

Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur
Isaac Arthur
Podcast by Isaac Arthur
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 30, 2025 • 29min
The Fermi Paradox - Forbidden Zones
Explore the galaxy's 'forbidden zones' where danger lurks, from supernova graveyards to mysterious black holes used as power sources. Delve into gamma-ray bursts and their risks, as well as cultural no-go areas shaped by superstition. Uncover the reasons civilizations might create artificial deadlands and quarantine systems to protect against existential threats. Isaac Arthur questions if Earth itself could be tucked away in one of these locked regions, urging listeners to consider the ramifications of exploring the cosmos with caution and curiosity.

Oct 30, 2025 • 31sec
The Fermi Paradox - Forbidden Zones (Narration Only)
Explore the haunting "forbidden zones" of the Milky Way, from deadly supernova fields to enigmatic alien quarantines. Delve into the possible reasons why we might be isolated in the universe, contemplating if we’re living in a cosmic simulation. Engage with thought-provoking scenarios that challenge our understanding of extraterrestrial life and civilization threats. Get ready for a fascinating journey through space's most perilous areas!

Oct 26, 2025 • 35min
Caretaker AI & Genius Loci: When Worlds Grow Minds of Their Own (Narration Only)
Explore the fascinating concept of caretaker AIs, designed to protect and enhance worlds. Delve into the roles these intelligences might play, from managing ecosystems to monetary systems. Discover how embedding minds in environments can create new forms of consciousness. Isaac discusses the complexities of design, including potential conflicts among caretakers and the unpredictable nature of their actions. Hear intriguing examples, like forest-monitoring AIs and Mars trees nurturing human settlers, highlighting our intertwined futures with technology and nature.

Oct 26, 2025 • 35min
Caretaker AI & Genius Loci: When Worlds Grow Minds of Their Own
Discover the intriguing concept of caretaker AIs—machines designed to protect planets and ecosystems. Explore the idea of merging human consciousness with environments to create living stewards. Delve into the risks of caretaker goals clashing with their missions, and the fascinating ways AIs might behave differently across contexts. Hear about innovative designs, from organic caretakers to advanced robotic systems, and consider the possibility of these entities not just serving but potentially outlasting their creators.

Oct 23, 2025 • 35min
Twilight Imperium - When Galactic Civilizations Ebb
From Asimov’s Foundation to Warhammer 40K and Twilight Imperium, science fiction is filled with collapsing empires. But could civilizational decline really explain why the Universe seems so empty?Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Grab one of our new SFIA mugs and make your morning coffee a little more futuristic — available now on our Fourthwall store! https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:Twilight Imperium - When Galactic Civilizations EbbWritten, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurEditor: Lukas KonecnySelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Stellardrone and Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 23, 2025 • 35min
Twilight Imperium - When Galactic Civilizations Ebb (Narration Only)
From Asimov’s Foundation to Warhammer 40K and Twilight Imperium, science fiction is filled with collapsing empires. But could civilizational decline really explain why the Universe seems so empty?Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Grab one of our new SFIA mugs and make your morning coffee a little more futuristic — available now on our Fourthwall store! https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:Twilight Imperium - When Galactic Civilizations EbbWritten, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurEditor: Lukas KonecnySelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Stellardrone and Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 19, 2025 • 33min
Abandoned Space Colonies - How Worlds Can Unterraform Themselves
Colonies won’t always last forever—sometimes planets revert, habitats decay, and entire worlds are left in ruins. Join us as we examine the life cycle of abandoned space settlements.Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Grab one of our new SFIA mugs and make your morning coffee a little more futuristic — available now on our Fourthwall store! https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:Abandoned Space Colonies - How Worlds Can Unterraform ThemselvesWritten, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Aerium, Stellardrone, Chris Zabriskie, and Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorChapters0:00 Intro4:13 Why Colonies Fail9:31 Ecological Collapse in Non-Earth Environments12:39 Case Study – Kaluga-4, Oxygen Depletion14:34 Unterraforming – How a World Reverts or Mutates16:45 Abandonment Timelines19:08 Case Study – Proxima B22:00 Nebula Restoration & Resettlement23:43 Case Study – Valhalla25:22 System-Level Context29:05 Long-Term Patterns in a Galactic CivilizationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 19, 2025 • 34min
Abandoned Space Colonies - How Worlds Can Unterraform Themselves (Narration Only)
Colonies won’t always last forever—sometimes planets revert, habitats decay, and entire worlds are left in ruins. Join us as we examine the life cycle of abandoned space settlements.Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Grab one of our new SFIA mugs and make your morning coffee a little more futuristic — available now on our Fourthwall store! https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:Abandoned Space Colonies - How Worlds Can Unterraform ThemselvesWritten, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Aerium, Stellardrone, Chris Zabriskie, and Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorChapters0:00 Intro4:13 Why Colonies Fail9:31 Ecological Collapse in Non-Earth Environments12:39 Case Study – Kaluga-4, Oxygen Depletion14:34 Unterraforming – How a World Reverts or Mutates16:45 Abandonment Timelines19:08 Case Study – Proxima B22:00 Nebula Restoration & Resettlement23:43 Case Study – Valhalla25:22 System-Level Context29:05 Long-Term Patterns in a Galactic CivilizationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 16, 2025 • 32min
AI Alignment - Can We Make AI Safe?
From safety protocols to philosophy, AI alignment asks a hard question: can we build artificial intelligence that truly serves humanity?Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Grab one of our new SFIA mugs and make your morning coffee a little more futuristic — available now on our Fourthwall store! https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:AI Alignment - Can We Make AI Safe?Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Stellardrone, Chris Zabriskie, and Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 16, 2025 • 32min
AI Alignment - Can We Make AI Safe? (Narration Only)
From safety protocols to philosophy, AI alignment asks a hard question: can we build artificial intelligence that truly serves humanity?Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Grab one of our new SFIA mugs and make your morning coffee a little more futuristic — available now on our Fourthwall store! https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:AI Alignment - Can We Make AI Safe?Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Stellardrone, Chris Zabriskie, and Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.


