Immortality, Religion, & the Search for Life | Dr. David Kipping | EP 463

Dr. Jordan Peterson sits down with the director of the Cool Worlds Lab at Columbia University, Dr. David Kipping. They discuss the likelihood of finding life elsewhere in the universe, what it means to be a Type I civilization, why Mars is our best chance at interplanetary expansion, the comparative rarity of a solar system like ours, and science fiction concepts, such as the Dyson sphere, which may one day become a reality.

David Kipping is an associate professor of astronomy and director of the Cool Worlds Lab at Columbia University in New York City. He has published over a hundred peer reviewed research articles, spanning the fields of exoplanet and exomoon detection, astrostatistics, astrobiology, and technosignatures. He is also an active communicator of science through his popular YouTube channel Cool Worlds.

This episode was recorded on June 28, 2024

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(0:00) Coming up
(0:24) Intro
(2:05) Are we alone in the universe?
(6:32) The Fermi paradox, the flame of consciousness
(9:48) Why scientists don’t like the idea that we might be special, the weak anthropic principle
(12:45) The experience of the observer, what other forms life might take
(17:03) The mediocrity principle, the most common types of planets in the universe
(21:34) Why look for life on Mars? If it’s anywhere, it’s everywhere
(25:12) Civilizational types: where we rank
(29:29) The study of exoplanets: how we find them and what they tell us
(37:00) Delayed acceptance, what proved their existence it in 2000
(38:20) Why are “mini-Neptunes” the most common planet in the universe?
(42:03) Our solar system is not the universal template
(43:23) The religious axioms present in the search for life, Grok
(47:06) The overlap of the conceptual and physical heaven
(50:08) The fear of annihilation and the hope of being remembered
(53:21) Dyson spheres: what happens when we become a Type II civilization
(57:06) The possibility of using all of our resources, the limits of computational power
(1:00:45) Would an advanced civilization willingly enter a simulation?
(1:02:57) Immortality and the matrix: Dyson’s eternal intelligence
(1:04:27) Time’s arrow, Hawking radiation, and the heat death of the universe
(1:10:18) We might have disproved the Big Bang
(1:15:44) Dark matter and dark energy
(1:23:26) Quantum theory has disturbing implications

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[bastost]

Dr. David Kipping has one of the most amazing Youtube science channels!

[AndersLiljeblad]

Dr. David Kipping is GOATED. Best communicator!

[davecalado]

I love how intellectually chellanging this is. Such a gift to hear this for free!

[lucaissewell]

I am just amazed when people can speak so eloquently extemperaneously on complex topics. Really a brilliant individual.

[SemperMaximus]

Damn, havent watched JP in a long time, but Dr Kipping definitely deserves a full episode! Cool Worlds!

[ranjrog]

Peterson’s ability to discuss topics on such a high level that are so outside his professional field of study is amazing to me. What a brilliant man who can ask such relevant questions of experts in such diverse fields!

[gdblesscptamerica]

This is the most unexpected collab I've ever seen....but I'm here for it!

[emilholst]

This is a breath of fresh air and a new direction for Peterson talks. I approve.

[autumnleaves]

As a non-scientist I still found this really interesting. All I can do is look up at the night sky in awe at the beauty and mystery of it all, knowing how it stands above all the dreadful things humans are doing to one another. Just looking at Saturn through a telescope years ago was mind-blowing, knowing that it is about 840 million miles away. Jupiter is wonderful too, helping to keep asteroids away from our planet. I do feel there are other life forms out there somewhere. Thanks for posting this thought-provoking discussion.

[Baxter_parxie]

Unbelievable this lecture is free for everyone. ❤❤❤ I am a big fan of Dr. Peterson since 2021.

[helburr]

I like this version of Jordan much better. Great episode

[stephenphillips]

Sad to see this isn't getting as much traction as I feel is appropriate for such a great collab, hopefully it doesn't discourage more such content

[stuartriddell]

I have been subscribed to Dr. Kipping's Cool Worlds channel for a long time, same for Dr. Peterson. I never thought to see them both on the same video.

[jeremyskickinkitchen]

Love you, JP. My life has been radically changed by following your teachings for years. I'm truly grateful.

[jrgilby]

I want to say this was my favorite interview. I started studying Astrophysics in the Spring of 1996, at the University of Arizona, and it was RIGHT in the wake of the first discovery of Exoplanets in 1995. Many of the subjects discussed here (Dark Matter, Dark Energy, Large Scale Structure of the Universe) were challenging to my faith in Science and my Faith in the Bible. As a scientist I find contentment in learning how much we don't know and still don't know.

[nic]

WHOAAA just seeing this. Cool Worlds is such an incredible channel. So excited for this

[mirakuru]

The capability of Mr. Peterson, in being able to communicate his thoughts, questions, and ideas, astounds me along with being able to meticulously fight his natural inclinations to assume certain conclusions. I can only imagine being able to do that on even a level partial to that.

[thedragon]

I once heard you say “things that are good bring humanity together” . So that means what’s bad pulls us apart . You bring us together doc .

[betterchapter]

Easily the most comprehensive and interesting astrophysicist I’ve heard on any podcast. Well done.

[jasonnikolic]

The most unexpected combo. More guests and topics like this please!