The Deep Space Discovery That Still Puzzles Scientists

In the late 1970s, a discovery unlike any other was made by a volunteer working in the Ohio State University Radio Observatory. This discovery remains the strongest possible evidence of life beyond Earth, even today. In this episode of Haunting History James Troup explores the history behind the mysterious Wow! Signal, possible theories surrounding it and other space oddities.

MUSIC
Underneath The Surface_Alternate
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Tycho Drone_Full Mix
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Shake Glasses from Planet 9_Full Mix
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Dangerous Experiments_Minimal
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Abstract Secrets_Minimal
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Rise Of The Beast_Pads, bass, fx
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Torpedo_Synths, pads
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Meet Your Maker_No Drums Percussion
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Emerging From The Dark Age Ahead_Underscore
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Hidden Secrets of a Pulsar_Full Mix
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STILLS
Carl Sagan
Santi Visalli Inc./Getty Images
Atomic Scientists
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Telescope
Central Press/Getty Images
A radio telescope control room.
Universal History Archive/Getty Images
Sombrero Galaxy. Creator: Nasa.
Heritage Images/Getty Images
Radio Telescope
Douglas Miller/Getty Images
Listening for Intelligent Life
Corbis/Getty Images
Ears of Radio Telescope, 1958
University of Southern California/Getty Images
7/23/98 - SLUG: FI / SKISHOP - PHOTOGRAPHER: TOM ALLEN - TWP - 811 Russell Avenue- Gaithersburg, Md.
The Washington Post/Getty Images
UFO
Buyenlarge/Getty Images
Flying Saucer for Tourists
Found Image Holdings Inc/Getty Images
'UFO'
Buyenlarge/Getty Images

VIDEO
1950 black and white close up clock hands starting at 10:00 and speeding around for twelve hours
Prelinger/Getty Images
The importance of researching the sun and its energy are laid out by Isaac Asimov
Silverwell Films/Getty Images
A cartoon depicts radio waves coming from space and being received by satellite dishes.
Hearst Newsreel/Getty Images
1969: NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY: HD: CU Radio waves marking on chart. VS Converted gun carriage, TU Dish w/ radio telescope pointed upward. MS Male going over printout, CU Radio waves marking on chart. TU WS Sky, TD WS Radio telescope.
HBO/Getty Images
1971: ASTRONOMY
HBO/Getty Images
Milky Way Galaxy
A/V Geeks LLC - Footage/Getty Images
1968: EARLY COMPUTERS: HD: CU Digital numerals, numbers changing on console, CU Data printing on paper, mathematic models. 1960s, technology, science, research.
HBO/Getty Images
Slow motion low angle UFO hovering over building
Steven Peters/Getty Images
Data printouts and computers in the 1970s
Onyx Media, Llc - Footage/Getty Images
1978 wide shot UFO flying through night sky
Prelinger/Getty Images
1968: SOLAR RESEARCH: HD: VS Scientist, astronomer in laboratory examining printed black & white images of eclipse, solar corona. Astronomy, solar physics, science.
HBO/Getty Images
Gauges monitor radio waves from outer space a on control panel.
Hearst Newsreel/Getty Images
Research laboratory. Multi ethnic team discussing the course of experiment. Completing the graphs on the highlighted table
janiecbros/Getty Images

EXTERNAL CREDITS
James Troup

[ShaggyUist_Shorts]

I could see you narrating for a documentary on the discovery channel, you’ve got the voice for it

[LindaC]

Always a pleasure, James. Have a good week!

[TheSaneHatter]

Somehow, the fact that the signal was never heard again suggests to me a one-time or "accidental" occurrence, whether terrestrial or extra-. Two possibilities, in particular, come to my mind in the case of an alien origin:

1) If OUR equipment didn't glitch, someone else's did: "they" did not mean to send us this signal (which could therefore be gibberish), but it happened anyway.
2) It could be the radio trace of some kind of disaster or cataclysm, a natural event with radio properties not observed before. It would be a little less of ET's "phone home, " and a little more of Obi-Wan's "I fear something terrible has happened."

[rachelpatrick]

James really does have the perfect, methodic voice for this series.

[Toxica_Intoxicada]

We have way too much golf courses. Not enough observatories.

[echoingemotions]

Amazingly explained, James! * - * Always a pleasure to watch your videos!

[bludgeysheepton]

James!!! You gotta Narrate for like Cosmos or even Star Trek! Love this

[ruthlesson-site]

Morpheus?? Morgan Freeman??? IDK, those vibes are very prominent 🔥🔥🔥

[Tangerineskies]

All these people "WhErEs ShAnE aNd RyAn?!" Stop. They have their own channel now, doing their own thing. And I very much enjoy the new narrators they have for some of these videos. This man has a very soothing and pleasant voice :)

[ruthlesson-site]

What's being narrated is equally important as how it's being narrated. The voice, the context, the final product 👌🏼

[mfpr]

Hi James! Missed your narrations glad to have you back! You are amazing keep up 👍👍

[chazblank]

I’ve never heard that ghosts in the attic analogy, but it’s perfect… this is one of those stories you hear about on YouTube but only ever shotgunned with like 9-10 other “interesting tidbits” in an algorithm optimized 10 min clip.

[sammiy]

Whenever you are around someone who is being toxic and bringing everyone down you can call them a magnatar or whatever he said sucking away at people's lives until they disappear

[sammiy]

Idk what this video is about even though I listen to it twice. I'm just here to hear James' soothing voice

[lonetrailchime]

It sure is wild they didn't use backup systems to detect hardware malfunctions. Then again we probably wouldn't be talking about this for decades if they had, .

[erwinelf]

Always find this topic entertaining to listen to, seeing I live with in driving distance of the observatory.

[lupeflores]

The voice is so soothing and he has such a beautiful ombré on his face

[PhysioMPT]

The voice you have sir is going to take you to success

[alysiakimble]

I'm just wondering why we are still unsure about aliens... statically we are not alone in the universe. It's kind of scary but true.

[MarloweDash]

This narrator is DREAMY. Voice…face. Give this guy a raise.