This series takes a look at concepts for everything from Terraforming Planets and Interstellar Colonization to more down to Earth matters like Arcologies and Planet Wide Cities before examining using black holes as power sources for starships.We then leap into the far distance future at the end of time to examine civilizations surviving around black holes after all the stars have died out.
Watch the Original Video Series:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqKQ94DtS54&list=PLIIOUpOge0LufQYxcfYVqcVQOFOHFynMl

Colonizing Space

Isaac Arthur

isaac arthur

Isaac arthur

isaac arthur(no music)

interesting Stuff

If everything is free, what’s still worth striving for? From replicators to reputation, we examine the surprising economics of a post-scarcity world.
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Credits:
The Economics of a Post-Scarcity Universe - What Happens When Everything Is Free?
Episode 730; July 3, 2025
Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur
Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images 
Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator
Chapters
0:00 Intro
2:02 What Post-Scarcity Means Economically
5:10 Incentives Without Scarcity
8:17 Distribution, Duty, and Designed Idleness
14:27 Ownership and Property in a Post-Scarcity Economy
20:03 The Star Trek Economy & the Myth of a Moneyless Society
22:58 Wealth, Inheritance & Intergenerational Power
27:57 Upward Mobility and Inequality
29:02 Economic Failure Modes in Post-Scarcity
30:35 Where Economics Still Matters
33:02 The Infinite Price of a Meaningful Life

The Economics of a Post-Scarcity Universe - What Happens When Everything Is Free?

A series looking at concepts for truly huge structures that we might see in the future. This is an audio-only compilation of videos created originally for Youtube, and is best watched rather than listened to, the video playlist can be found at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQLDwY-LT_o&list=PLIIOUpOge0LtW77TNvgrWWu5OC3EOwqxQ

MS04 Rotating Habitats

A in-depth look at KIC 8462582, also known as Tabby's Star. We'll explore how this star became famous for an anomaly, what that anomaly was, and the various theories for what might be causing it.

FP04 - Tabby's Star

CS07 - Micro Black Holes And Hawking Radiation

CS06 - Interstellar Colonization

CS04 - Moon Base Concepts

CS03 - The Impact Of Nuclear Fusion

CS02 - Ecumenopolises

CS01 - Arcologies

CS00 - Intro

In this Episode we examine the concept of the Simulation Hypothesis, which proposes a mathematical argument that we are almost certainly simulations running on a computer.
www.IsaacArthur.net

EC02 The Simulation Hypothesis

A look at concepts of transhumanism and life extension
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www.IsaacArthur.net

EC01 Transhumanism And Immortality

This series looks at a number of concepts in science and technology that challenge our fundamental notions of Life, the Universe, and Everything... including our own existence.

EC00 Intro

A look at Dark Matter, what it is, what it isn't, and what it might be used for.

Visit our Website:
www.IsaacArthur.net

Cover Art by Jakub Grygier:
https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier

Dark Matter as Primordial Black Holes discusses:
http://www.space.com/33122-dark-matter-black-hole-connection.html

Dark Matter

This episode continues our look at Colonizing Space by examining the idea of Asteroid Mining and setting up colonies on Asteroids. We explore the science as well as practical issues of engineering, economics, legality, and psychology of such distant outposts.

www.IsaacArthur.net

CS04b - Asteroid Mining

This episode continues our team up with Fraser Cain to look at Colonizing the Solar System, we move from the inner solar system to the Asteroid Belt and beyond, all the way out to the Oort Cloud.

Video Version here: https://youtu.be/0W7IRBeDkj4
Part 1: The Inner Solar System, can be watched here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALBMdY9-SZs

Article: "COULD WE TERRAFORM JUPITER?"
http://www.universetoday.com/121691/could-we-terraform-jupiter/

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Cover Art by Jakub Grygier: https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier

Colonizing The Outer Solar System [Narration Only]

This episode focuses on the basic concepts and misconceptions of wars fought in space and examines the notions of weapons, defenses, stealth in space, and the distance involved.

Watch the Video Version:
https://youtu.be/xvs_f5MwT04

Project Rho: http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/index.php
Military Science Fiction: http://www.milsf.com

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Listen or Download the audio of this episode from Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/isaac-arthur-148927746/space-warfare
Cover Art by Jakub Grygier: https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier

Space Warfare (Narration Only)

This episode begins a three-part series focusing more on the specifics of colonization including human aspect of it. We lay the groundwork by looking at colonies just in our solar system before moving off in episodes two and three to look at life on colony ships and then on interstellar colonies.

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/VIMV6E8OxG8

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Cover Art by Jakub Grygier: https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier

Music by:
Dexter Britain
“Seeing the Future”
Kai Engel
“Endless Story about Sun and Moon”
Koalips
“Kvazar”
Kai Engel
“December”
Martin Rezny
“Tempus Fugit”
Chris Zabriskie
“Mario Bava sleeps in a little later than he expected to”
Frank Dorittke
“Morninglight”
Phase Shift
“Forest Night”
Kevin MacLeod
“Spacial Winds”
Brandow Liew
“Into the Storm”

Life In A Space Colony Episode 1

This episode  is the second of a three-part series focusing more on the specifics of colonization including human aspect of it. Having laid the groundwork last time, we now ask ourselves what the ships carrying people to new worlds would be like, and what life aboard them would be like.  

Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/THqtAQOicQI

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Support the Channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthur
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Cover Art by Jakub Grygier: https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier

Life In A Space Colony Episode 2 (Narration Ony)

This episode  is the second of a three-part series focusing more on the specifics of colonization including human aspect of it. Having laid the groundwork last time, we now ask ourselves what the ships carrying people to new worlds would be like, and what life aboard them would be like.  

Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/THqtAQOicQI

Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/
Support the Channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthur
Visit the sub-reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/
Cover Art by Jakub Grygier: https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier

Music by:
Dexter Britain
“Seeing the Future”
Kai Engel
“Endless Story about Sun and Moon”
Koalips
“Kvazar”
Kai Engel
“December”
Martin Rezny
“Tempus Fugit”
Frank Dorittke
“Morninglight”
Phase Shift
“Forest Night”
Kevin MacLeod
“Spacial Winds”
Brandow Liew
“Into the Storm”

Life In A Space Colony Episode 2

This episode concludes a three-part series focusing more on the specifics of colonization including human aspect of it. Today we journey to the Tau Ceti System after a 120 year voyage to join our colonists in the early days of the colony.

Watch the video:
https://youtu.be/6VBCxWcAPXw

Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/
Support the Channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthur
Visit the sub-reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/
Listen or Download the audio of this episode from Soundcloud: 
Cover Art by Jakub Grygier: https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier


Music by:
Dexter Britain
“Seeing the Future”
Kai Engel
“Endless Story about Sun and Moon”
Koalips
“Kvazar”
Kai Engel
“December”
Martin Rezny
“Tempus Fugit”
Frank Dorittke
“Morninglight”
Phase Shift
“Forest Night”
Kevin MacLeod
“Spacial Winds”
Brandow Liew
“Into the Storm”

Life In A Space Colony Episode 3

This episode concludes a three-part series focusing more on the specifics of colonization including human aspect of it. Today we journey to the Tau Ceti System after a 120 year voyage to join our colonists in the early days of the colony.

Watch the video:
https://youtu.be/6VBCxWcAPXw

Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/
Support the Channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthur
Visit the sub-reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/
Listen or Download the audio of this episode from Soundcloud: 
Cover Art by Jakub Grygier: https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier

Life In A Space Colony Episode 3 (Narration Only)

This episode ends Year 2, not with predictions for the future, but rather a discussion of concepts of Black Swan Events and Outside Context Problems, highly unpredictable events which massively impact civilization.

Watch the Video: https://youtu.be/AHvLuhjfAyA

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Cover Art by Jakub Grygier: https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier

Unpredictability - Black Swans And OCPs (Narration Only)

The first installment in a new series discussing alternative means of getting in space, from better rockets to massive structures like Space Elevators, Skyhooks, and Launch Loops.

Watch the Video: https://youtu.be/JgxkilF5XUM

Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net
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Cover Art by Jakub Grygier: https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier

Music by
Intro/Outro:
Sergey Cheremisinov
"Sirius"
Kai Engel
"Endless Story about Sun and Moon"
Koalips
"Kvazar"
Frank Dorittke
"Morninglight"
Kevin MacLeod
"Spacial Winds"

Upward Bound: Getting into Space

In this episode we examine the concept of a Space Elevator, a popular piece of developing technology designed to lift people and cargo into space at a fraction of normal launch costs. We will look at technology as well as many of the misconceptions about Space Elevators which have emerged.

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/dc8_AuzeYKE

"The physics of the space elevator", P. K. Aravind:
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/d402/ba5f97884b7398ae2a1ff79136f9c1a03993.pdf

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Visit the sub-reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/
Listen or Download the audio of this episode from Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/isaac-arthur-148927746/upward-bound-space-elevators
Cover Art by Jakub Grygier: https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier

Music by
Intro/Outro:
Sergey Cheremisinov
"Sirius"
Kai Engel
"Endless Story about Sun and Moon"
Koalips
"Kvazar"
Frank Dorittke
"Morninglight"
Kevin MacLeod
"Spacial Winds"
Lombus
"Amino"
Cory Gray
"Technological 1"

Upward Bound: Space Elevators

In this episode we examine the concept of a Space Elevator, a popular piece of developing technology designed to lift people and cargo into space at a fraction of normal launch costs. We will look at technology as well as many of the misconceptions about Space Elevators which have emerged.

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/dc8_AuzeYKE

"The physics of the space elevator", P. K. Aravind:
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/d402/ba5f97884b7398ae2a1ff79136f9c1a03993.pdf

Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/
Support the Channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthur
Visit the sub-reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/
Cover Art by Jakub Grygier: https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier

Upward Bound: Space Elevators (Narration Only)

In this episode we explore Quantum Computers, from the basic theory to the potential applications, as well as many myths and misconceptions this groundbreaking technology has accumulated.

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/wgCuKTN8sX0

Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net
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Cover Art by Jakub Grygier: https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier

Quantum Computing (Narration Only)

The concept of enhancing and augmenting animal minds & bodies to be able to use and understand human technology, known as Uplifting, has long fascinated us. Today in this two-part collaboration with John Michael Godier, we will explore this concept as well as the possibility of using such technology with alien races, the polar opposite of the classic Star Trek Prime Directive.

Watch Part 1: https://youtu.be/QzaYnrrEKbU
Watch Part 2: https://youtu.be/wfDHt68-ANU

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Visit the sub-reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/
Listen or Download the audio of this episode from Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/isaac-arthur-148927746/
Cover Art by Jakub Grygier: https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier

Graphics Team:
Edward Nardella
Jarred Eagley
Justin Dixon
Katie Byrne
Kris Holland
Misho Yordanov
Murat Mamkegh
Pierre Demet
Sergio Botero
Stefan Blandin

Script Editing:
Andy Popescu
Connor Hogan
Edward Nardella
Eustratius Graham
Gregory Leal
Jefferson Eagley
Luca de Rosa
Mark Warburton
Michael Gusevsky
Mitch Armstrong
MolbOrg
Naomi Kern
Philip Baldock
Sigmund Kopperud
Tiffany Penner

Music:
Dexter Britain, "Seeing the Future"
AJ Prasad, "Staring Through"
Markus Junnikkala, "A Memory of Earth"
Sergey Cheremisinov, "Labyrinth"
Lombus, "Hydrogen Sonata"
Markus Junnikkala, "We Roam the Stars"
Chris Zabriskie, "Cylinder 8"
Dexter Britain, "Seeing the Future"
Chris Zabriskie, "Cylinder 5"
Chris Zabriskie, "Cylinder 7"
Kai Engel, "Endless Story about Sun and Moon"
Chris Zabriskie, "Cylinder 3"
Kevin McLeod, "Space Xplorers"

Uplifting

It is often thought that if we cure aging or find out how to upload a human mind that humans will be immortal. Today we will examine that notion and see how well it holds up against astronomical timelines.

Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/6icg0tu_5z4

Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/
Support the Channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthur
Visit the sub-reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/
Cover Art by Jakub Grygier: https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier

Graphics Team:
Edward Nardella
Jarred Eagley
Justin Dixon
Katie Byrne
Kris Holland of Mafic Stufios: www.maficstudios.com
Misho Yordanov
Pierre Demet
Sergio Botero: https://www.artstation.com/sboterod?fref=gc
Stefan Blandin

Script Editing:
Andy Popescu
Connor Hogan
Edward Nardella
Eustratius Graham
Gregory Leal
Jefferson Eagley
Luca de Rosa
Mark Warburton
Michael Gusevsky
Mitch Armstrong
MolbOrg
Naomi Kern
Philip Baldock
Sigmund Kopperud
Steve Cardon
Tiffany Penner

Digital Death (Narration Only)

Today we discuss the concept of trade throughout a colonized solar system, and ask how viable it is and what challenged it faces.

While Interplanetary trade faces many challenges, Interstellar Trade faces even more, this episode will seek to examine in detail what can be traded between worlds, what probably can't, and what technologies might impact that.

Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/gRd8fR9D3-8

Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/
Support the Channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthur
Visit the sub-reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/
Cover Art by Jakub Grygier: https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier

Graphics Team:
Edward Nardella
Jarred Eagley
Justin Dixon
Katie Byrne
Kris Holland of Mafic Stufios: www.maficstudios.com
Misho Yordanov
Pierre Demet
Sergio Botero: https://www.artstation.com/sboterod?fref=gc
Stefan Blandin

Script Editing:
Andy Popescu
Connor Hogan
Edward Nardella
Eustratius Graham
Gregory Leal
Jefferson Eagley
Luca de Rosa
Mark Warburton
Michael Gusevsky
Mitch Armstrong
MolbOrg
Naomi Kern
Philip Baldock
Sigmund Kopperud
Tiffany Penner

Interplanetary Trade (Narration Only)

In memory of Carl Sagan, this episode will review many of the topics he covered during his career and see what what we've learned about the Cosmos and its inhabitants since then.

Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/5kL-xwcmPds

Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/
Support the Channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthur
Visit the sub-reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/
Cover Art by Jakub Grygier: https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier


Graphics Team:
Edward Nardella
Jarred Eagley
Justin Dixon
Katie Byrne
Kris Holland
Misho Yordanov
Murat Mamkegh
Pierre Demet
Sergio Botero
Stefan Blandin

Script Editing:
Andy Popescu
Connor Hogan
Edward Nardella
Eustratius Graham
Gregory Leal
Jefferson Eagley
Luca de Rosa
Mark Warburton
Michael Gusevsky
Mitch Armstrong
MolbOrg
Naomi Kern
Philip Baldock
Sigmund Kopperud
Steve Cardon
Tiffany Penner

Cosmic Ocean (Narration Only)

A look at creating artificial planets, ones vastly bigger than Earth.
Visit our sponsor, Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/IsaacArthur/
We return to the Megastructures series to discuss various ways of creating artificial planets, the special issues with making an Earth-like planet much larger or smaller than Earth, and the maximum size they can be, potentially larger than entire solar systems. 

Watch the Video Version: https://youtu.be/ioKidcpkZN0

Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/
Support the Channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthur
Visit the sub-reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/
Cover Art by Jakub Grygier: https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier

Graphics Team:
Edward Nardella
Jarred Eagley
Justin Dixon
Katie Byrne
Kris Holland of Mafic Stufios: www.maficstudios.com
Misho Yordanov
Pierre Demet
Sergio Botero: https://www.artstation.com/sboterod?fref=gc
Stefan Blandin

Script Editing:
Andy Popescu
Connor Hogan
Edward Nardella
Eustratius Graham
Gregory Leal
Jefferson Eagley
Luca de Rosa
Mark Warburton
Michael Gusevsky
Mitch Armstrong
MolbOrg
Naomi Kern
Philip Baldock
Sigmund Kopperud
Tiffany Penner

Mega Earths (Narration Only)

Jupiter and its moon are a rarely considered prospect for colonization, but potentially the ripest opportunity for it in the solar system. In this episode of the Outward Bound series we will examine the options for colonizing each of Jupiter's primary moons and even discuss ways to colonize the giant planet itself.

Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/PQnvjGN91Mg

Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net
Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/
Support the Channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthur
Visit the sub-reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/
Cover Art by Jakub Grygier: https://www.artstation.com/artist/jakub_grygier


Graphics Team:
Edward Nardella
Jarred Eagley
Justin Dixon
Jeremy Jozwik
Katie Byrne
Kris Holland
Misho Yordanov
Murat Mamkegh
Pierre Demet
Sergio Botero
Stefan Blandin

Script Editing:
Andy Popescu
Connor Hogan
Edward Nardella
Eustratius Graham
Gregory Leal
Jefferson Eagley
Keith Blockus
Luca de Rosa
Mark Warburton
Michael Gusevsky
Mitch Armstrong
MolbOrg
Naomi Kern
Philip Baldock
Sigmund Kopperud
Tiffany Penner