The Wow! signal mentioned in the episode was an actual event. A strong signal that lasted 72 seconds was detected by the Big Ear radio telescope of Ohio State University in August 15th, 1977. The event got this name because Jerry Ehman, the astronomer responsible for reviewing the data, wrote "Wow!" in red on the left side of the computer printout, due to impressiveness and rarity of that recording.
At 48:26, the hard-bound book seen kept on the table is Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, Published on Sept. 27, 1962. This is often credited as the single most important literary work that awakened a new environmental consciousness in the entire world. It explained how indiscriminate application of agricultural chemicals, pesticides, and other modern chemicals polluted our streams, damaged bird and animal populations, and caused severe medical problems for humans. It set the stage for the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970, which regulated use of pesticides. The book was met with fierce opposition by chemical companies. Kennedy had ordered the President's Science Advisory Committee to examine the issues the book raised, its report thoroughly vindicated both Silent Spring and its author. As a result, DDT came under much closer government supervision and was eventually banned in 1972, though the book had not explicitly asked for a ban on that or anything. The book raised issues, presented thoughts and data and left it to the readers to make their own conclusions.
Three bodies: Jack Rooney is killed three times in the virtual world.