Answer, Please Answer

Published in 1962, 'Answer, Please Answer' by Ben Bova is a science fiction novella set at the South Pole. It follows two astronomers drafted into military service who monitor meteorological patterns during a global crisis. They discover a mysterious signal from a Cepheid variable star, revealing a desperate message from an alien civilization facing nuclear catastrophe. The story explores themes of communication, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and the dangers of technological advancement.