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Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

Big Bang Productions Inc.

A podcast about how we understand the world, scientifically and as humans. Each conversation brings together visionaries from the worlds of arts, sciences, humanities, and technology discussing the nature of reality and how we collaborate to create the future. Hosted by Dr Brian Keating, Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Physics at UC San Diego. For show notes go to: https://briankeating.com/podcast

466 - Sara Walker: How the Origin of Life Could Guide Our Search for Aliens [Ep. 456]
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  • 466 - Sara Walker: How the Origin of Life Could Guide Our Search for Aliens [Ep. 456]

    What is the connection between the origin of life on Earth and the search for extraterrestrial life? Could a revolutionary new theory guide us in our search for aliens? And is consciousness an inevitable outcome of life’s complexity, or is it something more mysterious? I had the pleasure of discussing these fascinating issues with the incredible astrobiologist and theoretical physicist Sara Walker. Sara has greatly contributed to our understanding of how life emerges from non-living matter and how information processing in biological systems differs from that in non-living systems. Her work often explores the intersections of physics, biology, and information theory, seeking to uncover the fundamental principles that govern the transition from chemistry to biology.  In this episode, we dive deep into the mysteries of life, assembly theory, consciousness, and life beyond Earth.  Tune in! — Key Takeaways:  00:00:00 Intro  00:01:40 The origin of life and our search for aliens  00:05:31 Judging a book by its cover 00:10:04 Assembly theory and consciousness 00:15:33 What’s the testable hypothesis?  00:21:25 Is life a miracle?  00:30:47 Criticisms of assembly theory  00:43:35 Intelligent design 00:46:35 The concept of time in physics  00:51:08 The future of assembly theory  00:58:30 Predicting life on other planets using assembly theory  01:04:05 What if life didn’t originate on Earth?  01:07:19 Issues with assembly theory and Johannes Jäger 01:21:19 The day after aliens 01:26:44 Outro  — Additional resources:  ➡️ Connect with Sara Walker:  ✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/Sara_Imari/  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alien_matter/ — ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list  ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/  🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast  — Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Sun, 01 Sep 2024
  • 465 - Do We Need New Laws of Physics to Explain the Origins of Life? Brian Keating & Lee Cronin

    Do we need new laws of physics to explain the origins of life?  I had an amazing discussion about this with the one and only Lee Cronin on Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal. We talked about life, consciousness, physics, chemistry, assembly theory, the Drake equation, and more!  Lee Cronin is a chemist and the Regius Chair of Chemistry in the School of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow. His research focuses on synthetic life forms, the self-assembly of molecules, and the origin of life. He’s also a leading expert in the field of digital chemistry, pushing the boundaries of chemistry using advanced robotics and AI.  Curt Jaimungal is the host of the popular podcast and YouTube channel "Theories of Everything," known for exploring theoretical physics, consciousness, Ai, and God in a technically rigorous manner.  Tune in! — Key Takeaways:  00:00:00 Intro  00:00:43 My opening statements  00:04:07 Lee’s opening statements 00:09:26 Why defining "life" is difficult 00:19:50 Disagreements on the origin of life 00:31:51 Is the definition of entropy wrong?  00:50:45 Order that doesn’t involve entropy 00:56:22 Abundance of life in the universe 01:10:36 An answer to the Fermi Paradox 01:19:17 Assembly theory explained 01:36:32 Searching for UFOs 01:50:14 Lee's gripes against the Galileo Project and Avi Loeb 02:08:27 Audience questions  02:15:39 Should UAP data be given to scientists?  02:25:56 Do we need new laws for life? — Additional resources:  ➡️ Follow Lee Cronin:  ✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/leecronin/  💻 Website: https://www.chem.gla.ac.uk/cronin/  ➡️ Check out Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal:  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w  💻 Website: https://www.curtjaimungal.org/  — ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list  ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/  🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast  — Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Fri, 30 Aug 2024
  • 464 - Confessions of an Alien Hunter with Seth Shostak (2021)

    What is the current state of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI)? Why do scientists often raise their eyebrows at UFO sightings? And what might the future of SETI look like with ongoing technological advancements? I had the privilege of diving into these fascinating topics with the professional alien hunter Seth Shostak!  Seth Shostak is an astronomer and author who directs the search for extraterrestrials at the SETI Institute in California—trying to find evidence of intelligent life in space. He is also committed to getting the public, especially young people, excited about astrobiology and science in general. Seth hosts “Big Picture Science,” the SETI Institute’s weekly radio show. The one-hour program uses interviews with leading researchers and lively and intelligent storytelling to tackle big questions like: What came before the Big Bang? How does memory work? Will our descendants be human or machine? What’s the origin of humor? Big Picture Science can be found on iTunes and other podcast sites. — Key Takeaways:  00:00 Intro 02:05 Judging a book by its cover  06:49 The Carl Sagan Directors Award and the reorganization of the SETI Institute 09:45 Area 51, Harry Reid and the resurgence of interest in UAPs 11:59 What do you think about new scientific pursuits around UAPs and SETI? 16:47 What do you think about the Drake Equation? 21:18 When can we stop looking? 24:52 What technology could alien civilizations be using?  30:34 How do you handle the criticisms that you are anti-alien? 33:26 What are the latest SETI projects? 37:22 Final questions  44:09 Outro — Additional resources:  ➡️ Learn more about Seth Shostak:  💻 Website: https://sethshostak.com/  ✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/SethShostak  📚 Confessions of an Alien Hunter: https://a.co/d/da0IGpk  — ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list  ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/  🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast  — Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Tue, 27 Aug 2024
  • 463 - Donald Hoffman On Free Will, Positive Geometries of Consciousness & Spacetime [Ep. 455]

    Will physics ever be able to explain consciousness? What if our entire understanding of reality is just an illusion shaped by evolution? Could the universe be a sophisticated virtual reality created by our own minds for our own good? And does free will exist after all?  Joining me today to explore these profound questions is none other than Donald Hoffman! Donald Hoffman is a renowned philosopher, famous TED talk speaker, cognitive scientist, and deep thinker.  He is a professor in the Department of Cognitive Science at the University of California, Irvine, and the author of the provocative book The Case Against Reality. This is his third time on my show because we simply never run out of topics, and it’s always refreshing to hear his thoughts and ideas!  So, without further ado, let’s jump right in! — Key Takeaways:  00:00:00 Intro  00:01:11 Sam Harris, Robert Sapolsky, and free will  00:07:59 Positive geometries of consciousness  00:17:17 Will physics ever be able to explain consciousness? 00:26:05 Stepping outside of spacetime  00:36:51 Markovian dynamics  00:48:10 Theory of perception  00:52:37 Audience questions  01:05:44 The future of academia  01:13:24 Outro — Additional resources:  ➡️ Learn more about Don Hoffman:  📚 The Case Against Reality: https://a.co/d/dy3tfCc — ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list  ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/  🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast  — Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Sun, 25 Aug 2024
  • 462 - What Does It Mean to Live a Fulfilling Life? The Candy Ken Show

    What does it mean to live a fulfilling life? Why should we commit to one person? Why are we as a society so obsessed with wealth? And why do I consider being a parent the most important role in my life? I had the pleasure of chatting about these profound topics with Candy Ken on his show. Enjoy!  Candy Ken is an Austrian rapper, model, and social media personality known for his flamboyant, colorful style and hyper-masculine persona that challenges traditional gender norms. He gained popularity on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where he combines elements of kawaii culture, macho aesthetics, and pop culture references. He’s the host of The Candy Ken Show. — Key Takeaways:  00:00 Intro 01:13 Committing to one person  02:34 Chasing external achievements 04:00 The most important role in life 12:18 Cultural obsession with wealth  24:47 The importance of male role models 33:21 Are you a slave to work?  43:29 Losing the Nobel Prize 48:39 Into the Impossible  51:25 The politicization of the Nobel Prize 01:01:08 Aliens, ancient civilizations and religion  01:21:49 Finding happiness 01:29:51 Outro — Additional resources:  ➡️ Check out Candy Ken:  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzxn731KM8sfH_LS7-ekbTg — ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list  ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/  🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast  — Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Fri, 23 Aug 2024
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