Sep 29, 2026 · 40 min · 11 segments
What does intelligence sound like? For decades, scientists studying whales and dolphins have uncovered remarkable evidence of sophisticated communication, social complexity, self-awareness, and…
Lori MarinoGuestBill DiamondHostWhat would you say in terms of, um, how the study of non-human intelligence, um, is relevant to and connected to SETI endeavors and astrobiology, uh, more broadly?
I think that the study of other animals is critical to SETI and astrobiology for a number of reasons.
Because if you don't understand who humans are in the context of other animals on the planet, you don't understand humans.
We, we need to be understood in the context of the, the evolution of life on this planet.
And I worry about this a little bit, that if we do find life on another planet, even if it's something that might look simple, look simple-
We really need to think about the fact that, okay, how we treat other animals on this planet is gonna be, is gonna reflect how we treat them if we find them on another planet.
... to form a real understanding of who we are, and not to bring our assumptions to the situation because they might be completely wrong.
What would you say in terms of, um, how the study of non-human intelligence, um, is relevant to and connected to SETI endeavors and astrobiology, uh, more broadly?
I think that the study of other animals is critical to SETI and astrobiology for a number of reasons.
Because if you don't understand who humans are in the context of other animals on the planet, you don't understand humans.
We, we need to be understood in the context of the, the evolution of life on this planet.
And I worry about this a little bit, that if we do find life on another planet, even if it's something that might look simple, look simple-
We really need to think about the fact that, okay, how we treat other animals on this planet is gonna be, is gonna reflect how we treat them if we find them on another planet.
... to form a real understanding of who we are, and not to bring our assumptions to the situation because they might be completely wrong.
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