logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
11m 16s

Are we alone in the universe? We're clos...

TED
About this episode
Astrophysicist Lisa Kaltenegger explores the thrilling possibility of discovering life beyond Earth, highlighting how cutting-edge technology like the James Webb Space Telescope lets us analyze distant planets for signs of life in unprecedented detail. Could examining these "alien earths" uncover evidence of new life forms and transform our understanding of the cosmos? We may be closer than ever to finding out.

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

Up next
Yesterday
"Marigolds," a poem about wonder | Safiya Sinclair
Poet Safiya Sinclair performs "Marigolds: A Letter to Wonder," an original poem she created for TED that explores memory, beauty and the fragility of life. After the poem, she talks with TED's Helen Walters about her writing process — and what it feels like when the creative muse ... Show More
9m 2s
Jul 8
The miraculous device that saved my farm — and changed my life | Josephine Waweru
Exhausted from carrying water up a hill to keep her small farm in Kenya thriving, Josephine Waweru received an unexpected call that offered a nearly unbelievable solution. She shares how one simple device allowed her crops (and her dreams) to flourish — and offers a glimmer of ho ... Show More
10m 18s
Jul 7
The inside story of Notre-Dame’s incredible reconstruction | Philippe Villeneuve
In a moment that stunned the world in 2019, the famed Notre-Dame in Paris went up in flames, threatening the future of the centuries-old Gothic treasure. Philippe Villeneuve, the chief architect of the cathedral’s restoration, recounts the collective effort to bring the building ... Show More
13m 38s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2014
A Journey Into Outer Space, With Brian Cox
Are they out there? Intelligent beings from another world. Will we ever make contact with them? Is it even sensible to make guesses about whether life exists in other galaxies billions of light years from our own? How much do we know about outer space? What are black holes, dark ... Show More
1h 56m
Dec 2024
The Search for Another Earth (#229)
Is there another planet in the universe like Earth? Is there life elsewhere? And if so, how advanced is it? Join us as Sara Seager — astronomer, planet hunter, MIT professor, and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient — presents a mind-blowing progress report on the rigorous search for ... Show More
18m 33s
Jul 2024
#431: Ancient Universe Revealed by Webb & Space Junk Hits Home
Space Nuts Episode 431: James Webb Discoveries, Space Junk, and Ocean WorldsJoin Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson in this exciting episode of Space Nuts, where they explore the latest in space science and astronomy. Episode Highlights:- James Webb Space Telescope Discover ... Show More
32m 34s
May 9
Could We Be Domesticated by Aliens? The Statistical Odds of How AI & Aliens Are Connected and What It Means for Your Future
Are we alone in the universe—or already living alongside an ancient alien intelligence? In this mind-bending exploration, Professor Robin Hanson (George Mason University & Oxford’s Future of Humanity Institute) breaks down the statistical odds that alien life exists and why it ma ... Show More
1h 5m
Dec 2024
How Will We Know We're Not Alone?
We have identified thousands of planets just in our neighborhood in the Milky Way, mostly from the way they impact their host stars. Basic calculations suggest that there are countless more across the galaxy, and that billions of them could potentially support life. But what kind ... Show More
37m 48s
Jun 13
"Searching the Skies: Avi Loeb on Galileo, Oumuamua & Interstellar Mysteries"
In this gripping episode of Truth Be Told, host Tony Sweet sits down with renowned astrophysicist Dr. Avi Loeb to explore the frontiers of science and the unknown. From spearheading the groundbreaking Galileo Project—a scientific mission to search for extraterrestrial technology— ... Show More
43m 25s
Jun 9
Cosmic Questions, Red Dwarfs & the Search for Life Beyond Earth
Sponsor Details:This episode is brought to you by Incogni...your personal data removal assistant. Take control of your online presence and enjoy a peaceful digital existence by visiting incogni.com/spacenuts and using the code word Space Nuts for a 60% discount!Cosmic Curiosities ... Show More
23m 21s
Sep 2023
Alone but not lonely with Louis Friedman
Louis Friedman, one of the three co-founders of The Planetary Society, joins Planetary Radio to discuss his new book, "Alone but Not Lonely: Exploring for Extraterrestrial Life." The book takes us on a realistic but hopeful reflection on the search for life, from habitable worlds ... Show More
58m 58s
Sep 2023
Subsurface oceans: The hidden potential of Earth-like exoplanets
Lujendra Ojha, assistant professor at Rutgers University, joins Planetary Radio to discuss how subsurface liquid water on exoplanets orbiting red dwarf stars could increase the likelihood of finding habitable worlds beyond our Solar System. Then we check in with Bruce Betts, chie ... Show More
50m 28s