This conversation is with Herman Pontzer, an evolutionary anthropologist and professor at Duke University. Herman is best known for his groundbreaking work on human metabolism and energetics, which challenges long-held assumptions about how our bodies burn and manage energy. His field research with hunter-gatherer and subsistence-farming populations—including the Hadza of Tanzania, the Daasanach of Kenya, and the Tsimane’ of Bolivia—has redefined what we know about the relationship between activity, diet, and health.We begin by exploring the deceptively simple question: Why do some people burn more calories than others? Herman explains how the body’s total energy expenditure is remarkably constrained, meaning that even when we exercise more, our bodies often compensate by reducing energy spent elsewhere. This insight challenges the familiar “calories in, calories out” model and reframes how we understand diet, obesity, and modern sedentary lifestyles.Together, we discuss how evolution has shaped the human metabolic system—from the daily life of foragers walking 19,000 steps a day to the physiology of those in industrialized societies. We examine how metabolism interacts with the immune system, reproduction, and brain function, and why understanding these trade-offs is key to improving public health.Herman also shares insights from his books Burn and Adaptable, connecting metabolic research to broader questions about longevity, diet quality, and the future of medicine. Finally, we consider how modern tools—from doubly labeled water to GLP-1 drugs—fit into the long story of how humans manage energy in a changing world.

Guests info:

Website: https://sites.duke.edu/pontzerlab/

X: https://x.com/HermanPontzer

Episode links:

Website: https://reasonwithscience.com/the-metabolic-truth-rethinking-calories-and-energy-with-herman-pontzer

Youtube: https://youtu.be/07qrQN91Iow

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0uN2PJNfEmHckUcdvpg9BJ?si=wZQ4g-ckRnCDNgT71ZwXMg

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-metabolic-truth-rethinking-calories-and-energy/id1641776894?i=1000732444106

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=07qrQN91Iow&si=Ho8HOtfA5f-Hzzxf

Follow Reason with Science:

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.reasonwithscience.com/ ⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ReasonwithScience⁠⁠

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLila1Jm-QEwKu4xXtNpYFAsSDmPR9mlZB&si=5ehXeZhZ-z181G5b

Timestamps:

00:00:00 — What is metabolism, really?00:01:20 — Who is Herman Pontzer?00:03:10 — Measuring energy in real life00:06:45 — Lessons from the Hadza and Daasanach00:09:30 — The Constrained Energy Expenditure model00:12:15 — Why exercise alone rarely changes body weight00:15:50 — Diet versus activity: the hierarchy of control00:19:10 — Internal trade-offs: the body’s energy budget00:22:35 — Metabolism in global context00:26:20 — Metabolism across the human lifespan00:29:55 — Overtraining, stress, and energy limits00:33:40 — Modern lifestyles and metabolic mismatch00:37:25 — GLP-1 drugs and the new metabolic frontier00:41:10 — Energy, health, and longevity00:45:00 — Evolution’s signature in our metabolism00:48:15 — How culture shapes our energy habits00:52:00 — Metabolism and reproductive health00:56:30 — The science of appetite and satiety01:00:45 — Metabolic research and public health policy01:05:10 — Final reflections on what it means to live energetically#reasonwithscience #science #health

Can economics help us create a sustainable future? Our guest is Doyne Farmer, Director of the Complexity Economics Programme at Oxford University. Trained as a physicist, he’s spent his career studying chaos, complex systems, and prediction, and now applies those ideas to economics, sustainability, and climate change. In this episode, we’ll talk about why traditional economic models often fail, how complexity economics gives us new tools to understand markets, and what agent-based models and heterogeneity can teach us about the real economy. We’ll look at chaos, business cycles, and equilibrium, and draw surprising parallels between biology, supply chains, and innovation.

Guest info:

Website: https://www.doynefarmer.com/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/doynefarmer.bsky.social

Episode links:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7T-1m7s2rY

Website: https://reasonwithscience.com/Youtube: https://youtu.be/i7T-1m7s2rY

Spotify:

Apple podcast:

YouTube music:

Follow Reason with Science:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.reasonwithscience.com/ ⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ReasonwithScience⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLila1Jm-QEwKu4xXtNpYFAsSDmPR9mlZB&si=5ehXeZhZ-z181G5b

Is evolution predictable? The guest for this podcast is with Simon Conway Morris, Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology at the University of Cambridge. Famous for his work on the Cambrian explosion and the concept of evolutionary convergence, Conway Morris has written influential books including Life’s Solution: Inevitable Humans in a Lonely Universe, The Runes of Evolution, and From Extraterrestrials to Animal Minds. In this conversation, we talk about why convergence — the independent evolution of similar traits across unrelated species — offers evidence for deep constraints on the evolution of life. We’ll discuss major evolutionary transitions such as the origin of eukaryotes, sudden explosions of complexity, and the narrow “design space” within which evolution operates. We’ll examine whether traits like intelligence and consciousness are inevitable, why extinction often leads to familiar replacements, and how evolution’s predictability might extend to technology, culture, and even artificial intelligence.As Conway Morris provocatively asks: “If we replayed the tape of life, would we still end up with eyes, wings, minds—and perhaps even something like us?” This episode explores how the physical, chemical, and biological constraints that underpin convergence shape the living world and why, despite its complexity, evolution may be far more predictable than we imagine.Guest info:Website: https://www.esc.cam.ac.uk/directory/simon-conway-morrisEpisode links: Website: Youtube: Spotify: Apple podcast: YouTube music: Follow Reason with Science: Website: https://www.reasonwithscience.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReasonwithScience Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894 YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLila1Jm-QEwKu4xXtNpYFAsSDmPR9mlZB&si=5ehXeZhZ-z181G5bTimestamps:00:00:00 – Introduction 00:02:00 – Starting point: evolution’s predictability00:06:44 – Predictability of evolution & extraterrestrial comparisons00:10:56 – Deep homology and universal molecular pathways00:16:30 – Randomness vs probabilities in evolution00:19:41 – Major evolutionary transitions00:27:47 – Convergent evolution as a predictive framework00:42:45 – Laboratory evolution experiments00:49:57 – Human uniqueness vs other primates01:02:46 – Dyson spheres & the Fermi paradox01:06:09 – Human peculiarity and consciousness01:14:02 – Limits of understanding consciousness01:27:20 – Challenges in improving science funding01:38:59 – Mavericks and unpredictability of great ideas01:42:01 – Theology and spirituality in society#reasonwithscience #podcast #biology

This conversatio is with Ricard Solé, a leading thinker in complex systems and synthetic biology. Ricard heads the Complex Systems Lab at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, where he explores how simple rules give rise to life’s astonishing complexity.

We open with a thought-provoking question: Can a biologist fix a radio? — an idea from Yuri Lazebnik that asks if breaking things down into parts really explains how living systems work. Ricard explains why life resists simple mechanical analogies and why cells, organisms, and ecosystems can’t just be “wired up” like machines.

Together we explore what we mean by “complexity,” how nature builds it through evolution, self-organization, and cooperation, and why emergence makes the whole more than the sum of its parts. We touch on termite nests, slime molds, brains, and immune systems as windows into collective intelligence and hidden patterns in nature.

Guest info:

Website: https://www.upf.edu/web/biomed/pdi/-/asset_publisher/vDntl1i7QlGn/content/sol%C3%A9-vicente-ricard/maximized

X: https://x.com/ricard_sole

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ricardsole.bsky.social

Episode links:

Website: https://reasonwithscience.com/how-nature-builds-complexity-ricard-sole

Youtube: https://youtu.be/KRcqScqqunA

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3n64g2SSyXSlzTmOXtE597?si=dNxmfjtFQMGsfY0qaQGaGw

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-nature-builds-complexity-ricard-sol%C3%A9-reason-with/id1641776894?i=1000719142144

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=KRcqScqqunA&si=MxOfuk6cvTRDJqtl

Follow Reason with Science:

Website: ⁠https://www.reasonwithscience.com/ ⁠

Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ReasonwithScience⁠

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLila1Jm-QEwKu4xXtNpYFAsSDmPR9mlZB&si=5ehXeZhZ-z181G5b

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:02:01 - Can a Biologist Fix a Radio? (Yuri Lazebnik's Analogy)

00:03:36 - The Limits of Engineering Approaches in Biology

00:04:50 - Hardware vs. Software in Cellular Systems

00:09:01 - What Is Complexity? Emergence Explained

00:10:18 - Collective Intelligence: From Termites to Slime Molds

00:14:57 - Evolution as a Driver of Complexity

00:15:54 - Major Evolutionary Transitions Defined

00:17:27 - The Limits of Reductionism in Biology

00:19:34 - What Complexity Theory Could Offer

00:21:07 - Scaling Laws in Biology and Metabolism

00:22:26 - Synthetic Biology and the Origin of Life

00:26:44 - Information, Coding, and Pre-cellular Chemistry

00:30:03 - Cells, Agency, and the Birth of Individuality

00:33:37 - Liquid Brains: Immune Systems, Ant Colonies, and Intelligence

00:37:58 - Synthetic Worlds: Rebuilding Evolution in the Lab

00:41:06 - Language Emergence and Cognitive Space

00:45:00 - Multicellularity and the Last Common Ancestor

00:49:00 - Turing Patterns and Symmetry Breaking in Development

00:53:36 - The Challenge of Modeling Organs in Complexity Theory

00:55:03 - Plant Intelligence, Redundancy, and Morphological Plasticity

00:57:14 - Slime Molds and Network-Based Computation

01:00:00 - Fungi and Underground Intelligence

01:01:04 - Liquid Brains: A Broader Framework

01:03:00 - The Immune System as a Cognitive Network

01:06:04 - Evolutionary Convergence and Constraints in Biology

01:09:04 - Searching for Life Beyond Earth

01:12:00 - Can Complexity Theory Predict Life’s Origins?

01:17:04 - Synthetic Biology as a Tool for Discovery

01:18:47 - The Origin of Neurons and Brains

01:24:43 - Regeneration, Memory, and the Mystery of Planarians

01:31:05 - Cancer, Evolution, and System Breakdown

01:36:04 - Climate Tipping Points and Complex Systems

01:39:00 - The Importance of Scientific Thinking

01:47:52 - Final Thoughts and Reflections

#reasonwithscience #podcast #biology

This episode is with one of the most compelling voices in anthropology, Agustín Fuentes. Agustín is a professor, evolutionary theorist, and author of “The Creative Spark”, where he explores what truly makes us human, not just biologically, but culturally, socially, and creatively. In this episode, we discuss common misconceptions about evolution and explore the complex, branching story of our species. We examine how traits like cooperation, creativity, and social bonding shaped our survival, and why race, gender, sex, and even marriage is far more culturally constructed than biologically fixed. We also dig into big questions around religion, science, and the future of human evolution. Agustín helps us see that to understand where we’re going, we first need to understand how we’ve evolved, not just in body, but in mind, meaning, and imagination.

Guests info

Website: https://afuentes.com/

X: https://x.com/Anthrofuentes

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/anthrofuentes.bsky.social

Episode links:

Website:

Youtube:

Spotify:

Apple podcast:

YouTube music:

Follow Reason with Science:

Website: https://www.reasonwithscience.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReasonwithScience

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLila1Jm-QEwKu4xXtNpYFAsSDmPR9mlZB&si=5ehXeZhZ-z181G5b

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:48 - Explanation of the extended evolutionary synthesis

00:04:19 - The role of technology in modern evolutionary science

00:05:07 - Why humans are the last surviving hominins

00:06:02 - The “Messy bush” model of human evolution

00:07:45 - Ancient human interbreeding and genetic mixing

00:09:15 - Understanding creativity as a core human trait

00:10:49 - What distinguishes humans from other primates

00:14:47 - Convergent evolution and shared solutions across species

00:16:22 - Exploring cultural, behavioral, and genetic inheritance

00:20:45 - Human brain development and its adaptive plasticity

00:25:25 - Why the human brain operates in a social default state

00:26:02 - The role of imagination and creativity in human evolution

00:35:12 - How media and modern inputs shape human bias

00:42:05 - Comparing human creativity and artificial intelligence

00:57:58 - Evolutionary insights into modern human diets

This episode is with John Tregoning, a leading expert in infectious diseases, professor at Imperial College London, and author of the books “Live Forever?” and Infectious. John’s work focuses on how our immune systems fight off disease and how scientific advances can help us live not just longer, but healthier lives. In this episode, we break down the science behind ageing and talk about the growing role of vaccines, lifestyle, and cutting-edge technologies like AI, gene editing, and immunotherapy in transforming how we think about health. We also touch on some big-picture questions like What are the ethical and social implications of radically extended lifespans? And what can we do right now to stack the odds in our favor for a longer, more vibrant life?

Guests info

Website: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/john.tregoning

X: https://x.com/drtregoning

Episode links:

Website: https://reasonwithscience.com/vaccines-longevity-and-the-future-of-health-with-john-tregoningYoutube: https://youtu.be/x1-9zESxap0?si=nqAHKe27m1xX0HjLSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6wSu03Fd1xkAzVmsMuMZg5?si=ng_0KpqXRiinG7vKfvbfIQApple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vaccines-longevity-and-the-future-of-health/id1641776894?i=1000716957739YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=x1-9zESxap0&si=TU37R8zkoJoXgt8G

Follow Reason with Science:

Website: https://www.reasonwithscience.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReasonwithScience

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLila1Jm-QEwKu4xXtNpYFAsSDmPR9mlZB&si=5ehXeZhZ-z181G5b

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction to John Tregoning and the podcast

00:01:26 - Scientific method and how we establish facts00:03:59 - How vaccines are developed, tested, and approved00:09:09 - What is aging? Biological and evolutionary insights00:11:22 - Healthspan vs. lifespan: Why quality matters00:13:44 - Infectious diseases and the immune system's role00:20:07 - Biology's complexity: Genes, environment, and unknowns00:23:22 - The immune system: Strengths, complexity, and risks00:29:08 - Microbiome and its influence on health00:34:06 - Chronic diseases: Heart disease, cancer, and dementia00:44:39 - Genetic predispositions and the limits of DNA testing00:50:00 - Obesity, diet, diabetes, and ultra-processed food00:57:03 - Technology in health: Wearables, data, gene editing01:06:05 - Lifestyle interventions for healthy aging01:07:52 - The importance of social connection for longevity01:13:39 - Public health policy and environmental factors01:16:21 - Ethical implications of radical life extension01:17:40 - Final thoughts: Prevention, trust in science, and living well

This episode is with Chris Kempes, a professor at the Santa Fe Institute working at the fascinating intersection of physics and biology. Chris joins us to talk about some of the most profound questions about life starting from fundamental definitions to exploring life's potential multiple origins guided by the laws of physics. Join us as we explore the role of energy landscapes in Prebiotic chemistry, the physical basis of microbial behaviors, scaling laws that govern life's metabolic patterns, and how collective behaviors emerge in multicellular organisms. Let's embark on a journey to rethink life's mysteries through the lens of physics.

Guests info:

Website: https://chriskempes.com/Chris_Kempes/Home.html

Episode links:

Website: https://reasonwithscience.com/the-physics-of-living-system-with-chris-kempes

Youtube: https://youtu.be/2rvJoa31-KI?si=TBAngZ5ZvgK3DoHC

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2NSmBsJWfp7l5ZJMaxRVsv?si=0ceaa05de2964ecb

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-physics-of-living-system-with-chris-kempes/id1641776894?i=1000705041814

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=2rvJoa31-KI&si=8jyG5q4MTQDiC7Ov

Follow Reason with Science:

Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reasonwithscience.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ReasonwithScience

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLila1Jm-QEwKu4xXtNpYFAsSDmPR9mlZB&si=5ehXeZhZ-z181G5b

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Introduction to the Podcast

00:00:24 – Chris Kempes and The Intersection of Physics and Biology

00:01:20 – The Role of Definitions in Science

00:03:59 – Merging Physics and Biology

00:05:01 – Easy vs. Hard Questions in Science

00:07:20 – What is Life? Defining the Undefined

00:09:25 – Language as a Living System

00:10:57 – Are Viruses Alive?

00:17:45 – "Livingness" as a Spectrum

00:19:03 – Scaling Laws in Biology

00:24:17 – Multiple Origins of Life

00:26:01 – The Error Threshold in Evolution

00:31:29 – Scientific Method as Evolution

00:34:01 – Unifying Ecology, Origins, and Astrobiology

00:45:00 – Convergent Evolution and Physical Constraints

01:36:30 – Building Life in the Lab & Theories That Guide Us

#reasonwithscience #podcast #biology

This episode is with Kenneth Catania, a neuroscientist and biologist at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. His work has illuminated the fascinating sensory worlds of species like star-nosed moles, electric eels, and the emerald jewel wasp. Science is often thought of as a rigid, methodical pursuit, but in reality, it thrives on creativity, intuition, and the ability to recognize patterns in chaos. In this episode, we dive into the "grammar" of science, the puzzle-solving nature of discovery, and the ways in which attention, technology, and unexpected anomalies shape breakthroughs. From paradigm shifts to high-voltage eels, we explore what it truly means to think like a scientist—and why the entire scientific endeavor is important for humanity.

Guests info:

Website: https://as.vanderbilt.edu/catanialab/

Books on Amazon: https://shorturl.at/LrTbE

Episode links:

Website: https://reasonwithscience.com/the-art-and-craft-of-science-with-kenneth-catania

Youtube:https://youtu.be/BmV8y4iRuvwSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1jxmbRdmDo8nr3iGwVq8w5?si=487106e179404a6fApple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-and-craft-of-science-with-kenneth/id1641776894?i=1000700376415YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=BmV8y4iRuvw&si=RYFW4r-C13H6yrx5

Follow Reason with Science:

Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reasonwithscience.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ReasonwithScience

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLila1Jm-QEwKu4xXtNpYFAsSDmPR9mlZB&si=5ehXeZhZ-z181G5b

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Intro: Why Science Is Both Creative and Crucial

00:02:14 – What is neuroethology? The bridge between brains and behavior

00:05:01 – Evolution’s extremes: Why strange animals are scientific gold

00:07:27 – The real story behind scientific discovery

00:10:03 – Science’s hidden stage: Where ideas actually come from

00:11:01 – Why science changes – and why that’s a strength

00:13:00 – Why revising experiments is like revising writing

00:14:56 – Hidden histories: How experiments evolve like species

00:20:01 – Obsession leads to insight: How puzzles capture our focus

00:23:01 – Electric eels: Evolution’s living tasers

00:29:30 – Anatomy of horror: Jewel wasp eats heart and lungs first

00:31:02 – Art as a path to science: The surprising power of images

00:41:01 – Scientific method: Bringing together Popper, Kuhn and chaos

00:46:30 – The role of clarity in discovering facts

00:47:58 – Science as a culture of truth-seeking

00:53:01 – Science is everywhere: Even in your light switches

00:55:52 – The unspoken reality of failure in science

1:04:30 – Why scientists are humans, not robots in lab coats

1:07:00 – Scientists don’t fit in a box – and that’s a good thing

1:08:30 – Why scientific papers don’t tell the whole story

1:09:05 – Success in science: What it really looks like

1:10:46 – What makes a good scientist? Passion, curiosity, and persistence

1:17:01 – Nurturing curiosity: Letting students follow what excites them

1:19:53 – Hard work, passion, and science#reasonwithscience #podcast #biology

This episode is with Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo, whose research sheds light on one of the most fundamental transitions in the history of life—the evolution of multicellularity. Iñaki is a group leader at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona, where he investigates how unicellular organisms gave rise to complex multicellular life. Our conversation explores the deep evolutionary forces that shaped this transition, the role of cooperation and cell differentiation, and what studying the ancestors of animals can teach us about life’s complexity. We also discuss broader questions about biological organization, individuality, and the very nature of what it means to be a multicellular being.

Guests info:

Website: https://multicellgenome.com/

X: https://x.com/multicellgenome

Episode links:

Website: https://www.reasonwithscience.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReasonwithScience

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLila1Jm-QEwKu4xXtNpYFAsSDmPR9mlZB&si=5ehXeZhZ-z181G5b

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:00:20 - Evolution of multicellularity with Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo

00:02:54 - Why compare animals with unicellular relatives?

00:05:11 - What defines multicellularity?

00:09:07 - Studying unicellular ancestors of animals

00:14:19 - Convergent vs. homologous evolution

00:22:26 - Why did multicellularity evolve?

00:27:53 - What did the first animals look like?

00:30:55 - Bilateral symmetry and its impact

00:33:27 - Predation, competition, and cooperation in evolution

00:39:09 - Comparing different multicellular lineages

00:52:22 - Searching for new unicellular relatives

01:03:30 - Experimenting with multicellular growth

01:07:08 - Can we fully understand the origin of animals?

01:09:47 - Closing remarks

This episode is with Kevin Mitchell. He is an associate professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin, where he investigates how genetic variations influence neural wiring, cognition, and conditions like autism and schizophrenia. Kevin is also the author of Innate: How the Wiring of Our Brains Shapes Who We Are and Free Agents: How Evolution Gave Us Free Will. Here, we discuss the laws of biology and the nature of free will. Kevin also shares insights on agency as a defining feature of life, the meaning of self, and the evolution of perception.

Guests info:

Website: https://www.kjmitchell.com/

X: https://x.com/WiringTheBrain

Episode links:

Website: https://reasonwithscience.com/genetic-and-the-brain-with-kevin-mitchell

Youtube: https://youtu.be/eOyNWCjBuQc?si=Nz09vBN0mCFN8nuF

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4HVcFuG48HLu4T92aXflLM?si=a68eee4f113e4aee

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/genetics-and-the-brain-with-kevin-mitchell/id1641776894?i=1000692566036

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=eOyNWCjBuQc&si=AMWPfTZthe8zS5tE

Follow Reason with Science:

Website: https://www.reasonwithscience.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReasonwithScience

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLila1Jm-QEwKu4xXtNpYFAsSDmPR9mlZB&si=5ehXeZhZ-z181G5b

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:55 Biology vs. Chemistry and Physics

00:04:02 Reductionism in Science

00:16:09 Emergence and Evolution

00:26:59 Free Will Discussion

00:41:42 Cognition and System Irreducibility

00:44:03 Genetics and Psychological Predispositions

00:55:17 Complexity of Interactions

01:04:39 Engineering Free Will

01:07:38 Social Impacts of Free Will

01:11:53 Long-term Free Will and Decisions

This episode is with Michael Levin and William RatCliff. Mike is a Professor in the Biology department at Tufts University. He is a pioneer in the study of bioelectricity, regeneration, and morphogenesis. Will is a Professor in the School of Biological Science at Georgia Tech. He is a leading expert in the study of how single-celled organisms evolved into complex multicellular life forms. Here, we talk about how cells cooperate, evolve, and build the diversity of life we see today. Specifically, we discuss about evolution of multicellularity, the role of bioelectricity in evolution, and the emergence of regeneration.

Guests info:

William RatCliff-Website: https://ratclifflab.biosci.gatech.edu/

X: https://x.com/wc_ratcliff

Michael Levin-Website: https://www.drmichaellevin.org/

X: https://x.com/drmichaellevin

Episode links:

Website: Youtube: https://youtu.be/NULzvSGpmvE?si=qMjfKNyMzKrUmdRmSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/46y8cCFsbzMKRnC1urghVQ?si=E3tDRUojTPOrIsBHDqcusgApple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-biology-works-with-michael-levin-and-william/id1641776894?i=1000690266570YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=NULzvSGpmvE&si=Fi1CksVMCBDPe9nv

Follow Reason with Science:

Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reasonwithscience.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ReasonwithScience

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894 ⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLila1Jm-QEwKu4xXtNpYFAsSDmPR9mlZB&si=5ehXeZhZ-z181G5b

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:04:06 How do you picture a cell?

00:12:56

00:15:37 What is multicellularity?

00:25:58 Why can’t unicellular or early multicellular organisms communicate over long distances?

00:31:10 Cells as colonial organisms—how do they coordinate with identical genomes?

00:48:11 Introducing snowflakes

01:14:36 How does cellular specialization happen, and what makes it unique?

01:16:34 Can different experimental conditions lead to new types of specialization?

01:33:25 What drives cellular specialization?

01:34:46 What happens at the cellular level in diseases like cancer?

01:43:52 How do you view aging from a cellular perspective?

More on Reason with Science:

1) Chemistry of life and death | Nick Lane | Reason with Science | Origin of life | Biochemistry (https://youtu.be/YolIkk_oJdI)

2) Collective intelligence of cells | Michael Levin | Reason with science | Bioelectricity | Biology (https://youtu.be/yFNWuHOtM1w) #reasonwithscience #biology #evolution

In this episode, we talk with cognitive scientist Hugo Mercier about the fascinating topic of reasoning - what it is, how it works, and why it matters. Hugo is a co-author of The Enigma of Reason (with Dan Sperber) and author of Not Born Yesterday. Here, we discuss why reason evolved, the good and bad sides of reasoning, and how our biases - like confirmation bias and motivated reasoning - affect us. Hugo helps us unpack ideas like the argumentative theory of reasoning, the dual-process theory, and whether reasoning is better for competition or collaboration. Plus, we explore how to fight misinformation, train our reasoning abilities, and embrace intellectual humility.

Guest info:

Website: https://sites.google.com/site/hugomercier/

X: https://x.com/hugoreasoning?lang=en

Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=hugo+mercier&btnG=

Episode links:

Website: https://reasonwithscience.com/reason-and-scientific-method-with-hugo-mercier

Youtube: https://youtu.be/SJUoyZKGPIc?si=-lsc5R2BuVBBQIj0

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1k5xiHUJsahSsGJCS33f00?si=9421bc7b341d436f

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-and-scientific-method-hugo-mercier-reason/id1641776894?i=1000686324801

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=SJUoyZKGPIc&si=LL0RrAovldZgQV_i

Follow Reason with Science:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reasonwithscience.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ReasonwithScience

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894 ⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLila1Jm-QEwKu4xXtNpYFAsSDmPR9mlZB&si=5ehXeZhZ-z181G5b

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:36 What's your understanding of reason?

00:05:37 What about science?

00:08:10 Can we say that reason is an evolved property of evolution?

00:12:50 Can using the scientific method lead to better reasoning?

00:30:30 Does the role of language play an important part in understanding how reason works?

00:33:40 Do you think cooperation is the key to the evolution of reasoning?

00:35:12 What characteristics make reason evolve?

00:37:45 If cooperation is key, why does reason misfire?

00:39:40 What do you think about rationality? Is it another special form of reasoning?

00:42:45 Are there different processes, like unconscious and conscious levels, that matter when it comes to reasoning?

00:51:55 Can reasoning be trained?

00:56:34 What do you think about misinformation, and how is it linked to education?

01:05:10 What is the difference between information and misinformation?

01:08:48 Does the type of media matter?

More on Reason with Science:

1) Chemistry of life and death | Nick Lane | Reason with Science | Origin of life | Biochemistry (https://youtu.be/YolIkk_oJdI)

2) Collective intelligence of cells | Michael Levin | Reason with science | Bioelectricity | Biology (https://youtu.be/yFNWuHOtM1w)

3) Powering the complexity of life with Michael Levin and Nick Lane | Reason with Science | Biology (https://youtu.be/GBxVvLVzF68)

4) How multicellularity evolves | William Ratcliff | Reason with Science | Origin and evolution of life (https://youtu.be/HOrNrg2H5Ok)

5) The evolutionary origins of a good society | Nicholas Christakis | Reason with Science | Psychology (https://youtu.be/61-cE2z-aWI)

6) Food for your health | Dr. Robert Lustig | Reason with Science | Sugar | Diets | Healthy Lifestyle (https://youtu.be/JD4yPgnqv4M?si=3R68UDTRfW_lV5Pw)

This episode is with Kerstin Göpfrich. She is a leading researcher in the field of synthetic biology with experties in biophysics, DNA nanotechnology. and microfluidics. She leads the max plank research group of biophysical engineering at the max plank Institute for medical research in Heidleberg. Her research centers on utilizing DNA origami, a versatile technique that employs DNA molecules to construct three-dimensional components for synthetic cells. In this conversation we talk about can we create life in the lab, synthetic cells, advantages of using DNA origami in creating synthetic cells, applications, and the future of artificial cells.

Guest info: Website: https://goepfrichgroup.de/kerstin-gopfrich/ Twitter: https://x.com/kgoepfrich?s=21

Episode links: Website: https://reasonwithscience.com/synthetic-cells-and-dna-origami-with-kerstin-goepfrich

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6sD5k6uU9A

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1toGr9GQQxRoKfWKT88SGd?si=C-GUgGxvRzSw9O5qp3FN5w

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/synthetic-cells-and-dna-origami-kerstin-g%C3%B6pfrich/id1641776894?i=1000684692335

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=S6sD5k6uU9A&si=oCqy98Z0JpxMU5oI

Follow Reason with Science: Website: https://www.reasonwithscience.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReasonwithScience

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894

YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLila1Jm-QEwKu4xXtNpYFAsSDmPR9mlZB&si=Qb5QI_Pucar-QQ1P

Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:22 - Briefly describe your work and what you do.

00:03:08 - How do you envision a cell?

00:11:51 - What are top-down and bottom-up approaches?

More on Reason with Science: 1) Chemistry of life and death | Nick Lane | Reason with Science | Origin of life | Biochemistry (https://youtu.be/YolIkk_oJdI)

2) Collective intelligence of cells | Michael Levin | Reason with science | Bioelectricity | Biology (https://youtu.be/yFNWuHOtM1w)

3) Powering the complexity of life with Michael Levin and Nick Lane | Reason with Science | Biology (https://youtu.be/GBxVvLVzF68)

4) How multicellularity evolves | William Ratcliff | Reason with Science | Origin and evolution of life (https://youtu.be/HOrNrg2H5Ok)

5) The evolutionary origins of a good society | Nicholas Christakis | Reason with Science | Psychology (https://youtu.be/61-cE2z-aWI)

6) Food for your health | Dr. Robert Lustig | Reason with Science | Sugar | Diets | Healthy Lifestyle (https://youtu.be/JD4yPgnqv4M?si=3R68UDTRfW_lV5Pw)

#reasonwithscience #engineering #biology

This episode is with Steven Austad. He is the Protective Life Endowed Chair in Health Aging Research, a Distinguished professor and Chair of the Department of Biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Steven has been at the forefront of unraveling the mysteries of why some individuals live longer and healthier lives than others. His work covers a diverse array of topics, from the cellular mechanisms of aging to the evolutionary aspects of longevity in various species. In this conversation we talk about what is ageing?, biggest challenges in the field of ageing, evolutionary aspects of ageing, chronic illnesses and how to increase human life span?

Guest info: Website: https://www.uab.edu/cas/biology/people/faculty/steven-n-austad Twitter: https://twitter.com/StevenAustad Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Steven-N-Austad/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ASteven+N.+Austad Episode links: Website: https://www.reasonwithscience.com/home/evolutionary-aspects-of-ageing-with-steven-austad Youtube: https://youtu.be/823Yw2LtOSs?si=UzDtGW2npXjmS2VC Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/48kythKGzGRRP0kprH2URf?si=bLVx4NCsQuCVdwH2J6EyvA Apple podcast: https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my-podcasts/show/reason-with-science/407cd478-4271-4319-8318-fc378d4e7ccb/episode/evolutionary-aspects-of-ageing-%7C-steven-austad-%7C-reason-with-science-%7C-lifespan-%7C-human-health/c45d0d4e-0054-4519-8697-22e4a8649162 Google podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9iMjMyNDZlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw/episode/NmE1M2MzMDMtODMyYy00MjNkLTg2YTctNDI3ZGQzZTk2NTc2?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwiYsL_O56CBAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQLA

Follow Reason with Science:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reasonwithscience.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/reasonwithscience⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Google podcast:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9iMjMyNDZlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw

Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:08 How did you decide to work on ageing? 00:03:21 Why some species age faster than others? 00:03:56 Evolutionary perspective of ageing 00:05:42 What is ageing? 00:06:13 Challenges in studying ageing 00:09:49 What is longevity and longevity quotient? 00:12:18 How does flight affects ageing? 00:17:21 Correlation between habitat of animals and their lifespan 00:19:07 Factors affecting lifespan of animals in the wild or in captivity 00:20:59 Importance of regeneration for the survival 00:22:58 Flight independently evolved four times 00:25:55 Temperature dependent change of sex 00:27:10 Wisdom- the oldest confirmed wild bird 00:28:58 What are the challenges to get the age of an animal correctly? 00:37:12 Relationship between size of the animal and longevity 00:40:42 Vampire bats 00:41:41 Lifespan of naked mole rats 00:44:31 Impact of high altitude on human health 00:46:37 Lifespan of hummingbirds 00:49:22 Lessons for human longevity from evolutionary biology 00:56:04 Steven's work on Restrictive eating 01:02:04 It is important to couple restrictive eating with weight training 01:04:40 Comment on diets 01:06:58 There are no biomarkers for ageing 01:08:27 When can we have a good consensus on healthy lifestyle? 01:10:10 Life at the age of 77 01:11:28 Ethical implications of increasing human lifespan 01:13:53 Thank you

More on Reason with Science: 1) The evolutionary origins of a good society | Nicholas Christakis | Reason with Science | Psychology (   • The evolutionary origins of a good so...  ) 2) Food for your health | Dr. Robert Lustig | Reason with Science | Sugar | Diets | Healthy Lifestyle (   • Food for your health | Dr. Robert Lus...  )

This episode is with Enrico Coen. He is a plant biologist and geneticist at John Innes Centre. Enrico's work has focused on unraveling the intricate genetic and molecular mechanisms that govern the formation and growth of plants. He is the author of two books, namely, 'Cells to civilizations' and 'Art of genes'.

In this conversation we talk about major transitions in biology, emergence of complexity, evolution of life, drivers of evolution, evolution of brains, Intelligence and science.

Guest info: Website: https://www.jic.ac.uk/people/enrico-coen/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/InnerWorlds1 Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Enrico-Coen/author/B001HCV4C8?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Episode links: Website: https://www.reasonwithscience.com/home/cells-to-civilizations-with-enrico-coen Youtube: https://youtu.be/_20Tko5_Xho?si=RiEHhpaOlgaBGjil Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/13MfRZ6EGFPW05osKeWUfW?si=QT-HPrXXR5OiCwHM07AxiQ Apple podcast: https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my-podcasts/show/reason-with-science/407cd478-4271-4319-8318-fc378d4e7ccb/episode/cells-to-civilizations-with-enrico-coen-%7C-reason-with-science-%7C-evolution-%7C-science-%7C-culture/c2fa8dec-cefa-4b2a-9498-56d67e12b08c Google podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9iMjMyNDZlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw/episode/ZjQ1Y2FlNWEtNWJiZS00MGVmLWJkZGMtOWM2ZGZiZjBjMjVh?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwjI1ZGbl5CBAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQLA

Follow Reason with Science:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reasonwithscience.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/reasonwithscience⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh⁠⁠⁠⁠

Apple podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894 ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Google podcast:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9iMjMyNDZlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction 

00:01:04 Major transformations of life 

00:14:12 What is science and how it works? 

00:16:22 Can science help us to study fundamental nature of reality? 

00:30:07 Do we need an absolutist view of science? 

00:37:14 What are the commonalities between evolution, development, culture and learning? 

00:44:32 Role of parasites in the evolution of life 

00:47:49 Survival of the fittest 

00:53:07 Natural selection at the level of replicators 

00:58:46 Level at which evolution works (genes or cells) 

01:09:47 Concept of memes 

01:16:00 Why religion has been successful? 

01:25:45 Crucial elements of scientific method 

01:32:50 Importance of self-doubt 

01:36:10 Covid-19 pandemic and science 

01:40:00 Science and art 

01:48:09 Future writing 

01:50:12 Thank you!

This episode is with John Bargh. He is a social psychologist at Yale University. John's work has shed light on the intricate workings of the human mind, delving into topics such as priming, automaticity, and the power of the unconscious. His research has challenged conventional notions, revealing how subtle cues and environmental factors can shape our perceptions,decisions, and actions.

In this conversation we talk about unconscious mind, priming effects, evolution of consciousness, unconscious biases, and can we train our unconscious?

Guest info:

Website: https://acmelab.yale.edu/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Books-John-Bargh/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AJohn+Bargh

Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=xueSKyQAAAAJ&hl=en

Episode links: Website: https://www.reasonwithscience.com/home/unconscious-mind-and-our-behavior-with-john-bargh Youtube: https://youtu.be/rb2gaN0VAsI Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/08y5c7CKorKThk5w0BgSlQ?si=DLAvsAE5Ss2vhrLCyqW0Zw Apple podcast: https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my-podcasts/show/reason-with-science/407cd478-4271-4319-8318-fc378d4e7ccb/episode/unconscious-mind-and-our-behavior-|-john-bargh-|-reason-with-science-|-psychology-|-consciousness/ffb36aaf-7029-40b9-9066-9fb23050a72f Google podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9iMjMyNDZlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw/episode/MjA4MzQ5OTgtZTVkZS00Nzk3LTkzNjUtZWI5OGJkODE2ZjZj?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwjgsfX5iev_AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQLA

Follow Reason with Science:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.reasonwithscience.com/⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/reasonwithscience⁠⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh⁠⁠⁠

Apple podcast: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894 ⁠⁠⁠

Google podcast:⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9iMjMyNDZlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw ⁠⁠⁠

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:46 Early career

00:04:10 Hard problem of consciousness

00:10:33 Unconscious mind and it's role in our behavior

00:17:57 Distinction between conscious and unconscious mind

00:20:40 Hot and Cold experiments

00:29:56 Priming effects

00:30:40 Global effects of priming

00:34:05 Goal priming

00:39:40 Trust priming for the idiologies

00:55:45 Cultural priming

00:58:31 Priming effects through Social media

01:07:50 Evolution of conscious and unconscious mind

01:15:00 Examples of conscious and unconscious activities

01:17:46 Evolution of unconscious mind in other species

01:20:50 Consciousness in other species

01:24:00 Can we train our unconscious mind?

01:27:24 Effects of multi-tasking

01:34:00 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

01:36:03 Unconscious biases

01:42:02 Next book

01:45:12 Thank You!

This episode is with Michael Russell. He is geologist who works on the origin of life. Mike is an originator of the theory that life emerged at alkaline submarine hydrothermal vents. In this conversation we talk about topics related to origin of life, hydrothermal vents, alien life, artificial life, and are there new life forms emerging now?

Guest info:

Website: https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/directory/russell-michael/

Episode links: Website: https://www.reasonwithscience.com/home/life-origins-at-hydrothermal-vents-with-michael-russell Youtube: https://youtu.be/CtKMl5Gr5JY Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3xyGOMu6CNOfbIknRhFis3?si=LqPekasnTv6mUo6e8AAGkA Apple podcast: https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my-podcasts/show/reason-with-science/407cd478-4271-4319-8318-fc378d4e7ccb/episode/life-origins-at-hydrothermal-vents-|-michael-russell-|-reason-with-science-|-geology-|-chemistry/a651d6d1-2124-46e7-b83d-c1a2918dfceb Google podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9iMjMyNDZlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw/episode/ZjU3MjQ0MTctYWJkZC00ODExLWEzOTAtZDUwM2UzMDVkMGUz?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwjggpygouH_AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQLA

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Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh⁠⁠

Apple podcast: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894 ⁠⁠

Google podcast:⁠⁠ https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9iMjMyNDZlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw ⁠⁠

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:49 What are the most interesting aspects of life?

00:04:02 Beginning of space-time

00:08:42 Dawn of chemistry

00:11:47 Progress in science

00:16:37 Discovery of hydrothermal vents for emergence of life

00:28:12 How the submarine alkaline vents were discovered?

00:37:06 Early earth conditions for the origin of life

00:44:22 Major issues to explain orgin of life

00:49:45 Composition of green rust

00:52:07 Disagreement on engines of hydrothermal vents

00:54:15 Can we link origin of metabolism at hydrothermal vents with the information?

00:56:22 Next step after origin of metabolism

00:59:22 Membranes and viruses

01:02:34 Did protocells escape hydrothermal vents?

01:08:47 Did LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor) evolve in hydrothermal vents?

01:18:56 Creating an artificial hydrothermal vents

01:29:00 Thank you!

This episode is with Lee Cronin. He is the Regius Chair of Chemistry in the School of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow. He and his team are trying to make artificial life forms, find alien life, explore the digitization of chemistry, understand how information can be encoded into chemicals and construct chemical computers. In this conversation we talk about topics related to origin of life, framework to build life from inorganic material, assembly theory, Darwinian evolution, and alien life.

Guest info:

Website: https://www.chem.gla.ac.uk/cronin/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecronin?s=20

Episode links: Website: https://www.reasonwithscience.com/home/building-life-from-chemistry-with-lee-cronin Youtube: https://youtu.be/IrTp7uu8le0 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/02qVFLcY6AF7HWvCJqHqZe?si=gDcdgmjbSAy93Pne9rcWcw Apple podcast: https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my-podcasts/show/reason-with-science/407cd478-4271-4319-8318-fc378d4e7ccb/episode/building-life-from-chemistry-|-lee-cronin-|-reason-with-science-|-artificial-life-|-origin-of-life/9ed704ca-7836-4a52-a3a3-b894f537ff4a Google podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9iMjMyNDZlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw/episode/MmJhZDViOTUtZWZjMS00NjY0LTlmZDYtZmM2ZTdiNTRlNmVl?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwjA1ZHF27v_AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQLA

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Apple podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894 ⁠

Google podcast:⁠ https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9iMjMyNDZlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw ⁠

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:59 Lee's point of view of origin of life research

00:02:24 Are there different scales in chemistry of origin of life?

00:04:01 Framework to build life

00:06:57 Theory of life

00:12:06 Can darwinian evolution works beyond at the chemical level?

00:15:59 Fundamental level of selection

00:22:04 Memories of compounds

00:22:42 Assembly theory

00:24:51 Multiverse

00:28:05 Why haven't we managed to build life so far?

00:31:33 How to use automation to build life?

00:36:33 What is essence of life?

00:39:03 Why do we have life only on earth in our solar system?

00:39:33 Experiment to build life

00:40:33 What will be the information of artificial life?

00:41:19 Chemputer

00:44:38 3D printing life forms

00:49:07 How to identify alien life?

00:50:22 Explanation of assembly theory

00:54:22 How to differentiate alien organic or inorganic matter?

00:58:12 Selection at artificial cells

01:02:45 Thank you!

This episode is with Robert Aumann (94 years old now).

He is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers in game theory and decision theory. His exceptional work has not only reshaped the way we understand strategic decision-making and cooperation but has also garnered him numerous accolades. In 2005, Aumann was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his pioneering work in game theory and its applications. His groundbreaking insights have not only advanced our theoretical understanding of strategic decision-making but also have practical implications in various fields, such as negotiations, conflict resolution, and the design of market mechanisms.

In this conversation we talk about the topics related to his scientific journey including game theory to study the conflict and cooperation, Nash equilibrium, Aumann Agreement Theorem, Knot theory, rationality, and future directions of game theory.

Guest info:

Website: https://mathematics.huji.ac.il/people/robert-j-aumann

Episode links: Website: https://www.reasonwithscience.com/home/behavioral-economics-and-game-theory-with-robert-aumann Youtube: https://youtu.be/l6AK1RlNPSo Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6hKAlf7GqPwhtkrNLaPU9I?si=55G-9LCwS-qn5ecZvPQ6DQ Apple podcast: https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my-podcasts/show/reason-with-science/407cd478-4271-4319-8318-fc378d4e7ccb/episode/behavioral-economics-and-game-theory-|-robert-aumann-|-reason-with-science-|-nobel-laureate-|-psychology/b975ea0c-2501-448a-8bd3-ea58628da534 Google podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9iMjMyNDZlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw/episode/NjRmN2RlMTEtYWY1NS00ZGNmLTkwNzgtMGE3ZmJkMDY3YzZl?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwiQ5IGWuKn_AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQLA

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Google podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9iMjMyNDZlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:07 Interest in mathematics and economics

00:12:34 What is game theory?

00:16:35 War is an example of a game

00:17:30 Zero sum game

00:18:33 Politics is also a game

00:19:05 Contributions of John Nash to game theory

00:28:35 Examples of game theory regarding economics

00:47:00 Concept of common knowledge

00:58:30 Agreement theorem

01:04:25 Bayesianism and agreement theorem

01:05:42 Importance of education

01:13:48 Rationality

01:22:55 Kahneman and Tversky's work

01:25:30 Wars are rational

01:43:40 Life at the age of 93!

01:44:30 Thank you

This episode is with Denis Noble.

He is a renowned biologist, physiologist, and systems theorist, known for his pioneering research in the fields of cardiac physiology and systems biology.

Noble's early work on the electrical activity of the heart was centered on this topic, and he was the first to put forth the notion of the cardiac action potential, which is now generally recognized in the field. He has also contributed significantly to our understanding of cardiac arrhythmias, irregular heart rhythms that can cause serious health concerns.

In addition to his work in cardiac physiology, Noble has been a critical player in the development of systems biology, which aims to comprehend complex biological systems by integrating data from different sources. He has also been a vocal proponent of using mathematical and computational approaches in biology, and his work has contributed to developing a new paradigm for biological research.

In this conversation we talk about the topics related to evolution, including Neo-Darwinism, the role of DNA as information, the use of genes as templates for evolution, the emerging field of epigenetics, the significance of bioelectricity, and potential future directions for evolutionary research.

Guest info: Website: https://www.dpag.ox.ac.uk/team/denis-noble Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=J6kLmsIAAAAJ&hl=en Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Denis-Noble/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ADenis+Noble

Episode links: Website: https://www.reasonwithscience.com/home/what-drives-evolution-with-denis-noble Youtube: https://youtu.be/V09fJ38Qt6E Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5DtKdllyvzMtNxMc3hS4cI?si=grH2uw6ySNmMMa-Uq6pv_g Apple podcast: https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my-podcasts/show/reason-with-science/407cd478-4271-4319-8318-fc378d4e7ccb/episode/what-drives-evolution-|-denis-noble-|-reason-with-science-|-darwin-|-selfish-genes-|-richard-dawkins/714742fe-f764-44f6-ac50-bb4e52dabd1f Google podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9iMjMyNDZlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw/episode/N2QwMGUwY2ItMWU0NC00N2FlLWE0YjgtMTM1MGE3N2UzMmFj?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwjAwbSUgfb-AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQLA

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Website: https://www.reasonwithscience.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/reasonwithscience

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894

Google podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9iMjMyNDZlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:58 DNA as the information in biological systems

00:20:30 What drives evolution?

01:00:49 Horizontal gene transfer

01:05:03 What is an organism?

01:23:08 Importance of metaphors

01:31:00 What is a gene?

01:31:57 Evolution of species

01:39:03 Artificial life

01:41:04 Thank you!