Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal Brian Keating Λ Lee Cronin on Life in the Universe, Assembly Theory, and the Meaning of Time
Jan 24, 2022
Brian Keating, a distinguished physicist from UC San Diego, and Lee Cronin, a pioneering chemist from the University of Glasgow, dive deep into the origins of life and assembly theory. They tackle the complex definitions of life, explore misconceptions about entropy, and discuss how molecular assembly might reveal life's intricacies. Their lively debate touches on extraterrestrial existence, the balance between science and intelligent design, and the importance of evidence in understanding the universe, all while highlighting the evolution of scientific thought.
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Delayed Life Creation
- Lee Cronin promised in a 2011 TED Talk to create life in the lab within two years.
- He explains the delay was due to needing to develop new tools and secure funding, disguised as drug discovery research.
Life as a Phenomenon
- Lee Cronin argues that focusing solely on the origin of life is too narrow.
- He aims to understand life's emergence as a general phenomenon, like the formation of stars, enabling statistical analysis.
System Memory and Complexity
- Physics, chemistry, and biology represent increasing levels of system memory, from low to medium.
- This memory increase reflects the growing complexity and contingency from physical laws to biological evolution.
