Setup
Are we alone? It’s an age-old quandary, and no discussion of space would be complete without addressing the possibility of life beyond Earth. Science and technology have accelerated to the point that we’re only about ten to 20 years from being able to answer the question. What does that mean to us as humans? Join an astronaut and a theoretical physicist as they ponder the possibilities. John Grunsfeld is NASA’s recently retired science chief. He famously helped repair the Hubble Telescope in orbit and was in charge during monumental NASA moments like the Mars rover Curiosity touchdown and New Horizons Mission flyby of Pluto. Lawrence Krauss is director of the Origins Project, a professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University, and author of nine books including the New York Times bestsellers A Universe from Nothing, and The Physics of Star Trek.
- 2016 Festival
- Science
- Technology
Explore More
Science

Whether expressed through systems that are easy to navigate, devices that are friendly to their users, and spaces that are pleasing to the eye, thoughtful design can break dow...

Setting audacious goals helps to redefine what is achievable in health, medicine, and science. As we deepen understanding of the human genome, unravel the mysteries of the bra...





Everywhere you look, there’s a headline about the power of artificial intelligence and how it will impact our lives in ways we have not yet imagined. From advancing medicine t...

What does the latest in neuroscience tell us about human health and consciousness? Aspen Ideas Festival speakers explore how biology is being integrated with technology in unp...

How do we sustain growth in a volatile and rapidly changing economy? What’s the best way to foster productivity and fulfillment at work? How will A.I. change the job market? C...



Can technology bolster democracy? MIT’s Deb Roy thinks so.

At the 2023 Aspen Ideas Festival, we dug into some of the most important and fascinating issues of our time, from rebuilding trust in our institutions and the promise and peri...










