Hence The Future

Ep. 113 - The Silurian Hypothesis

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Are we the first advanced civilization on earth? 🧐

In this episode, Mattimore explores a thought experiment known as the Silurian Hypothesis. The Silurian Hypothesis seeks to answer a seemingly obvious question: Are we the first advanced civilization on earth? How do we know?

Topics Discussed:

  • What is the Silurian Hypothesis?
  • Why this thought experiment is useful
  • Defining “advanced civilization”
  • Looking back through earth’s history
  • The development of hominid species
  • Pre-hominid boom and bust cycles
  • The 6 mass extinction events
  • Limitations to seeing into the past
  • Traces of civilization that survive longest
  • The archaeological method
  • Plate tectonics, weather, entropy
  • Conditions needed for fossilization
  • What makes PETM especially interesting
  • Assessing the Silurian hypothesis
  • References in ancient history
  • The search for exoplanets

    • Future Scenarios:

    • Worst cast scenario
    • Best case scenario
    • Most likely scenario

      • Thanks for tuning in 🔭

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      • YouTube: youtube.com/c/HenceTheFuturePodcast
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        Hence The FutureBy Mattimore Cronin
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