The Dark Forest, Aliens, and a Hostile Galaxy

When we look up into the night skies, all we see is absence and silence, but could our galaxy be a dark forest full of hidden predators waiting to consume us?

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Credits:
The Dark Forest, Aliens, and a Hostile Galaxy
Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur
Episode 377a, January 15, 2023
Written, Produced & Narrated by Isaac Arthur

Editors:
David McFarlane
Donagh Broderick

Graphics by:
Darth Biomech
Ken York
LegionTech Studios

Markus Junnikkala, "Hail the Victorious Dead", "A Memory of Earth"
Stellardrone, "Red Giant", "Ultra Deep Field"
Sergey Cheremisinov, "Labyrinth", "Forgotten Stars"
Taras Harkavyi, "Alpha and..."

[liquidator]

Your speech has greatly improved, Isaac. Honestly, I can barely tell you have one anymore. I think what is left gives you character 😊

[BigZebraCom]

Issac is right. Space is dark, especially at night.

[barryon]

If aliens did have a hand in human evolution, the reason they haven't contacted us is because the case about ownership has been in the galactic courts since our bronze age.

[LACmedic-kovt]

Man that has got to be maddening, all those years of therapy and no one caught this issue. But for whatever it's worth, you have definitely made a lot of progress over the years. And congratulations on adopting and best wishes to you and your wife on being parents.

[MarmaLloyd]

I can't imagine how hard it must be to change something as ingrained as speech. I love how you talk; it's relaxing

[charlesmorgan]

My youngest son has had to deal with speech issues as well. He's 10 now and after 4 or so years of speech therapy, he has improved vastly. I can still tell he's slightly insecure and holds back from conversations because of it but he's an amazing little guy with a truly good heart and there is nobody I'd rather have a conversation with than him and his brother. Congratulations on fatherhood. I know this is an older video and I'm a little late to the party but better late than never I suppose.

[kevinpatrick]

8:45 The problem with aliens "ascending to another plane of existence voluntarily" is the rather rapid correction resulting from dissidents that will not go into another dimension or cyberspace. All it would take is an infinitesimally tiny fraction of the original species still reproducing to quickly reassert the march of expansion and colonization. Given that galactic expansion would take millions of years, the pause for species replenishment might not even be noticed on such a time scale.

[MineTaur]

I'm gonna miss Isaac's classic "Ion Stars". This is the best channel on Youtube. So educational, yet so cosy and familial-feeling.

[MijinLaw]

Good analysis. I've always thought the main flaw of dark forest is that attacking another species is itself a kind of signal: that killing Mr Weak could be the very thing that alerts Mr Strong to your presence, and the fact that you're hostile to boot. So even purely looking at it from a game theory point of view, going out genocidin' doesn't make much sense. Also, in practice the "forest" should be noisy. Because, again looking at it from a game theory point of view, any heads up on who is out there would be useful, so if you have the ability to leave out noisy beacons (far from any planets you inhabit) it makes sense to do so.
Finally of course, the one sentient species that we know of has already attempted to make noise, so it doesn't bode well for a theory that all species, always, try to hide.

[kobebarka]

My favorite Sundays are spent with Isaac! Live long and prosper friends 🖖🏻

[theblackjubalharshaw]

I have been waiting for this episode for 5 years. I'm hoping for a more optimistic conclusion than Liu Cixin

[HybridGlobalCitizen]

Congrates on the family expansion. Super lucky kids to have parents like yourselves.

[noladavis]

I love your videos. Im in a FB science group, with actual scientists. We have weekly trivia. Im occasionally in charge of the questions when the admin is busy. I also do a Spooky Science series. I have got so many ideas from your videos, and have had some brilliant discussions in the group. So thanks for making me look cleverer than I am.

[Cmdtheartist]

That's amazing news. Your medical diagnosis just one day appearing after years of frustration is not uncommon. I'm hoping for that kind of luck one day. Congratulations on your news, and thanks for the scifi alien space stuff!

[TiffanyNajberg]

This is hands down the best series ive ever found on youtube. Literally the only show I continue to watch week after week. Thank you for the hard work this takes. As a significant creator on another platform i know how hard quality content is to make, and this makes mine look weak🦋

[NancyLebovitz]

Good point about the prisoner's dilemma being sociopathic, but that's much more true of only playing it once. When you get to iterated prisoner's dilemma, cooperation pays off. Even the tiniest bit of communication helps.

[dragonpjb]

Every one forgets that A.I. wouldn't have any drives we didn't give it. That includes self preservation.

[kungfuchimp]

Adoption is one of the most beautiful and noble things a person can do. I'm very grateful and very much in awe of anyone that chooses to do this. You have my greatest respect.
By the way, the channel wouldn't be the same without your speech impediment. I got used to it in 1 to 2 episodes, no problem. Just one aspect making this channel unique.

[summitlb]

Dude your speech over the years has gotten so much better. I had the same problem with R sounds as a kid. My wife and I also decided to adopt that's awesome for you!

[thumb-ugly]

Thank yall to the entire team. Arthur, whichever voice recording choice you make will be good. Congratulations on an improved prognosis on speech. For what it's worth, It's an endearing characteristic.