Are We Alone for 10/27/08 - "War of the Worlds: Happy Anniversary!"

Are We Alone - "War of the Worlds: Happy Anniversary!"
It's been 70 years since malevolent Martians landed in Grover's Mill, New Jersey. Orson Welles described the dramatic events as they unfolded on CBS's Mercury Theater On The Air. Some listeners were so frightened, they became hysterical and fled their homes.
We revisit the famous radio adaptation of H.G. Well's novel and examine its cultural legacy. Also, what do modern invasion movies say about today's public fears?
Plus, the religious response to an alien invasion... how to protect Earth from Martian microbes... and, what Percival Lowell thought he saw on Mars.

Guests:

• Aeon Skoble - Professor of Philosophy at Bridgewater State College
• Kevin Schindler - Outreach Manager at the Lowell Observatory
• Brother Guy Consolmagno - Astronomer at the Vatican Observatory
• Margaret Race - Principal Investigator at the SETI Institute
• John Gosling - Writer

You can listen to this and other episodes at: http://radio.seti.org/ and be sure to check the Are We Alone Profile and Blog on MySpace.