

Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur
Isaac Arthur
Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur explores the long-term future of humanity through space exploration, advanced technology, and big-picture science. Each episode examines how civilization may grow beyond Earth—covering space colonization, megastructures, artificial intelligence, post-scarcity economies, and the physics that shape our future—grounded in real science and careful speculation.
Episodes
Mentioned books

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 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 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.

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 13, 2025 • 14min
Why Data Centers in Space Could Launch a New Space Economy? (Narration Only)
The future of computing might be off-world. Learn how orbital data centers could power AI, solar energy, and a thriving space industry.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/Any comments, corrections, or thoughts on the video? email Isaac.Arthur.Utube@gmail.comVisit 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:Why Data Centers in Space Could Launch a New Space Economy?Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurGraphics: Mafic Studios & Sergio BoteroSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 13, 2025 • 15min
Why Data Centers in Space Could Launch a New Space Economy?
The future of computing might be off-world. Learn how orbital data centers could power AI, solar energy, and a thriving space industry.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/Any comments, corrections, or thoughts on the video? email Isaac.Arthur.Utube@gmail.comVisit 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:Why Data Centers in Space Could Launch a New Space Economy?Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurGraphics: Mafic Studios & Sergio BoteroSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 12, 2025 • 33min
Dyson Spheres and Solar Commerce: The Birth of a Stellar Economy (Narration Only)
A Dyson Swarm isn’t just power—it’s prosperity. See how humanity could turn a star’s energy into a solar-scale economy of trillions.Go to https://PIAVPN.com/IsaacArthur to get 83% off from our sponsor Private Internet Access with 4 months free!Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZFipeZtQM5CKUjx6grh54g/joinVisit 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/53GAShESee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 12, 2025 • 33min
Dyson Spheres and Solar Commerce: The Birth of a Stellar Economy
A Dyson Swarm isn’t just power—it’s prosperity. See how humanity could turn a star’s energy into a solar-scale economy of trillions.Go to https://PIAVPN.com/IsaacArthur to get 83% off from our sponsor Private Internet Access with 4 months free!Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZFipeZtQM5CKUjx6grh54g/joinVisit 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/53GAShESee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 9, 2025 • 33min
The Fermi Paradox - Did a Natural Nuclear Reactor Spark All Life? (Narration Only)
Could the origins of life on Earth trace back to a natural nuclear reactor? Long before humanity split the atom, nature itself may have done it first. In this episode, we explore the astonishing possibility that self-sustaining fission reactions—like the Oklo natural reactor in Gabon—once powered the chemical engines of creation. From radioactive geysers and mineral-rich pools to the first self-replicating molecules, we’ll examine how nuclear energy might have provided the spark that turned chemistry into biology. Along the way, we’ll connect this mystery to the Fermi Paradox, asking whether such rare, radioactive beginnings might explain why intelligent life seems so scarce in the universe. Join us for a journey that blends cosmic mystery, geochemistry, and the science of life’s origins.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.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:The Fermi Paradox - Did a Natural Nuclear Reactor Spark All Life?Written by Isaac Arthur & Philip Kramer, PhDProduced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorChapters0:00 Intro3:39 The Fermi Paradox and the Great Filter6:41 The Rare Earth Hypothesis & LUCA11:42 Natural Nuclear Reactors – Earth’s First Fission Furnace16:00 The Nuclear Geyser Hypothesis21:27 Nebula23:02 Implications for Alien Life29:39 Fictional ExplorationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 9, 2025 • 33min
The Fermi Paradox - Did a Natural Nuclear Reactor Spark All Life?
Could the origins of life on Earth trace back to a natural nuclear reactor? Long before humanity split the atom, nature itself may have done it first. In this episode, we explore the astonishing possibility that self-sustaining fission reactions—like the Oklo natural reactor in Gabon—once powered the chemical engines of creation. From radioactive geysers and mineral-rich pools to the first self-replicating molecules, we’ll examine how nuclear energy might have provided the spark that turned chemistry into biology. Along the way, we’ll connect this mystery to the Fermi Paradox, asking whether such rare, radioactive beginnings might explain why intelligent life seems so scarce in the universe. Join us for a journey that blends cosmic mystery, geochemistry, and the science of life’s origins.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.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:The Fermi Paradox - Did a Natural Nuclear Reactor Spark All Life?Written by Isaac Arthur & Philip Kramer, PhDProduced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorChapters0:00 Intro3:39 The Fermi Paradox and the Great Filter6:41 The Rare Earth Hypothesis & LUCA11:42 Natural Nuclear Reactors – Earth’s First Fission Furnace16:00 The Nuclear Geyser Hypothesis21:27 Nebula23:02 Implications for Alien Life29:39 Fictional ExplorationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.


