Should We Search for Extraterrestrial Life?
Open to Debate9 Sep 2022

Should We Search for Extraterrestrial Life?

For decades, scientists around the world have dedicated their lives — and research dollars — to one question: Is there anyone else out there? In the early 1970s, NASA joined the hunt with its own program to search for extraterrestrial life, or SETI for short. When that was defunded by Congress, private efforts took hold. But just what have decades of SETI brought us? And how should we approach the search in those to come? For SETI’s supporters, finding other intelligent life in the cosmos is a fundamentally human endeavor. It probes our understanding of the cosmos, what it means to live and survive on Earth and beyond, and just where our species fits into the greater universe. But others warn that SETI is a distraction from other scientific endeavors that, at best, diverts critical resources and, at worst, will open a can of worms humanity isn’t ready to deal with. Just what would happen if we actually find other beings? Are we mature enough as a society to respond? In this episode, we ask the essential extraterrestrial question: to search or not to search? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episoder(455)

Think Twice About The Meaning of Your Life with Arthur C. Brooks

Think Twice About The Meaning of Your Life with Arthur C. Brooks

At some point, we all ask: “Is this what I’m meant to do?” In this "Think Twice" episode, social scientist Arthur C. Brooks joins Open to Debate's CEO Lia Matthow to explore why meaning feels harder t...

2 Apr 53min

Should the U.S. Prioritize Settling Mars?

Should the U.S. Prioritize Settling Mars?

NASA is preparing for the Artemis II mission — a major step back into deep space to explore the Moon. But as NASA, SpaceX, and other private companies are also working on plans to make Mars humanity’s...

26 Mar 53min

Has Legalizing Sports Gambling Become A Bad Bet?

Has Legalizing Sports Gambling Become A Bad Bet?

Sports fans can place bets on their favorite teams and athletes faster and easier than before, thanks to legalized sports gambling. But was it the wrong bet to make? Advocates say it’s been good for f...

19 Mar 53min

The Future of Film: Big Screen or Stream?

The Future of Film: Big Screen or Stream?

Where do you watch the latest movie everyone’s talking about—on Netflix at home or in a packed theater? Are theaters the irreplaceable heart of cinema, creating cultural moments and spectacle, or is s...

13 Mar 53min

Will AI Make Work Obsolete?

Will AI Make Work Obsolete?

AI can write code, diagnose diseases, design buildings, and create art. Tools like ChatGPT, Claude and autonomous robots are transforming industries once seen as automation-proof, fueling fears of mas...

6 Mar 53min

Generational Divides with Nick Gillespie: The Golden Age of News Media

Generational Divides with Nick Gillespie: The Golden Age of News Media

Are we in a News Media Golden Age, or a fragmented era? In this “Generational Divides” episode, Reason editor-at-large Nick Gillespie brings together Baby Boomer, Millennial, and Gen Z voices to debat...

26 Feb 53min

Smart Girl Dumb Questions: Will the Market Crash in 2026? With Andrew Ross Sorkin

Smart Girl Dumb Questions: Will the Market Crash in 2026? With Andrew Ross Sorkin

Today we're playing you an episode of Smart Girl Dumb Questions, a show hosted by journalist and frequent Open to Debate guest moderator Nayeema Raza. She speaks to Andrew Ross Sorkin about some highl...

24 Feb 1h 22min

Think Twice About War, Tech, & Dirty Supply Chains: The Elements of Power with Nicolas Niarchos

Think Twice About War, Tech, & Dirty Supply Chains: The Elements of Power with Nicolas Niarchos

Your smartphone feels sleek and futuristic—but the supply chain behind it is anything but. In this conversation with moderator-in-chief John Donvan, journalist and “The Elements of Power” author Nicol...

20 Feb 53min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
popradet
forklart
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
stopp-verden
dine-penger-pengeradet
rss-gukild-johaug
det-store-bildet
rss-ness
nokon-ma-ga
hanna-de-heldige
fotballpodden-2
aftenbla-bla
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
rss-dannet-uten-piano
rss-utenrikskomiteen-med-bogen-og-grasvik
e24-podden
bt-dokumentar-2