Podcasts about origin of life

Join our hosts for Wednesday's show where we will be discussing: ‘Disappearing Languages' and ‘Origin of Life.' Disappearing Languages Why are languages disappearing around the world? Join us as we explore the endangered language crisis, why linguistic diversity matters and what is lost when cultures become disconnected from their mother tongues. Origin of Life How did life begin on Earth? Join us as we explore the origin of life, looking at scientific theories, chemical processes and the deeper questions of whether life is the result of chance, design or something greater, and what this means for our understanding of existence. Guests: Dr. Emmanuel Ngué Um: Dr Emmanuel is a linguist, language activist, and technologist with experience revitalizing his own language (Basaa) as well as supporting language work at a global level. Dr Julia Sallabank: Dr Julia Sallabank is a sociolinguist and leading expert on language endangerment and revitalisation. Professor Ross Perlin: Professor Ross Perlin is a linguist, author, and co-director of the Endangered Language Alliance in New York. Producers: Bushra Tun Nisa Amir and Amtul Shakoor

Gerald Weston - TVCA1414 - Consider that there are only 3 fundamental hypotheses for life existing on planet Earth. That life was transported to earth, evolved from non-living matter, or that life is the creation of an intelligent creator. Which is correct? Can you know?

What are the true limits of life, will we even recognize it when we see it? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore the beginnings of life on Earth and what they might tell us about life everywhere else with astrobiologist and bacteriologist, Betül Kaçar. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here:  https://startalkmedia.com/show/how-did-life-begin-with-betul-kacar/ Thanks to our Patrons Christian Payne, Gage Ewing, Ryan Whynot, Temirlan, 2 Lives Left, Chad Keeler, Harli Shae Smith, Brad Smith, Norm Bailey, James Peterson, Ryan Coppens, David Whittenberg, Scott Jarboe, Varun Krishnan, Eric Salinas, Mary Seman, Melissa Davis, Stephen Rockwell, Catrina, Max Wilburn, Keith Koenigsberg, LEIII, Vincent Loniello, Simon Toth, DoctorWaterGod, Ruthanne Nava, Martineau Alex, Matthew, Phil, Jaden, Arik Drori, Papersneaker, Steven Peeters, Trey Durango, Julianne, Robbie James, Jason Foreman, Liam, Steven Van Vleet, Marilyn, Zakk Why, Ben Wheeldon, Erik Leazure, Konal Sharma, Dušan Živanović, Erik Strandberg, Berklie Novak-Stolz, Kazi Mahin Mahfuz, Tim Van Devender, Andrew Martin, Jason F, Charles Joubert, Youcef Kazwiny, Joy Joslyn, Freeman, Jessica, Pat, Phillip Brooks, Michael Hues, Jacqueline Sinclair, Robert Marsh, Botas, Raza Naqvi (Sid), Jake, Christine Bartholomew & Family, Mr Xoot, Dyonté Houston, Daryl, Rob Weiss, Caleb Holmes, Jeffrey Luce, Kellie Owczarczak, Brandt Reppond, Joseph Savage, Grace Smith, Joe Pacillo, Gregory Wright, Eric Brothwell, IvanM, Pattie Particle, Cory Fenstermaker, James H Lawson, Embreebane, Dai Stiho, Raymond C King, J M, Alex Wheeler, Jason Rushmore, Idris, Damian Correa, Dylan Woody, Julia Nolen, Chris Petit, Anna, David Kapner, Lalo, Vic, Ash Anthony, and Wayne Stubblefield for supporting us this week. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Many claim that life began through natural processes billions of years ago, but the origin of the very first cell remains one of evolution's greatest unsolved problems. Despite decades of research, no one has demonstrated how non-living chemicals could assemble themselves into the complex, information-rich system required for even the simplest living cell. Join us as Eric Hovind sits down with Dr. Paul Nelson to examine the origin-of-life problem and why the first cell remains evolution's biggest hurdle. Is there any real evidence that life arose from non-life, or are scientists still searching for a process that has never been observed? Discover why the complexity of the first cell points not to blind chemistry, but to a Creator who brought life into existence from the very beginning. Watch this Podcast on Video at: https://creationtoday.org/on-demand-classes/finding-the-first-cell-answers-to-the-origin-of-life-question-creation-today-show-472/  Join Eric LIVE each Wednesday at 12 Noon CT for conversations with Experts. You can support this podcast by becoming a Creation Today Partner at CreationToday.org/Partner

What makes Earth special, and why are we here at all? In his book “Why Do We Exist? The Nine Realms of the Universe That Make You Possible,” astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi tackles the conditions needed to put life on Earth, from the formation of stars, to self-organizing molecules, to quantum weirdness and the nature of time. He joins Host Flora Lichtman to celebrate our place in the cosmos.  Read an excerpt from "Why Do We Exist?" Guest:  Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi is an astrophysicist and author of “Why Do We Exist? The Nine Realms of the Universe that Make You Possible.” Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

This week we are joined by Shayen to discuss his recent talk at Cardiff university about the origin of life. We explore the idea that the origins of life are much simpler than modern science would have you believe!Feel free to send in a question you would like answered on the next episode of the podcast! All other platforms

Could the ingredients for life have arrived on asteroids? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice unpack what the sample collected from asteroid Bennu is teaching us about the origins of life itself with Harold Connolly, geologist and mission scientist for OSIRIS-REx. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here:  https://startalkmedia.com/show/secrets-of-asteroid-bennu-with-harold-connolly-jr/ Thanks to our Patrons Kevin Widener, WilfriedLepuschitz, Rodney Juste, Aladin Mihai, Marc Washington, david smith, Gary Flenthrope, Christian Becker, EricRobert, Sonya a, Steve Jones, leeinalaska, Sewit Haile, Edward Janezich, Miguel Rodriguez, Shea M, Mister E, G.Montagnard, Vincent Jenkins, Ryan B, Brandon Kavulla, Owoskeun Cinder, LehensGivris, Marc, Debbie Evercloud, Fakhreddine Madi, Logan Koehler, Cem Oğuz, Aaron Greeley, Ohad Meir, Paul Osborne, Bodnár Márton János, STRS, Lawrence, THEO NNEBE, Richard Mosby, Kenneth Hawley, Robert Wilson, Amelia Cooper, mabus98, Mandana Rad, Lucas Kiil, Channing Hodges, Elizabeth Newton, Sebastián Egaña, Eric Hall, Sondre Rypdal, Anne Shirley, Andrew Rosenfeld, Michael Owen, T Playle, Kevin Selman, david Aldridge, Raymond Wright, Biotoxin, Brittany, Wraptile, Frances Cooley, Rodney Bell, Hesam Eskandari, Patrick Dietz, Alexandre Malouin, Diana Smith, Jesse Hoffman, Ian Peterson, WickedProf, Jonathan, SUSAN Moore, Tom DeGerlia, Jessica Holden, Simeon Ivaylov Petrov, Dario Kubler, Robert Passeri, Jr., Fred Miller, Jason Delancey, Rory L, Alice Kelaine Harline Davis, Loonertick, Rich, Jason Rich, jon meier, Susan, Robert Christine, Simon, Lauren Zajac, Brandon Abramovitz, J Sauce, Christopher Smith, Suzan Stocker, Roch Dylla, Treven Price, Zippo, Preet Sandhawalia, Chris McAfee, Hoth, Cody Mecham, Lewis, Casey Hampton, Jason Beezley, and Anthony Gliganic for supporting us this week. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Imari Walker is Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University, where she is Deputy Director of the Beyond Center. Sara is an astrobiologist and theoretical physicist, with research interests in the origins of life, artificial life, life and detection on other worlds. Lee Cronin is Regius Chair of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow. Among his many pursuits are the digitization of chemistry, the discovery of alien life, and the creation of artificial life. In this episode, Robinson, Sara, and Lee discuss the relationship between philosophy and science, quantum physics, time, determinism, AI, and the origin of Life.Life as No One Knows It: https://a.co/d/2fdKa2eLee's Website: https://www.chem.gla.ac.uk/cronin/Lee's Twitter: https://x.com/leecroninOUTLINE00:00 Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Philosophy07:57 Philosophy and Science20:58 Is Time an Object?30:00 More on Time44:38 On Time and Entropy51:13 Is the Universe Deterministic?01:08:54 What's Wrong with Quantum Physics?01:17:08 Contingency, Selection, and Evolution01:29:05 Scientific Temperament01:44:18 Do We Experience ChatGPT as Human?Robinson's Website: http://robinsonerhardt.comRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.

In this episode we discuss the paper "The Unreasonable Likelihood of Being: Origin of Life, Terraforming, and AI" (arXiv, 2025) with Robert Endres. Paper Abstract: The origin of life on Earth via the spontaneous emergence of a protocell prior to Darwinian evolution remains a fundamental open question in physics and chemistry. Here, we develop a conceptual framework based on information theory and algorithmic complexity. Using estimates grounded in modern computational models, we evaluate the difficulty of assembling structured biological in-formation under plausible prebiotic conditions. Our results highlight the formidable entropic and informational barriers to forming a viable protocell within the available window of Earth's early history. While the idea of Earth being terraformed by advanced extraterrestrials might violate Occam's razor from within mainstream science, directed panspermia—originally proposed by Francis Crick and Leslie Orgel—remains a speculative but logically open alternative. Ultimately, uncovering physical principles for life's spontaneous emergence remains a grand challenge for biological physics. Full paper available here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In this episode we discuss the paper "The Unreasonable Likelihood of Being: Origin of Life, Terraforming, and AI" (arXiv, 2025) with Robert Endres. Paper Abstract: The origin of life on Earth via the spontaneous emergence of a protocell prior to Darwinian evolution remains a fundamental open question in physics and chemistry. Here, we develop a conceptual framework based on information theory and algorithmic complexity. Using estimates grounded in modern computational models, we evaluate the difficulty of assembling structured biological in-formation under plausible prebiotic conditions. Our results highlight the formidable entropic and informational barriers to forming a viable protocell within the available window of Earth's early history. While the idea of Earth being terraformed by advanced extraterrestrials might violate Occam's razor from within mainstream science, directed panspermia—originally proposed by Francis Crick and Leslie Orgel—remains a speculative but logically open alternative. Ultimately, uncovering physical principles for life's spontaneous emergence remains a grand challenge for biological physics. Full paper available here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science

In this episode we discuss the paper "The Unreasonable Likelihood of Being: Origin of Life, Terraforming, and AI" (arXiv, 2025) with Robert Endres. Paper Abstract: The origin of life on Earth via the spontaneous emergence of a protocell prior to Darwinian evolution remains a fundamental open question in physics and chemistry. Here, we develop a conceptual framework based on information theory and algorithmic complexity. Using estimates grounded in modern computational models, we evaluate the difficulty of assembling structured biological in-formation under plausible prebiotic conditions. Our results highlight the formidable entropic and informational barriers to forming a viable protocell within the available window of Earth's early history. While the idea of Earth being terraformed by advanced extraterrestrials might violate Occam's razor from within mainstream science, directed panspermia—originally proposed by Francis Crick and Leslie Orgel—remains a speculative but logically open alternative. Ultimately, uncovering physical principles for life's spontaneous emergence remains a grand challenge for biological physics. Full paper available here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lee Cronin is Regius Chair of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow. Among his many pursuits are the digitization of chemistry, the discovery of alien life, and the creation of artificial life. Lee was most recently on the show for episode 264, in which he and Robinson and Lee discussed astrobiology, the chemistry of life as we know it, and the controversies surrounding artificial intelligence. In this follow-up conversation, they focused primarily on artificial intelligence, aliens, and assembly theory.Lee's Website: https://www.chem.gla.ac.uk/cronin/Lee's Twitter: https://x.com/leecroninOUTLINE00:00 Introduction01:01 AI or Aliens?02:46 What Is Intelligence?13:57 Are Autonomous Vehicles Intelligent?21:39 Assembly Theory and the Origin of Life28:23 Is ChatGPT Intelligent?34:12 What Would Genuine Artificial Intelligence Really Look Like?41:13 Are “AI Skills” Just Product Placement?49:45 Are AI Actually Intelligent “Agents”?56:21 Concluding Thoughts59:16 Will Aliens Be Biological?01:00:01 How Common Are Aliens in the Universe?01:05:51 How Will Aliens Search for Life on Earth?01:12:58 The Chemistry of Minds01:17:10 The Biggest Myths About AliensRobinson's Website: http://robinsonerhardt.comRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.

The origin of life is one of the biggest challenges to secular scientists. Hear a leading expert expound upon a myriad of reasons why! There will be some work for these two. He shared his screen and showed some videos, but he sent me links to use that should be better (i.e., cut-out the live version and insert the video taken from the links he's giving us.  See below my signature for those links).Also, his mic went out a number of times and he had to fix it quickly. That should all be edited out. Let me know if you have any questions.1) from Verisasium YouTube Channel, "The most controversial idea in biology":⁠https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxDPCtBoV57kP7N3sy9BoBwKzaWOpKqk_c?si=iXXH4u0s19BVFOWo⁠2) From Long Story Short, "Debunking popular science videos on the origin of life and RNA world"⁠https://youtu.be/dKoWpWGS-zY?si=Ls8R0L6auKsASnFF⁠      from 4:28.6  to 4:50.93) From Long Story Short, "Surviving the Daily DNA Apocalypse"⁠https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxmsQ_bxpMaYtHqtjeDsrkkqEONYRNG5Yo?si=wg3LPhwxdR8qUPGz⁠4) From Long Story Short, "Surviving the Daily DNA Apocalypse"⁠https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxrdEiIUifweDIR99ro_Z0Oe_P7D5N-UqE?si=io7tIULpVwLXQVC2⁠5) From Long Story Short, "Awkward truths about the origin of life: Energy and metabolism"⁠https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxDfnmez63NDacsa2jp0S4o_QDdobuo8t1?si=y5R36fqCcVuLH8qU⁠6) From Long Story Short, "Awkward truths about the origin of life: Energy and metabolism"⁠https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxhE4pJPHFRDfkkGSlG_qTuYKulzGRxr59?si=9z5X5r9wDMWazKwM

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The origin of life is one of the biggest challenges to secular scientists. Hear a leading expert expound upon a myriad of reasons why! There will be some work for these two. He shared his screen and showed some videos, but he sent me links to use that should be better (i.e., cut-out the live version and insert the video taken from the links he's giving us.  See below my signature for those links).Also, his mic went out a number of times and he had to fix it quickly. That should all be edited out. Let me know if you have any questions.1) from Verisasium YouTube Channel, "The most controversial idea in biology":https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxDPCtBoV57kP7N3sy9BoBwKzaWOpKqk_c?si=iXXH4u0s19BVFOWo2) From Long Story Short, "Debunking popular science videos on the origin of life and RNA world"https://youtu.be/dKoWpWGS-zY?si=Ls8R0L6auKsASnFF      from 4:28.6  to 4:50.93) From Long Story Short, "Surviving the Daily DNA Apocalypse"https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxmsQ_bxpMaYtHqtjeDsrkkqEONYRNG5Yo?si=wg3LPhwxdR8qUPGz4) From Long Story Short, "Surviving the Daily DNA Apocalypse"https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxrdEiIUifweDIR99ro_Z0Oe_P7D5N-UqE?si=io7tIULpVwLXQVC25) From Long Story Short, "Awkward truths about the origin of life: Energy and metabolism"https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxDfnmez63NDacsa2jp0S4o_QDdobuo8t1?si=y5R36fqCcVuLH8qU6) From Long Story Short, "Awkward truths about the origin of life: Energy and metabolism"https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxhE4pJPHFRDfkkGSlG_qTuYKulzGRxr59?si=9z5X5r9wDMWazKwM

This month, compelling evidence for why some species keep their eyes closed for sometimes several weeks after birth, scientists prove that the "nocebo" effect is more potent than a placebo, researchers report what happens when fish eggs and mouse sperm mix, the signals that cells use to measure the lengths of their telomeres, and some clever physics reveals the workings of Darwin's "warm little pond"... Get the references and the transcripts for this programme from the Naked Scientists website

In this episode, Jay Seegert and Dr. Rob Stadler delve into the complex topic of the origin of life, discussing the significance of understanding life's beginnings, the implications of the Miller-Urey experiment, and the intricate nature of cell membranes. They explore the challenges posed by the chicken and egg phenomenon in biology and emphasize the need for a comprehensive understanding of life's complexity, ultimately arguing for a design perspective over a purely naturalistic one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnyS0vpTh_k Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Ben Bayer, Tristan de Liege, and Mike Mazza discuss Jeremy Sherman's book, Neither Ghost Nor Machine: The Emergence and Nature of Selves. Topics include: Science and Philosophy; Deacon's Autogen Theory; Other Theories of the Origin and Nature of Life; Implications for Understanding Free Will; Implications for Moral Philosophy. Resources:  Harry Binswanger, The Biological Basis of Teleological Concepts This episode was recorded on October 10, 2025, and posted on November 11, 2025. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Watch archived podcasts here.

Sara Imari Walker is Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University, where she is Deputy Director of the Beyond Center. Sara is an astrobiologist and theoretical physicist, with research interests in the origins of life, artificial life, life and detection on other worlds. In this episode, Robinson and Sara discuss the physics that makes life possible. More particularly, they discuss assembly theory, the growing field of astrobiology, the difficulties of defining life, and where we are most likely to find aliens. Sara's latest book is Life as No One Knows It: The Physics of Life's Emergence (Riverhead Books, 2024).Life as No One Knows It: https://a.co/d/2fdKa2eOUTLINE00:00 Introduction00:35 The Connection Between Physics and Biology07:15 Philosophy and the Origin of Life10:03 Is the Selfish Gene Theory Wrong?22:17 On Her Work with Lee Cronin38:47 Experiments To Discover the Origin of Life48:52 What Is Assembly Theory?01:00:42 Are Boltzmann Brains Possible?01:05:53 The Paradox of Defining Life01:31:10 Is Life a Vague Concept?01:38:13 Where Are All the Aliens?Robinson's Website: http://robinsonerhardt.comRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.

This episode, University of Edinburgh PhD candidate Mia Belle Frothingham chats with Dr Nick Lane,  Professor of Evolutionary Biochemistry at the University College London. We talk about Nick's motivation to dethrone the primordial soup theory, what is directed panspermia, and the connection between the origin of life and consciousness.

Could the origins of life on Earth trace back to a natural nuclear reactor? Long before humanity split the atom, nature itself may have done it first. In this episode, we explore the astonishing possibility that self-sustaining fission reactions—like the Oklo natural reactor in Gabon—once powered the chemical engines of creation. From radioactive geysers and mineral-rich pools to the first self-replicating molecules, we'll examine how nuclear energy might have provided the spark that turned chemistry into biology. Along the way, we'll connect this mystery to the Fermi Paradox, asking whether such rare, radioactive beginnings might explain why intelligent life seems so scarce in the universe. Join us for a journey that blends cosmic mystery, geochemistry, and the science of life's origins.Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:The Fermi Paradox - Did a Natural Nuclear Reactor Spark All Life?Written by Isaac Arthur & Philip Kramer, PhDProduced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorChapters0:00 Intro3:39 The Fermi Paradox and the Great Filter6:41 The Rare Earth Hypothesis & LUCA11:42 Natural Nuclear Reactors – Earth's First Fission Furnace16:00 The Nuclear Geyser Hypothesis21:27 Nebula23:02 Implications for Alien Life29:39 Fictional ExplorationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Could the origins of life on Earth trace back to a natural nuclear reactor? Long before humanity split the atom, nature itself may have done it first. In this episode, we explore the astonishing possibility that self-sustaining fission reactions—like the Oklo natural reactor in Gabon—once powered the chemical engines of creation. From radioactive geysers and mineral-rich pools to the first self-replicating molecules, we'll examine how nuclear energy might have provided the spark that turned chemistry into biology. Along the way, we'll connect this mystery to the Fermi Paradox, asking whether such rare, radioactive beginnings might explain why intelligent life seems so scarce in the universe. Join us for a journey that blends cosmic mystery, geochemistry, and the science of life's origins.Watch my exclusive video The Fermi Paradox - Civilization Extinction Cycles: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-the-fermi-paradox-civilization-extinction-cyclesGet Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurGet a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthurUse the link https://gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $36.Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.netJoin Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthurSupport us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthurFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:The Fermi Paradox - Did a Natural Nuclear Reactor Spark All Life?Written by Isaac Arthur & Philip Kramer, PhDProduced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurSelect imagery/video supplied by Getty Images Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creatorChapters0:00 Intro3:39 The Fermi Paradox and the Great Filter6:41 The Rare Earth Hypothesis & LUCA11:42 Natural Nuclear Reactors – Earth's First Fission Furnace16:00 The Nuclear Geyser Hypothesis21:27 Nebula23:02 Implications for Alien Life29:39 Fictional ExplorationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sift through your memories and excavate an image of a fossil. Maybe you're picturing dinosaur bones, the imprint of an ammonite, or the fronds of a fern etched into stone. But there's a whole other category of fossilized remains that can tell us about life way before T. rexes, or even twigs, existed on this planet. That's fossilized evidence of microbes.Microbiologist Paula Welander uses these ancient remains to understand how life began on Earth. She joined Host Flora Lichtman for our live show at the Fox Theater in Redwood City, California, to talk about how her work may help us find life elsewhere in the universe.Guest: Dr. Paula Welander is a professor of Earth system science at Stanford University.Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com.  Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

Can you reason with a person who believes in a flat earth (and uses the Bible as their authority)?  A student asks about evolutionary proposals claiming to explain how life emerged from non-life.

This week we continue our fascinating conversation with biochemist, intelligent design advocate, and author Dr. Michael Behe, looking back over three decades since he first published Darwin's Black Box in 1996. On this episode, we will discuss some of the challenges facing origin of life research. From Michael's personal website: Michael Behe is Professor of Biological Sciences at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and a Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture. He received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in 1978. Behe's current research involves delineation of design and natural selection in protein structures.In his career he has authored over 40 technical papers and two books, Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution and The Edge of Evolution: The Search for the Limits of Darwinism, which argue that living system at the molecular level are best explained as being the result of deliberate intelligent design. The books have been reviewed by the New York Times, Nature, Philosophy of Science, Christianity Today, and many other periodicals. Darwin's Black Box has sold over 250,000 copies and was internationally reviewed in over one hundred publications. Both National Review and World magazine named it as one of the 100 most important books of the 20th century.Behe has presented and debated his work at major universities throughout North America and England.More about Darwin's Black BoxAudio Clips Featured in the Broadcast:Paul Davies: https://youtu.be/q4LnWlOKQFA?si=92PafZrUWecexarMRichard Dawkins: https://youtu.be/HJY5KKDrygI?si=kIyKZjIP26qsoGKBJerry Coyne: https://youtu.be/QOsNhQeUwk0?si=_BS67GjvyjItxeCVFree Resources from Watchman Fellowship Naturalism: https://www.watchman.org/Naturalism/ProfileNaturalism.pdfScientism: https://www.watchman.org/scientism/ProfileScientism.pdfPanpsychism: https://www.watchman.org/files/ProfilePanpsychism.pdfPostmodernism: https://www.watchman.org/files/ProfilePostmodernism.pdfAtheism: https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/atheismprofile.pdfAdditional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/FreePROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (around 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/NotebookSUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/GiveApologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2025 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

On the last two episodes of AP, we talked with Tricia Scribner about how theistic evolution impacts how we understand the God of the Bible. On the next two episodes, we will be following up with a conversation with biochemist Dr. Michael Behe, author of his widely popular 1996 book Darwin's Black Box. We will delve into the challenges molecular design and structure within living cells poses to traditional Neo-Darwinian concepts of evolution by means of natural selection and discuss how Dr. Behe believes intelligent design is the better scientific hypothesis. From Michael's personal website: Michael Behe is Professor of Biological Sciences at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and a Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture. He received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in 1978. Behe's current research involves delineation of design and natural selection in protein structures.In his career he has authored over 40 technical papers and two books, Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution and The Edge of Evolution: The Search for the Limits of Darwinism, which argue that living system at the molecular level are best explained as being the result of deliberate intelligent design. The books have been reviewed by the New York Times, Nature, Philosophy of Science, Christianity Today, and many other periodicals. Darwin's Black Box has sold over 250,000 copies and was internationally reviewed in over one hundred publications. Both National Review and World magazine named it as one of the 100 most important books of the 20th century.Behe has presented and debated his work at major universities throughout North America and England.More about Darwin's Black BoxAudio Clip of Kenneth Miller Featured in the Beginning: https://youtu.be/c_qNaCff7JY?si=bjypBWctbLTvlucZFree Resources from Watchman Fellowship Naturalism: https://www.watchman.org/Naturalism/ProfileNaturalism.pdfScientism: https://www.watchman.org/scientism/ProfileScientism.pdfPanpsychism: https://www.watchman.org/files/ProfilePanpsychism.pdfAtheism: https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/atheismprofile.pdfAdditional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/FreePROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (around 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/NotebookSUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/GiveApologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2025 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Psychologist Dr. Linda Mintle, author of "We Need to Talk," addresses our unwillingness to actually talk about issues that affecting our interpersonal relationships.  What are ways to talk about the hard stuff? Biochemist Dr. Sy Garte, author of "Beyond Evolution," points out new research that is starting to get non-Christian scientist see the hand of God in the creation of life and human consciousness.   Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here  

Why is the universe the way it is? Wherever we look, we find ordered structures: from stars to planets to living cells. Molecular Storms: The Physics of Stars, Cells and the Origin of Life (Springer Nature, 2023) shows that the same driving force is behind structure everywhere: the incessant random motion of the components of matter. Physicists call it thermal noise. Let's call it the molecular storm. This storm drives the fusion reactions that make stars shine. It drives whirlpools and currents in atmospheres and oceans. It spins and distorts molecules until they are in the right orientation to react and form new substances. In living cells, it drives proteins to fold and molecules to self-assemble. It is behind every detail of the astonishing molecular machines that control cellular processes. Using cutting-edge research, "Molecular Storms" takes us on a dazzling journey from the early universe to the interior of the smallest living things. There, in a nanoscale world of biological devices, it explains the physics behind the chemical system which we call Life. Whether you're someone with a general interest in science or a student looking to add context to your studies, this book is for you. "Molecular Storms" is an accessible and captivating read that will deepen your appreciation of the power of science to explain the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Why is the universe the way it is? Wherever we look, we find ordered structures: from stars to planets to living cells. Molecular Storms: The Physics of Stars, Cells and the Origin of Life (Springer Nature, 2023) shows that the same driving force is behind structure everywhere: the incessant random motion of the components of matter. Physicists call it thermal noise. Let's call it the molecular storm. This storm drives the fusion reactions that make stars shine. It drives whirlpools and currents in atmospheres and oceans. It spins and distorts molecules until they are in the right orientation to react and form new substances. In living cells, it drives proteins to fold and molecules to self-assemble. It is behind every detail of the astonishing molecular machines that control cellular processes. Using cutting-edge research, "Molecular Storms" takes us on a dazzling journey from the early universe to the interior of the smallest living things. There, in a nanoscale world of biological devices, it explains the physics behind the chemical system which we call Life. Whether you're someone with a general interest in science or a student looking to add context to your studies, this book is for you. "Molecular Storms" is an accessible and captivating read that will deepen your appreciation of the power of science to explain the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science

Do Christians have to choose between Scripture and science? Allan Pereira doesn't think so. In this episode, Paige sits down with the co-creator of The Science Dilemma, a film series designed to help the next generation see how science supports biblical truth and intelligent design. Allan shares how understanding the origin of life shapes our purpose and worldview—and why it matters when raising kids in today's culture. From the complexity of the universe to the power of prayer, this conversation equips parents to anchor their faith in Scripture while guiding their children with confidence and grace.Paige's TakeawaysIt's important to know where we come fromIt shapes our worldview and our purposeTeach our kids to be curious and ask questionsIt's amazing how things are so beautifully designed Science doesn't take away from Scripture but actually highlights itExplore answers with your kids There will be somethings we will never know earth-side, and that's okayThe Science Dilemma: https://www.thesciencedilemma.com/ The Science Dilemma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sciencedilemma/ Allan Pereira on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allancp1/ Discovery Institute: https://www.discovery.org/ Paige Clingenpeel: PaigeClingenpeel.comQuestions About the Podcast? Email: paigeclingenpeel@gmail.comFacebook: @Paige ClingenpeelInstagram: @paigeclingenpeelYouTube: Embracing Your Season sponsored by HomeWordKeywords/Hashtags#EmbracingYourSeason #PaigeClingenpeel #AllanPereira #TheScienceDilemma #Science #Faith #ChristianParent  #Education #Creation #Parenting #Parents #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #HomeWord #PFCAudioVideo Send us a text

In this week's episode, David is joined by Sara Imari Walker, Professor of Earth & Space Exploration at the Arizona State University. Prof Walker has spent the last few years developing a new concept in astrobiology known as assembly theory, which we explore in this episode. To support this podcast and our research lab, head to https://coolworldslab.com/support Cool Worlds Podcast Theme by Hill [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1hdkvBtRdOW4SPsnxCXOjK]

Is origin of life research going round in circles? This is ID the Future, a podcast that isn't afraid to tackle the big questions about evolution and intelligent design. Today, host Eric Anderson chats with physicist Dr. Brian Miller about circular reasoning and other problems in origin of life research. They discuss the work of Stephen Meyer and James Tour, highlighting the information problem and the difficulties in natural chemical synthesis of life's building blocks. Miller analyzes a new paper on the supposed order of amino acid recruitment into the genetic code, critiquing its underlying circular reasoning. Dr. Miller also explains the concept of causal circularity in biological systems and reveals why intelligent design provides a better explanation for the origin of life than an unguided evolutionary scenario. Source

Pastor Daryl Crouch of Everyone's Wilson helps us look to the horizon for God's help and for hope.  He also addresses how churches and its people can step up to help people in the face of the federal government backing away from certain services.  Allan Pereira of The Science Dilemma talks about their video series that helps younger people understand issues around the origin of life discussion and intelligent design.   Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here  

Welcome to the first episode of the Origins of Humankind!In this sweeping first episode, we cover the entire planetary backstory of human existence – from the origins of life to the climate change that kickstarted human evolution. Our expert guide on this journey is Tim Coulson, the Head of Biology at the University of Oxford and the author of A Universal History of Us. The episode explores questions such as:What is "life”? How did it begin?The surprising role of meteors (even before dinosaurs)Why animals? “Ediacaran Garden” and the dawn of predatorsBlood, bones, and the dawn of “terrestrial fish” (yup, that's us!)Our ancestors amongst the dinosaursFruits and snakes in primate evolutionThe climate change that made humanity The rise and spread of humans As always, we finish with the guest's reflections on humanity.MORE LINKSGet more material on the Origins of Humankind at OnHumans.Substack.com/OriginsSupport the show: Patreon.com/OnHumansRead more CARTA and find their free-for-all lectures here.Get Tim Coulson's book here.NEXT EPISODE#2 An Unusual Ape (Tuesday 2nd of April)In episode two, we follow the first steps on the human line, exploring how abandoning life in the trees paved the way for many of our human oddities.Key questions: Why was upright posture so important? What did it do to parents and children? When did the brains of our ancestors start to show human oddities?Your guide: Dean Falk, a leading expert on brain evolution at the University of Florida. She recently published a book titled A Botanic Age, looking at human evolution before the Stone Age.Stay tuned. And subscribe to On Humans.KEYWORDSEvolution | Human evolution | Human origins | Origin of life | Emergence of life | Emergence of life | Abiogenesis | Natural history | History of life | Meteors | Organic chemistry | Vertebrate evolution | Tetrapods | Dinosaurs | Pleistocene | Predators | Early humans | Austrolopithecins | Lucy | Homo erectus | Homo ergaster | Homo sapiens | Megafauna extinction | Humanity | Carl Sagan | Ediacaran Garden | Cambrian Explosion | Mesozoic | Jurassic | Triassic | Cretaceous | The Great Oxigenation Event | Sauropsids | Synapsids |

Randomness plays an important role in the evolution of life (as my evil twin will tell you). But random doesn't mean arbitrary. Biological organisms are physical objects, after all, and subject to the same laws of physics as non-biological matter is. Those laws place constraints on how organisms can fulfill their basic functions of metabolism, reproduction, motility, and so on. Easy to say, but how can we turn this into quantitative understanding of actual organisms? Today I talk with physical biologist Chris Kempes about how physics can help us understand the size of organisms, their metabolisms, and features of major transitions in evolution.Support Mindscape on Patreon.Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2025/01/20/302-chris-kempes-on-the-biophysics-of-evolution/Chris Kempes received his Ph.D. in physical biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is currently Professor and a member of the Science Steering Committee at the Santa Fe Institute. His research involves the origin of life and the constraints placed by physics on biological function and evolution.Web siteSanta Fe Institute web pageGoogle Scholar publicationsOrigins of Life online courseSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Living organisms seem exquisitely organized and complex, with features clearly adapted to serving certain functions needed to survive and procreate. Natural selection provides a compelling explanation for why that is so. But is there a bigger picture, a more general framework that explains the origin and evolution of functions and complexity in a world governed by uncaring laws of physics? I talk with planetary scientist and astrobiologist Michael Wong about how we can define what "functions" are and the role they play in the evolution of the universe.Support Mindscape on Patreon.Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/12/16/299-michael-wong-on-information-function-and-the-origin-of-life/Michael Wong received his Ph.D. in planetary science from Caltech. He is currently a Sagan Postdoctoral Fellow at the Carnegie Institution for Scienceʼs Earth & Planets Laboratory. He is in the process of co-authoring two books: A Missing Law: Evolution, Information, and the Inevitability of Cosmic Complexity with Robert M. Hazen, and a revised edition of Astrobiology: A Multidisciplinary Approach with Jonathan Lunine.Web siteCarnegie web pageStrange New Worlds podcastWong et al. (2023), "On the Roles of Function and Selection in Evolving Systems."Wong and Prabhu (2023), "Cells as the First Data Scientists."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today's ID the Future from the archive, host Eric Anderson sits down with Canceled Science author and physicist Eric Hedin to discuss Hedin's new book and, in particular, the book's take on the origin-of-life problem. Hedin says the second law of thermodynamics poses a serious problem for the idea of a mindless origin of the first single-celled organism from prebiotic materials. Such an event would have involved a breathtaking increase in new information, and Hedin says that physics tells us pretty clearly that mindless nature degrades information; it doesn't create it. Are there workarounds? Listen in as he explains why he's not optimistic. Source

In this special episode, Dinesh is joined in-studio by Dr. James Tour, professor of chemistry at Rice University and a leading chemist and computer scientist. Dr Tour is also a student of the Bible, and of how scientific discoveries can be reconciled with Scripture. Dinesh and Dr. Tour focus on what we know about origins—the origin of the universe, the origin of the Earth, and the origin of life--especially human life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, you'll learn about a bacterial discovery that challenges our understanding of how and when life formed on Earth, the importance difference between self control and willpower, and the truth about whether or not your dog really loves you. Origin of Life •“Scientists Just Made a 1.75 Billion-Year-Old Discovery About the Origin of Life.” by Mirjam Guesgen. 2024. •“The Great Oxygenation Event as a consequence of ecological dynamics modulated by planetary change.” by Jason Olejarz, et al. 2021. •“Microbes and minerals may have set off Earth's oxygenation.” by Jennifer Chu. 2022. Self Control vs Willpower •“Most people say self-control is the same as willpower. Researchers disagree.” by Sujata Gupta. 2024. •“Nearly two in five Americans have a New Year's Resolution planned for 2021.” Ipsos. 2020. •“New Year's resolution statistics.” finder. 2021. •“What's inside is all that counts? The contours of everyday thinking about self-control.” by Juan Pablo Bermudez, et al. 2023. Puppy Love •“Does Your Dog Truly Love You? Science Has the Answer.” by Adam Piore. 2023. •“Machine learning gives glimpse of how a dog's brain represents what it sees.” ScienceDaily. 2022. •“A glimpse into the dog's mind: A new study reveals how dogs think of their toys.” by Eotvos Lorand University. 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did life on earth spring up early and easily through evolutionary processes? Or does the emergence of life represent another infusion of information into the biosphere that is best explained by intelligent design? On this episode of ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid and Dr. Casey Luskin discuss the implications of a recent study on the last universal common ancestor, also known as LUCA. They explore the nature of LUCA as a hypothetical organism, its complexity, and the challenges it poses to evolutionary theory. The conversation also touches on the media's portrayal of scientific findings and the problems associated with molecular clock techniques used to date LUCA. Ultimately, they highlight the rapid emergence of complex life on Earth and the implications for origin of life theories. Source

On today's ID the Future out of the vault, Stairway to Life co-author Rob Stadler and host Eric Anderson delve deeper into Challenge to Origin of Life: Energy Harnessing, an episode of the Long Story Short intelligent design video series. Could the first cell have been much simpler than any current cell, making it easier […]

On today's ID the Future out of the vault, Stairway to Life co-author Rob Stadler and host Eric Anderson delve deeper into Challenge to Origin of Life: Energy Harnessing, an episode of the Long Story Short intelligent design video series. Could the first cell have been much simpler than any current cell, making it easier for it to emerge through blind natural forces on the early Earth? Stadler and Anderson surface one big problem with that idea: in experiments to make relatively simple cells even simpler, the cells inevitably become less robust and adaptable. These simpler cells must be coddled to survive. But the first cell on earth would have been anything but coddled. Tune in to learn more! Source

Erwin Schrödinger said that the important characteristic of life is that it "goes on doing something... for a much longer period than we would expect an inanimate piece of matter to keep going under similar circumstances." Living organisms are in constant motion inside; so where does this stability and persistence come from? Addy Pross points to a novel kind of chemical phenomenon -- "dynamic kinetic stability" (DKS), a feature that enables a chemical "fountain" to persist in the presence of an energy source. This suggests an interesting perspective on the question of life's origin, and perhaps on the origin of consciousness.Support Mindscape on Patreon.Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/10/28/294-addy-pross-on-dynamics-stability-and-life/Addy Pross received his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Sydney. He is currently Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Ben-Gurion University. He has held visiting positions in the University of Lund, Stanford University, Rutgers University, University of California at Irvine, University of Padova, the Australian National University Canberra, and the University of Sydney. He is the author of What Is Life? How Chemistry Becomes Biology.Web pageAmazon author pageGoogle Scholar publicationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this ID The Future out of the vault, Origin-of-life specialist Rob Stadler joins host Eric Anderson to discuss a special problem facing all naturalistic origin-of-life scenarios: energy harnessing. To be viable, a cell must have sophisticated machinery, including ATP synthase, to turn raw energy into constructive energy. But how could prebiotic chemicals harness raw energy on the way to evolving into a viable self-reproducing cell without first having the sophisticated machinery to harness raw energy and convert it to useful work? Are the energy sources that have been proposed for chemical evolution realistic? Rob Stadler explains. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Source

The origin of life on Earth has been mulled over by scientists for centuries. We now know that life's building blocks are RNA, amino acids, and cells. But if life originated from the primordial ooze of early Earth, could that process be unfolding elsewhere in the universe?The search for life elsewhere in the universe is at the center of the book Is Earth Exceptional?: The Quest for Cosmic Life, by Mario Livio and Jack Szostak. Dr. Livio, an astrophysicist previously with the Space Telescope Science Institute, which operates the Hubble Space Telescope, joins Ira to talk about the possibilities of life beyond Earth, and where we would most likely find it.Read an excerpt of Is Earth Exceptional?: The Quest for Cosmic Life.Transcript for this segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

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/ 

Stephen C. Meyer, Director of Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, joins us once again to discuss the scientific proof of intelligent design, or the existence of God. - - - Today's Sponsor: The Perfect Jean - Get The Perfect Jean 15% off with the code KLAVAN15 at theperfectjean.nyc/KLAVAN15 #theperfectjeanpod #ad