Modern Wisdom #518 - Lee Cronin - What Will Alien Life Look Like?
Aug 27, 2022
Lee Cronin, Regius Chair of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow, dives into the fascinating world of extraterrestrial life and the origins of life on Earth. He discusses his belief that life exists throughout the universe and explores what characteristics these life forms might share. Cronin elaborates on his lab's experiments simulating early life's development, challenges traditional definitions of life, and speculates on exotic life forms, including silicon-based organisms. He also contemplates humanity's place in the cosmic landscape and the future of life across planets.
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Universe's Memory
- Life develops memory by physical interactions, remembering via structure.
- This allows past actions to influence future behaviors, unlike fire which destroys its past.
Hardest Transition
- The hardest transition is from non-living matter to living cells, which involves a shift from random to organized.
- Evolution within biology and technology is easier than the initial jump.
Shaking Sand
- Cronin shakes sand with water and minerals in a lab, simulating early Earth conditions.
- He hopes to create a self-replicating system, like a table and chair building each other.
