If humans were to encounter extraterrestrial life, how would we begin to understand it?

In this episode of Beyond the Human, we explore xenoanthropology—a theoretical extension of anthropology concerned with understanding non-human intelligences, their social systems, and their possible cultures. Rather than asking whether extraterrestrial life exists, we ask what it might be like if it does—and how humans could attempt to learn about it.

Anthropology teaches us that even among humans, ideas about communication, embodiment, medicine, gender, privacy, and social organization vary widely. Xenoanthropology pushes this insight further, asking how radically different biology, environments, and evolutionary histories might shape extraterrestrial societies in ways that challenge human expectations.

As part of this exploration, we examine contact and abductee narratives as accounts of encounters that describe recurring types of non-human beings—such as Greys, insectoids, reptilians, and so-called Nordics. These narratives are treated not simply as symbolism, but as descriptive claims that offer examples of what extraterrestrial cultures, hierarchies, technologies, and modes of interaction might look like, if such encounters are occurring. Patterns within these accounts—such as differentiated roles, apparent social stratification, telepathic communication, or collective intelligence—are used to think through how non-human societies could plausibly be organized.

Finally, we confront the ethical stakes of extraterrestrial ethnography. Anthropology’s history—including its entanglement with colonialism and military power—raises serious questions about who would study whom, for what purpose, and with what consequences. Xenoanthropology forces us to reckon with human assumptions: that we would recognize extraterrestrial intelligence, survive contact, be worthy of attention, or even be capable of understanding what we encounter.

Rather than offering answers, this episode uses xenoanthropology to open a space for more careful, less human-centered thinking about extraterrestrial life—and about what our assumptions reveal about ourselves.

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Topics discussed in this episode:

(3:06) - What is xenoanthropology?

(26:14) - Would we be able to understand ETs?

(34:14) - What alien cultures might exist?

(1:05:52) - What are the ethics of extraterrestrial ethnography?

(1:16:04) - What do we assume about extraterrestrial life?

Resources for additional research:

Can Anthropologists Propel Astronauts Toward Mars?

How to Host an Extraterrestrial

Extraterrestrial Species Almanac

David Michael Jacobs Wesbite

John Mack Institute

Human Terrain: War Becomes Academic

Pluribus

Campfire ambience: “Campfire at night soundscape (louder fire, quieter animals)” by SilverIllusionist, via Freesound (CC BY 4.0).

Music: “Backwoods BBQ” by Chris Haugen, via the YouTube Audio Library.

Today on Headlines from the Beyond:

The world of the unexplained loses one of its most influential figures. We remember the life and legacy of Erich von Däniken, the author who popularized ancient astronaut theory and challenged generations of readers to rethink humanity’s past. From Chariots of the Gods? to decades of public debate, we look at why his work mattered—regardless of where you stand on his conclusions.

Then: A CIA response to a recent FOIA request about the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS raises new questions. Why would the possible existence of records about a supposedly natural comet be classified? We break down the “neither confirm nor deny” response, Avi Loeb’s interpretation, and what this might suggest about government concern over rare “black swan” events as 3I/ATLAS continues its journey through the solar system.

Finally: Pennsylvania finds itself at the center of two disturbing cases involving the illegal collection of human remains. From a multi-state body parts trafficking network to the shocking discovery of nearly 100 sets of human bones taken from a historic cemetery, we examine what investigators know so far—and what remains deeply unclear.

Three stories, one briefing on the strange, the storied, and the extraordinary.

Stay connected with us between episodes—follow Beyond the Human on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and subscribe to Field Notes from the Beyond on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Show Notes:

Official (German) Erich von Däniken obituary

Jason Martell’s von Däniken memorial post

Black Vault CIA FOIA Response Tweet

Avi Loeb’s Medium post - If 3I/ATLAS is a Comet, Why Would the CIA “Neither Deny, Nor Confirm” the Existence of Records on It?

PA man who sold stolen human remains appeals 6-year sentence

Dealers of the Dead documentary

100 skulls and mummified body parts found in a Pennsylvania grave robbery case, police say

Typewriter sound effect: “Typewriter snippet 01 mono [loop]” by cabled_mess, via Freesound (CC0).

Today on Headlines from the Beyond:

Big news from Capitol Hill and beyond: the U.S. federal government has launched a probe into Cold War-era biological research involving ticks and tick-borne diseases. Signed into law as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, the amendment directs the Government Accountability Office to review Department of Defense projects from 1945–1972 to determine whether ticks were ever studied or weaponized, whether research ventured outside military facilities, and whether relevant documents were destroyed—raising questions for people impacted by Lyme disease and Morgellons alike.

Then: A group of Peruvian shamans gathered at the end of last year to make predictions for 2026. Some were ambitious—calling for a change of leadership in Venezuela and an end to the war in Ukraine—and while not all have come to pass, a few early forecasts are already prompting conversation about cultural prophecy, indigenous worldviews, and how traditional spiritual authorities engage with global events.

Finally: Newly unsealed British Ministry of Defence files reveal that in the 1990s the UK military tasked intelligence officers with investigating unidentified aerial phenomena and actively considering whether to acquire unidentified technology reported in sightings. The files show that reports of unusual craft, including cases like the Rendlesham Forest incident, were taken seriously enough to prompt strategic discussion about defense implications—offering a fresh archival angle on government interest in UAPs and the long path toward disclosure.

And as a New Year's bonus, an update on our ongoing Anomalies research project.

Three stories, one briefing on the strange, the storied, and the extraordinary.

Stay connected with us between episodes—follow Beyond the Human on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and subscribe to Field Notes from the Beyond on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Show Notes:

Tick Weaponization to be Investigated

Peru shamans foretell illness for Trump, Maduro's exile in 2026

MoD ordered officers to find UFO technology, secret files reveal

Typewriter sound effect: “Typewriter snippet 01 mono [loop]” by cabled_mess, via Freesound (CC0).