web01.fireside.fm Wed, 29 Apr 2026 01:23:44 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Universe University - Episodes Tagged with “Cold War” https://universeuniversity.fireside.fm/tags/cold%20war Mon, 27 Mar 2023 15:00:00 -0500 Universe University takes listeners on a cosmic adventure through outer space: from the history of human spaceflight and astronomy to the cutting edge theoretical physics. It is an entertaining and informative exploration of how human beings have sought and found answers to some of our most profound questions about the universe... as well as a look at those questions that are still unanswered. en-us episodic A journey through astronomy and space history to the outer boundaries of the universe. Universe University Production Universe University takes listeners on a cosmic adventure through outer space: from the history of human spaceflight and astronomy to the cutting edge theoretical physics. It is an entertaining and informative exploration of how human beings have sought and found answers to some of our most profound questions about the universe... as well as a look at those questions that are still unanswered. no Space, Astronomy, SETI, History, Space Travel, space race, armstrong, first man, cosmos, spacex, History, education, Mars, Elon Musk, Space Shuttle, black hole Universe University Production show@universeuniversity.space Episode 18: The High Ground: Part 1 http://universeuniversity.fireside.fm/40 9dca7a11-63f2-4b71-bf47-1401dfd1014f Mon, 27 Mar 2023 15:00:00 -0500 Universe University Production full Universe University Production In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan imagined a space based weapon system known as S.D.I. 38:10 no Outer space is the ultimate strategic high ground for the world's great powers. This is true for both spy satellites and ballistic missiles. During the Cold War, President Ronald Reagan proposed the creation of a technologically advanced, space-based defensive weapon system known as S.D.I.. But critics of the proposal dubbed it 'Star Wars' and said it would trigger a new arms race with the Soviet Union. What historical lessons can be learned from this episode in history? REFERENCES: "Adolf Hitler's Plot to Bomb New York" By David Robinson https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/368490/Adolf-Hitler-s-plot-to-bomb-New-York "The 1983 Military Drill that Nearly Sparked Nuclear War with the Soviets" by Francine Uenuma https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-1983-military-drill-that-nearly-sparked-nuclear-war-with-the-soviets-180979980/ "Strategic Defense Initiative" State.gov https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/rd/104253.htm MUSIC: "Nonstop" Kevin MacLeod (incomptech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ "Ossuary 6 - Air" Kevin MacLeod (incomptech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ "Shores of Avalon" Kevin MacLeod (incomptech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ "Perspectives" Kevin MacLeod (incomptech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ NASA, nuclear, SDI, star wars, cold war, reagan Outer space is the ultimate strategic high ground for the world's great powers. This is true for both spy satellites and ballistic missiles. During the Cold War, President Ronald Reagan proposed the creation of a technologically advanced, space-based defensive weapon system known as S.D.I.. But critics of the proposal dubbed it 'Star Wars' and said it would trigger a new arms race with the Soviet Union. What historical lessons can be learned from this episode in history?

REFERENCES:

"Adolf Hitler's Plot to Bomb New York" By David Robinson
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/368490/Adolf-Hitler-s-plot-to-bomb-New-York

"The 1983 Military Drill that Nearly Sparked Nuclear War with the Soviets" by Francine Uenuma
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-1983-military-drill-that-nearly-sparked-nuclear-war-with-the-soviets-180979980/

"Strategic Defense Initiative" State.gov
https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/rd/104253.htm

MUSIC:

"Nonstop" Kevin MacLeod (incomptech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Ossuary 6 - Air" Kevin MacLeod (incomptech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Shores of Avalon" Kevin MacLeod (incomptech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Perspectives" Kevin MacLeod (incomptech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

]]> Outer space is the ultimate strategic high ground for the world's great powers. This is true for both spy satellites and ballistic missiles. During the Cold War, President Ronald Reagan proposed the creation of a technologically advanced, space-based defensive weapon system known as S.D.I.. But critics of the proposal dubbed it 'Star Wars' and said it would trigger a new arms race with the Soviet Union. What historical lessons can be learned from this episode in history?

REFERENCES:

"Adolf Hitler's Plot to Bomb New York" By David Robinson
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/368490/Adolf-Hitler-s-plot-to-bomb-New-York

"The 1983 Military Drill that Nearly Sparked Nuclear War with the Soviets" by Francine Uenuma
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-1983-military-drill-that-nearly-sparked-nuclear-war-with-the-soviets-180979980/

"Strategic Defense Initiative" State.gov
https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/rd/104253.htm

MUSIC:

"Nonstop" Kevin MacLeod (incomptech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Ossuary 6 - Air" Kevin MacLeod (incomptech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Shores of Avalon" Kevin MacLeod (incomptech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Perspectives" Kevin MacLeod (incomptech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

]]> Episode 12: The UFO Enigma http://universeuniversity.fireside.fm/25 506e174d-539e-484f-aef0-8b44108be805 Tue, 29 Oct 2019 06:00:00 -0500 Universe University Production full Universe University Production From 1947 to 1969, the U.S. government was involved with multiple projects designed to investigate mysterious objects flying in the skies of the planet Earth. 1:06:15 no In the late 1940s, the United States military began to take an interest in reports of unidentified flying objects or U.F.O.s which included multiple projects designed to investigate and evaluate the sightings. Despite the fact that many UFO sightings were cases of mistaken identity that could easily be explained away, a minority of them proved extremely perplexing to the U.S. government, leading some high level officials to consider the possibility that the Earth was being visited by extraterrestrials... and at the center of it all, there was one astronomer named J. Allen Hynek who struggled to bring his scientific expertise to bear on the mystery. If you would like to make a contribution to the program, click this link: https://www.patreon.com/universeuniversity?fbclid=IwAR0GJjAwa3C1f8KKxDi7aeGVEO-Ou3dL10vmf1kQHjssQu5eEgmCkyNFMgw REFERENCES: *'The UFO Phenomenon' * by George Constable, Time Life Books Inc. 'The Close Encounters Man: How One Man Made the World Believe in UFOs' by Mark O'Connell 'Area 51: An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base' by Annie Jacobsen 'Glowing Auras and 'Black Money': The Pentagon's Mysterious U.F.O. Program', New York Times by Helene Cooper, Ralph Blumbenthal, and Leslie Kean *'Maj. Gen. John A. Samford's Statement on "Flying Saucers" *(7/31/1952) U.S. National Archives 'Two Pilots Saw a UFO. Why Did the Air Force Destroy the Report?', History.com by Greg Daugherty MUSIC: "Shores of Avalon" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ "Ossuary 1: A Begining" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ "Perspectives" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ "Tenebroud Brothers Carnival: Act Two" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ "Waltz of the Carnies" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ "Thunderbird" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ history, nasa, cold war, space, UFOs, Roswell, flying saucers, Project Blue Book In the late 1940s, the United States military began to take an interest in reports of unidentified flying objects or U.F.O.s which included multiple projects designed to investigate and evaluate the sightings. Despite the fact that many UFO sightings were cases of mistaken identity that could easily be explained away, a minority of them proved extremely perplexing to the U.S. government, leading some high level officials to consider the possibility that the Earth was being visited by extraterrestrials... and at the center of it all, there was one astronomer named J. Allen Hynek who struggled to bring his scientific expertise to bear on the mystery.

If you would like to make a contribution to the program, click this link: https://www.patreon.com/universeuniversity?fbclid=IwAR0GJjAwa3C1f8KKxDi7aeGVEO-Ou3dL10vmf1kQHjssQu5eEgmCkyNFMgw

REFERENCES:

*'The UFO Phenomenon' *
by George Constable, Time Life Books Inc.

'The Close Encounters Man: How One Man Made the World Believe in UFOs'
by Mark O'Connell

'Area 51: An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base'
by Annie Jacobsen

'Glowing Auras and 'Black Money': The Pentagon's Mysterious U.F.O. Program', New York Times
by Helene Cooper, Ralph Blumbenthal, and Leslie Kean

*'Maj. Gen. John A. Samford's Statement on "Flying Saucers" *(7/31/1952)
U.S. National Archives

'Two Pilots Saw a UFO. Why Did the Air Force Destroy the Report?', History.com
by Greg Daugherty

MUSIC:

"Shores of Avalon" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Ossuary 1: A Begining" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Perspectives" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Tenebroud Brothers Carnival: Act Two" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Waltz of the Carnies" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Thunderbird" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

]]> In the late 1940s, the United States military began to take an interest in reports of unidentified flying objects or U.F.O.s which included multiple projects designed to investigate and evaluate the sightings. Despite the fact that many UFO sightings were cases of mistaken identity that could easily be explained away, a minority of them proved extremely perplexing to the U.S. government, leading some high level officials to consider the possibility that the Earth was being visited by extraterrestrials... and at the center of it all, there was one astronomer named J. Allen Hynek who struggled to bring his scientific expertise to bear on the mystery.

If you would like to make a contribution to the program, click this link: https://www.patreon.com/universeuniversity?fbclid=IwAR0GJjAwa3C1f8KKxDi7aeGVEO-Ou3dL10vmf1kQHjssQu5eEgmCkyNFMgw

REFERENCES:

*'The UFO Phenomenon' *
by George Constable, Time Life Books Inc.

'The Close Encounters Man: How One Man Made the World Believe in UFOs'
by Mark O'Connell

'Area 51: An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base'
by Annie Jacobsen

'Glowing Auras and 'Black Money': The Pentagon's Mysterious U.F.O. Program', New York Times
by Helene Cooper, Ralph Blumbenthal, and Leslie Kean

*'Maj. Gen. John A. Samford's Statement on "Flying Saucers" *(7/31/1952)
U.S. National Archives

'Two Pilots Saw a UFO. Why Did the Air Force Destroy the Report?', History.com
by Greg Daugherty

MUSIC:

"Shores of Avalon" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Ossuary 1: A Begining" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Perspectives" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Tenebroud Brothers Carnival: Act Two" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Waltz of the Carnies" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Thunderbird" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

]]> Episode 2: Into the Great Wide Open (Part 1 of 3) http://universeuniversity.fireside.fm/3 55adccbd-789f-47c6-b757-6b3112064836 Mon, 08 Oct 2018 03:00:00 -0500 Universe University Production full Universe University Production Part one of our three part series on the most amazing chapter in human history: the space race. 1:16:10 no In mankind's most brutal and barbaric century, we witnessed the dawn of a new era: the space age. Born of wartime conflict, the modern rocket would become the chariot that carried human beings outside of the atmosphere and into outer space. But no human could have made the journey if not for the dedicated engineers that transformed science fiction into science fact. These men changed the course of world history and shifted the balance of power between superpowers. Today, we begin our three-part series on the space race, from the murderous V-2 rockets of Nazi Germany to Cold War era spacecraft... from the earliest satellites to the first man in space. Join us at Universe University as we leave the earth and step out into the great wide open. MUSIC: "Anguish" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ "Tenebrous Brothers Carnival - Intermission" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ "Perspectives" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ "Shores of Avalon" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ first man, sputnik, nasa, space, USSR, Cold War, Nazis, Kennedy, USA, Sputnik, Wernher von Braun, Sergei Korolev, Yuri Gagarin, Gus Grissom, Alan Shepard, gulag, WWII, lunar probe, In mankind's most brutal and barbaric century, we witnessed the dawn of a new era: the space age. Born of wartime conflict, the modern rocket would become the chariot that carried human beings outside of the atmosphere and into outer space. But no human could have made the journey if not for the dedicated engineers that transformed science fiction into science fact. These men changed the course of world history and shifted the balance of power between superpowers.

Today, we begin our three-part series on the space race, from the murderous V-2 rockets of Nazi Germany to Cold War era spacecraft... from the earliest satellites to the first man in space. Join us at Universe University as we leave the earth and step out into the great wide open.

MUSIC:

"Anguish" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Tenebrous Brothers Carnival - Intermission" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Perspectives" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Shores of Avalon" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

]]> In mankind's most brutal and barbaric century, we witnessed the dawn of a new era: the space age. Born of wartime conflict, the modern rocket would become the chariot that carried human beings outside of the atmosphere and into outer space. But no human could have made the journey if not for the dedicated engineers that transformed science fiction into science fact. These men changed the course of world history and shifted the balance of power between superpowers.

Today, we begin our three-part series on the space race, from the murderous V-2 rockets of Nazi Germany to Cold War era spacecraft... from the earliest satellites to the first man in space. Join us at Universe University as we leave the earth and step out into the great wide open.

MUSIC:

"Anguish" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Tenebrous Brothers Carnival - Intermission" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Perspectives" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

"Shores of Avalon" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

]]>