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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Credits:
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