Could a planet orbiting a black hole sustain life? We dive into the challenges and wonders of living in such an extreme cosmic environment. Discover what it might be like to live near a black hole, where time slows, gravity warps, and the universe takes on a truly alien form.

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Black Sun Rising: Living On A Planet Around A Black Hole
Episode 487; February 20, 2025
Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur
Editor:  Briana Brownell
Graphics: Jeremy Jozwik, Ken York YD Visual, Udo Scroeter
Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images 
Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator
Phase Shift, "Forest Night"
Chris Zabriskie, "Unfoldment, Revealment", "A New Day in a New Sector", "Oxygen Garden"
Stellardrone, "Red Giant", "Billions and Billions"

Black Sun Rising: Living On A Planet Around A Black Hole

Discover the groundbreaking physics behind skyhooks, rotovators, and space ladders, and how they could revolutionize space travel in the near future.

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Skyhooks, Rotovators & Space Ladders
Episode 488b; March 2, 2025
Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur
Graphics: Jarred Eagley, Katie Byrne, Phil Swan, Sergio Botero
Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images 
Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator
Phase Shift, "Forest Night"
Chris Zabriskie, "Unfoldment, Revealment", "A New Day in a New Sector", "Oxygen Garden", "Wonder Cycle"
Stellardrone, "Red Giant", "Billions and Billions"

Skyhooks, Rotovators & Space Ladders (Narration Only)

Crystals are not alive, yet they grow, form complex structures, and even conduct electricity. Could life emerge from crystals rather than carbon-based molecules? Eexplore the intriguing possibility of crystal-based lifeforms, the challenges they would face, and the conditions where they might thrive. We journey to five exotic worlds—Vulcan, Ribbon World, Longenacht, Telluride, and Tempest—each offering unique environments where crystalline life might take hold. Could such life develop naturally, or might humanity one day engineer it? Join us as we dive into the cutting-edge science and speculative possibilities of crystalline biology.

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Crystal Aliens
Episode 436a; March 1, 2024
Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur
Graphics: Jeremy Jozwik, Real Courte
Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound  http://epidemicsound.com/creator

Crystal Aliens: Life, But Not As We Know It

Buzz Aldrin’s legacy extends far beyond his historic steps on the Moon. As a visionary engineer and space advocate, he pioneered the concept of the Aldrin Cycler, a revolutionary spacecraft trajectory that could enable safe, efficient, and cost-effective missions to Mars and beyond. In this episode, we explore how cycler spacecraft function, their potential to transform interplanetary travel, and why they remain a compelling solution for future space exploration. Join us as we celebrate the contributions of one of spaceflight’s greatest pioneers and examine the technology that could one day carry humanity to the Red Planet and beyond.

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Buzz Aldrin's Cyclers  - A Safe Spaceship To Mars And Beyond
Episode 489a; March 10, 2025
Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur
Edited by: Rod Pyle
Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images

Buzz Aldrin's Cyclers - A Safe Spaceship To Mars And Beyond

It can be hard to hear a signal 100 miles away—so what does it take to build a beacon loud enough to be heard 100,000 light years away? In this episode, we explore galactic beacons: powerful transmissions that may teach, warn, or outlast the minds that made them.

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Galactic Beacons
Episode 440b; April 1, 2024
Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur
Graphics: Darth Biomech, Jeremy Jozwik, Ken York YD Visual, Sergio Botero
Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images 
Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator

Galactic Beacons: Teaching Tools or Tombstones? (Narration Only)

Block Minor

What if the galaxy isn’t empty—but locked in a silent Cold War between ancient alien empires? This episode explores the Dark Forest Theory, Interdiction Bubbles, and what it means if our galaxy is shaped by dormant, watchful civilizations playing a long game of survival and subtle dominance.

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The Alien Cold War: Silent Competition Among Dormant Empires In A Dark Galaxy
Episode 497; May 1, 2025
Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur
Edited by: Donagh Broderick
Graphics: Darth Biomech, Jeremy Jozwik, Ken York YD Visual, LegionTech Studios, Sergio Botero
Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images
Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator
Markus Junnikkala, "A Fleet Behind the Moon"
Phase Shift, "Forest Night"
Kai Engel, "Endless Story About Sun and Moon"
Chris Zabriskie, "Unfoldment, Revealment", "A New Day in a New Sector", "Cylinder One"
Taras Harkavyi, "Alpha and..."
Stellardrone, "Red Giant", "Billions and Billions"

The Alien Cold War: Silent Competition Among Dormant Empires In A Dark Galaxy (Narration Only)

The Fermi Paradox asks why, in a vast and ancient universe, we see no signs of alien life. In this episode, we explore five explanations that make sense—and seven popular ones that, despite sounding good, fall flat under closer scrutiny.

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Credits:
5 Fermi Paradox Explanations I Love, 7 That Fall Flat
Episode 502 / 721; May 31, 2025
Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur
Graphics: Ken York YD Visual
Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images 
Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator

0:00 Intro
1:11 Space Is Too Big
4:46 Rare Earth
6:35 Aliens Signals Just Can’t Be Heard
10:09 Humans Are Boring
11:36 Dark Forest Theory
14:14 Interdiction Bubble Civilizations
16:49 Hermit Hypothesis
19:18 Aestivation Hypothesis and Extragalactic Migration
21:10 Transcendance, Ascension, and Extra-Universe Migration
22:33 Infinite Miniaturization
23:33 Berserkers & Zombie AI
24:53 Aliens Common But Unrecognizable 
26:08 Simulation Hypothesis


5 Fermi Paradox Explanations I Love… and 7 That Fall Flat (Narration Only)

From Martians undone by germs to predators who insist on sporting duels, we explore the most ridiculous alien invasion tactics in fiction, and what they reveal about strategy, science, and human resilience.

Join us as we journey beyond the birth of the universe to unravel the mysteries of what might have preceded the Big Bang—and whether time itself had a beginning.
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The 10 Worst Alien Invasion Strategies
Episode 733; July 1, 2025
Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur
Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images 

Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator
0:00 Intro
0:48 10. The “Park and Wait” Strategy
2:02 9. Invading a Planet That Can Kill You
3:46 8. Single Point of Failure: The Hive or Control Ship
5:22 7. Telegraphing Your Arrival
6:50 6. Overly Convoluted Takeovers
8:30 5. Broadcasting Your Weakness
9:55 4. Playing Fair & Ritual Combat
11:54 3. Overconfidence & Underestimating the Locals
13:07 2. Hive Minds That Collapse Instantly
15:03 1. Ignoring the Home Field Advantage
16:06 Outro

The 10 Worst Alien Invasion Strategies

Forget tentacles—what matters is the mind. We explore how alien behavior might emerge from evolution, culture, and technology, and why our biggest first contact risk may be misunderstanding.

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How Would Aliens Behave?
July 13, 2025; Episode 732
Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur
Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images 
Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator
Stellardrone, "Red Giant"
Chapters
0:00 Intro - Alien Expectations vs. Reality
4:04 The Evolutionary Roots of  Alien Behavior
8:19 From Common Ground to Alien Paths: Divergent Behaviors
13:19 First Contact: Communication & Misunderstanding
20:11 Alien Morality: Do They Even Have Ethics?
26:04 Alien Minds, Human Limits: The Final Reflection

How Would Aliens Behave?

Are we alone, or just looking for the wrong kind of aliens? Discover how the path to hive minds and distributed consciousness might answer the Fermi Paradox — and pose new dilemmas of their own.



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Credits:

The Fermi Paradox & The Hivemind Dilemma

Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur

Editor: Lukas Konecny

Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images 

Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator