Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

• Answering Your Cosmic Questions: The Multiverse, the Big Bang and Life on Exoplanets

  Please join my mailing list here 👉 ⁠https://briankeating.com/list⁠ to win a meteorite 💥 In this electrifying episode, recorded live at UC San Diego, Brian pulls back the cosmic curtain to explore some of the deepest mysteries in science—and what they might mean for our understanding of everything. You'll learn how scientists use the mysterious property of light called polarization to uncover secrets from the dawn of the universe, chase evidence for the Big Bang, and even perform your own light experiment along the way. The conversation ventures into the origins of our universe, the search for other forms of life, and the tantalizing possibility that our universe might be just one among countless others in a sprawling multiverse. But it doesn't stop at science. Brian and his audience wrestle with the blurry boundaries where facts confront faith: Can scientific discovery ever answer the big metaphysical questions, such as the existence of God or consciousness after death? What does the intersection of cosmology and religion tell us about our place in reality? With detours into modern cosmological theories, debates about inflation, the search for life on other planets, and even the role AI might play in future discoveries, this episode keeps curious minds on their toes. - 00:00 "Polarization: Unlocking Cosmic Secrets" 04:36 Wave Polarization Explained 09:11 Questioning the Big Bang Singularity 10:52 Detecting Gravitational Waves' Cosmological Impact 15:39 Pope Endorses Science-Bible Alignment 18:52 Gene's Role in Evolutionary Drive 19:55 Deepak Chopra: Preparing for Death 26:03 "Universe vs. Multiverse Debate" 26:50 Debating Multiverse in Astronomy 31:39 "Geometric Social Commentary Revealed" 34:24 Extraterrestrial Life Evidence: Near Zero 36:54 "Expensive Material Suggests Earth-Mars Connection" 39:29 "AI-Powered Creativity and Research" 45:11 "Choosing Enrichment Over Leisure" 45:49 "Never Stop Learning" - Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmXH_moPhfkqCk6S3b9RWuw/join 📚 Get a copy of my books: Think Like a Nobel Prize Winner, with life changing interviews with 9 Nobel Prizewinners: ⁠https://a.co/d/03ezQFu⁠ My tell-all cosmic memoir Losing the Nobel Prize: ⁠http://amzn.to/2sa5UpA⁠ The first-ever audiobook from Galileo: Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems: Ptolemaic and Copernican ⁠https://a.co/d/iZPi9Un⁠ 📺 Watch my most popular videos:📺 Neil Turok https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt5cFLN65fI Frank Wilczek https://youtu.be/3z8RqKMQHe0?sub_confirmation=1 Eric Weinstein vs. Stephen Wolfram https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI0AZ4Y4Ip4?sub_confirmation=1 Sir Roger Penrose: https://youtu.be/AMuqyAvX7Wo Sabine Hossenfelder: https://youtu.be/g00ilS6tBvs Avi Loeb: https://youtu.be/N9lUceHsLRw - Follow me to ask questions of my guests: 🏄‍♂️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list; just click here http://briankeating.com/list ✍️ Detailed Blog posts here: https://briankeating.com/blog 🎙️ Listen on audio-only platforms: https://briankeating.com/podcast ⁠#universe⁠ ⁠#podcast⁠ ⁠#briankeating⁠ ⁠#intotheimpossible⁠ ⁠#science⁠ ⁠#astronomy⁠ ⁠#cosmology⁠ ⁠#cosmicmicrowavebackground⁠ ⁠#intotheimpossible⁠ ⁠#briankeating⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  50:01
• Should Creationism Be Taught Alongside Evolution?

  In a world increasingly shaped by science and technology, how do we determine what constitutes truth? What role does society play in shaping scientific knowledge consensus? And what are the implications for the future of research and innovation?  In this episode, I sit down with Steve Fuller, a renowned sociologist of science from the University of Warwick in the UK, for a thought-provoking conversation. Steve and I explore the deep connections between science and sociology, discussing how science can learn from sociology and vice versa. Steve challenges conventional wisdom and invites us to critically examine the complex interplay between science, society, and the pursuit of knowledge.  With a passion for exploring the philosophical underpinnings of science, he shares his insights on social epistemology, the philosophy of science, and the evolving role science should play in society, especially in an increasingly polarized world. — 🔒 Remove your personal information from the web at https://JoinDeleteMe.com/KEATING and use code KEATING for 20% off 🙌 DeleteMe international Plans: https://international.joindeleteme.com Please join my mailing list here 👉 https://briankeating.com/list to win a meteorite 💥 — Key Takeaways:  00:00:00 Intro 00:00:33 Steve’s origin story 00:04:14 Philosophy of science 00:08:47 Thomas Kuhn and the nature of scientific revolutions 00:17:23 DeleteMe 00:18:59 The Science Wars Conference and the role of social agendas 00:28:20 The Kitzmiller vs. Dover case 00:39:44 Intelligent design and peer review 00:51:55 The future of higher education 00:57:41 Scientific iconoclasm vs. conspiracy thinking 01:00:56 Outro — Additional resources:  ➡️ Learn more about Steve Fuller: ✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/ProfSteveFuller/ 💻 Website: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/staff/sfuller/ ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  🔔 YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  📝 Join my mailing list:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://briankeating.com/list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ✍️ Check out my blog:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  🎙️ Follow my podcast:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://briankeating.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  — Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to follow so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  1:07:19
• Richard Dawkins: The God Delusion: Atheism & AI

  Please join my mailing list here 👉 https://briankeating.com/list to win a meteorite 💥 In this thought-provoking installment, host Brian Keating sits down with legendary evolutionary biologist and author Richard Dawkins for an electrifying conversation that spans the wonders of science, atheism, artificial intelligence, and the tapestry of human existence. A live audience in Vancouver brings their best questions, challenging Dawkins on topics from the acceleration of evolution to the place of hope in a godless universe. Throughout, Dawkins reminds us of the beauty and privilege of being alive—and the imperative to embrace science not just as a source of practical utility, but as a thing of wonder in itself. Get ready for a lively, no-holds-barred exploration of reason, mortality, memes, and meaning with one of the most acclaimed public intellectuals of our time. - Key Takeaways: 00:00 "Dawkins: Legacy of Rationality" 10:18 "Unveiling Life's Lottery" 16:29 AI and the Turing Test Debate 19:55 Altman Teases with "Project Strawberry" 27:16 Parasites Manipulate Host Behavior 31:16 Unique Oxford Tutorial System 36:34 Improbability of Life's Uniqueness 41:45 Darwinian Sleep Theory Explained 49:13 Molecular Genetics of Aquatic Mammals 55:40 "Shifting Moral Zeitgeist" 01:00:09 "Scientific Discoveries: Nature's Script" 01:04:25 Biological vs. Personal Life Meaning 01:14:20 Gene Purpose: A Misconception 01:19:31 Beyond Selfish Genes 01:20:58 Belief vs. Faith: A Civilizational Challenge 01:30:54 "Miller's Experiment on Life's Origins" 01:37:15 Creationism vs. Evolution: Missing Link Argument 01:38:58 "Evolution's Certainty Comparable to Orbit" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmXH_moPhfkqCk6S3b9RWuw/join Get a copy of my books: Think Like a Nobel Prize Winner, with life changing interviews with 9 Nobel Prizewinners: https://a.co/03ezQFu My tell-all cosmic memoir Losing the Nobel Prize: http://amzn.to/2sa5UpA The first-ever audiobook from Galileo: Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems: Ptolemaic and Copernican https://a.co/d/iZPi9Un   📺 Watch my most popular videos:📺 Neil Turok https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt5cFLN65fI Frank Wilczek https://youtu.be/3z8RqKMQHe0?sub_confirmation=1 Eric Weinstein vs. Stephen Wolfram https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI0AZ4Y4Ip4?sub_confirmation=1 Sir Roger Penrose: https://youtu.be/AMuqyAvX7Wo Sabine Hossenfelder: https://youtu.be/g00ilS6tBvs Avi Loeb: https://youtu.be/N9lUceHsLRw   Follow me to ask questions of my guests: 🏄‍♂️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list; just click here http://briankeating.com/list ✍️ Detailed Blog posts here: https://briankeating.com/blog 🎙️ Listen on audio-only platforms: https://briankeating.com/podcast #universe #podcast #briankeating #intotheimpossible #science #astronomy #cosmology #cosmicmicrowavebackground #intotheimpossible #briankeating Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  1:43:31
• The Scientists: The Giving Valve (inspired by Richard Dawkins' Selfish Gene)

  Please join my mailing list here 👉 https://briankeating.com/list to win a meteorite 💥 In this special bonus audio essay, Brian shares personal reflections inspired by his recent experience hosting evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins on the final North American stop of Dawkins' legendary speaking tour. After a career filled with interviewing Nobel laureates and deep thinkers—from Sam Harris to Peter Thiel's Venice conferences—Brian turns inward to explore a fresh idea: the "giving valve." Drawing on Dawkins' groundbreaking work "The Selfish Gene" and the concept of genetic legacy, Brian challenges us to look beyond biology and consider what truly endures when we’re gone: our values. Is passing on knowledge or wisdom more significant than our genetic code? How do our choices, beliefs, and ethical frameworks shape the future long after our genes are forgotten? Brian blends personal anecdotes, thoughtful musings, and lessons from philosophy and faith to make a compelling case for prioritizing the transmission of meaning over mere survival.Whether you’re fascinated by science, philosophy, or what it means to leave a lasting impact, this episode sets the stage for a heartfelt conversation—and a deep dive into what really makes us human. -  Key Takeaways: 00:00 "Comparing Dawkins and Clavin Experiences" 03:45 Intellectual Gatherings Funded by Peter Thiel 07:22 Professor's Perspective: Podcasting & Preparation 11:31 "Knowledge vs. Wisdom Exploration" 16:50 Two Contrasting Adams Explained 19:11 Immortal Legacy Through Contribution 23:45 Legacy Beyond Biology 25:21 "Passing Down Our Values" -   Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmXH_moPhfkqCk6S3b9RWuw/join Get a copy of my books: Think Like a Nobel Prize Winner, with life changing interviews with 9 Nobel Prizewinners: https://a.co/d/03ezQFu My tell-all cosmic memoir Losing the Nobel Prize: http://amzn.to/2sa5UpA The first-ever audiobook from Galileo: Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems: Ptolemaic and Copernican https://a.co/d/iZPi9Un   📺 Watch my most popular videos:📺 Neil Turok https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt5cFLN65fI Frank Wilczek https://youtu.be/3z8RqKMQHe0?sub_confirmation=1 Eric Weinstein vs. Stephen Wolfram https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI0AZ4Y4Ip4?sub_confirmation=1 Sir Roger Penrose: https://youtu.be/AMuqyAvX7Wo Sabine Hossenfelder: https://youtu.be/g00ilS6tBvs Avi Loeb: https://youtu.be/N9lUceHsLRw   Follow me to ask questions of my guests: 🏄‍♂️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list; just click here http://briankeating.com/list ✍️ Detailed Blog posts here: https://briankeating.com/blog 🎙️ Listen on audio-only platforms: https://briankeating.com/podcast #universe #podcast #briankeating #intotheimpossible #science #astronomy #cosmology #cosmicmicrowavebackground #intotheimpossible #briankeating Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  29:19
• Astrobiologist Says We’ve Been Searching for Aliens the Wrong Way with Nathalie Cabrol [Ep. 495]

  Please join my mailing list here 👉 https://briankeating.com/list to win a meteorite 💥 What if alien life is everywhere, but we’ve been looking for it in all the wrong places? We assume life needs water, carbon, a warm little pond—just like Darwin said. But what if life doesn't care about what we assume to be necessary? Today, we’re joined by Dr. Nathalie Cabrol, director of the Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute. Cabrol has spent her career exploring Earth’s most extreme environments—boiling lakes that freeze at night, toxic salt flats, and places where life should be impossible. And yet, it finds a way. In this episode, we talk about the intricacies of the search for extraterrestrial life and question whether Earth might be a cosmic accident after all. We explore whether civilizations out there may stay silent on purpose—and what it would take for humanity to survive its own future, based on what we know about the deep secrets of the universe. — Key Takeaways:  00:00:00 Intro 00:01:55 What is life?  00:05:17 Exploring extreme environments  00:08:51 Agnostic biosignatures 00:13:57 Judging a book by its cover  00:17:33 The shadow biosphere 00:22:27 Errors in the search for extraterrestrial life  00:37:31 The Rare Earth Hypothesis  00:40:41 Should we stop broadcasting our location? 00:52:00 The impact of discovering extraterrestrial life  01:00:06 Are we worth saving?  01:06:46 Outro — Additional resources:  ➡️ Learn more about Nathalie Cabrol: 🛸 SETI Institute: https://www.seti.org/our-scientists/nathalie-cabrol  📚 The Secret Life of the Universe: https://a.co/d/dzdzcD9 ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  🔔 YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  📝 Join my mailing list:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://briankeating.com/list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ✍️ Check out my blog:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  🎙️ Follow my podcast:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://briankeating.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  — Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to follow so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  1:14:29

More Science podcasts

Trending Science podcasts

About Into the Impossible With Brian Keating