Crystal Aliens: Life, But Not As We Know It (Narration Only)

Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur

Isaac Arthur

Science, Futurism, Sci Fi, Future, Scifi, Technology, Space, Engineering

4.8 • 739 Ratings

🗓️ 30 March 2025

⏱️ 23 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Crystals are not alive, yet they grow, form complex structures, and even conduct electricity. Could life emerge from crystals rather than carbon-based molecules? Eexplore the intriguing possibility of crystal-based lifeforms, the challenges they would face, and the conditions where they might thrive. We journey to five exotic worlds—Vulcan, Ribbon World, Longenacht, Telluride, and Tempest—each offering unique environments where crystalline life might take hold. Could such life develop naturally, or might humanity one day engineer it? Join us as we dive into the cutting-edge science and speculative possibilities of crystalline biology.

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Credits:

Crystal Aliens

Episode 436a; March 1, 2024

Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur

Graphics: Jeremy Jozwik, Real Courte

Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, SFIA audio listeners. In this month's Nebula exclusive, big alien theory,
0:05.2	we're asking the reason alien civilizations might be rare is because most aliens are huge.
0:10.5	To hear it and every episode early and ad-free, plus hours of bonus content,
0:15.1	check out go.nebola.tv slash Isaac Arthur and use my code, Isaac Arthur.
0:21.0	Crystals are not alive, but mimic life in many ways, including growing, and yet, on distant
0:27.6	alien planets, could life have grown, based on crystals?
0:34.1	We've discussed some alternative chemistries and solvents life might operate under besides
0:39.0	carbon and water, such as ammonia or silicon, and many others have been suggested, but
0:44.9	one popular option we see in science fiction a lot is life forms made from crystal.
0:50.9	We had the crystalline entity from Star Trek the next generation that devoured Lieutenant
0:55.3	Commander Data's home world, for instance, and many more examples in sci-fi, but crystalline life
1:01.5	represents some interesting challenges and options, so I thought it would be a fun topic for our
1:06.0	monthly Nebula exclusive.
1:08.3	We'll explore some of the ways this might be possible, then we'll take a visit to five
1:13.1	planets with five very different and harsh environments, and five very different types
1:17.9	of crystalline ecologies, Vulcan, Ribbon Ward, Longnacht, Telleride, and Tempest.
1:25.3	Now, in the past, we focused on a specific element or molecule like silicon or ammonia
1:30.8	as a substitute for the existing structure in terrestrial life, or that existing basic solvent
1:36.7	that chemistry takes place in, like water.
1:40.5	Silicon replaces carbon as a scaffold that more complex organic molecules get built around
1:45.5	because it has similar properties.
1:48.0	Ammonia replaces water as the solvent chemistry takes place in, because it's another good
	...

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