#6 Adam Frank - Technosignatures, Semantic Information, Galactic Colonization
Sep 14, 2023
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Adam Frank, Professor of Physics and Astronomy, discusses expanding the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, funding for astrobiology, complexity and information in biology, challenges of determining true information, developing a theory of semantic information and its relationship to life, the illusion of control in machines, the concept of roaming entities and galactic dynamics, exploring other civilizations, and the importance of supporting research and outreach work.
Techno signatures expand the search for extraterrestrial intelligence beyond radio signals and focus on unintentional indicators of technology on exoplanets.
Increased interest and support for SETI and astrobiology have led to a shift towards exploring techno signatures and integrating them into our understanding of potential extraterrestrial life.
The study of semantic information goes beyond traditional biological systems and encompasses artificial intelligence and social networks, challenging reductionist views and emphasizing the embodiment and enactment of information within ecosystems.
Deep dives
The Evolution of SETI and Techno Signatures
Adam Frank, a professor of physics and astronomy, discusses the progression of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) and the expansion of SETI from radio signals to techno signatures. Techno signatures encompass the search for technological signs of other civilizations, such as detecting the signatures of climate change on exoplanets. This approach does not require active communication with other civilizations, but rather focuses on detecting unintentional indicators of technology. Funding for techno signatures has historically been limited, but recent developments, including a grant from NASA, indicate increasing interest and integration of techno signature research within the field of astrobiology.
The Changing Attitudes Towards SETI and Astrobiology
Adam Frank reflects on the changing attitudes towards SETI and astrobiology over the years. In the past, SETI and astrobiology were regarded with skepticism and often faced a lack of funding. However, increased interest in these fields has led to greater recognition and support, particularly with the discovery of exoplanets and the advancements in atmosphere characterization for biosignatures. More recently, the focus has shifted towards exploring techno signatures and the potential to detect signs of technology on other planets. While there has been pushback and a 'giggle factor' associated with the search for intelligent life, there are increasing efforts to integrate techno signatures into astrobiology and expand our understanding of potential extraterrestrial life.
Semantic Information and the Origin of Life
Adam Frank introduces the concept of semantic information as a defining characteristic of life. Semantic information focuses on the meaningful and relevant information used by living systems rather than purely probabilistic information. By exploring semantic information, researchers can gain insights into the behavior and strategies of living systems. This perspective opens up possibilities for understanding the origins of life and the emergence of complexity. The study of semantic information also extends beyond traditional biological systems and encompasses artificial intelligence, social networks, and other information processing systems. It challenges reductionist views and emphasizes the importance of embodying and enacting information within an ecosystem.
Expanding Views on Intelligence and Agency
Adam Frank delves into the broader understanding of intelligence and agency beyond the traditional human-centric perspective. He explores the idea that intelligence is not limited to individual human or biological minds, but can extend to collective systems such as ant colonies, forests, or even a planet as a whole. These collective systems exhibit distributed intelligence and semantic information processing, challenging the narrow view of intelligence associated with human-like cognition. The development of artificial intelligence and its potential participation in semantic information systems further expands the understanding of agency and the potential for distributed intelligence across various domains.
The Co-Arising of Mind and World
The podcast episode discusses the concept of the co-arising of mind and world in relation to quantum mechanics and the participatory universe idea. The speaker highlights how Wheeler's ideas align with the many worlds interpretation and the role of wave functions in the Copenhagen interpretation. They express skepticism towards the many worlds interpretation and emphasize the importance of understanding quantum mechanics through a subjectivist view. The concept of agency in quantum experiments and the limitations of artificial general intelligence (AGI) are also explored.
The Fermi Paradox and the Search for Life
The podcast delves into the Fermi Paradox and the search for extraterrestrial intelligent life. The speaker discusses the possibility that interstellar travel could be difficult and time-consuming, making galactic civilizations unlikely. They suggest that civilizations may be restricted to their own local systems due to the challenges of communication and travel at the speed of light. The potential limitations of the indirect Fermi Paradox, the need for further research on evidence of previous civilizations on Earth, and the importance of exploring the moon and solar system for artifacts are also highlighted.
In this week's episode, David is joined by Adam Frank. Adam is a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Rochester University, author of popular science books such as "The Little Book of Aliens" and "Light of the Stars", as well as a regular CNN contributor.
