Sara Seager, an MIT planetary scientist and author of "The Smallest Lights in the Universe," dives into the exciting search for exoplanets and extraterrestrial life. She shares her childhood wonder for the stars and discusses the Seager equation for habitable planets. Seager explores the implications of gases on alien atmospheres, the technological advances in detecting distant worlds, and the vast potential for life in the cosmos. The conversation also touches on innovative projects like the Starshade initiative and the emotional connections between cosmic exploration and human experiences.
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Early fascination with stars
Sara Seager's earliest memories include the moon following her in the car and being awestruck by the night sky while camping.
These experiences sparked her lifelong curiosity about the universe.
insights INSIGHT
Is there life out there?
Scientists aim for data and facts, not speculation, regarding extraterrestrial life.
Seager believes there's life out there due to the universe's vastness and high probability of life arising somewhere.
insights INSIGHT
Drake Equation vs. Seeger Equation
The Drake Equation estimates intelligent, communicative civilizations, while the Seeger Equation focuses on habitable planets with detectable life signs.
Both equations provide frameworks but don't offer definitive answers, serving to guide research.
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The Go-Giver tells the story of Joe, an ambitious young man who learns the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success from a series of mentors introduced by the enigmatic Pindar. These laws—Value, Compensation, Influence, Authenticity, and Receptivity—emphasize the importance of giving and adding value to others' lives. By shifting his focus from getting to giving, Joe experiences unexpected returns and achieves greater success in both his business and personal life.
The Denial of Death
Ernest Becker
In 'The Denial of Death', Ernest Becker discusses the psychological and philosophical implications of how people and cultures react to the concept of death. He argues that human civilization is a defense mechanism against the knowledge of our mortality, and that this denial is a necessary component of functioning in the world. Becker's work challenges traditional Freudian thought by positing that the primary repression is not sexuality, but rather the awareness of death. He also explores how this fear of death leads to the creation of 'hero systems' and symbols that help individuals transcend their mortality, and how this can result in violence and conflict when different immortality projects clash[2][5][4].
The Smallest Lights in the Universe
Sara Seager
In *The Smallest Lights in the Universe*, Sara Seager shares her personal story of navigating life after the loss of her husband while continuing her groundbreaking work in planetary science. The memoir intertwines her search for meaning and solace with her unrelenting pursuit of discovering Earth-like exoplanets. Seager finds comfort in both the alien beauty of exoplanets and the human connections that help her heal.
Sleeping Island
A Journey to the Edge of the Barrens
Prentice G. Downes
Sleeping Island is a travelogue that recounts the author's adventures and challenges as he explores the vast and remote Great Barren Lands of Canada. The book provides vivid descriptions of the landscape and the experiences of traveling through such a rugged environment by canoe. It offers insights into the natural beauty and harsh conditions of the Canadian wilderness.
Sara Seager is a planetary scientist at MIT, known for her work on the search for exoplanets.
Here’s the outline of the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
OUTLINE:
00:00 – Introduction
05:32 – Falling in love with the stars
09:55 – Are we alone in the universe?
15:27 – Seager equation for number of habitable planets
27:48 – Exoplanets
34:44 – Earth-like exoplanets
40:43 – Intelligent life
52:34 – Number of planets per star
55:09 – Space exploration
57:36 – Traveling to Proxima Centauri
1:00:52 – Starshade
1:07:34 – Using the sun as a gravitational lens
1:09:44 – Starshot
1:12:45 – Rogue planets
1:15:44 – The Smallest Lights in the Universe
1:30:15 – Book recommendations
1:37:48 – Advice for a young person
1:39:29 – Meaning of life
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