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Author Debriefing: The Pentagon’s Brain: An Uncensored History of DARPA, America’s Top-Secret Military Research Agency

SpyCast

SpyCast

Education, News, History

4.41.7K Ratings

🗓️ 29 September 2015

⏱️ 62 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is the radical force behind the nation’s most revolutionary, high-tech military initiatives over the past half century. To write the first definitive history of the world’s most powerful and productive military science agency, bestselling author Annie Jacobsen tracked down DARPA scientists, past and present, including current neuroscientists building an artificial brain, cell biologists working on limb regeneration, and even the Nobel Laureate who invented the laser. From conflict-tested science experiments, like Agent Orange and electronic barriers on the battlefield during Vietnam, to War on Terror insect drones, smart rockets, camera-filled war zones and advanced computer programs, she tracks DARPA from its Cold War inception to present day research controversies. Jacobsen shared her journey to the heart of the military-industrial complex—a place where science fiction and military science collide—and revealed a future that is fascinating and potentially frightening.

Transcript

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0:00.0

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1:00.9

and put an end to cybercrime that affects your bottom line and brand reputation.

1:06.0

That's spycloud.com slash cyberwire and we thank spy cloud for sponsoring our show. Hello and welcome to an author debriefing from the International Spy Museum.

1:30.0

I'm Dr. Vince Houghton, the museum's historian and curator.

1:34.0

Here at the museum we get the most interesting authors, including journalists, scholars,

1:39.0

former spies, and intelligence officers coming in to speak with our visitors and

1:44.3

answer questions about their latest works dealing with espionage, intelligence,

1:48.0

and other national security issues.

1:50.0

Please join me in listening to another of our selected hour long author debriefings.

1:55.0

Welcome to the International Spy Museum. My name is Vince Houghton. I'm the historian and

1:59.2

curator here at Spy. I'd like to welcome into another one of our author debriefing programs.

2:04.3

On a rare Friday night, so we're really appreciative of you coming out tonight.

2:08.0

I think it has a lot to do with who we have here with us.

2:11.3

We are pleased to have Annie Jacobson here at the here

2:15.0

at the spy museum. She's an investigative journalist and best-selling author who writes books about

2:19.0

war, weapons, US National Security, and government secrecy, not to mention intelligence.

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