logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2021
6m 27s

The search for microscopic aliens | Sara...

TED
About this episode

Astrophysicist and TED Fellow Sarah Rugheimer searches for aliens -- but not the cartoony green kind. She's looking for extraterrestrial microbes by studying how these single-celled organisms emit gases, which could reveal evidence of them throughout the cosmos. Wondering if we're really alone in the universe, Rugheimer identifies two big hurdles to confirming life on another world and offers insight into what finding it might mean for us.

Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
Sunday Pick: How Adam Grant uses data and intuition to make life decisions | from WorkLife with Molly Graham
Most of us assume data-driven people make data-driven decisions. Not quite. Adam Grant has built a career helping others think more clearly — but when it comes to his own career, the most important calls he’s made didn’t have clear data behind them. So how did he decide? In this ... Show More
44m 34s
Yesterday
Forget the corporate ladder — winners take risks | Molly Graham (re-release and interview)
Success in your career looks different for everyone — but no matter your industry, you'll need to take risks. Company and community builder Molly Graham took to the TED stage two years ago to share three key skills to learn before jumping off a metaphorical cliff, outlining a pat ... Show More
47m 49s
May 8
All it takes is 10 mindful minutes | Andy Puddicombe (re-release)
When is the last time you did absolutely nothing for 10 whole minutes? Not texting, talking or even thinking? Mindfulness expert Andy Puddicombe describes the transformative power of doing just that: Refreshing your mind for 10 minutes a day, simply by being mindful and experienc ... Show More
11m 33s
Recommended Episodes
May 2019
Will we ever find alien life?
3/6 In this instalment of The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry, Hannah and Adam boldly go in search of scientists who are hunting for ET, spurred on by questions sent in by listeners across the globe, from Australia to Columbia. They start by asking how we define life and why we ... Show More
27m 29s
Jun 2022
81. Why Bother Searching for Aliens?
<p>Astronomer Jill Tarter spent her career searching for extraterrestrial intelligence. She explains what civilizations from other planets could teach us about our own future.</p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz. ... Show More
47m 13s
Oct 2019
The Alien Underground
Half a mile below the surface of the earth, in a cave too hot to explore without an ice-packed suit, NASA scientist and Nat Geo explorer Penny Boston clambers around glassy crystals that are taller than telephone poles and wider than dinner tables. But it's not The Crystal Cave's ... Show More
27m 51s
Nov 2007
Lecture 46: Are We Alone? Life in the Universe
Are we alone in the Universe? This lecture explores the question of how we might go about finding life on planets around other stars. Rather than talking about speculative ideas, like the Drake Equation or SETI, I am instead taking the approach of posing it as a problem of what t ... Show More
41m 23s
Jun 2022
Are we alone in the universe?
So far, the only intelligent life we know of is right here on Earth — us! But could there be life on other planets just waiting to be discovered? In this episode, Tai goes deep in the cosmos to explore how scientists are searching for signs of life beyond our little blue dot, and ... Show More
28m 50s
Nov 2018
Fermi Paradox
Ever wondered where all the aliens are? It’s actually very weird that, as big and old as the universe is, we seem to be the only intelligent life. In this episode, Josh examines the Fermi paradox, and what it says about humanity’s place in the universe. (Original score by Point L ... Show More
36m 55s
Nov 2021
The hitchhiker’s guide to exoplanets and alien life
<p>If television shows and movies are any indication, we humans spend a lot of our time subconsciously preparing for UFOs carrying maleficent aliens to descend on Earth. But should we rush to create an intergalactic battle plan? In actuality, finding otherworldly life won’t be so ... Show More
30m 44s
Apr 2022
CLASSIC: The Fermi Paradox: Where the heck are all the aliens?
<p>Given the sheer size of the universe, it's overwhelmingly likely that some form of alien life exists - so where the heck are they? Tune in to this classic episode to learn more.</p><p><a href="https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/" rel="payment">They d ... Show More
47m 41s
Jun 2021
#252 — Are We Alone in the Universe?
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sam Harris speaks with Neil deGrasse Tyson about our place in the universe. They discuss our current understanding of extra-solar planets, the prospect that there is complex life elsewhere in the galaxy, the Fermi problem, the possibility that a ... Show More
52m 6s
Oct 2023
UFOs: The Truth Is Right Here
A whistleblower claims that the U.S. government is covering up what it knows about aliens on Earth, and several military pilots recently testified to seeing strange objects in the sky. It kinda feels like the tide is turning on UFOs — even NASA is taking these sightings seriously ... Show More
43m 51s