Old Mysteries, New Tools: Remote Sensing and the Search for Amelia Earhart

For 88 years, Amelia Earhart's disappearance over the Pacific Ocean remained unsolved—until a casual discovery on Apple Maps changed everything. In 2020, an anomaly spotted in satellite imagery off a remote Pacific island reignited the search for her lost Lockheed Electra, and this November, researchers will finally investigate what may be the wreckage of her plane. But the Earhart case is just the beginning. In this episode, we explore how remote sensing technology—from satellites to sonar to LiDAR—is revolutionizing archaeology and historical investigation. Dr. Leila Character, a geographer at Texas A&M University, joins us to discuss how she uses remote sensing and machine learning to locate WWII aircraft wrecks, identify ancient burial sites, and bring closure to families who have waited decades for answers. From images captured 400 miles above Earth to the depths of the ocean floor, discover how scientists are uncovering the past and solving mysteries that once seemed impossible to crack.