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TED Radio Hour · March 13, 2026 · 49m

Curious stories of coexistence

Avi Loeb, Laurel Braitman, Philip Johns
Show Notes

This TED Radio Hour episode explores surprising examples of coexistence — from otters adapting to city life to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and the emotional interplay of misery and happiness. Evolutionary biologist Philip Johns shares insights on urban wildlife, astrophysicist Avi Loeb discusses the evidence for alien life, and author Laurel Braitman examines why hardship might be essential to understanding joy.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

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Urban Wildlife Coexistence
Evolutionary biologist Philip Johns discusses how otters have successfully adapted to living in city environments, challenging the idea that wildlife and urban spaces are incompatible.
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The Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Astrophysicist Avi Loeb explores the scientific case for the existence of intelligent alien life, and argues for a more open-minded approach to unexplained astronomical phenomena.
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Misery as a Pathway to Happiness
Author Laurel Braitman examines the idea that experiencing misery may be necessary to fully appreciate and understand happiness.
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