Are we alone in the universe? | Sean Carroll and Lex Fridman

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GUEST BIO:
Sean Carroll is a theoretical physicist, author, and host of Mindscape podcast.

PODCAST INFO:

SOCIAL:

[LexClips]

Guest bio: Sean Carroll is a theoretical physicist, author, and host of Mindscape podcast.

[jaymothman]

personally i find the idea of humans being alone in the universe much more terrifying than aliens existing.
we know intelligent life exists in the universe. we don't know if it's happened more than once.

[Ryan-pguo]

I think given the unfathomable amount of galaxies and solar systems there are, it takes much more of a leap of faith to think life doesn’t exist elsewhere, then it does.

[LostyMC]

The ignorance of humans. “Just because we haven’t seen it, it’s not there”

[Tom-olem]

I disagree within 60 seconds.. my guess is we don't even have technology yet available to even detect them? Probably like humas didn't know what a telescope lenses would do?... maybe actually see some Planet's they didn't even know existed until the technology was created to do so... what do you think LEX?? I

[sdmods]

Distance is the answer. We exist because of this separation of space and time. If we were accessible we would be dead

[InnovativeInvestmentIdeas]

"Life finds a way". Lex doing his best Jeff Goldblum impersonation.

[faceofdead]

To give you a perspective. Our radio 'bubble' is expanding with the speed of light since the 1900s. Currently, this bubble is about 120 light-years in diameter. This is our coverage. The overall size of the Milky Way galaxy, is about 100, 000 to 150, 000 space-time is so relativistic, it is hard to comprehend from the 'probes' (humans) point of view.

[Mega-Tales]

I think people underestimate how vast the distances are...I wager there are a few alien civilizations just outside our solar system even...we arrogantly think we could detect it...I disagree

[Mega-Tales]

Let's say there's an alien civilization just beyond pluto which is a vast distance but still close. And their tech was like the 1880s... How would we know they exist exactly

[Norm_MacLeod]

If an alien civilization was indeed advanced enough to come to our primitive planet, why would they?
Other than to have a good laugh.

[thefew.]

What if we are the self-replicating probes?

[baldeagle-cqjl]

" We should be humble about things we know little about", best answer I've heard!

[DarkEmperor]

There are *TRILLIONS* of galaxies in the universe and most galaxies have thousands of solar systems... it's extremely probable that there is life on another planet somewhere in the universe. Probably many planets.

[funnysapiens]

2:42 what a powerful statement!
we should follow that in every aspect of our life.

[axlmendez-jtud]

I just love how fast they say we wouldve detected them by now, mf we didnt even know the kraken existen until like 30 years ago also the scale of universe and the amount of planets is too huge to comprehend and even if only. of those planets have life there would still be thousands of them the problem is the distante. Maybe only a selected few managed to crack the secrets pf faster than light travel.

[gianttwinkie]

The question about aliens never seems to talk about time. So over the life of the Universe, has there been alien life? Likely. Is there alien life out there now? A lot less likely.

[christoforos]

Interesting how they can shoot the shit about unprovable things they "believe" about alien civilizations. And yet so many (and perhaps this isn't relevant to either of these fellas) people will become belligerently irate over someone talking about their belief in God.

The human mind is fascinating and hilarious.

[mrn]

The finite time of life in a vast expanse of time and distance makes pinpointing other advanced forms of life somewhat near impossible. If a probe reaches a solar system tens of thousands of light years away, waits and detects life after 'x' number of years, those who sent it may no longer exist by the time the signal reaches back to them.

[AdamLeis]

Lex glosses over the *very* difficult part: biogenesis. The *start* of life is stupid difficult. Wtf does it even mean for chemistry to "self organize" into life? dafuq?