Isaac Arthur

Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur

Science EN ↓ 1224 episodes

Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur explores humanity’s long-term future through space exploration, advanced technology, and big-picture science. Hosted by National Space Society President Isaac Arthur, each episode uses real science and careful speculation to examine space colonization, megastructures, artificial intelligence, post-scarcity economies, and the physics shaping civilization beyond Earth.

Author

Isaac Arthur

Category

Science

Podcast website

art19.com

Latest episode

Jul 9, 2026

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Episodes

Spaceplanes 30.05.2019

Spaceplanes long seemed like the logical next step for getting into orbit after the Space Shuttle, but have seemingly fallen to the wayside in recent years in favor of reusable rockets. But the future may see a return of spaceplanes, and we'll look at some of the more promising designs like Skylon. Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/V4BQvD_QJwM Get a free month of Curiosity Stream: http://c...

Colonizing Black Holes (Narration Only) 23.05.2019

Black Holes are amongst the most destructive things in the Universe, but it may be that properly utilized, they might be the best places in the galaxy to live around in the future, and possibly right here in our own solar system too. Check out the Paperclip Maximizer: https://watchnebula.com/isaacarthur Visit our sponsor, Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/IsaacArthur/ Visit our Website: http://www....

Colonizing Black Holes 23.05.2019

Black Holes are amongst the most destructive things in the Universe, but it may be that properly utilized, they might be the best places in the galaxy to live around in the future, and possibly right here in our own solar system too. Check out the Paperclip Maximizer: https://watchnebula.com/isaacarthur Visit our sponsor, Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/IsaacArthur/ Visit our Website: http://www....

Fleet Of Stars 16.05.2019

Interstellar travel is very time consuming, moving from star to star, but perhaps we could use stars themselves as spaceships, and move whole solar systems or even galaxies. Today we'll look at how to use Shkadov Thrusters, novas, supernovae, black holes and quasars to move through space, literal starships. Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/GxwCIeWaU3M Start listening with a 30-day Audible...

Fleet Of Stars (Narration Only) 16.05.2019

Interstellar travel is very time consuming, moving from star to star, but perhaps we could use stars themselves as spaceships, and move whole solar systems or even galaxies. Today we'll look at how to use Shkadov Thrusters, novas, supernovae, black holes and quasars to move through space, literal starships. Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/GxwCIeWaU3M Start listening with a 30-day Audible...

Sky Platforms (Narration Only) 09.05.2019

The option of using floating platforms, balloons, or cargo air planes to launch rockets into space and save fuel is often discussed but rarely employed. Today we'll look at stratostations, rockoons, and other suggested methods for getting into space using these methods. Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/5wKOOsY9xOY Visit our sponsor, Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/IsaacArthur/ Visit our...

Sky Platforms 09.05.2019

The option of using floating platforms, balloons, or cargo air planes to launch rockets into space and save fuel is often discussed but rarely employed. Today we'll look at stratostations, rockoons, and other suggested methods for getting into space using these methods. Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/5wKOOsY9xOY Visit our sponsor, Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/IsaacArthur/ Visit our...

Black Hole Ships 02.05.2019

Black Holes are often considered the greatest dangers to spaceships in science fiction, but they may turn out to be the perfect power source for future spaceships. Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/oAocMzxPjjo Sign up with Skillshare for 2 months of Free classes: https://skl.sh/isaacarthur10 Check out PBS Spacetime's episode on Hawking Radiation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPKj0YnKANw...

Black Hole Ships (Narration Only) 02.05.2019

Black Holes are often considered the greatest dangers to spaceships in science fiction, but they may turn out to be the perfect power source for future spaceships. Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/oAocMzxPjjo Sign up with Skillshare for 2 months of Free classes: https://skl.sh/isaacarthur10 Check out PBS Spacetime's episode on Hawking Radiation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPKj0YnKANw...

Post-Apocalyptic Civilizations 27.04.2019

The End of the World is a popular topic in science fiction and a source of serious worry for modern civilizations. If Doomsday comes, what can a Prepper do to survive and what would those civilizations look like? How long would recovery take and what technologies would remain? Just how grim is such a possible future? Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/QWmEgu1iP_E Try Dashlane here: https://...

Post Apocalyptic Civilizations (Narration Only) 27.04.2019

The End of the World is a popular topic in science fiction and a source of serious worry for modern civilizations. If Doomsday comes, what can a Prepper do to survive and what would those civilizations look like? How long would recovery take and what technologies would remain? Just how grim is such a possible future? Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/QWmEgu1iP_E Try Dashlane here: https://...

Matrioskha Worlds 25.04.2019

The galaxy contains countless billions of planets we might colonize, and we may build far more living area as space station habitats and megastructures, but Earth will always be unique and living here prized. Today we will see what we can do make Earth larger, by adding many layers of terrain in concentric spheres around us. Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/Tul4njD6uP4 Visit our sponsor,...

Matrioskha Worlds (Narration Only) 25.04.2019

The galaxy contains countless billions of planets we might colonize, and we may build far more living area as space station habitats and megastructures, but Earth will always be unique and living here prized. Today we will see what we can do make Earth larger, by adding many layers of terrain in concentric spheres around us. Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/Tul4njD6uP4 Visit our sponsor,...

Giant Robots 18.04.2019

Giant Robots & Power Suits Giant Robots, or Mecha, in films and comic books fascinate audiences, but are usually considered impractical even with improved technology in the future. Today we'll look at them and concepts like power armor and exoskeletons and see if such suits might have a practical role in warfare or uses other than combat. Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/7ZlLtfQik1c Start...

Giant Robots (Narration Only) 18.04.2019

Giant Robots & Power Suits Giant Robots, or Mecha, in films and comic books fascinate audiences, but are usually considered impractical even with improved technology in the future. Today we'll look at them and concepts like power armor and exoskeletons and see if such suits might have a practical role in warfare or uses other than combat. Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/7ZlLtfQik1c Start...

Future Pets 11.04.2019

To celebrate International Pet Day, we'll take a look at what the future might have in store for our furry friends, and what sorts of new pet might emerge as technology improves. Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/P4T08yRKaA0 Visit our sponsor, Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/IsaacArthur/ Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArth...

Future Pets (Narration Only) 11.04.2019

To celebrate International Pet Day, we'll take a look at what the future might have in store for our furry friends, and what sorts of new pet might emerge as technology improves. Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/P4T08yRKaA0 Visit our sponsor, Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/IsaacArthur/ Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArth...

Anti-Gravity 07.04.2019

Perhaps one of the most common technologies seen in science fiction is anti-gravity and gravity manipulation. Today we'll examine if there's an scientific pathways in physics to permit such technology, and what sort of amazing options it might offer if developed in the future. Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/QUqCJrBqcvQ Get a free month of Curiosity Stream: http://curiositystream.com/isa...

Anti-Gravity (Narration Only) 07.04.2019

Perhaps one of the most common technologies seen in science fiction is anti-gravity and gravity manipulation. Today we'll examine if there's an scientific pathways in physics to permit such technology, and what sort of amazing options it might offer if developed in the future. Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/QUqCJrBqcvQ Get a free month of Curiosity Stream: http://curiositystream.com/isa...

Techno-Primitivism 04.04.2019

Fears about technology and it's impact on our civilization, or on individuals even when new tech is net benefit, are often shown to us in fiction as giving rise to technophobic cultures that abandon science. Today we'll take a look at such concerns and if they might be common or rare, rogue examples. Or if, counter-intuitively, they benefit us in settling the galaxy in the future. Watch the video...

Techno-Primitivism (Narration Only) 04.04.2019

Fears about technology and it's impact on our civilization, or on individuals even when new tech is net benefit, are often shown to us in fiction as giving rise to technophobic cultures that abandon science. Today we'll take a look at such concerns and if they might be common or rare, rogue examples. Or if, counter-intuitively, they benefit us in settling the galaxy in the future. Watch the video...

Planet Ships 28.03.2019

Earth has often been compared to a spaceship, one that's successfully orbited our star and the galaxy many times over billions of years. So what about moving our planet or even converting it or another world into a spaceship? Can we use entire planets to cross the intergalactic void to settle planets in distant galaxies or superclusters? And what sort of engine and drive could move a whole planet?...

Planet Ships (Narration Only) 28.03.2019

Earth has often been compared to a spaceship, one that's successfully orbited our star and the galaxy many times over billions of years. So what about moving our planet or even converting it or another world into a spaceship? Can we use entire planets to cross the intergalactic void to settle planets in distant galaxies or superclusters? And what sort of engine and drive could move a whole planet?...

Dying Stars 21.03.2019

One of the biggest reasons for colonizing other worlds is to ensure we don't die with our own sun, but even those alien suns we might travel to will die one day. And yet, our image of stars living than erupting spectacular as a red giant or supernova, present a somewhat false impression, as those stellar remnants often last far longer than the stars which bore them. Could civilizations survive aro...

Dying Stars (Narration Only) 21.03.2019

One of the biggest reasons for colonizing other worlds is to ensure we don't die with our own sun, but even those alien suns we might travel to will die one day. And yet, our image of stars living than erupting spectacular as a red giant or supernova, present a somewhat false impression, as those stellar remnants often last far longer than the stars which bore them. Could civilizations survive aro...

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