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Adam Frank

Alien Anthopocenes

The subject of our conversation is based on Adam Frank’s new book called Light of the Stars’ which outlines through scientific discover of the last 50 years that what is happening here on earth currently (often referred to as the Anthropocene) is not unique. Not only is it not unique here on earth since other living species in the past are known to have polluted the atmosphere to the point of that species own extinction (known as the Great Oxygenation about 2.4 billion years ago) but it’s also extremely likely that some form of an Anthropocene / Climate Change has occurred on other planets as well.


Adam Frank puts forward the argument that we are looking at this current shift in earth’s climate all wrong. Not simply when skeptics deny climate change existence at all but also when those of us who DO believe in it believe go on to bash humanity for our evils. It’s likely that all advanced civilizations in the universe went through this form of this adolescence. (and if you follow along with Adam Frank’s math, there were likely a mind staggering number in existence at one point or another) 

Also, think of this as a type of two-part episode. Today’s episode is astrophysics Adam Frank talking about alien athropocene’s and next week will be Chris Pak who is a scholar in speculative fiction and has written a book called Terraforming: Ecopolitical Transformations and Environmentalism in Science Fiction. Chris Pak looks at a century of Science fiction literature and how climate change, geoenginering and geopolitics have informed and played a role in our depiction of environment. These are two very different approaches and disciplines discussing a similar issue of today. But today is with Astrophysicist Adam Frank. It was great speaking with him, I really enjoyed his book. And I hope you enjoy this episode.

One final note, I mention an article in the podcast called The Color of Plants from Other Planets’. Well, I got about every form of necessary credit wrong. That’s what I get for talking off the cuff. It’s actually called The Color of Plants on other Worlds’, the article is from Scientific American NOT Nature and the authors name is Nancy Y. Kiang not Chang. 0 for 3 for credits, but I believe I gave a proper synopsis of the science. 

Adam Frank

Astrophysicist Adam Frank is a leading expert on the final stages of evolution for stars like the sun, and his computational research group at the University of Rochester has developed advanced supercomputer tools for studying how stars form and how they die. A self-described evangelist of science,” he is also committed to showing others the beauty and power of science, and exploring the proper context of science in culture.

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