Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
From the Radiolab podcast: A deep-sea Cold War mystery with subs and bombs—and science.
It was the early '80s, the height of the Cold War, when something strange began happening off the coast of Sweden. The navy reported a mysterious sound deep below the surface of the ocean. Again, and again, and again they would hear it near their secret military bases, in their harbors, and up and down the Swedish coastline. After thorough analysis the navy was certain the sound was an invasion into their waters, an act of war, the opening salvos of a possible nuclear annihilation. Or was it? Today, Annie McEwen pulls us down into a deep-sea mystery, one of international intrigue that asks you to consider the possibility that maybe, just maybe, your deepest beliefs could be as solid as...air.
Special thanks to Ben Wilson, Ola Tunander, Hans Gordon, Andreas Timmelstad, Klaus Helmersen,and Meg Bolz.
LATERAL CUTS -
Atomic Artifacts (radiolab.org/podcast/atomic-artifacts)
Neither Confirm Nor Deny (radiolab.org/podcast/confirm-nor-deny)
EPISODE CREDITS:
Reported by Annie McEwen
with help from Magnus Ormstadt
Produced by Annie McEwen, Matt Kielty and Sarah Qari
Original music and sound design contributed by Jeremy Bloom
Episode Segments:
0:00 Chapter 1
20:24 Break
20:28 Chapter 2
34:43 Credits
35:43 Support
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🔎 Subscribe to Radiolab on YouTube: bit.ly/3I9KI53
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Photo illustration by Lily Padula
Video by Joanna Strogatz
From the Radiolab podcast: A deep-sea Cold War mystery with subs and bombs—and science.
It was the early '80s, the height of the Cold War, when something strange began happening off the coast of Sweden. The navy reported a mysterious sound deep below the surface of the ocean. Again, and again, and again they would hear it near their secret military bases, in their harbors, and up and down the Swedish coastline. After thorough analysis the navy was certain the sound was an invasion into their waters, an act of war, the opening salvos of a possible nuclear annihilation. Or was it? Today, Annie McEwen pulls us down into a deep-sea mystery, one of international intrigue that asks you to consider the possibility that maybe, just maybe, your deepest beliefs could be as solid as...air.
Special thanks to Ben Wilson, Ola Tunander, Hans Gordon, Andreas Timmelstad, Klaus Helmersen,and Meg Bolz.
LATERAL CUTS -
Atomic Artifacts (radiolab.org/podcast/atomic-artifacts)
Neither Confirm Nor Deny (radiolab.org/podcast/confirm-nor-deny)
EPISODE CREDITS:
Reported by Annie McEwen
with help from Magnus Ormstadt
Produced by Annie McEwen, Matt Kielty and Sarah Qari
Original music and sound design contributed by Jeremy Bloom
Episode Segments:
0:00 Chapter 1
20:24 Break
20:28 Chapter 2
34:43 Credits
35:43 Support
🎧 Subscribe to Radiolab wherever you listen to podcasts: lnk.to/radiolab!youtube
🔎 Subscribe to Radiolab on YouTube: bit.ly/3I9KI53
🖋 Subscribe to Radiolab’s Newsletter: radiolab.org/newsletter
🌱 Check out Radiolab's Starter Kit Playlist: bit.ly/3sX8f4P
👍 Like this video ✏️ and leave us a comment!
Follow Radiolab:
Instagram — instagram.com/radiolab
X — https://x.com/Radiolab
Facebook — facebook.com/Radiolab
Threads — threads.net/@radiolab
TikTok — tiktok.com/@radiolab
Our newsletter includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up here: radiolab.org/newsletter
Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab today: radiolab.org/the-lab
Photo illustration by Lily Padula
Video by Joanna Strogatz
