Interstellar Travel - Can We Survive The Long Journey?

Interstellar travel may one day take us to the stars, but surviving the journey could be the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced. In this episode, we explore the physical, psychological, and societal trials of a voyage that could span centuries—or forever.

Watch my exclusive video Fishbowl Starships - Water As Shielding - https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-fishbowl-starships-water-as-shielding
Get Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthur
Get a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthur
Use the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.

Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net
Join Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthur
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthur
Support us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthur
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.
SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShE

Credits:
Interstellar Travel: Can We Survive The Long Journey?
Episode 724; June 12, 2025
Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur
Graphics:
Bryan Versteeg
Jarred Eagley
Jeremy Jozwik
Melanvois
Udo Schroeter
Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images
Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator
Chris Zabriskie, "Unfoldment, Revealment", "A New Day in a New Sector", "Oxygen Garden", "Wonder Cycle"
Stellardrone, "Red Giant", "Billions and Billions"

Chapters
0:00 Intro
2:03 The Brutal Reality of Time & Distance
3:12 The Tyranny of Distance
4:40 The Energy Barrier
6:12 The Time Problem
8:41The Need for a New Mindset
10:01 Human Adaptation: Can We Survive Physically?
15:52 Bigger is Better
23:36 Settler Ships or Colonial Countries?
28:52 Solutions to Survive
31:54 Final Thoughts: Can We Survive the Journey?