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

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

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!

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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

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Additional resources:

➡️ Connect with Sara Walker:

✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/Sara_Imari/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alien_matter/

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➡️ 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

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Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

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