How Would Aliens Behave?

Forget tentacles—what matters is the mind. We explore how alien behavior might emerge from evolution, culture, and technology, and why our biggest first contact risk may be misunderstanding.

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Credits:
How Would Aliens Behave?
July 13, 2025; Episode 732
Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur
Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images
Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator
Stellardrone, "Red Giant"
Chapters
0:00 Intro - Alien Expectations vs. Reality
4:04 The Evolutionary Roots of Alien Behavior
8:19 From Common Ground to Alien Paths: Divergent Behaviors
13:19 First Contact: Communication & Misunderstanding
20:11 Alien Morality: Do They Even Have Ethics?
26:04 Alien Minds, Human Limits: The Final Reflection