
Do aliens exist? I asked an astrophysicist.
From Reasonably Optimistic by The Washington Post
June 10, 2026 · 37 min
About this episode
Megan McArdle discusses the complexities of the search for alien life with astrophysicist Adam Frank.
Are humans alone in the universe? The answer is more complicated than science fiction might suggest. Scientists have discovered billions upon billions of potentially habitable planets. But if life is possible elsewhere, why haven’t we found it? Host Megan McArdle talks with astrophysicist Adam Frank, author of “ The Little Book of Aliens .” They discuss the search for alien life, why intelligent civilizations may be harder to find than microbes and the limits of what UFOs can reveal. Subscribe to The Washington Post here .
People in this episode
Host: Megan McArdle
Guest: Adam Frank
Topics covered
- alien life
- astrophysics
- UFOs
- habitable planets
- intelligent civilizations
Keywords
- aliens
- astrophysicist
- search for life
- UFOs
- habitable planets
- intelligent civilizations
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: The Little Book of Aliens
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