New Origin of Life Research Shows Alien Life may be Common with Dr. Steven Benner

New Origin of Life Research Shows Alien Life may be Common with Dr. Steven Benner

Author: John Michael Godier August 31, 2026 Duration: 1:03:04

A breakthrough in RNA research has been found, life may be far easier to get started than we previously thought possible.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/ast.2022.0027Steven Benner heads the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, which he founded after serving on faculty at Harvard, ETH Zurich, and University of Florida. His research combines two traditions in science, one from natural history, the other from the physical sciences. His laboratory has been a leader in the field of synthetic biology, where it has redesigned DNA to better understand how these molecules work, generate new classes of diagnostics tools, and to open new avenues to disease therapy. Separately, he also created the field of paleogenetics, his work also guides NASA missions to search for alien life and how life originated. His most recent book is: "Life, the Universe, and the Scientific Method."


Curiosity about the cosmos often starts with a simple question, and that's where John Michael Godier's Event Horizon finds its rhythm. Hosted by author and futurist John Michael Godier, this podcast delves into the profound and the perplexing at the edges of our understanding. Each episode builds a narrative, weaving together discussions on astronomy, astrophysics, and the latest space science news with broader themes of technology, history, and futurism. The conversations are grounded by special guests who bring expertise and diverse perspectives, turning complex ideas into engaging explorations. You'll find the dialogue moves from the concrete details of scientific discovery to the speculative implications for our future, all with a thoughtful and accessible tone. This isn't just a recap of headlines; it's a deep dive into the context and consequences of what we're learning about the universe. For anyone who looks up at the night sky and wonders about black holes, the potential for life elsewhere, or where our technology might take us next, this podcast offers a compelling space to linger on those big ideas. The production emphasizes clarity and depth, making even the most daunting topics feel within reach. Tune in for a regular journey to the frontiers of science and human thought.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

John Michael Godier's Event Horizon
Podcast Episodes
JMG - Proxima Centauri B: Our Future Home? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:53
Coverage of the newly discovered exoplanet in orbit of Proxima Centauri.Light Awash by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Source: http://inco…
Could There Be Alien Artifacts Orbiting Us? With Dr. Avi Loeb [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:53
In this interview with Dr. Avi Loeb the Frank B. Baird, Jr., Professor of Science and astrophysicist at Harvard University, he announces the Galileo Project. The Galileo Project is a transparent scientific project to adv…
Can We Find Intelligent Life? With Dr. Jill Tarter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:59
Do intelligent aliens exist? Can we find intelligent life? Will we know it if we find alien life?Dr. Jill Tarter served as Project Scientist for NASA’s SETI program. Most people are now familiar with her work as portraye…
Are We in the Middle of a New Space Race? With Matt Williams [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:09
Thanks to Keeps for sponsoring this video! Head to https://keeps.com/eventhorizon to get 50% off your first order of hair loss treatment!With Jeff Bezos going into Space next month on the first crewed Blue Origin launch.…
Aliens, Cosmic Strings, and the God Equation with Michio Kaku [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:41
Michio Kaku, one of the co-founders of string theory, has been working towards finding the god equation. A one inch symmetrical equation that explains the universe and everything in it. From that we will know if there is…