Why haven’t we found aliens? A physicist shares the most popular theories. | Brian Cox

Big Think September 29, 2023
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Big Think exists to make you smarter, faster. Through conversations with the world’s brightest thinkers, we bring you the ideas shaping the future of science, philosophy, culture, and the human mind. Our library of thousands of videos distills complex insight into clear, actionable wisdom for how to think, work, and live in a changing world. Meet legendary teachers like philosopher Daniel Dennett, physicist Brian Cox, classicist Mary Beard, psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk, political scientist Ian Bremmer, anthropologist Helen Fisher, and hundreds more — all sharing the ideas that define our time and the questions that will shape our future.

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Chances are, we’re not alone in the universe. But if that’s true — why can’t we seem to find our neighbors? This question is known as the Fermi paradox, and it continues to go unsolved. However, some theories could offer potential solutions. Physicist Brian Cox explains the paradox and walks us through our best guesses as to the reason for our quasi-isolation. 0:00 Who is Enrico Fermi? 0:22 What is the Fermi Paradox? 1:29 Rare Earth Hypothesis 2:41 Extinguished Civilizations 3:51 Technological Singularity 4:34 Vast Distances 5:14 Cosmic Quarantine 7:31 The Great Filter 9:51 The Great Silence ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Go Deeper with Big Think: ►Become a Big Think Member Get exclusive access to full interviews, early access to new releases, Big Think merch and more. https://members.bigthink.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description ►Get Big Think+ for Business Guide, inspire and accelerate leaders at all levels of your company with the biggest minds in business. https://bigthink.com/plus/great-leaders-think-big/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Brian Cox: Brian Cox obtained a first class honors degree in physics from the University of Manchester in 1995 and in 1998 a Ph.D. in High Energy Particle Physics at the DESY laboratory in Hamburg. Brian is now Professor of Particle Physics at the University of Manchester, The Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science and a Fellow of the Royal Society. Brian is widely recognized as the foremost communicator for all things scientific, having presented a number of highly acclaimed science programs for the BBC watched by billions internationally including ‘Adventures in Space and Time’ (2021), ‘Universe’ (2021), ‘The Planets’ (2018), ‘Forces of Nature’ (2016), ‘Human Universe’ (2014), ‘Wonders of Life’ (2012), ‘Wonders of the Universe’ (2011) and ‘Wonders of the Solar System’ (2010). As an author, Brian has also sold over a million books worldwide including ‘Black Holes’, ‘Universal: A Guide to the Cosmos’, ‘Quantum Universe’ and ‘Why Does E=mc2?’ with co-author Professor Jeffrey Forshaw. He also wrote the series of books to accompany his popular television and radio programs.

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