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
10 Ways Aliens Could Kill Us All [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:43
An exploration into ten theoretically possible ways an alien civilization could destroy earth. Dark Fog by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)…
Into the Impossible with Dr. Brian Keating [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:24
What if we find intelligent life tomorrow? What can you learn from Nobel Prize winners?John is joined by Dr. Brian Keating to discuss his new book Into the Impossible: Think Like a Nobel Prize Winner: Lessons from Laurea…
Why the Future Will Be Weird with Isaac Arthur [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:27
Science and Futurism with Isaac Arthur is a YouTube channel which focuses on exploring the depths of concepts in science and futurism. Since its first episode in 2014, SFIA has considered topics ranging from the seemingl…
Why Planet 9 May Not Exist with Kevin Napier [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:36
Mike Brown and Konstantin Batygin wrote the Planet Nine hypothesis paper in 2019. Since then, there has been a concerted effort to find the mysterious planet 9. Last month, Kevin Napier, a PHd candidate from the Universi…
Why Are We Alone? Fermi Paradox Solutions With Author Trevor Williams [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:05
Fermi Paradox solutions. Could we be surrounded by intelligent life and not know it? The Zoo Hypothesis is one possible solution to the fermi paradox where we are kept from knowing that aliens exist by alien civilization…
Where Did the Laws of the Universe Come From? With Paul Davies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:54
Where Did the Laws of Physics Come From?Why is the universe just right for life?Paul Davies joins John Michael Godier to discuss why the universe seems to be fine-tuned for life. How did the universe begin and how will i…