#269 – Lee Cronin: Origin of Life, Aliens, Complexity, and Consciousness
Mar 11, 2022
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Lee Cronin, a chemist at the University of Glasgow known for his groundbreaking work on the origin of life, shares intriguing insights into complex topics. The discussion spans the chemical processes that may have sparked life on Earth and the potential for extraterrestrial civilizations. Cronin explores self-replicating molecules, ethical implications of synthetic biology, and advancements in AI's role in chemistry and drug manufacturing. The conversation blends humor with philosophical musings on consciousness, existence, and the future of life in the universe.
Life in the universe could exist in diverse and unique forms, challenging the assumption of similarity to Earth's biology.
Efforts to create life in the lab from inorganic materials offer insights into the origin of life and the potential for extraterrestrial life.
Searching for life in the universe requires consideration of alternative forms and evolutionary trajectories, going beyond biological markers.
Assembly theory measures complexity and selection based on the number of parts an object can be broken into and reassembled from.
Chemical computation and state machines have the potential to automate chemical synthesis and revolutionize the field.
Deep dives
Life being a general phenomenon in the universe
Life could be more common in the universe than we first thought and could exist in a variety of complex and unique forms. The assumption that life would be similar to Earth's biology may be a limiting factor in our understanding. The diversity of possible chemistries and solutions for life suggests that there could be a multitude of alien civilizations out there, potentially existing in different states of development and complexity.
The possibility of making life from scratch
Efforts to create life in the lab from inorganic materials are underway. The aim is to recreate the origin of life on Earth and observe the emergence and evolution of self-replicating and autonomous entities. Success in this area would not only provide valuable insights into the nature of life, but also offer hope that life could exist elsewhere in the universe. By demonstrating that life can arise from simple materials and processes, it challenges the notion that life is unique to Earth.
The probability of finding other life forms
The search for life in the universe requires a broader perspective, considering the possibility of alternative forms of life and different evolutionary trajectories. Detecting traces of selection and evolution rather than focusing solely on biological markers could provide a more comprehensive understanding of extraterrestrial life. The upcoming James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) could offer new insights into exoplanets, allowing scientists to classify them based on their potential for life. While the exact likelihood of finding other civilizations remains uncertain, there are reasons to be optimistic about the abundance and diversity of life in the universe.
Assembly theory and the measurement of complexity
Assembly theory, developed by the speaker, is a way to measure the complexity of objects in the universe. The theory focuses on the assembly number, which is the number of parts an object can be broken into and reassembled from. It suggests that objects with a higher assembly number, meaning more unsymmetrical and complex parts, are likely to have been produced by an evolutionary or informational process. This theory can be applied to molecules, where the assembly number can be calculated by breaking bonds and reassembling the molecule, as well as to other objects like a book or a car. Assembly theory provides a scale to measure the level of complexity and selection in the universe, and it highlights the role of memory and causation in the formation of objects. The theory challenges certain assumptions in physics, such as the need for order at the beginning of the universe and the nature of time, and suggests a new way to think about complexity and the emergence of life.
Chemical-based computation: Revolutionizing the world of chemistry
Chemistry is traditionally seen as an analog domain, but Lee Cronin proposes a new approach by introducing state machines to transform chemicals. By developing a chemical computer and a chemical programming language, Cronin aims to automate the process of making molecules programmatically. This approach involves breaking down chemical reactions into four key steps: reaction, workup, separation, and purification. By 3D printing test tubes and implementing a state machine, Cronin's team has successfully encoded the synthesis of various molecules, including drugs. The goal is to make the process of chemistry more precise and reproducible, leveraging the power of computation to revolutionize the field.
The role of memory in chemical-based computation
Lee Cronin emphasizes the importance of memory in chemical-based computation. He highlights that the laws of physics, chemistry, and biology are all products of memory, as they arose from complex minds. Chemistry, in particular, relies on memory to capture the rules and conditions necessary for successful reactions. By developing a state machine that interprets chemical language and implements precise sequences of operations, Cronin's team can reproduce molecules reliably and tackle important challenges in drug synthesis and beyond.
The potential and challenges of chemical computation
Chemical computation, facilitated by state machines and chemical programming languages, offers exciting possibilities for automating chemical synthesis and expanding the frontiers of chemical discovery. Lee Cronin's work in 3D printing test tubes and developing a chemical Turing machine has demonstrated the potential of using computation to drive chemical reactions. However, challenges remain, such as refining natural language processing techniques to extract information from scientific literature and addressing the messy nature of chemistry. Despite these challenges, chemical computation has the potential to revolutionize the field and open new avenues for innovation and research.
Universe as a Turing Machine
The podcast discusses the concept of the universe as a Turing machine and the idea that the structure of the universe may be given by weeks of non-existence in a pattern generated by all possible automata.
The Meaning of Life and Creativity
The conversation explores the meaning of life and the potential purpose of the universe, suggesting that the universe wants to explore every possible configuration and extract every ounce of creativity. It also discusses the idea that the universe may have been less computationally powerful in the past and is becoming smarter and more creative over time.
Time as Fundamental and the Emergence of Meaning
The discussion touches on the notion of time as fundamental, the emergence of meaning in the universe, and the interplay between determinism and free will. It also emphasizes the importance of experimental evidence and explores the potential role of constructors and abstractors in understanding the universe.
OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(08:31) – Life and chemistry
(21:56) – Self-replicating molecules
(32:19) – Origin of life
(48:45) – Life on Mars
(53:49) – Aliens
(1:00:30) – Origin of life continued
(1:07:24) – Fermi Paradox
(1:17:04) – UFOs
(1:25:25) – Science and authority
(1:31:28) – Pickle experiment
(1:34:23) – Assembly theory
(2:17:22) – Free will
(2:28:37) – Cellular automata
(2:52:08) – Chemputation
(3:09:23) – Universal programming language for chemistry
(3:22:34) – Chemputer safety
(3:35:15) – Automated engineering of nanomaterials
(3:44:15) – Consciousness
(3:53:48) – Joscha Bach
(4:05:04) – Meaning of life
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