When astronomer Meni Mendel claims a message is encoded in the radio signals of a star, a parade of zany characters find themselves entangled in an epic and entertaining debate over the science of the cosmos and its meaning. Should we care whether extraterrestrials exist, or if the universe is expanding? Is astronomy guided by culture or facts?
To Mendel, only his mission matters: decoding the message. This is particularly important to him, for he is afflicted with Tourette syndrome. He hoots, tics and swears uncontrollably. In brief, he feels like an alien on his own planet.
But as an astonishing message unfolds, the question of its reality intensifies. And all the while, we learn that nuclear fusion is like a party thrown by Edgar Allan Poe, that our galaxy resembles a fried egg, and how graduate students hacked into the Hubble's computers.
The Sinusoidal Spaghetti bursts with passion and surprises as a series of anecdotes lets us peek behind the curtains into the secret world of scientists and see what the 'magicians' are really up to.
