StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson Season 3 Episode 16 Search for Aliens

In this episode of StarTalk with Neil DeGrasse Tyson, the topic at hand is Searching for Aliens. Tyson sits down with physicist Brian Cox and astronomy professor Lisa Kaltenegger to talk about the science behind the search for extraterrestrial life.

The conversation starts with a discussion about the recent discovery of exoplanets, and how this has driven the search for life beyond Earth. Kaltenegger explains that the key to finding life on these planets is to look for biosignatures in their atmospheres. These biosignatures could include things like oxygen, methane, and water vapor – all indicators of life as we know it.

From here, the conversation turns to the topic of intelligent life. Cox points out that it's possible that there is intelligent life out there, but they might be so different from us that we wouldn't even recognize them as intelligent. Kaltenegger adds that, in some cases, it might be difficult to distinguish between a natural phenomenon and an alien signal.

The discussion then turns to the scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence, or SETI. Cox and Kaltenegger explain how astronomers use radio telescopes to scan the skies for signals from other civilizations. They also talk about the challenges involved in interpreting these signals – while we might be able to recognize a simple signal like a repeating pattern, a complex signal could be far more difficult to understand.

The discussion also touches on the philosophical and ethical implications of discovering alien life. Tyson points out that the discovery of life beyond Earth could have profound impacts on our understanding of ourselves and our place in the universe. Kaltenegger adds that, in some cultures, the discovery of alien life would be seen as a spiritual or religious event.

Ultimately, the conversation ends on a hopeful note. While the search for aliens is still in its early stages, the recent discoveries of exoplanets and the increasing sophistication of our technology makes it more likely than ever that we'll find signs of life beyond Earth. And as Cox points out, even if we never find conclusive evidence of alien life, the search itself is a valuable scientific endeavor that expands our understanding of the universe.