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.

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Credits:

The Fermi Paradox - Did a Natural Nuclear Reactor Spark All Life?

Written by Isaac Arthur & Philip Kramer, PhD

Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images

Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator

Chapters

0:00 Intro

3:39 The Fermi Paradox and the Great Filter

6:41 The Rare Earth Hypothesis & LUCA

11:42 Natural Nuclear Reactors – Earth’s First Fission Furnace

16:00 The Nuclear Geyser Hypothesis

21:27 Nebula

23:02 Implications for Alien Life

29:39 Fictional Exploration

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