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Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur
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Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur

Author: Isaac Arthur

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Podcast by Isaac Arthur
1064 Episodes
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From supernova graveyards and magnetar death fields to alien quarantines and simulation boundaries, we map out the “haunted houses” of the Milky Way and ask: are we living in one?Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Isaac Arthur vs The Cube on Reels of Justice: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1154249/episodes/18054366Grab one of our new SFIA mugs and make your morning coffee a little more futuristic — available now on our Fourthwall store! https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:Twilight Imperium - When Galactic Civilizations EbbWritten, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurEditor: Thomas OwensGraphics: Ken ?York, Sergio Botero, Udo SchroeterSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Stellardrone and Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
From supernova graveyards and magnetar death fields to alien quarantines and simulation boundaries, we map out the “haunted houses” of the Milky Way and ask: are we living in one?Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Isaac Arthur vs The Cube on Reels of Justice: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1154249/episodes/18054366Grab one of our new SFIA mugs and make your morning coffee a little more futuristic — available now on our Fourthwall store! https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:The Fermi Paradox - Forbidden ZonesWritten, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurEditor: Thomas OwensGraphics: Ken ?York, Sergio Botero, Udo SchroeterSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Stellardrone and Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Meet the caretaker AIs: guardians of planets, habitats, and civilizations. What happens when machines become the spirit and soul of the worlds they protect?Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Grab one of our new SFIA mugs and make your morning coffee a little more futuristic — available now on our Fourthwall store! https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:Caretaker AI & Genus Loci 2025 EditionWritten, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurEditors: Ludwig Luska Graphics:Bryan VersteegJeremy JozwikKen York YD VisualKris Holland Mafic StudiosSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty ImagesMusic Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Meet the caretaker AIs: guardians of planets, habitats, and civilizations. What happens when machines become the spirit and soul of the worlds they protect?Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Grab one of our new SFIA mugs and make your morning coffee a little more futuristic — available now on our Fourthwall store! https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:Caretaker AI & Genus Loci 2025 EditionWritten, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurEditors: Ludwig Luska Graphics:Bryan VersteegJeremy JozwikKen York YD VisualKris Holland Mafic StudiosSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty ImagesMusic Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
From Asimov’s Foundation to Warhammer 40K and Twilight Imperium, science fiction is filled with collapsing empires. But could civilizational decline really explain why the Universe seems so empty?Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Grab one of our new SFIA mugs and make your morning coffee a little more futuristic — available now on our Fourthwall store! https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:Twilight Imperium - When Galactic Civilizations EbbWritten, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurEditor: Lukas KonecnySelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Stellardrone and Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
From Asimov’s Foundation to Warhammer 40K and Twilight Imperium, science fiction is filled with collapsing empires. But could civilizational decline really explain why the Universe seems so empty?Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Grab one of our new SFIA mugs and make your morning coffee a little more futuristic — available now on our Fourthwall store! https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:Twilight Imperium - When Galactic Civilizations EbbWritten, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurEditor: Lukas KonecnySelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Stellardrone and Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Colonies won’t always last forever—sometimes planets revert, habitats decay, and entire worlds are left in ruins. Join us as we examine the life cycle of abandoned space settlements.Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Grab one of our new SFIA mugs and make your morning coffee a little more futuristic — available now on our Fourthwall store! https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:Abandoned Space Colonies - How Worlds Can Unterraform ThemselvesWritten, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Aerium, Stellardrone, Chris Zabriskie, and Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorChapters0:00 Intro4:13 Why Colonies Fail9:31 Ecological Collapse in Non-Earth Environments12:39 Case Study – Kaluga-4, Oxygen Depletion14:34 Unterraforming – How a World Reverts or Mutates16:45 Abandonment Timelines19:08 Case Study – Proxima B22:00 Nebula Restoration & Resettlement23:43 Case Study – Valhalla25:22 System-Level Context29:05 Long-Term Patterns in a Galactic CivilizationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Colonies won’t always last forever—sometimes planets revert, habitats decay, and entire worlds are left in ruins. Join us as we examine the life cycle of abandoned space settlements.Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Grab one of our new SFIA mugs and make your morning coffee a little more futuristic — available now on our Fourthwall store! https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:Abandoned Space Colonies - How Worlds Can Unterraform ThemselvesWritten, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Aerium, Stellardrone, Chris Zabriskie, and Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorChapters0:00 Intro4:13 Why Colonies Fail9:31 Ecological Collapse in Non-Earth Environments12:39 Case Study – Kaluga-4, Oxygen Depletion14:34 Unterraforming – How a World Reverts or Mutates16:45 Abandonment Timelines19:08 Case Study – Proxima B22:00 Nebula Restoration & Resettlement23:43 Case Study – Valhalla25:22 System-Level Context29:05 Long-Term Patterns in a Galactic CivilizationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
From safety protocols to philosophy, AI alignment asks a hard question: can we build artificial intelligence that truly serves humanity?Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Grab one of our new SFIA mugs and make your morning coffee a little more futuristic — available now on our Fourthwall store! https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:AI Alignment - Can We Make AI Safe?Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Stellardrone, Chris Zabriskie, and Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
From safety protocols to philosophy, AI alignment asks a hard question: can we build artificial intelligence that truly serves humanity?Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Grab one of our new SFIA mugs and make your morning coffee a little more futuristic — available now on our Fourthwall store! https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:AI Alignment - Can We Make AI Safe?Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Stellardrone, Chris Zabriskie, and Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The future of computing might be off-world. Learn how orbital data centers could power AI, solar energy, and a thriving space industry.Grab one of our new SFIA mugs and make your morning coffee a little more futuristic — available now on our Fourthwall store! https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/Any comments, corrections, or thoughts on the video? email Isaac.Arthur.Utube@gmail.comVisit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:Why Data Centers in Space Could Launch a New Space Economy?Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurGraphics: Mafic Studios & Sergio BoteroSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The future of computing might be off-world. Learn how orbital data centers could power AI, solar energy, and a thriving space industry.Grab one of our new SFIA mugs and make your morning coffee a little more futuristic — available now on our Fourthwall store! https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/Any comments, corrections, or thoughts on the video? email Isaac.Arthur.Utube@gmail.comVisit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:Why Data Centers in Space Could Launch a New Space Economy?Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurGraphics: Mafic Studios & Sergio BoteroSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
A Dyson Swarm isn’t just power—it’s prosperity. See how humanity could turn a star’s energy into a solar-scale economy of trillions.Go to https://PIAVPN.com/IsaacArthur to get 83% off from our sponsor Private Internet Access with 4 months free!Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZFipeZtQM5CKUjx6grh54g/joinVisit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShESee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
A Dyson Swarm isn’t just power—it’s prosperity. See how humanity could turn a star’s energy into a solar-scale economy of trillions.Go to https://PIAVPN.com/IsaacArthur to get 83% off from our sponsor Private Internet Access with 4 months free!Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZFipeZtQM5CKUjx6grh54g/joinVisit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShESee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Could the origins of life on Earth trace back to a natural nuclear reactor? Long before humanity split the atom, nature itself may have done it first. In this episode, we explore the astonishing possibility that self-sustaining fission reactions—like the Oklo natural reactor in Gabon—once powered the chemical engines of creation. From radioactive geysers and mineral-rich pools to the first self-replicating molecules, we’ll examine how nuclear energy might have provided the spark that turned chemistry into biology. Along the way, we’ll connect this mystery to the Fermi Paradox, asking whether such rare, radioactive beginnings might explain why intelligent life seems so scarce in the universe. Join us for a journey that blends cosmic mystery, geochemistry, and the science of life’s origins.Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:The Fermi Paradox - Did a Natural Nuclear Reactor Spark All Life?Written by Isaac Arthur & Philip Kramer, PhDProduced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorChapters0:00 Intro3:39 The Fermi Paradox and the Great Filter6:41 The Rare Earth Hypothesis & LUCA11:42 Natural Nuclear Reactors – Earth’s First Fission Furnace16:00 The Nuclear Geyser Hypothesis21:27 Nebula23:02 Implications for Alien Life29:39 Fictional ExplorationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Could the origins of life on Earth trace back to a natural nuclear reactor? Long before humanity split the atom, nature itself may have done it first. In this episode, we explore the astonishing possibility that self-sustaining fission reactions—like the Oklo natural reactor in Gabon—once powered the chemical engines of creation. From radioactive geysers and mineral-rich pools to the first self-replicating molecules, we’ll examine how nuclear energy might have provided the spark that turned chemistry into biology. Along the way, we’ll connect this mystery to the Fermi Paradox, asking whether such rare, radioactive beginnings might explain why intelligent life seems so scarce in the universe. Join us for a journey that blends cosmic mystery, geochemistry, and the science of life’s origins.Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:The Fermi Paradox - Did a Natural Nuclear Reactor Spark All Life?Written by Isaac Arthur & Philip Kramer, PhDProduced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorChapters0:00 Intro3:39 The Fermi Paradox and the Great Filter6:41 The Rare Earth Hypothesis & LUCA11:42 Natural Nuclear Reactors – Earth’s First Fission Furnace16:00 The Nuclear Geyser Hypothesis21:27 Nebula23:02 Implications for Alien Life29:39 Fictional ExplorationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Solar storms are inevitable; disaster isn’t. We explore the physics of flares and CMEs, historical extremes, and realistic defenses—detection, delay, and planetary-scale shielding—to weather the Sun’s worst days.Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:Solar Flares and Coronal Mass Ejections - Defending Earth from Our Own StarWritten, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurGraphics: Mafic Studios, Sergio BoteroSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Aerium, Stellardrone, Chris Zabriskie, and Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Solar storms are inevitable; disaster isn’t. We explore the physics of flares and CMEs, historical extremes, and realistic defenses—detection, delay, and planetary-scale shielding—to weather the Sun’s worst days.Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:Solar Flares and Coronal Mass Ejections - Defending Earth from Our Own StarWritten, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurGraphics: Mafic Studios, Sergio BoteroSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Aerium, Stellardrone, Chris Zabriskie, and Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Mars may be humanity’s next great home—but it’s not the finish line. From floating cities above Venus to mining Mercury and the Asteroid Belt, to building bases on the Jovian moons and Titan, we explore which destinations might follow Mars and how each could shape our future in space.Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZFipeZtQM5CKUjx6grh54g/joinVisit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShEChapters0:00 Intro2:02 Why the Moon Should Come First3:47 Candidate #1: Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs)7:52 Candidate #2: Venus11:35 Candidate #3: Mercury15:16 Candidate #4: Lagrange Points & Earth-Orbit Infrastructure17:51 Candidate #5: Jovian Moons20:26 Nebula22:06 Candidate #6: Titan (Saturn’s Moon)23:46 Candidate #7: The Asteroid Belt25:44 Candidate #8: Comet Mining & Outer System Expansion27:56 Cross-Support: Who Helps Whom?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Mars may be humanity’s next great home—but it’s not the finish line. From floating cities above Venus to mining Mercury and the Asteroid Belt, to building bases on the Jovian moons and Titan, we explore which destinations might follow Mars and how each could shape our future in space.Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZFipeZtQM5CKUjx6grh54g/joinVisit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShEChapters0:00 Intro2:02 Why the Moon Should Come First3:47 Candidate #1: Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs)7:52 Candidate #2: Venus11:35 Candidate #3: Mercury15:16 Candidate #4: Lagrange Points & Earth-Orbit Infrastructure17:51 Candidate #5: Jovian Moons20:26 Nebula22:06 Candidate #6: Titan (Saturn’s Moon)23:46 Candidate #7: The Asteroid Belt25:44 Candidate #8: Comet Mining & Outer System Expansion27:56 Cross-Support: Who Helps Whom?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Comments (18)

Sean Rosenau

In the year 2525. If man is still alive, if woman can survive. We may fiiiiind...

May 23rd
Reply

Sean Rosenau

Depends on the level of the AI. If it's past the point of literal godhood and continues to improve itself every second, the aliens would quickly have their technology surpassed.

Jan 14th
Reply

Sean Rosenau

Making supersoldiers is a great idea, but they need limits. Super strong, fast and durable BUT make them as dumb and loyal as puppies. Khan from Star Trek: Wrath of Khan was terrifying because he was also smarter than any human. Make them similar to Ogryns from Warhammer 40k and all will be well.

Aug 14th
Reply

Alex Surname

I think Isaac had uploaded the wrong episode

Aug 13th
Reply

Sean Rosenau

The final sentence in an all-time classic sci-fi short story 'Let There Be Light'

Feb 21st
Reply

Sean Rosenau

Maybe intelligent living diamonds populating the surface of a planet similar to Pluto.

Feb 21st
Reply

Sean Rosenau

For anyone who likes this particular episode and old weird fiction similar to H.P. Lovecraft. Might I suggest William Hope Hodgson's The Night Lands and The House on the Borderlands. Particularly the later as it involves vast gulfs of time travel.

Feb 21st
Reply

Mw32

The best - my favorite all-time smart interesting & fun science podcast

Jul 18th
Reply

DEMAK

Nice podcast

May 3rd
Reply

Chris Iapetus

This podcast is thoughtful, deep, rational, exciting & a lot of fun to consider the ideas put forth. Listen to it or go extinct !

Jan 10th
Reply

Tessarion

I absolutely love this podcast. I love the theoretical sci fi ideas that comes up and how they can happen practically. 10/10!

Dec 31st
Reply

Simon Andrew MacArthur

Just what I’ve been looking for - in-depth analysis on very nerdy things. I love it TY Isaac

Dec 30th
Reply

Gcrusher 9000

Fantastic! I've been listening to your videos on YouTube for a while now. I love your content and the way you cover it. Thank you for creating such an amazing and entertaining collection of thoughts.

Sep 15th
Reply

Michael Pemberton

favourite series, very very interesting musings.

Dec 5th
Reply

S W

best YouTube Chanel ever!

Oct 5th
Reply

S.Jersey Jon

Could the EAGLES winning a second super bowl be a possible prediction from you Mr Authur?

Dec 31st
Reply

Csaba Mihály

First

Dec 23rd
Reply (1)