Explore themes of Our Special Universe:

Fine-Tuning of the Universe?

Cover image for Is the Anthropic Principle Significant?

Here’s the claim: conditions of the universe relate to the presence of observers. Does the Anthropic Principle convey deep insights? Or thwart science? For sure, it’s...

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Is the Anthropic Principle Significant?

Episode 04

Season 19

26:48

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Cover image for What’s Fine-Tuning in Physics?

Why do the “constants of nature” — masses of subatomic particles and strengths of forces like gravity and electromagnetism — have the values they do? Does fine-tuning...

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What’s Fine-Tuning in Physics?

Episode 03

Season 19

26:48

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Cover image for What’s Fine-Tuning in Cosmology?

Here’s the claim: cosmic conditions that allow complex structures — galaxies, stars, planets, people — depend on a few “constants of nature” lying within tight...

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What’s Fine-Tuning in Cosmology?

Episode 02

Season 19

26:48

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Cover image for The Anthropic Principle: Meaning & Significance

We should expect to observe that the universe in which we live must conform to the conditions required for our presence as observers. This is the unremarkable “Weak...

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The Anthropic Principle: Meaning & Significance

Topic Series

5 videos

36:34

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Cover image for Fallacies of Fine-Tuning

What mistakes are made in the fine-tuning debate? Whether errors of fact, opinion, logic, or extrapolation, where are the pitfalls in fine-tuning? Is there really...

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Fallacies of Fine-Tuning

Topic Series

6 videos

53:46

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Cover image for Philosophy of Fine-Tuning (Part 2)

Assuming that the fine-tuning of our universe is real, what would it mean? Scientists, philosophers, even theologians weigh in, spinning the fine-tuning story to support...

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Philosophy of Fine-Tuning (Part 2)

Topic Series

4 videos

37:35

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Fine-Tuning the Universe for Life & Mind?

Cover image for Does a Fine-Tuned Universe Lead to God?

We human beings sit roughly midway between the sizes of atoms and galaxies, and both must be so perfectly structured for us to exist. It’s called...

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Does a Fine-Tuned Universe Lead to God?

Topic Series

6 videos

1:07:30

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Cover image for Must the Universe Spawn Life and Mind?

Why is our universe seemingly so conducive to life and mind? Some argue God. Some say a teleological principal drives the universe toward complexity and even consciousness....

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Must the Universe Spawn Life and Mind?

Topic Series

7 videos

55:24

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Cover image for Is the Universe Fine-Tuned for Life and Mind?

If the deep laws of the universe had been ever so slightly different human beings wouldn’t, and couldn’t, exist. All explanations of this exquisite fine-tuning,...

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Is the Universe Fine-Tuned for Life and Mind?

Topic Series

6 videos

1:06:39

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Cover image for Is Life and Mind Inevitable in the Universe?

The physical laws of our universe must be just so in order for life and mind-for us-to exist. ‘Just so’ is called ‘fine-tuning’, and it seems to...

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Is Life and Mind Inevitable in the Universe?

Topic Series

6 videos

47:23

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Cover image for Is God the Cause of a Fine-Tuned Universe?

Our universe is astounding in that the laws of physics have to be perfect beyond belief for stars and planets, and for human beings, to even exist. Does this demonstrate, if...

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Is God the Cause of a Fine-Tuned Universe?

Topic Series

6 videos

45:27

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Cover image for Is Life and Mind Inevitable in the Cosmos?

Our universe must be “just so” in order for life and mind-for us-to exist. “Just so” is called “fine-tuning,” and it cries out for...

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Is Life and Mind Inevitable in the Cosmos?

Episode 02

Season 09

26:46

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Breathtaking Universe

Cover image for What makes the Universe Fascinating?

There is so much in the universe that is astonishing, from the smallest particles to the largest galaxies. Hear the wonder and awe from the scientists who discover the...

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What makes the Universe Fascinating?

Topic Series

8 videos

1:09:50

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Cover image for Why is the Universe So Beautiful?

Why do scientists use the word beauty to describe the universe? Gaze at the universe with a knowing eye. There’s beauty on every level—simplicity and regularity, even...

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Why is the Universe So Beautiful?

Topic Series

6 videos

1:16

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Cover image for Why is the Universe so Breathtaking?

We look up and we look down and in both directions we chill with awe. We look up to the universe and envision hundreds of billions of galaxies. We look down to the atom and...

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Why is the Universe so Breathtaking?

Topic Series

6 videos

53:42

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Cover image for How does Beauty Color the Universe?

What do scientists mean when they call the laws and regularities of nature beautiful? On the largest supra-cosmic scales, and on the smallest sub-atomic scales, why do...

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How does Beauty Color the Universe?

Topic Series

5 videos

55:55

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Cover image for Why is the Universe Breathtaking?

I look up and I look down and I chill with awe. I look up to the universe and envision hundreds of billions of galaxies. I look down to the atom and imagine minuscule,...

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Why is the Universe Breathtaking?

Episode 02

Season 07

26:45

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Cover image for How does Beauty Color the Cosmos?

What do scientists mean when they call the laws and regularities of nature “beautiful”? On the largest supra-cosmic scales, and on the smallest sub-atomic scales,...

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How does Beauty Color the Cosmos?

Episode 03

Season 03

26:46

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Alien Intelligences?

Cover image for Where are All Those Aliens?

Most scientists assume that the universe must be populated with innumerable alien intelligences and civilizations—after all, there are billions of galaxies each with...

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Where are All Those Aliens?

Topic Series

10 videos

1:32:28

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Cover image for Why do We Search for Intelligent Aliens?

Why does alien intelligence hold such fascination? Can we even conceive of what they might be like? To appreciate intelligent, sentient life in the universe, right now we...

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Why do We Search for Intelligent Aliens?

Topic Series

10 videos

1:15:11

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Cover image for Why aren't Aliens Already Here?

It seems absurd in a universe with 100 billion galaxies, each with billions of stars and planets, that we are the only intelligent life. So where are all the others? This is...

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Why aren't Aliens Already Here?

Topic Series

9 videos

1:19:59

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Cover image for What Would Intelligent Aliens Mean?

Do intelligent aliens exist? Who knows? But here’s what we do know: the potential existence of intelligent aliens probes meaning and purpose in the universe. What would...

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What Would Intelligent Aliens Mean?

Topic Series

9 videos

1:15:50

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Cover image for Where are They, All Those Aliens?

Most scientists assume that the universe must be populated with innumerable alien intelligences and civilizations – after all, we humans can’t be so special. OK,...

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Where are They, All Those Aliens?

Episode 05

Season 03

26:46

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Cover image for Is the Universe Full of Life?

Two planetary scientists and an astrophysicist make the case that the search for life in other parts of our universe has been made all the more valid by two recent...

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Is the Universe Full of Life?

Roundtable

26:24

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Far Future of the Universe

Cover image for Long Evolution of the Universe

We know that the very early universe was a cauldron of immensely hot plasma gas that seemed uniform and undifferentiated, the paragon of simplicity. And yet, over time,...

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Long Evolution of the Universe

Topic Series

4 videos

33:47

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Cover image for What is the Doomsday Argument?

Have we underestimated the risks of global catastrophe and human extinction? There is an odd argument that claims to justify end-of-the-world worries with raw statistics.

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What is the Doomsday Argument?

Episode 02

Season 16

26:47

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‘Eternity’—time that goes on and on and does not end—used to be the province of philosophy, even theology, with no real evidence. But now cosmologists are...

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Alan Guth

Topic Series

5:15

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Cover image for Will the Universe Ever End?

In the far, far future, what happens to planets, stars, galaxies, black holes? What’s the ‘Big Rip’ and the ‘Big Crunch’? And if ‘multiple universes’ exist,...

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Will the Universe Ever End?

Episode 04

Season 13

26:46

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‘Eternity’—time that goes on and on and does not end—used to be the province of philosophy, even theology, with no real evidence. But now cosmologists are...

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The Physics of Eternity

Topic Series

7 videos

52:10

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Cover image for What is the Far Far Future of Humans in the Universe?

Consider humanity’s astounding progress in science during the past three hundred years. Now take a deep breath and project forward three billion years. Assuming humans...

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What is the Far Far Future of Humans in the Universe?

Topic Series

9 videos

1:21:15

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Our Special Universe

Explore themes of Our Special Universe:

Fine-Tuning of the Universe?

Is the Anthropic Principle Significant?

What’s Fine-Tuning in Physics?

What’s Fine-Tuning in Cosmology?

The Anthropic Principle: Meaning & Significance

Fallacies of Fine-Tuning

Philosophy of Fine-Tuning (Part 2)

Fine-Tuning the Universe for Life & Mind?

Does a Fine-Tuned Universe Lead to God?

Must the Universe Spawn Life and Mind?

Is the Universe Fine-Tuned for Life and Mind?

Is Life and Mind Inevitable in the Universe?

Is God the Cause of a Fine-Tuned Universe?

Is Life and Mind Inevitable in the Cosmos?

Breathtaking Universe

What makes the Universe Fascinating?

Why is the Universe So Beautiful?

Why is the Universe so Breathtaking?

How does Beauty Color the Universe?

Why is the Universe Breathtaking?

How does Beauty Color the Cosmos?

Alien Intelligences?

Where are All Those Aliens?

Why do We Search for Intelligent Aliens?

Why aren't Aliens Already Here?

What Would Intelligent Aliens Mean?

Where are They, All Those Aliens?

Is the Universe Full of Life?

Far Future of the Universe

Long Evolution of the Universe

What is the Doomsday Argument?

Alan Guth

Will the Universe Ever End?

The Physics of Eternity

What is the Far Far Future of Humans in the Universe?