2020 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Alien Life

Neil deGrasse Tyson, Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium, hosts and moderates a lively discussion about how life might have formed on Earth and explores what alien life might look like elsewhere in the universe. What criteria do we use to classify life as we know it? Should the criteria be revised as we look for life on other worlds?

2018 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Artificial Intelligence

2017 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: De-Extinction

2016 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Is the Universe a Simulation?

2015 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Water, Water

2014 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Selling Space

2013 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: The Existence of Nothing

2012 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Faster Than the Speed of Light

2011 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: The Theory of Everything

In 2020, the Museum is celebrating the legacy of Charles Hayden, whose vision made the Hayden Planetarium possible and brought the universe to New York City.

2020 Asimov Panelists:

Nathalie A. Cabrol
Director, Carl Sagan Center for Research, SETI Institute

Vera Kolb
Professor of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Parkside

Seth Shostak
Senior Astronomer & Institute Fellow, SETI Institute

Carol Cleland
Director of the Center for the Study of Origins and Professor of Philosophy, University of Colorado

Max Tegmark
Director of the Foundational Questions Institute and Professor of Physics, MIT

The late Dr. Isaac Asimov, one of the most prolific and influential authors of our time, was a dear friend and supporter of the American Museum of Natural History. In his memory, the Hayden Planetarium is honored to host the annual Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate—generously endowed by relatives, friends, and admirers of Isaac Asimov and his work—bringing the finest minds in the world to the Museum each year to debate pressing questions on the frontier of scientific discovery. Proceeds from ticket sales of the Isaac Asimov Memorial Debates benefit the scientific and educational programs of the Hayden Planetarium.

#AlienLife #NeildeGrasseTyson #AsimovDebate #ExtraterrestrialLife #Intelligence #AMNH #ScienceDebate #ScienceLecture #AmericanMuseumofNaturalHistory #Aliens #Astrophysics #Philosopy

***
Subscribe to our channel:

This video and all media incorporated herein (including text, images, and audio) are the property of the American Museum of Natural History or its licensors, all rights reserved. The Museum has made this video available for your personal, educational use. You may not use this video, or any part of it, for commercial purposes, nor may you reproduce, distribute, publish, prepare derivative works from, or publically display it without the prior written consent of the Museum.

© American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

[igotzelda]

So happy we've still got the assimov debates! It seems like its been forever, we need multiple assimov debates per year, please Neil!

[mr.goldfish]

This is the best side of youtube. Great minds drawing from their vast experience to wrestle with the biggest questions we as humans have.

[onlyrick]

This forum gives me a new appreciation for Mr. Tyson. He really handles the moderating well while contributing to the discussion. I'll be looking at all of these. Thanks all.

[JordiSarda]

Why a video with Neil deGrasse Tyson and Isaac Asimov at the same time has only 500 likes. Unacceptable!!!

[bitchn_betty]

These kind of discussion really make me miss my science college and highschool classes....and yes Star Trek.

[heresthethingyouguys]

This was fascinating! I've already watched it 3 times. Please make more of this!

[JORDAN]

Nice, I was watching these months ago and was hoping these would continue. I think these types of discussions/debates should be far more widespread

[hans-olofsvensson]

If it wasn't because Seth is so funny, I wouldn't be watching my 768th Is There Life in the Universe? video. But here we are.

[RazbaqueDirge]

The long wait is finally nearly over! 8D>

[sd-xxoi]

s. d.
​finally a new episode after so many months 🙂

[alextischer]

These types of discussions make me excited for the future. Amazing job everyone here, intellectual endeavors seem to take a backseat these days to political rambling. These are so refreshing.

[kylesundell]

You know a topic like this will be owsome.These types of topics/ debates are always the best.

[Azaroski]

I have been patiently waiting for the new panel debate!

[fugate]

So glad to find out they decided to do this online!! Such a legendary tradition

[richardnone]

a fantastic place as a young man living on long island we took field trips to the planetarium it very inspiring place . WE ARE NOT ALONE

[Smurphy]

A year later and I'm still watching!

[AlohaMilton]

If our internal biome affects our mood, are we individual organisms that are alive or a thinking community of various lifeforms? If we cannot survive without many other life forms, what is alive? Individuals or the system? Maybe we are just part of a living planet, not actually life ourselves, in the eyes of other planets at least...

[googletoldme]

Please don't send carol on the first contact mission lmao.

[Walter-olgd]

Thanks for doing this again ... This is always a fun interesting conversation ... SO COOL YOU GUYS !! Never stop doing it !!

[bennyflats]

This was absolutely fascinating and wonderful!