Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman

Ep128 "Would space aliens see the world as we do?" with Daniel Whiteson

11 snips
Nov 3, 2025
In this captivating discussion, particle physicist Daniel Whiteson, author of *Do Aliens Speak Physics?*, delves into how alien senses might reshape scientific inquiry. He explores the idea of universal versus culturally shaped mathematics and how different intelligences might interpret fundamental truths. Whiteson also proposes an extended Drake equation for alien physics and examines the challenges of translating alien signals. With playful speculations on alien technology, he raises profound questions about our understanding of the universe and the nature of scientific progress.
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INSIGHT

Science As A Human-Tinted Lens

  • Human science may be a lens shaped by our senses and history rather than a perfect mirror of reality.
  • Meeting aliens could reveal which parts of physics are universal and which are human-specific.
INSIGHT

Extended Drake For Alien Physics

  • Whiteson extends the Drake equation to ask if aliens do science, can we communicate, do they ask our questions, and do they have our answers.
  • Each term multiplies difficulty: lacking any one makes physics conversation unlikely.
INSIGHT

Math: Universal Language Or Tool?

  • Mathematics often precedes physics in human discovery, suggesting math maps deep structure of reality.
  • But math might also be a human cognitive tool; aliens could use different representations.
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