The Physics of Living Systems with Chris Kempes | Reason with Science | Emergence | Evolution

This episode is with Chris Kempes, a professor at the Santa Fe Institute working at the fascinating intersection of physics and biology. Chris joins us to talk about some of the most profound questions about life starting from fundamental definitions to exploring life's potential multiple origins guided by the laws of physics. Join us as we explore the role of energy landscapes in Prebiotic chemistry, the physical basis of microbial behaviors, scaling laws that govern life's metabolic patterns, and how collective behaviors emerge in multicellular organisms. Let's embark on a journey to rethink life's mysteries through the lens of physics.

Guests info:

Website: https://chriskempes.com/Chris_Kempes/Home.html

Episode links:

Website: https://reasonwithscience.com/the-physics-of-living-system-with-chris-kempes

Youtube: https://youtu.be/2rvJoa31-KI?si=TBAngZ5ZvgK3DoHC

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2NSmBsJWfp7l5ZJMaxRVsv?si=0ceaa05de2964ecb

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-physics-of-living-system-with-chris-kempes/id1641776894?i=1000705041814

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=2rvJoa31-KI&si=8jyG5q4MTQDiC7Ov

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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLila1Jm-QEwKu4xXtNpYFAsSDmPR9mlZB&si=5ehXeZhZ-z181G5b

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Introduction to the Podcast

00:00:24 – Chris Kempes and The Intersection of Physics and Biology

00:01:20 – The Role of Definitions in Science

00:03:59 – Merging Physics and Biology

00:05:01 – Easy vs. Hard Questions in Science

00:07:20 – What is Life? Defining the Undefined

00:09:25 – Language as a Living System

00:10:57 – Are Viruses Alive?

00:17:45 – "Livingness" as a Spectrum

00:19:03 – Scaling Laws in Biology

00:24:17 – Multiple Origins of Life

00:26:01 – The Error Threshold in Evolution

00:31:29 – Scientific Method as Evolution

00:34:01 – Unifying Ecology, Origins, and Astrobiology

00:45:00 – Convergent Evolution and Physical Constraints

01:36:30 – Building Life in the Lab & Theories That Guide Us

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