From StarTalk.
Are we alone in the universe? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Matt Kirshen sit down with one of the founders of the SETI Institute, Jill Tarter, to explore the search for intelligent life beyond Earth, technosignatures, The Drake Equation, and more.
Jill shares how programming early computers led her to a career scanning the cosmos, and why brown dwarfs once seemed like the answer to the galaxy’s “missing mass.” She addresses public suspicions of government coverups, explains what SETI actually listens for, and reveals why radio waves remain the best bet for detecting interstellar communication.
From AI-assisted data analysis to infrared and optical searches, we learn about the evolving toolkit for detecting technosignatures. What exactly are we “listening” for? Listener questions prompt discussions on the detectability of Earth, the ethics of first contact, and how religion might shape humanity’s response.
We learn how little of the cosmic “ocean” we’ve actually sampled, why longevity in the Drake Equation matters, and whether faster-than-light communication is possible. Along the way, Jill reflects on the thrill and the stakes of answering one of humanity’s most profound questions.
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Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction: Jill Tartar
6:56 – Has the Discovery of Alien Life Been Suppressed?
11:39 – Why Radiowaves?
20:19 – Once We Find Life, What Do We Do?
21:14 – A Terrifying Thought
23:02 – What Are We Listening For?
27:46 – Alien SETI Detecting Us
29:33 – What Telescopes Do We Use?
32:02 – How Detectable Are We?
35:25 – Ethical Standards
41:25 – Faster-Than-Light Communication
43:59 – Will We Coincide with Other Life?
48:00 – Thoughts on UAPs
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Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!
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