shostak is a senior astronomer at 'Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence' (SETI) who believes we will find extraterrestrial life in the next 25 years.  

According to Seth, new technologies combined with the laws of probability make the breakthrough likely. "Over the next two decades we will be able to look at over 1 million star systems" and since every star system contains planets, the likelihood of us finding other life significantly increases. 

Seth credits space exploration as essential for the "survival of the hive"- our species, especially since life outside of Earth will likely be a society that is far more advanced and full of vital information. 

Into the Deep

Oceanographer Edith Widder has spent her career wading through the deep, dark sea in search for rare, deep sea creatures, most particularly the Giant Squid. 

"It is thought that there are millions of Giant Squid in the ocean, and yet we have not seen them." Edith was one of three scientists who succeeded in being the first to film a live giant squid in its natural habitat.

"Had this animal had its feeding tentacles intact and fully extended, it would have been as tall as a two story house. How can something that big live in our ocean and yet remain unfilmed until now?" Shockingly we have only explored 5% of our ocean and the question remains, what other animals, bioactive compounds and mind boggling discoveries lie beneath us?

Also exploring the Ocean is Chef Dan Barber, who tackles a dilemma facing many chefs today: how to keep fish on the menu? He chronicles his search for a fish that would please diners and environmentalists.

Close Encounters

Humorist John Hodgman previews his TED talk, which is about searching for aliens and searching for love, and what the two might have in common. 

John recalls his close encounters with fellow humans, set in awkward societal moments. He says the search for love can be as equally improbable as the search for Aliens. 

"Not knowing is a very hard thing for the human mind to tolerate." 

The TED Radio Hour, Sunday's from 6pm on Newstalk 106-108 FM. 

Listen Back to TED Radio Hour 'In Search Of' here.