Michio Kaku: Why we don’t even rank on the Kardashev scale

Michio Kaku: Why we don’t even rank on the Kardashev scale

September 04, 2025 • 11m 35s View Original ↗Big Think ↗

"We're stuck at type zero. But what would it take to move between universes? What would it take to enter a black hole? What would it take to break the light barrier?" Subscribe to Big Think on YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvQECJukTDE2i6aCoMnS-Vg?sub_confirmation=1 Up next, Michio Kaku: This could finally solve Einstein's unfinished equation | Full Interview ► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYgJkTL5MRg If alien life exists, how would we even recognize it? Physicist Michio Kaku argues that our search for intelligence beyond Earth forces us to question the assumptions behind our own definition of “intelligent.” Our current criteria for intelligence might be too narrow. Here’s what that means for the search for extraterrestrial life. Read the video transcript ► https://bigthink.com/series/the-big-think-interview/michio-kaku-kardashev/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Go Deeper with Big Think: ►Become a Big Think Member Get exclusive content, early, ad-free access to new releases, and more. https://www.youtube.com/@bigthink/membership/ ►Subscribe to Big Think on Substack Explore content that enlightens, inspires, and transforms. https://bigthinkmedia.substack.com/subscribe/ ►Get Big Think+ for Business Engage learners like never before with high-impact video microlearning from the biggest thinkers in the world. https://bigthink.com/plus/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Dr. Michio Kaku: Dr. Michio Kaku is the co-founder of string field theory, and is one of the most widely recognized scientists in the world today. He has written 4 New York Times Best Sellers, is the science correspondent for CBS This Morning and has hosted numerous science specials for BBC-TV, the Discovery/Science Channel. His radio show broadcasts to 100 radio stations every week. Dr. Kaku holds the Henry Semat Chair and Professorship in theoretical physics at the City College of New York (CUNY), where he has taught for over 25 years. He has also been a visiting professor at the Institute for Advanced Study as well as New York University (NYU)

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