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

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