Nick Bostrum - Where are All Those Aliens?

Most scientists assume that the universe must be populated with innumerable alien intelligences and civilizations—after all, there are billions of galaxies each with billions of stars and planets—we humans can't be so special. The universe should be teeming with life. OK, that's the argument. So where are they? How come there's zero evidence?



Nick Bostrom is a Swedish philosopher at St. Cross College, University of Oxford known for his work on existential risk and the anthropic principle. He holds a PhD from the London School of Economics (2000).


Closer to Truth presents the world’s greatest thinkers exploring humanity’s deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.

[PREISINGPRODUCTIONS]

“Ultimately, saying that you don't care about privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different from saying you don't care about freedom of speech because you have nothing to say.”
― Edward Snowden

[Greco-Romano]

the biggest and most extraordinary enigma, even more than the universe and aliens, is our mind, of which we still know very little, much less than what it has understood about the universe.

[Max-hthf]

It took 1.8 billion years to create an intelligent form of life; and we’ve only been sending out signals and exploring space for 100 yrs is there any wonder it appears we are alone!

[robertojimenez]

Many comments but the reality is we just don't know.

[thetimberjack]

Anyone who thinks there is intelligent life on this planet has obviously not read the comments section..

[paulwharton]

Excellent ! Mr. Kuhn's interviews are of such a very high standard - Just fantastic to watch - I don't think anyone has ever done anything like this before.
I honestly don't know where he gets the energy from to make so many - I would have "clapped out" after preparing and shooting the 15th interview!
Many, many the way from London.

[cortneykessler]

Why are we searching for intelligent life out there somewhere, when it seems so extremely rare here

[jamesruscheinski]

Maybe missing a requirement for intelligent alien life

[taylenday]

Very interesting perspective on the great filter.

[starmanstarman]

Pretty scary if we humans are alone in the cosmos.

[aephony]

Why are the skies empty? Put that question to the crew of the USS Nimitz. You have a lot of catching up to do mr scientist 👍🏼 they are already here. They’ve been here all along.

[jjharvathh]

Don't know why I always have to be the one to jump in an clarify things for everyone, but here is the answer.... We don't meet them because those species so advanced that they could visit us, know it is most interesting to just observe us, and there is nothing they gain by letting us know of their existence
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[lisamichels]

Let's get this alien thing figured out. 2020 is the year!!

[compellingpoint]

I am writing a book about this. We all evolve to other dimensions with Ai and computers. Turns out we rather stay in the warm glow of the computer and Ai vs. space travel. We would rather virtually travel to other solar systems because the graphics get so good they are indistinguishable from reality. So why go to space again? Remember, we already do this RIGHT NOW!

[jdsood]

I put it this way that when we move from one city to another city there are so many buildings on the way but our highway is a straight way to our destination without entering each and every building on the way.Similarly try to find the space highway.All the planets, stars, etc are just the site seeing objects..If humans find the highway in space for space travel then we can travel more in very less time.Nature of space highway may be different..Right now we are travelling in a space dessert..Watching Oasis..Does it makes sense?

[theonetruemorty]

Doubting the existence of aliens because we don't pick up any extraterrestrial radio stations is like bees doubting the intelligence of humans because we don't communicate through aerial dance.

[tyamada]

Anyone who has witnessed a UFO and its ability to move beyond the speed of any manmade craft, stop instantly, move up and down etc etc etc, as I have back in the 1960s, knows without a doubt that we are are not alone. Eventually, the truth will reveal itself, because that's Nature....

[mickeybrumfield]

Perhaps with intelligence being a relativistic concept other beings have taken a look at us and our planet and have concluded there is no intelligent life here and we are an uninteresting planet.

[brandonsaunders]

Didn’t the Americans just report via the NYT that they poses a craft not made on earth?

[worldclassish]

We see them all the time but we are in denial. The evidence is everywhere.