Douglas Vakoch

Yascha Mounk, a political theory expert, and Douglas Vakoch, an astrobiologist and president of METI International, dive into the ethics of reaching out to extraterrestrial intelligence. They explore the implications of contact and the historical parallels of exploration and exploitation. The duo debates the risks of communicating with advanced civilizations, drawing caution from human history. They also discuss the scientific quests like the Drake Equation and Fermi Paradox, emphasizing the moral complexities of whether we should signal our existence to the cosmos.

Join Steven Dick, NASA's chief historian, as he uncovers the historical views on extraterrestrial life. Award-winning scientist Russell Stannard shares his belief that intelligent aliens align with a divine plan. Cosmologist Paul Davies argues that the universe has deeper significance, while philosopher Robin Collins suggests that aliens could exemplify God's creativity. Psychologist Douglas Vakoch explores how cultural perceptions of E.T. challenge our understanding of faith and humanity's place in an evolving cosmos.