The Nocturnists The Origins of Life with Sara Imari Walker
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Oct 31, 2024 
Dr. Sara Imari Walker is an astrobiologist and theoretical physicist pioneering ideas about the origins of life. She discusses the limitations of traditional definitions of life and introduces assembly theory, which examines the complexity of molecular structures. The conversation delves into the intersection of physics and biology, the implications of embryology for understanding life, and the exciting prospect of alien intelligence. Sara also shares thoughts on technology's role in discovering new forms of life, inspiring a fresh perspective on existence.
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Physics of Life
- Traditional Newtonian physics struggles to explain life due to its fixed laws and initial conditions.
- Life, unlike physical systems, constantly evolves with history and path dependence, as highlighted by Darwin.
Assembly Theory
- Assembly theory suggests life is the universe's only way to create complex objects like molecules.
- It uses assembly index (shortest construction path) and copy number (abundance) to identify life's signature.
Ribosome as Transistor
- Taxol, a molecule from plants, and the ribosome are examples of objects enabling further complexity, like transistors.
- The ribosome's emergence solidified a specific architecture for life, influencing all subsequent development.
