How did humans come to create society? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Yuval Noah Harari, historian and author of “Sapiens” & “Unstoppable Us,” discuss our species’ ability to cooperate, the role of artificial intelligence, and more.

What empowered humans to take over the world? Learn about the role of fiction in maintaining societal order. Are we susceptible to societal collapse? Is money just a concept? We explore cryptocurrency and the role of trust in our economies. How is it that we trust strangers?

You will learn about astrophysics’ historical link to politics. Is there a way to intentionally destabilize a society? We discuss the US Constitution and its important role in the broader history of lawmaking. Find out how artificial intelligence can be biased and its potential impact on society. How has AI already radically changed our world? We also explore the state of surveillance and potential threats to our privacy.

Are science denial and rejection of history intertwined? How do we build trust in institutions? We break down why many people gravitate to charismatic fascist leaders over a large institution. Do our basic human instincts screw us over sometimes? Is peace achievable? All that, plus, a message of hope and acknowledgement of human progress.

Thanks to our Patrons James Wilson, Zachary Webb, Haris Dilberovic, and Sam McGilvery for supporting us this week.

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About StarTalk:
Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic cohosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!

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00:00 Introduction: Yuval Noah Harari
4:00 How humans took over the world
8:50 Cooperation, Money, & Fiction
18:49 Astrophysics’ link to Politics
21:48 Dangers of Artificial Intelligence
28:45 Why are people attracted to fascism?
35:20 Science & Hope