AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
In a psychology professor's experiment, a decade-old barrel of water revealed a thriving ecosystem. The discovery challenged the idea of ecosystem balance, showcasing chaotic fluctuations. Despite initial skepticism, the professor's research in Nature highlighted the unpredictability of natural ecosystems.
Through computer simulations, researchers observed extinction patterns mirroring real-life fossil records. They discovered that extinction occurrences appeared random, challenging traditional fitness-based extinction theories. Even species without apparent advantages faced extinction randomly, leading to an exploration of the role of chance in evolutionary outcomes.
The discussion delved into the complex theories surrounding the origin of life. While the primordial soup experiment yielded amino acids, the process of transitioning from basic molecules to cellular structures remains a significant scientific gap. The proposal of life originating from deep-sea hydrothermal vents presents a structured and geologically influenced environment conducive to life's beginnings.
The concept of directed panspermia, proposed by Francis Crick, suggests potential alien involvement in seeding life on Earth. Research into the delivery of organic molecules through meteorites adds credence to the possibility of extraterrestrial contributions to life's origins. These theories challenge traditional views on life's evolution and question the complexities of its beginnings.
This week, we flip the Disney story of life on its head thanks to a barrel of seawater, a 1970s era computer, and underwater geysers. It’s the chaos of life.
Latif, Lulu, and our Senior Producer Matt Kielty were all sitting on their own little stories until they got thrown into the studio, and had their cherished beliefs about the shape of life put on a collision course. From an accidental study of sea creatures, to the ambitions of Stephen J Gould, to an undercooked theory that captured the world’s imagination, we undo the seeming order of the living world and try to make some music out of the wreckage. (Bonus: Learn how Francis Crick really thought life got started on this planet).
This episode was reported by Latif Nasser, Matt Kielty, Heather Radke, Lulu Miller and Candice Wang. It was produced by Matt Kielty and Simon Adler. Sound and music from Matt Kielty, Simon Adler, and Jeremy Bloom, and dialogue mix by Arianne Wack.Special thanks to Alan and Alida Goffinski for giving our chaos musical life in the song at the end of the episode.
Radiolab is on YouTube! Catch up with new episodes and hear classics from our archive. Plus, find other cool things we did in the past — like miniseries, music videos, short films and animations, behind-the-scenes features, Radiolab live shows, and more. Take a look, explore and subscribe!
Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab today.
Citations in this episodeScientific Papers:Elisa Beninca, Reinhard Heerkloss, et al, “Chaos in a long-term experiment with a plankton community” Nature (2008)Hendrik Schubert, Reinhard Heerkloss, et al, “Chaos theory discloses triggers and drivers of plankton dynamics in a stable environment” Scientific Reports (2019)
Books:Nick Lane, The Vital Question: Energy, Evolution, and the Origins of Complex LifeFrancis Crick, Life Itself: Its Origin and NatureStephen Jay Gould: Full House: The Spread of Excellence from Plato to Darwin, and The Mismeasure of ManDavid M. Raup, Extinction: Bad Genes or Bad Luck?David Sepkoski, Rereading the Fossil Record: The Growth of Paleobiology as an Evolutionary Discipline
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode