How GPS shaped our world
Summary
Science Friday host Ira Flatow interviews author Catherine Dunn about her book "Little Blue Dot," exploring GPS's military origins and its evolution into a civilian essential. Dunn details how GPS signals are vulnerable to jamming and spoofing, citing Russian interference near Vladimir Putin as a key example. The discussion covers the technology’s reliance on precise atomic timekeeping, the contributions of mathematician Gladys West, and the common misconception that GPS actively tracks users.
Topics discussed
Sponsors and Science Friday intro
Ira's first encounter with GPS in 1990
Catherine Dunn on GPS spoofing mystery
Russia geofencing Putin to deter drones
Jamming vs. Spoofing GPS signals
Break and sponsor messages
How GPS works: Satellites and time
Military origins of GPS in Vietnam
Gladys West's role in GPS development
Space Race and satellite navigation
Transition to civilian and commercial use
Misconception: GPS does not track you
Reflections on navigating the world
Outro and contact information
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