The Voyager Record with Timothy Ferris

[@EventHorizonShow]

What would you have put on the Voyager Golden Record? Also of note: Timothy Ferris has made three documentary films, all of which premiered in prime time on PBS-The Creation of the Universe, Life Beyond Earth, and Seeing in the Dark. Ferris produced the Voyager phonograph record, an artifact of human civilization containing music, sounds of Earth and encoded photographs launched aboard the twin Voyager interstellar spacecraft now exiting the solar system. Ferris has received the American Institute of Physics prize and a Guggenheim Fellowship. A Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Professor Ferris has taught in five disciplines-astronomy, English, history, journalism, and philosophy-at four universities. He is currently an emeritus professor at the University of California, Berkeley

[@ZappyOh]

Sex Pistols and a Coca Cola commercial.

[@SCSuperheavy114]

The sound of a ‘75 Fleetwood trying to turn over...

[@danilorainone406]

small download of 50 u tube vids music geography sports,big city sights sounds,art,war,and a welcome video with erin and jean michel

[@stricknine6130]

The Man Who Sold The World by David Bowie and The Ecstacy of Gold from The Good The Bad and The Ugly.

[@jasonmoyer6770]

A live version of “Highwayman” and something unique to my home state of Florida (I would let anthropologists decide that). After all, it’s where our journey to the stars originated.

[@BlackWolf6420]

Can we all take a moment and appreciate fantastic interviewing skills of John Michael? Asks well through through questions, listens to his guests without interrupting, possesses great knowledge on the subject. Heaven ☺️💪🏻

[@marcosousa4029]

The non interrupting aspect is underrated!! It so much more pleasant! It really annoys me whenener people keep interrupting themselves. This show is a gift for the mankind!

[@gerardpavlovich6594]

The first time I came across him on KZbin this is exactly what grabbed me about this show. He is basically the perfect interviewer.

[@justinakers3196]

Some of the best content on KZbin. Minimal ads, quality music and graphics, I’ve been with you for about five years now, John, and it’s truly been a privilege to watch your content blossom. Thank you for what you do.

[@bipolarminddroppings]

Blind Willie Johnson died penniless but his music has left the solar system. As a musician myself, and an avid physics nut, thats one of the coolest things I know of.

[@tyguy65]

me hee he obviously means physically left

[@MarkoLomovic]

@me hee Yes it is in any sense

[@tyguy65]

if you dont know what hes talking about ur on the wrong channel

[@davidgiles1176]

@me hee so if you say that, you would also say that light is not a physical thing. Let's even Dark matter.

[@grayaj23]

When you think about it, that's monumental (pun intended). It's kind of sad to think that once upon a time, a king of Egypt thought building a stack of rocks in the desert would last forever -- this is (IMO) the meaning of Shelley's poem Ozymandias. "Look upon my works, ye mighty, and despair". What were once the greatest architectural works of all of humanity for thousands of years is now a crumbling pile of rubble dedicated to a king we know almost nothing about (save that he's the one who stacked rocks that high). The gold record on Voyager is also temporary -- but it will last for millions of years and will still contain recoverable fragments of its original message. Willie Johnson beats Cheops and Rameses II for the durability of their legacy.

[@txrwauy]

I think that the Voyager record was a great thought experiment - even if it is never picked up by an Alien civilisation, planning out how to put a message in a bottle like the Voyager record makes us think about how we could show off the better things that we are capable of.

[@justsmashing4628]

If the record was playing Motörhead voyager would travel faster...

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

Just Smashing No one can hear your scream in the vacuum of space, because sound won't carry over the Ace of Spades!

[@justsmashing4628]

XtreeM FaiL a vacuum is no barrier to Lemmy’s voice, activate the Overkill warp drive 🚀

[@marcusianparrish]

Highway Star by Deep Purple gets it done

[@justsmashing4628]

Marcus Parrish :) touché...although Rush’s Cygnus X1 seems to know where it’s going...

[@justsmashing4628]

Charles Yuditsky rainbows stargazer might work?

[@LegItLouis]

I've not been this excited about a video since the WOW signal episode last December. This is without a doubt one of the best channels on KZbin!

[@vonwux]

There's going to be some disappointed aliens one day when they turn up looking for more Bach only to find we've all moved on to dubstep.

[@EventHorizonShow]

They’d rightfully shun us.

[@snook.1]

Yeah dubstep was popular about 8-5 years ago, the correct genre would be mumble rap.

[@Lozwave]

@@EventHorizonShow or perhaps they show us their dubstep ! xD haha

[@nssherlock4547]

@@Lozwave Or their version of Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, everyday i'm shuffling, Or a galactic gangnam style.

[@mybrothercomes1088]

We're listening to vaporwave now.

[@MrKeenanrutledge]

Your ending was awesome man. As a person who watches till the end...I appreciate the humor my friend. Love your work.

[@woodenpints]

Ferris is an incredibly thoughtful person. Fantastic to listen to.

[@78tag]

...until he exposed his political bias. Typical Berkley.

[@TimothyFerris1687]

@@78tag 'Liberal democracy' is the term of art for democracies that observe human rights. It applies to the US, the EU, Japan etc. It has nothing to do with political bias.

[@ClannCholmain]

I’d just like to mention as an Irishman, the conflict was almost entirely in Northern Ireland and between Irish nationals who ultimately wanted a united Ireland and descendants of British settlers who were unionists. Otherwise, one of my favourite and relaxing episodes. Great work.

[@robrtsparkman9362]

Coming of age in the milky way is one of my all time favorite books. Thanks!!!!!!

[@bimblinghill]

Another great interview! I like the wide-ranging questions.

[@sevens3]

Humans' first contact with extraterrestrial life...turns out to be spam mail from the galactic Internet o_0

[@EventHorizonShow]

Promising FTL if we send them a gas giant?

[@deddbebbb5196]

@@EventHorizonShow as e-mailed from a Prince in Alpha Centauri B?....for a nominal fee

[@andreasimon2752]

@@EventHorizonShow 😂 This for real made me laugh out loud! Love you JMG

[@milohobo9186]

Or a phishing scam, "Our alpha centauri prince will forward you 1 million galactic credit if you send us your routing information. "

[@kylekissack4633]

I really hope someone..or something finds the record one day and is just completely baffled and chucks it on a shelf..just for one day accidently discovering it's true meaning..

[@ominous-omnipresent-they]

If anything, we'd inevitably catch up to it and fit it with some kind of beacon so it isn't just some dead brick aimlessly wandering the galaxy. Hell, why stop there? May as well increase its speed while we're at it. Though, even if it were transmitting a signal once every year or so, the chances of it being discovered by another intelligence are virtually zero.

[@78tag]

@@ominous-omnipresent-they - when they do find it they will probably just say "beam me up Scotty, there is no intelligent life here" and use the disc as a frisbee.

[@G274Me]

I think this is my favorite guest that you’ve had since I’ve been listening

[@smallsherpa2222]

Been waiting all week!! My favourite time of the week has arrived 😁 I absolutely love your channel dude, keep up the excellent work ❤️

[@jeffdunnell508]

The woman who built the central communication and analytics control modules for both voyager1 and voyager2 passed away 8/17/2020, may her accomplishments travel the cosmos forever

[@buddhamack1491]

I always feel like these introductions for the guests sound like they're from a dating game show from the 80's or 90's.

[@stevencoardvenice]

Singled Out

[@editorrbr2107]

This was one of the most thoughtful, fascinating chats you’ve hosted, John. I really appreciated it.

[@andyreznick]

Mr Ferris you are the kind of deep thinker I've always wanted to but never will be. Thanks for your time, sir and thanks John for having him on.

[@hoyboys1000]

One million years from now it will still be traveling through outer space - quickly - silently - alone - undiscovered.

[@deathsheadknight2137]

me to

[@esquilax5563]

I reckon we'll go grab it and stick it in a museum within the next 10k years

[@jondoc7525]

Comets wander for billions . If it doesn’t get hit by something or enter a Jupiter etc and break up someone’s will find It.

[@justinwinter4908]

Wow, this is by far my favorite, in my opinion, your best, episode. Very surprising and interesting. Timothy Ferris was an unexpected, complex treat. Thank-you

[@kairon156]

I've known about this disk most of my life and it's amazing to hear from someone who worked on it. The visual of the Voyager probes leaving the solar system is amazing to watch as well.

[@christopherlyons7613]

Awesome interview. Interesting to hear Tim's thoughts on science, space, astronomy and music.

[@johndehaan2764]

This is one of the most deeply profound interviews I have ever heard. Truly if Contact was established this interview would be a Genisis about how and why scientific reason purposes itself for such ourcomes.

[@otohikoamv]

Yes, it's that time of the week! :) I've only just started the episode - but one thing about the Voyagers that's been on my mind lately is realizing how slow they actually are, in the big scheme of things! They may hold the record for now (and not just audio, but speed) - but someday, they're destined to end up somewhere near the bottom of the list of man-made interstellar objects by speed. I'm really starting to lean towards the idea that these are going to be not so much messages to others - but a time capsule for our own civilization in the future. I think recovering or at least visiting one of the Voyagers will be a very symbolically important landmark for humanity's outward progress someday!

[@TraditionalAnglican]

otohikoamv - We’ll probably will catch up to the Voyagers just as they get into the middle of the Oort Cloud (about 2250 AD). Talk about a “Time Capsule”! voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status/ solarsystem.nasa.gov/solar-system/oort-cloud/overview/

[@katastrofskyy]

Hey John, greetings from far away! First of all I LOVE the work u do and this podcast. Just one thing if i may 🙂 *Sound* . I usually listen to this (like quite a few others probably) before bed. Intro music is too loud in my opinion. Also, like in this episode, your mic sound is quite a bit louder than guest's. It would be more enjoyable to listen if whole video's sound level would pretty much be the same. Amazing work once again, best of luck in the future 👍

[@reallyryan_]

That's one epic thumbnail :o can't wait to get into this one! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

[@brianpetersen3429]

An excellent interview.

[@chianasgeek6730]

Somewhere I have an audio cassette with a recording from BBC Radio, 'Music from a Small Planet', about the making of the Voyager record. In it, Carl Sagan relates asking a musicologist what single thing he would send to the stars, for posterity. The musicologist unhesitatingly replies: "The complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach." Then Sagan says that after a brief pause, the addition comes: "But, *that* would be boasting!"

[@Frosttymofo92]

Does anyone else have the best sleep on Thursdays because of this show?

[@JohnMichaelGodier]

I do. Once the episode is out, it's chill time.

[@78tag]

Frostty - that's funny. I woke up and had to start it over again about midway through. I did get through it just to have to listen to him start his Berkley views on society and the state of the sciences. What a bunch of BS.

[@LODIN]

@@JohnMichaelGodier I feel like the public should have a say in this action. Its foolish to send a menu to potential hostile or hungry creatures... an invitation like that was foolish and shortsighted.

[@grayaj23]

Great interview! I'll be looking Ferris' other work up -- he sounds like a reasoned thinker.

[@srb20012001]

Read "The Whole Shebang".

[@78tag]

Go looking for him having a sit down with his liberal buddies at Berkley in deep discussion with the DNC.

[@mayoite160]

1. a bit rich that one of the creators of the Voyager Record is of the view that we shouldn't be broadcasting our location to the entire galaxy 2. also a bit rich that he still thinks of the current NYT as being an impartial source of news

[@78tag]

This guy is your typical, self-important blowhard. First, he contradicted himself, then he praised the worst, most corrupt publication on the planet. Any problem getting that he is a Berkley professor? I thought I was the only one here that spotted the rat in the woodpile!

[@user-hu3iy9gz5j]

Relax, he's just a bit naive

[@PatriciaOConnorBonsaiBalcony]

How awesome, this guest was to hear. Thank you.-P@

[@patrickmcabee123]

H E Y.....! This was one of the best episodes on your list😁. Surprised it slipped past till now. Thank you for your work, always a pleasure 👍🏼

[@stricknine6130]

I love Bowie! The space LeBaron needs to happen! Thanks for the episode Event Horizon is the best thing about Thursdays.

[@necrosunderground]

*Alien civilization intercepting Voyager* "These people are sending us nudes and a mixtape on a gold disc. They're either drunk, or really fun. Hey, Glorthag, play that Chuck Berry tune again." I tease, I tease. Honestly, I think music would be a fantastic first introduction, assuming that any civilization that intercepts it is able to appreciate it as it is

[@martinaakervik]

Integrering guy... colorfull interview... Philosopical feel.. Did't feel moder'n, but not old and forgotten nether. Timless. Love it.

[@AndrewBlucher]

If I was designing a "Solar System Probe" it wouldn't orbit in the ecliptic.

[@sighfly2928]

Lol for a second I thought this was the other Tim Ferris (The Four Hour Work Week)

[@JanBruunAndersen]

Just imagine receiving a "video recording from the area known to you humans as Galilee from around 2020 of your years ago".

[@darthfakington2227]

Another good informative episode. Thanks John. Wasn't so keen on his politics discussion as it's not what I listen for, but the science stuff was great.

[@adamc6371]

Same, I actually laughed when he said we should trust whatever the NYTimes says as a “verified source” because they certainly aren’t “profit motivated or agenda driven”... while just 2 days ago they endorsed a certain political candidate and you expect me to assume what they report will be unbiased? Get bent, the media dinosaur age is over, people are now majority if not exclusively consuming information through decentralized and small creators like this one we’re listening to.

[@zapfanzapfan]

Very good and interesting interview. I've seen Life Beyond Earth and Seeing in the Dark, excellent programs. Ok, I'm off to look for the released record now! :-)

[@barryosbourne2581]

Awesome! This was great. The rock & roll talk was very much appreciated

[@BaseDeltaZero1972]

Awesome guest! Great episode.

[@brownwhale5518]

I, as a form most beautiful, cast my vote for the song ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ by Nightwish. WE WERE HERE!!!

[@dennisnicholson952]

I have your book, Mr. Ferris; Coming of Age in the Milky Way!

[@EventHorizonShow]

Fantastic book!

[@SCSuperheavy114]

V’GER seeks the creator

[@istvansipos9940]

then they are flying in the wrong directions. all the creators we've ever invented are here on Earth, in human heads

[@gagarinone]

I did not understand what V’GER was doing when I was young. Now I understand that. It's a very good thoughtful Star Trek movie.

[@78tag]

Let's hope they don't find this liberal, Berkley professor, Democrat right away. They would probably vaporize the planet.

[@mikepotter4109]

Perhaps something out there knows we are here and is sending us their version of Voyager.

[@stuartbrownlee3108]

"Trout Mask Replica" and "Hot Rats" are two things that come to mind.

[@UpcycleElectronics]

Perfect timing for a long Southern California lunch break today. This makes me wonder, is there a potential interviewee qualified to summarized the total observational capacity of present humanity, or at least for a space agency?

[@floatthecreek]

David Bowie is on the 'record' so the Aliens will have no problem figuring it out.

[@ilouse]

I’ll try for the third time not to fall asleep.. something about learning on this channel makes me sleepy.. I think it’s his voice 👍🏻

[@francelapalme471]

LOVED It! Gréât .Thank you

[@yoloswag6242]

Really big fan of Tim! I loved his book the 4 hour work week.

[@gagarinone]

"Where is everybody? Not enough time?" The answer is probably: "Does we humans try to talk with ants?"

[@78tag]

@Cannabis Dreams - Do you know they aren't sending messages? You got to admit that we don't have a good track record trying to communicate with other species on this planet. Do you think we would do any better with a different intelligence?

[@gigelchiazna_censored]

we did not found a planet with potential life, but we already have galactic internet with antivirus on it; so funny

[@bangyahead1]

Extra-terrestrials find one of the Golden records and play it 4x speed. Love Me Do comes on and they laugh their asses off.

[@dustintaber]

Great episode as always

[@DanishGSM]

If anybody find the disc, they Will not find Earth I think. There is No Up and Down in the Universe and with All that space they Will not find us. Thanks so much, great Talk.

[@LemonLadyRecords]

Carl Sagan and any of the scientists involved, were probably not quite so ignorant as that, being astrophysicists, rocket scientists, and all. The 'relative position of Earth to the brightest pulsars map' takes care of that I do believe... It won't be easy, depending where 'they' are, but Voyager's going to be in the Milky Way a long long time, which helps.

[@joethekinghawk7514]

Actually the pulsar map on the drawing will give any extraterrestrial civilization out there some clue as to where the craft came from and probably how long they have been traveling.

[@arthurwigglesby8590]

JMG is a national...no, international...NO, intergalactic treasure!

[@mikeellery3336]

We assume that an alien race would know what to do with the record, even with directions, yet we have very little idea of what cliff and cave drawings represent from our own species.

[@Sealed_Chamber]

To be fair, ancient cliff and cave drawings are a far cry from what is shown on the Voyager Golden Record.

[@mikeellery3336]

@@Sealed_Chamber The point is, is a message coming from the same species and not an alien one.

[@timsimms65707]

Thank you.

[@kevanhubbard9673]

That, those, earlier space probes have names! Pioneer 10 and 11.

[@joethekinghawk7514]

Correct

[@VOLRAK1]

Positive side: it gets found by ETs who swiftly contact and we become long distance friends and THAT question can be finally ticked off the list Negative side: 1. It gets found by ETs who swiftly contact and we become slaves. 2) it crashes into a comet, sucked into a blackhole, trapped by the pull from a lifeless planet or burnt beyond disappearance by a star 3) it gets found by intelligent lifeforms more than capable of reaching us but they simply choose to ignore us 4) it gets found by intelligent lifeforms who are nowhere near the capabilities of understanding what it is that fell from the sky over by the waterhole scaring thier lunch away.

[@brixen0623]

I wonder if the aliens are keeping track of the plays for royalty payments lol.

[@chefriz5486]

I love these shows...

[@amandaofhouserobinson6707]

JMG Would you please do a video on the heat that the voyagers experienced as they left the solar system? What is it ? Thanks 😊

[@jbtownsend9535]

Fantastic stuff.

[@MAD-SKILLZ]

I would've put images that were free of copyright so I could view all 116 of them online, instead of the 48 copyright-free ones.

[@paskinomimills3588]

Awesome , Awesome , Awesome ! I would love to meet you someday and share my input , yup .

[@MrMazza4321]

JMG ......you gotta love him 💙 🚀 🌟

[@tscoffey1]

An alien probe sitting on an asteroid would not always be “pointing out” when it sends out signals, and preventing us from detecting it for that reason. Being in orbit around the Sun, there would be periods in that orbit where the fixed point in space it is pointing to would fall across the orbit of Earth, thereby making it detectable. (Unless of course it shut down operations temporarily at that point, to prevent us from detecting it).

[@draketungsten74]

I've met Timothy Ferris, I have one of his books autographed!

[@mrloop1530]

Wauw, that's an incredible story, man!

[@draketungsten74]

@@mrloop1530 I just mean it's exciting to hear from him.

[@swankfiber5278]

Got to love an astronomy podcast that ends up talking about David Bowie 👏🖖

[@randycox2310]

Even if aliens found it and are unable to understand it they will at least know, we where here and we tried.

[@joethekinghawk7514]

That's deep.

[@rockhound3.14]

WE FUCKING LOVE YOU JOHN!!!!!!!!

[@Sadsobblei6l]

I thought this was about the show Star Trek Voyager. The show starts with an alien race Called the Nacene. Who’s favorite line is “ not enough time”

[@DanishGSM]

Thanks so much

[@cesarrodriguez8893]

perfect timing!! Mi Mi time.

[@chadj77]

Saw this and immediately clicked thinking what is Tim Ferris doing on this...they show his pic, hmmm...he got old...lol

[@Big.Ron1]

Not what I was expecting but very interesting just the same. Thank you. And I like the ending. Sell out! I nearly hit the floor laughing. Not only does she have a sexy voice, she is funny. You two do great writing. Keep up the good work!

[@damianp7313]

Haha I had to relisten to that part 😅 Yea this was an unusual episode john has a talent for getting the guests talking about what they know best

[@amangogna68]

Amazing video !

[@พฤหัสบดี-ฦ1ว]

heaven! thanks Monsieur Godier

[@justg2310]

Thank you 🤓

[@daspacechoechechoz9028]

I truly appreciate this program. Speaking (and thinking) with intelligence on all these things that occupy perhaps way too much of my monkey brain capacity is encouraging.

[@Apollyon-sz9sn]

Even with new tech, humans still put cave wall drawings on the plaque of voyager 2.

[@seanp9157]

With the speed Voyager is traveling, is there any reasonable expectation that anyone would not only be able to grab the craft, but do so in a manner that wouldnt destroy the contents (record)?

[@robmc3338]

Sure, with the Epstein drive from "The Expance" collecting Voyager would be easy, the only hard part is building an Epstein drive.....

[@buddhamack1491]

Yes, very easily. It's just a matter of matching velocities and we do it all the time with our satellites and space stations.

[@mdb1239]

Can Voyagers be reprogrammed to do a parallax measurement of some of the nearby galaxies. This is be an absolute calibration of cephid stars.

[@officialtac854]

This is much better than neil degrass tyson. U should be famous by now

[@commonsense9176]

Fascinating thanks

[@tlamore]

This so brilliant... TOP 10..

[@internetpolification]

The weird sounds in the background make all these videos tough listening

[@12201185234]

>New York Times >Accurate information Pick one

[@MrGoocherson]

Doc Watson should have been on there 😉

[@jay-kg8ke]

Wait I heard that most of the radio waves we send out start to dissipate after a few short light years? Unless they were focused beams. If that's the case noone will pick anything up from us probably.

[@HebaruSan]

I have a copy of it on CD from 1992. Was that version incomplete somehow, that the guest says "now that the record finally has been released properly"?

[@TimothyFerris1687]

I think it's complete, but it was improperly mastered so there are some sound-quality issues.

[@robmc3338]

First contact, the galactic empire brings a copyright infringement against Earth because one of the tracks sounds a bit like something published by their musicians....

[@xenokarasu]

I find the idea of an Encyclopedia Gallactica fascinating, does anyone know of a work of fiction with that concept at its core?