Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

294 | Addy Pross on Dynamics, Stability, and Life

Oct 28, 2024

Addy Pross, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Ben-Gurion University and author of "What Is Life? How Chemistry Becomes Biology," discusses dynamic kinetic stability as a key to understanding life's origins. He challenges traditional physics notions, emphasizing the importance of energy and adaptability in biological systems. Through fascinating analogies, he illustrates how living organisms maintain stability despite constant change. Pross also explores the intricate relationship between metabolism, replication, and the evolution of consciousness, prompting listeners to rethink life's complexity.

01:11:33

Episode guests

Addy Pross

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Quick takeaways

Dynamic kinetic stability challenges traditional views by showing that living systems maintain stability through continuous energy intake and renewal rather than minimizing energy.

Redefining life as a replicating chemical system in a dynamically kinetically stable state offers a fresh perspective on life's origins and complexity.

The link between energy dependence and evolution highlights that continuous energy input is essential for sustaining complex biological systems and preventing entropy.

Deep dives

The Nature of Dynamic Kinetic Stability

Dynamic kinetic stability (DKS) differs from traditional notions of stability, where systems minimize energy and settle into low-energy states. In contrast, DKS refers to systems that remain stable over time through continuous renewal and external resource intake, allowing them to maintain their structure while undergoing substantial internal change. This concept challenges the idea that stability is solely associated with low energy, emphasizing that life sustains complexity through a balance of energetic renewal and persistent self-organization. Understanding DKS is crucial for recognizing how early life may have originated, as it provides a framework to discuss the dynamic processes necessary for living systems.

Intro

2min

Exploring Dynamics, Stability, and the Origins of Life

2min

Dynamic Kinetic Stability and the Origins of Life

13min

Unraveling Dynamic Kinetic Stability in Chemistry

3min

Fluid Dynamics and the Origins of Life

11min

Challenges in Understanding the Origin of Life

4min

Metabolism, Replication, and the Stability of Life

14min

Understanding Dynamic Kinetic Systems in Biology

2min

Rethinking Genomics and Consciousness

24min

Erwin Schrödinger said that the important characteristic of life is that it "goes on doing something... for a much longer period than we would expect an inanimate piece of matter to keep going under similar circumstances." Living organisms are in constant motion inside; so where does this stability and persistence come from? Addy Pross points to a novel kind of chemical phenomenon -- "dynamic kinetic stability" (DKS), a feature that enables a chemical "fountain" to persist in the presence of an energy source. This suggests an interesting perspective on the question of life's origin, and perhaps on the origin of consciousness.

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Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/10/28/294-addy-pross-on-dynamics-stability-and-life/

Addy Pross received his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Sydney. He is currently Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Ben-Gurion University. He has held visiting positions in the University of Lund, Stanford University, Rutgers University, University of California at Irvine, University of Padova, the Australian National University Canberra, and the University of Sydney. He is the author of What Is Life? How Chemistry Becomes Biology.

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