Is Earth Being Monitored By Aliens? | Robin Hanson
03/26/25 • 102 min
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Is Earth being monitored by an advanced civilization one million years ahead of us? And does this alien civilization actually share an ancient past with humanity? Economist Robin Hanson explores a provocative theory suggesting that highly evolved extraterrestrials may be subtly observing us—either as caretakers or as part of a long-running experiment. From there, the conversation delves into the intricacies of academic funding and the peer review process.
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Links Mentioned:
Robin’s blog: https://www.overcomingbias.com/
Robin’s profile: https://economics.gmu.edu/people/rhanson
Robin’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Age-Em-Work-Robots-Earth/dp/0198754620
Tyler Cowen on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwieLd7Lyc8&ab_channel=CurtJaimungal
Gregory Chaitin on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoEuav8G6sY
Matthew Segal on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeTm4fSXpbM
Daniel Van Zant’s article on incentive markets: https://www.danielvanzant.com/p/breakthrough-incentive-markets
Michael Levin on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8iFtaltX-s
Lue Elizondo on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAmFlLfsZKM
Ross Coulthart on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQnGcX7oxms
Listen on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyTOE
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:36 - The Great Filter
05:38 - Where Are The Aliens?
09:13 - UFOs
16:50 - Panspermia
23:05 - Alien Hierarchies
27:30 - Alien Culture & Motivations
33:18 - Probability of Aliens
39:18 - Truth
49:41 - Fall of Academia
01:11:27 - Peer Review
01:20:22 - Ranking Ideas
01:23:09 - The System is “Broken”
Support TOE on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs
#science #aliens
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Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/TOE #rulapod
Try Huel with 15% OFF + Free Gift for New Customers today using my code theoriesofeverything at https://huel.com/theoriesofeverything . Fuel your best performance with Huel today!
Is Earth being monitored by an advanced civilization one million years ahead of us? And does this alien civilization actually share an ancient past with humanity? Economist Robin Hanson explores a provocative theory suggesting that highly evolved extraterrestrials may be subtly observing us—either as caretakers or as part of a long-running experiment. From there, the conversation delves into the intricacies of academic funding and the peer review process.
As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe
Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com
Links Mentioned:
Robin’s blog: https://www.overcomingbias.com/
Robin’s profile: https://economics.gmu.edu/people/rhanson
Robin’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Age-Em-Work-Robots-Earth/dp/0198754620
Tyler Cowen on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwieLd7Lyc8&ab_channel=CurtJaimungal
Gregory Chaitin on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoEuav8G6sY
Matthew Segal on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeTm4fSXpbM
Daniel Van Zant’s article on incentive markets: https://www.danielvanzant.com/p/breakthrough-incentive-markets
Michael Levin on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8iFtaltX-s
Lue Elizondo on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAmFlLfsZKM
Ross Coulthart on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQnGcX7oxms
Listen on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyTOE
Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:36 - The Great Filter
05:38 - Where Are The Aliens?
09:13 - UFOs
16:50 - Panspermia
23:05 - Alien Hierarchies
27:30 - Alien Culture & Motivations
33:18 - Probability of Aliens
39:18 - Truth
49:41 - Fall of Academia
01:11:27 - Peer Review
01:20:22 - Ranking Ideas
01:23:09 - The System is “Broken”
Support TOE on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs
#science #aliens
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Previous Episode
Hacking Life's Code: The Future of Bioelectric Medicine | Michael Levin
Dr. Michael Levin is on the verge of revolutionizing medicine by unlocking the bioelectric code that governs how cells communicate, heal, and build complex structures. His work reveals that intelligence exists at every level of biology—allowing us to reprogram tissues, regenerate limbs, and even suppress cancer by restoring cellular memory and connection.
As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe
Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com
Listen on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyTOE
Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join
Links:
Michael Levin on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8iFtaltX-s
The Levin Lab (website): https://drmichaellevin.org/
Michael’s blog: https://thoughtforms.life/
Michael’s presentations: https://drmichaellevin.org/presentations/
Michael and colleagues discussing anthrobots and other groundbreaking research on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG6GIzNM0aM
ekkólapto (website): https://www.ekkolapto.org/
ekkólapto Events: https://lu.ma/calendar/cal-GqNtzHBC2j8ARjb
Curt Jaimungal’s presentation at Polymath: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCkMyjzQDeg
Will Hahn on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr4R7eh5f_M
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:45 The Role of Bioelectricity in Medicine
7:00 Multi-Scale Problem Solving
7:55 The Intelligence of Development
11:41 Decoding Electrical Memories
12:29 The Power of Bioelectric Signals
13:20 Rewiring Cellular Communication
15:29 Cancer and Cellular Networks
16:30 Birth Defects and Bioelectricity
18:28 Regeneration and Bioelectric Pathways
22:50 Inducing Novel Organs
25:35 The Future of Medicine
26:24 Audience Interaction and Questions
31:34 The Future of Bioelectricity
38:55 Integrating Bioelectricity with Evolution
44:17 Preventative Strategies in Medicine
45:45 Closing Remarks and Resources
46:30 Conclusion
Support TOE on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs
#science #biology
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Next Episode
How AI Healthcare Will Change the World
As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe
What if you had a thousand doctors working for you 24/7, at virtually no cost? In this episode of Theories of Everything, a panel of leading AI and medical experts explores how “medical swarms” of intelligent agents could revolutionize healthcare, making personalized, concierge-level treatment accessible to all. This isn’t science fiction, it’s the near future and it will change everyone’s life.
Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com
Listen on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyTOE
Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join
Links Mentioned:
• Ekkolapto: https://www.ekkolapto.org/polymath
• Ekkolapto’s Longevity Hackathon: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy5dPSW_KkniuHpoLwlzkYcxhxn50Mn0T
• William Hahn’s lab: https://mpcrlab.com/
• Michael Levin’s presentation at ekkolapto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exdz2HKP7u0
• Gil Blander’s InsideTracker (website): https://blog.insidetracker.com/
• Dan Elton’s website: https://www.moreisdifferent.com/
• FAU’s Sandbox: https://www.fau.edu/sandbox/
• Will Hahn on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr4R7eh5f_M&t=1s
• Will Hahn’s in-person interview on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fkg0uTA3qU
• Michael Levin on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8iFtaltX-s
• Stephen Wolfram on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YRlQQw0d-4
• Neil Turok’s lecture on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gwhqmPqRl4&list=PLZ7ikzmc6zlOYgTu7P4nfjYkv3mkikyBa&index=13
• Robin Hanson on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEomfUU4PDs
• Tyler Goldstein (YouTube): http://www.youtube.com/@theoryofeveryone GO TO THIS MAN'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL. HE HELPED WITH THE CAMERA WORK IMPROMPTU AND ALSO HAS A FANTASTIC CHANNEL ANALYZING THEORIES. THANK YOU, TYLER!
• Joscha Bach on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MNBxfrmfmI
• Manolis Kellis on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g56lxZwnaqg
• Geoffrey Hinton on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_DUft-BdIE
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
4:43 A New Approach to Healthcare
5:33 AI in Medical Imaging
7:40 Cognitive Models
11:09 Education in Medicine
23:02 Exploring the Boundaries of AI
32:04 The Future of AI in Medicine
37:20 Swarming Agents
41:49 The Ethics of AI in Healthcare
45:17 AI into Clinical Practice
55:58 Preparing for an AI-Driven Future
1:15:03 The Human Element in Medicine
1:17:19 Emotional Intelligence in AI
1:20:11 Unified Theory in Medicine
1:21:31 Conclusion
Support TOE on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs
#science
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