Origin of Life, Thermodynamics, and God: Jeremy England

In this episode, Jeremy England reframes the origin of life debate by applying non-equilibrium physics, challenging the notion that life’s emergence must be purely biological or chemical. He describes how matter can “learn” from its environment, drawing on examples from spin glasses, protein folding, and resonating mechanical systems.

England also shares how his deep engagement with religious texts—and his unexpected cameo as “the next Darwin” in popular media—shaped his understanding of science and spirituality. From his ordination as a rabbi to his groundbreaking thermodynamic research, England offers a unique perspective on the interplay between faith, scientific inquiry, and the age-old search for meaning.

Chapters: 
02:59 Jeremy's Journey into Biophysics 
08:46 Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics 
35:30 Dissipative Adaptation and Evolutionary Principles 
44:34 The Evolution of Energy Consumption 
51:35 Thermodynamics in Microbiomes and Ecology 
57:18 Protein Folding and Cellular Computation 
01:01:43 Origins of Life and Prebiotic Scenarios 
01:26:02 Exploring Thermodynamic Constraints on Aging 
01:31:48 Science, Religion, and the Infinite Regress 
01:36:04 Jewish Law and Modern Materials 
01:39:47 Torah's Approach to Existence 
02:01:56 Moses' Signs and Worldview 
02:09:03 Balancing Practicality and Spirituality 
02:14:02 Advice for Aspiring Scientists

More About Jeremy:

Twitter: Jeremy England (@lifelikephysics) / X

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Every-Life-Fire-Thermodynamics-Explains/dp/1541699017

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Xinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYin

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