Neil & Sara Imari Walker Discuss New Theories on The Origins of Life in the Universe

[@StarTalk]

Do you think life is a purely chemical process, or could it be the result of deeper physical laws that apply universally, even to potential life forms we haven’t yet imagined?

[@nicolediaperbottom]

Id think at least in the universe as we know it, life would be all chemical. If other more fundamental processes started producing life, wouldn't that just end up being chemistry? I'ma watch the episode now and see how that changed my mind 👍

[@AnmolMishra946]

According to Hinduism, The creation process is cyclical, with the universe undergoing endless cycles of creation(Brahma), preservation(Vishnu), and destruction(Shiva), known as "samsara". For example the creation of dinosaurs to their destruction and new life emerging then to the ice age and repeat. This cyclical view reflects the Hindu belief that life, time, and creation are eternal processes that continue without a final beginning or end. All this was written around 1500-2000BCE

[@wadehines9971]

It's a chemical process and we don't want to backdoor in some new version of vitalism. It's far-from-equilibrium thermodynamics with some fascinating kinetic hypercycles.

[@chassan10]

Life is an anomaly, an accident. We are nothing but a byproduct of entropy. We currently exist because the universe allows it, and we will eventually end because the universe demands it. Yes, I know I just paraphrased the Reapers in Mass Effect, but they do present a valid perspective on the nature of existence.

[@writerseye]

I believe when we are advanced enough as a species, we will know. Until then, it will remain a mystery. Thought is fine for conjecture. But knowing removes all doubt.

[@tasiaterrell561]

I love that we get to observe Chuck getting more and more knowledgeable as the series goes on. If any celebrity deserves an honorary degree, it’s Chuck.

[@niravparmar7856]

also cristopher nolan

[@urduib]

Yeah he really grown over the years.

[@hmmmmmmyou5046]

Do you make this on every video lol

[@patrickjordan2233]

I enjoy Chuck's curiosity and moments of epiphany insight....

[@tasiaterrell561]

@@hmmmmmmyou5046 I’ve only ever commented on one other post about something completely different 🤷🏽‍♀️ I’m sure other people have noticed because it’s really great to see.

[@dabunnisher29]

I really like Chuck's questions. He may pretend to be just a comedian (and a funny one at that), but I think he asks really good targeted questions. Questions that a lot of us viewers want to ask as well.

[@chrism.1131]

Are Neil and Chuck partners?

[@mikeuk666]

​@chrism.1131 🤦‍♂️

[@beau-urns]

He’s also seen monumental growth since starting the show. He’s obviously always been quite sharp intelligent, but you can see that all of these concepts and ideas are now swirling around his mind and he’s able to ask very targeted and interesting questions on every single episode

[@dabunnisher29]

@@chrism.1131 If you mean partners in a super awesome channel that makes you think...... yes.

[@normanwolfe7639]

Neil writes them out for him and Chuck is an amazing actor to act like he thought of it. Kidding. He is definitely getting super skilled in his ability to listen and ask great questions with this dummy listener in mind. Thanks Chuck

[@Centurianarv]

She's so efficient. She talks really quick and we get so much information in the shortest time

[@CheeseWyrm]

Yes, that was something I greatly enjoyed too

[@huehuecoyotl2]

Noticed that as well, and we have Neil to unpackage the condensed information or at least read the label on the package for us when necessary.

[@budgetcardboardopenings3283]

Agreed!

[@rosshopkins2063]

Shes speaking con artist. Shes like theres no definition of life (me using a non living thing to communicate this) and then just goes woah natural selection with different words....woaahhh im different

[@CharlesSagan1]

⁠@@rosshopkins2063there Is no definition of Life. There Is Life that We Know of. That’s not a definition of Life, it’s identification. Life Is about Experiencing Existence. By defining “Life” you are beginning with an immediate restriction on what Is not Life. And, for All intents and purposes, there Is no Human Being that has the Right to define what Is, and Is not, Life. Even if Humans did have that Right, the arrogance It would take to invoke such a Right would make such a definition redundant. For All You Know the Clouds Above Your Head Are Living Computers that Store Human History. The Individual Photons Glowing around Us-All Are Alive. The Oxygen You Breathe Is Alive. You could not even speak without the Air in Your Lungs. Never mind Exist as Life. Since you believe you can define Life, would you include Oxygen as Life? Worth Thinking about that next Time you have shortness of Breath. You Might end up left in a room void of O2, as It Communicates to the rest of the Atmosphere to take over and surround your environment, until you are no longer considered “Life”.

[@mrhoneycutter]

Sarah is incredible, she’s an excellent communicator and clearly a brilliant scientific mind. Not to mention, she’s got a great personality for this kind of talking/explainer format. Please have her on again, great episode!

[@claude_in_Cincinnati]

And let's not deny that she's also a total babe! I hope that she's into males because the prospect of having such an awesome woman to spend your life with is some true inspiration for me in my life! I think I'd talk shop with her while he did it. LOL. I'd get off so much more listening to her say smart stuff. hahaha. No joke.

[@mikailgee1466]

Nah! Sarah needs to be less nervous and chill!

[@Haloweee]

@@claude_in_Cincinnatibeyond cringe. We aren’t here to be creeps. We’re here to learn.

[@angelvillamor4838]

Have her back on, I like her for all the reasons stated earlier and she seems like a nice person.

[@angelvillamor4838]

​@@mikailgee1466she exited because of the comic, she is attracted to him imo.

[@CaptPhiI]

I ended up watching this twice! Sara had such intriguing, insightful, and quick answers to every question. This episode is in the top 5 for me for sure!

[@Ben-Ken]

I love how Niel is always ready to interject and explain uncommon jargon so that non-scientists like myself can follow the conversation.

[@hunterdavies2354]

I hate that most of the time, let the guest speak. Both hosts can use this advice.

[@Ben-Ken]

@hunterdavies2354 you probably understand most of the scientific terms already but the show is designed to bring science to the average person. Otherwise, it would be watched by mostly deep science nerds the way political wonks watch C-SPAN.

[@latashastrahan4297]

​I appreciate his explanatory interruptions. Otherwise, I (and countless others) would be lost as she gallops on toward more information, leaving the audience behind. That would absolutely defeat the point of the video. @hunterdavies2354

[@latashastrahan4297]

I 200% agree! 😊

[@ariahaneul]

Sara is a great communicator, I really enjoyed this episode. Chuck also asked some great questions!

[@vincentzimmerman2011]

Chuck always asks great questions. Sometimes he asks questions I haven't thought of.

[@trashthug]

I agree, but that yes yes yes yes yes was starting to get annoying lol

[@aditya.sedhai]

I loved how she began. Life is much more bigger than us and a mystery. Hard to find people thinking out d boxers.

[@wjrasmussen666]

She is great

[@kendricrautomusprime]

I know right.

[@Trapisto]

I rarely chime in, but tonight I felt the urge to express my very own personal experience: This episode easily clocks in at top 15, both for topic, pace and new perspectives. Amazing guest, I look forward to updates as Sarahs work progresses. And both Neil and Chuck were pretty much flawlessly on point and at the same time entertaining throughout. Inspirational! Another reward for following Startalk, and one of those gems that make me always come back for more. Thanks!

[@Ash.Toronto]

Lets give this boi 69 likes

[@youremail3285]

@@Ash.Toronto thanks Tuti for bringing everyone's IQ down by 17 points!

[@philjameson292]

Sara and Lee Cronin have had interviews with Lex Fridman that I would really recommend

[@BillyP13]

👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏

[@HEL1X-SPACE]

Everything about this episode makes me feel joyous, alive, and hopeful for humanity. Not because of the possibilities of finding alien life, redefining things we knew, or leaving the planet (I'd like a trip out to see but don't wanna move). It's because of the way these three humans communicated with each other and inspire each other. It's also been a long time since I've heard something new that is so logically intriguing.

[@meganthearchitectbrown1111]

I LOVE the way your brain works and the way you said all that! YOU are intruguing.❤

[@profdmiranda]

I love how Chuck have learned some much in all his years working with Dr. Tyson. Not only what he has received as information but the way he formulates the questions now is done in a more informed manner than before. Way to go, lord Nice.

[@montewilson9567]

I like when someone says something that looks like Neil doesn't understand but then he repeats what they said in his own words with perfect understanding. lol

[@an0mndr]

That's how you know he's a teacher.

[@hubertzimnicki1770]

His insights might somewhat differ from mine, yet I appreciate how deep his understanding goes; thanks to his descripcions, her words become understandable to a mere mortal.

[@KviaMUSIC]

I do the same actually. Its the best way for me to unpack information and sort of explain it to my self in real time. If you can repeat something in your own words it probably means that you understand it.

[@nomfundosinomfundo9118]

Wow I've noticed that about him, and his words accommodate everyone ( in layman's terms I must say) ❤

[@TeleriumD12]

That's the whole point of this program and having Chuck on. If the guests'understamtingnis 3 theirs above yours, Neil is the teacher who makes it understandable, and Chuck is the buddy who translates and applies it in life terms you can understand. It's a steppe system. They use alot of cooking metaphors, I noticed

[@kpw84u2]

Wow! Chuck posed an excellent question about spontaneity and selection... he has definitely gotten leaps and bounds better at the sciences than when he initially jumped aboard.

[@TomiTapio]

Chuck's brain has absorbed many "tools of thinking".

[@willie417]

I see Lord Nice sitting there listening, analyzing what he’s hearing in real time, the look on his face when every thing comes together is priceless. He’s seems amazed that he is really understanding this stuff.

[@Phrenotopia]

Chuck may not be a scientist by profession, but I am mind blown by some of his questions and remarks. Being a comedian is underrated, because it actually requires a lot of quick wit and intelligence, so it makes sense that Chuck is sharp as a knife like that. Now of course most impressive is the work and theories that Dr Walker is walking us through. I think we will get some answers in most of our lifetimes with people like these at the forefront!

[@ardidsonriente2223]

Chuck and Neil are fantastic, as always. Sara is pure delight, so clear and deeply wise and totally unapologetic for being smart. It is so rare to see people who can be both truly intelligent and also brave enough to not get traped in their own knowledge. A beautiful tesseract of a chapter, one of the best in the series till now.

[@zachschmidt8790]

The guests are always brilliant but I have to say Sara has an additional level of *cleverness* that is so great to hear in this, I want her and chuck to have a podcast together now

[@ruimarcellino24]

PLEASE HAVE HER ON AGAIN!!!!!!!!

[@PolarisClubfan]

Hold your horses

[@mickeybrumfield764]

She is a great advocate for thinking out of the box.

[@nottheone582]

Or outside the tesseract 😂😂

[@awebuser5914]

There's a fine line between: "Thinking outside the box" and pointless conjecture. She heavily leans into the latter with nonsensical disagreements about thermodynamics. It's a lot like (the badly named) String Theory, a proposition that is basically untestable and is really just a *completely speculative* framework of an attempt to form a "Theory of Everything".

[@ChiangKaiSheksBrother]

Idk how much she was disagreeing with thermodynamics writ large. She was merely stating that the second law is a statistical statement (which is absolutely true) and that it’s worth questioning whether a deterministic analogue exists that would help round out the theory.

[@canonaler]

And somehow I'm left think about her box everytime she speaks smh....

[@rRekko]

@@canonaler the thing about thinking outside the box is you need to let people think outside the box you got yourself into and learn from their points of view as well. Which she fails yo do, as she's encased in this crazy set of ideas with no base or evidence.

[@Yogsothos]

The half empty half full thoughts Neil expressed is exactly how I have looked at it most of my life. It is so satisfying to hear it come from an intelligent person like this awesome man. Validation is rewarding.

[@royalconquest742]

NEIL, YOU ARE THE MAN. IM FROM THE PROJECTS IN PHILLY AND YOU'VE TAUGHT ME MORE THAN MY SCHOOLING, AND IM 42. 🤷🏿‍♂️

[@peglegjim57]

Star Talk has, hands down, the most bass-assed guests, ever. What reels me in, tho, is CHUCK. I’m an old tradesman, and Chuck reels it back when necessary, to make the subject palatable to ME! Thanx, Chuck. 😎

[@jonh2798]

It's no joe rogan podcast

[@jinzoogen]

This was such a great interview. I love that this stuff is available on KZbin. Hooray for giving smart people microphones.

[@codaniel]

I'm just worried that if Lord Nice learns too much science it may start his super villain arc

[@B.L.DBL.U]

Ha!

[@Bluebloods7]

Has become....Dr. Not so Nice!

[@tach5884]

And team up with Kyle Hill?

[@Oceans305]

Good one

[@Darkmountaindweller]

Doctor Nice is a good villain name 😂

[@angeaka8442]

Throughout history, students and disciples have learned by observing teachers, Chuck may not be registered in any official university, yet he is clearly at the school of every guest that stepped into this office. starting with Dr. Niel himself, at this point, he has clearly built a great understanding of all of these concepts making him a valuable host on his way to becoming a scientist if this is what he wants.

[@Srsbzns_5150]

Neil's mind is blown 🤯 It's a beautiful thing.

[@rohitdeb6664]

One of those episodes where I have to first play back several minutes to stop my brain from melting, and by the time the show is over end up wondering why no one thought to think this way before. Definitely expanded my mind! And I'll be buying a copy of the book.

[@drup2013]

You and I both 🤣🤣🤣

[@Innercityoutdoorsman]

Ohhh im loving this 😊😊

[@TomiTapio]

#TimelineOfMankind project book/spreadsheet/database is free 😎 List of what when where. 660 pages, 13 words per entry

[@markl3893]

Lord Nice - Don't sell yourself short. I've been studying comedians around the world and they are much more complex than most people give them credit for.

[@AmandaComeauCreates]

It's hard to be funny without being smart

[@mikasanu]

Sarah’s work is awesome and it was one of the most interesting episodes so far. And btw it’s astonishing how much our comedian has developed. Or should we say it’s an evolution 😂

[@SpaghettiPlays]

Wow lowkey im so blown away at my ability to make logical connections from things i know and what they discuss (things i dont know) and understand the point everyone's trying to make. And I think one primary reason for that is everyone's such an effective communicator of ideas. I'm so hooked!

[@nobodyshomeuk]

This is probably one of the best episodes ive seen. Honestly kept me engaged the whole time.

[@blueeyeadonishawke2020]

She is one of my favorite guests this show has ever had. Great subject matter and a personality that melded with Chuck and Neil's. Now, I want to get her book :) Great episode!

[@jaerogoth]

9:05 gotta love how she explained a complex molecule and they both had the "wtf did we just hear" look on their faces.

[@rrj6068]

For sure .......

[@bradleyfitzik2447]

Sara is awesome! I love the way she thinks about things. I could talk to her about these topics for an entire lifetime

[@tomva]

She's brilliant! This is one of the most interesting conversations I've seen on this podcast.

[@kishacooper6670]

This is easily one of my most favorite episodes. I found myself listening, rewinding, and listening again to take it all in. Absolute mind-blowing discussion. I hope Sarah is a guest again soon!

[@BennyLovesMJ]

42:05 I've been saying this for YEARS! I'm so glad someone who's actually smart is saying this now!

[@Randersonwood]

Sara reminds me of the grownup version of the 10 year-old girl genius on Young Sheldon. They could be sisters they look so alike! Great episode, as always - I was clinging onto every word. Can’t wait until I can responsibly afford to be a Patreon - this podcast is number one on my wish list!! ✨🤩✨

[@jeffs6090]

Mckenna Grace! She is an amazing actor!! I love watching anything she is in, especially the ones where she plays an intelligent kid. Gifted was a great movie.

[@Randersonwood]

@@jeffs6090Yes! I’ll check it out. I’m toward the end of season two of Young Sheldon - I turned it on casually for background noise and it’s quickly becoming one of my favorite shows. The writing and casting, the deadpan comedy - it’s brilliant. I don’t ever want it to end!!! 😅

[@TheOldHippiebilly]

As I listen to StarTalk more & more, I feel myself (along with Chuck) getting smarter & smarter. The difference is that Chuck seems to be getting a lot smarter a lot faster than I am. But I'm 65, so I guess my brain isn't as elastic as it used to be.

[@triftex8353]

Chuck really puts attention and retains a lot of information. His questions have evolved a LOT from the first episodes to now. He is a great asker.

[@biedl86]

She is awesome. I've seen a talk of her's, and she is absolutely intelligent and very well educated. She confused one of the people in her audience during the QnA, because she talked about a philosophical concept the guy couldn't grasp. Glad to being able to listen to her again.

[@B-Nice]

Sara and Lee's approach to 'life' is fascinatingly beautiful 🧬

[@AllYourMemeAreBelongToUs]

27:27 “We have predicted that there should be a threshold above which only molecules produced by life should reside and we’ve tested that experimentally.”

[@wtfyoshipwns]

Lego turtles

[@Gotlyfe]

The bounds of these tests are all tiny to say anything definitive. 200 million years and a lot of luck across the surface of the planet, but they couldn't get anything more complex in a few years of testing in palm sized containers, so ofc there must be a 'guiding force'...

[@warrencochrane5155]

I loved this episode!! Get her back on

[@theswiv]

💯

[@theswiv]

💯

[@finesssssss]

Such a nice thoughtful episode. The 3 hosts of this show are a perfect combo, bringing in different perspectives on this conversation.

[@alejandro.miguez]

This has been one of the most mind-blowing episodes of StarTalk for me. And that's saying something, regarding this podcast. Thank you!

[@BobFJ]

Walker has a brilliant mind. Not all of us understand all the complexity of her work. Great interview and there is hope for humanity.

[@cognitiveinstinct2929]

Definitely one of the most interesting guests yet. Going to look up her work.

[@harrymayor5428]

You spelled skirt wrong.

[@FringeSpectre]

​@@harrymayor5428 damn bro, you got the whole squad laughing 😐

[@jimmirow]

This was refreshing! Top notch. These two here and their guest at their best. Thanks guys!

[@SoakdNBleach]

It was a real treat listening to Sara speak. Great show!

[@kevinlyles3355]

Fabulous guest and enlightening discussion, thank you!

[@MasterElements]

Sara - "THIS PRIMORDIAL SOUP IS FOOKING RAW!"

[@KirkpatrickSounds]

I'm about 60% of the way through Sara's book so this is fantastic. Thanks!

[@antonnymus3499]

So it's more like 10% and you will never reach 50 ;)

[@mikeuk666]

​@@antonnymus3499 🤦‍♀️

[@ellie8272]

Do you recommend it?

[@KirkpatrickSounds]

100% if you're interested in this topic - there's also an audiobook narrated by Sara herself ​@@ellie8272

[@ricomon35]

@@antonnymus3499 - Congratulations, you win the award for "most obscure comment that only the author understands"

[@ahmedwaly9073]

it's very important to involve Chuck because he represents us as "non experts", he asks very important questions that make the subject easy for us to understand, amazing.

[@alittleofeverything4190]

25:36 we don't understand QM. This whole video was awesome. As a biochemist I loved it. I always tell people that biology is the study of the chemistry and physics of life, with physics being the parent science.

[@RizzyWithDaMix]

I just started watching these about 2 months ago and I feel like these videos should be longer than a hour

[@jodecirios1041]

We're all thirsty 😂😂😂

[@vibehighest]

LORD NICE, at 41:17 you are spitting gold homie, make a movie script LFGGG

[@Agetrok]

💯 so many movie ideas have popped up in my head while watching Star Talk.

[@myersred8]

My new compliment I am going to give people "That is very assembly theoretic and very evolved!" (42:42)

[@Loliemess4u]

I never thought I could wrap my head around this stuff, but as I listen in to these shows it starts to click. Amazing to think through the possibilities understanding that we are only constrained by our currently experiences and knowledge. Wow, just wow!

[@Dirty__Dan]

Chuck was in top form today, loved it.

[@douglasalexander3218]

Love this talk. Sarah is awesome.

[@coffeeguyd]

Such a fascinating episode! Thanks for the work everyone involved does!

[@LanceCarrera9]

one of the more interesting ones. very good to think about.

[@lunaticmoon2941]

Sarah was a great educator. I can’t get enough.

[@jamesrussell7760]

A delightful conversation. Thanks Neil and Chuck for having Professor Sara Walker. Once more as an Arizonan, I'm proud of ASU. And, of course, we all know and appreciate Univ of Arizona's MARS GUY who has his own channel here on KZbin.

[@alwaysbroke6533]

OH MY GOD!! I just heard Neil Degrasse Tyson say something I got torn apart on the "ask science" reddit forum! The whole "Theory vs Hypothesis" question. I asked why so many theories seem more like hypotheses, and I got downvoted and was told "a theory is a mathematical model in physics, it doesn't need to be supported by observable evidence." From what just watched sounds like Neil agrees more with me?

[@gregrice1354]

Yes. It can be difficult to deal with the many emotional barriers of preconceptions and the religion of scientism that many people must work through, before one can deal openly, honestly with science. Key example of this is the scientism bias of Richard Dawkins, as he denies the fact that there is no credible, plausible Materialist explanation for the origin of life - of any kind - on Earth, in the time frames its evident presence presents. Yet Dawkins clearly has his bias as key support in his non-theistic crusade, despite the failures of his suggested explanatory models.

[@JariDawnchild]

?! I think the person(s) who posted that needs to research not just the difference between a hypothesis and a theory, but also what a theory is considered to be across the varying disciplines.

[@kariannecrysler640]

Love your guest and her brilliant ideas! 💯💗

[@marm8226]

Most important question for me (who didn't watch the whole video YET): Neil, is this your longboard i can see just behind you? I think the questions that will arise on this topic, will be answered by Sarah ;) Thank you for this show, that makes sience approachable for people like me, who didn't study physics (biology/chemistry are based on physics as well xD). Another question just came up 8 minutes into the video - Life creates complex structures and evolution... would that imply, that the universe itself is a living "organism"? It evolved from pure energy into the most complex structures we now, if we zoom out a lot, or am I totally wrong? Clearly molecules are rly small but what about not taking our human view/frame on our surroundings and just take the "godly" view like a human that can see the universe and doesn't care about timespans of centuries and millenia? This is not a debate about the existence of god or any religous topic but just the persepctive, because we often tend to not see things we are not used to. Love your presentation/show and topics Chuck and Neil

[@_Mute_]

44:39 "are you alive in a simulation?" Her argument is no because as far as we can tell you need a physical subtrate to run the simulation on. But i think this falls apart when looking at our own subjective experience or our "consciousness". Our consciousness runs on a substrate (the brain) but our experience is not aware of the brain. We onky know the brain is there because we've been able to take other brains apart and study them. If the universe runs on a subtrate we would never know unless we would be able to view another universe from the outside and pick it apart. *shrug*

[@CheeseWyrm]

Interesting... Yeah, if the substrate can only be detected from external observation of the simulation, then ipso facto we - being within the sim - can neither prove nor disprove its existence. Have I thought logically here?

[@ben001]

​@@CheeseWyrmYeah I wonder if the individual neurons inside our brain were intelligent and conscious, whether they would be able to determine that they were in a brain. I think they would if they could learn enough about the internal structure and biology. Similarly, I hope that drilling down into fundamental physics would also provide that insight for us

[@tN0able]

Finally she is on Startalk!

[@spdcrzy]

This is the single best hour of KZbin I've ever watched. My entire definition of physics has changed, and that's not a joke.

[@ozwedeking]

Incredible startalk episode. Sara is awesome. Super thinker. I wish startalk was a long format program and they can keep the lively conversation going. Big thanks to Lord Nice, keeping it mind blowing fun! Cheers

[@MarkMash17]

Really enjoyed this one. Edge of your seat stuff

[@michaelpatterson5151]

I wish I could like this again.

[@Adam-tp8py]

Been a fan of Sara since her first appearance on Lex many years ago. She presents the most coherent answer to life that I have ever heard. Nothing strikes my intuition in the same way.

[@julioivansalazar9853]

Researchers have demonstrated that Assembly Theory (AT) is equivalent to existing work like Shannon entropy and LZ compression, without proper citation. AT is also a weaker version of these established concepts. More recently, Dr. Hector Zenil's review of Sara Walker's book "The Physics of Life's Emergence" (published on Medium and titled: "Book Review: Life As No One Knows It by Sara Imari Walker") reveals it as largely promoting AT, a disproven hypothesis based on chemist Leroy Cronin's ideas. The book misrepresents prior work, misunderstands fundamental concepts, and presents flawed ideas as revolutionary, ultimately a self-promotion exercise rather than a substantive scholarly contribution. Academic publications include a paper in npj Systems Biology and Applications: "On the salient limitations of the methods of assembly theory and their classification of molecular biosignatures" and another in the PLOS complex systems: "Assembly Theory is a weak version of algorithmic complexity based on LZ compression that does not explain or quantify selection or evolution".

[@RojirigoD]

Yes, I saw Dr. Zenil's videos, but I also saw responses from other promoters of assembly theory, and I believe that although it has its suspicious parts, convergences with other theories, compression algorithms, etc., if what is mentioned in this interview has certain components, despite the coincidences and convergences, it can still have explanatory power, and what will invalidate or reinforce it will be experimental predictions and subjecting it to tests by third parties. I repeat, I understand the suspicions and the similarities with the compression algorithm and previous similar theories, but I also see the possibility that it will be useful if it can be strongly tested and experimentally demonstrate concrete results in different scenarios.

[@RojirigoD]

Sara is saying very concrete and quantifiable things. 1. Complexity greater than 15 on the scale of the assembly algorithm 2. Including Memory Mechanism, it can be DNA, RNA, Minerals or Artificial. These two elements are concrete and specific and can be tested experimentally. If it is shown that products of evolution that we consider alive do not meet those points or that on the contrary complex products that we consider non-living and not human products break that classification we can see clear responses. What is being proposed can be falsified. She says that they have already tested it with blind samples from NASA, critics say that there is misinformation there. The key then would be validations or refutations from third parties and the usefulness of that theory can be measured.

[@richardbryan6349]

Thank you for calling out the weakness and false assertions in the Assembly Theory. I am also glad Neil said this should be called a hypothesis (and a very poor one at that). It conveniently ignores the problem of evolution being a random undirected process which is incompatible with creating encoded information.

[@onetribezen3945]

Thank you for talking about entropy! I've disagreed with the second law of thermodynamics for decades but never had the education, concepts and vocabulary to articulate why. Thank you Sara Imari!

[@stephon4661]

😆Everything that Dr. Neil touches, turns into success! What an incredible human being! Thank you my brotha!✊

[@CommanderdMtllca]

@1:33 Lord Nice really making me google "mellifluous" lol

[@SirCharles12357]

Lol, now you made me google it!

[@wezingoma9751]

"(of a sound) pleasingly smooth and musical to hear"

[@StevenRoemerman]

I've read her book, it's fantastic.

[@patrickjordan2233]

Cool! I'll have to pick it up...

[@williamhurley5496]

Just ordered it

[@toddrengel]

This is a wonderful episode! Sara Imari Walker is one of the sharpest thinkers I’ve seen on Startalk! Worth watching the entire video.

[@dewardroy6531]

Sara is amazing, particularly in her ability to communicate concisely and succinctly and still be understandable by me.

[@cindystrachan8566]

Regarding the parting statement about thinking out of the box: Neitzsche said something like “And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” The only limits to what mankind can do are the limits of our imaginations. Glad someone is posing the questions that open the doors to exploration.

[@justaj2k]

This was one of the best episodes of Startalk. I loved the topic and her hypothesis (or theory) is fascinating.

[@hrgwea]

39:54 That's a conceptual error. Intelligence is a capability, whereas living organisms are objects. The conceptually correct way to put it is to say that intelligence is a feature of life, not that it IS life.

[@kemalturgut9127]

She speaks so fast.

[@Rockyzach88]

42:45 I said that a long time ago when I was in my teens. I loved her addition of it "history matters'. Bang on.

[@JasonHissong]

Excellent presentation. Sarah was able to clearly explain the theory and was fascinating! I ordered her book.

[@DanDoesGame]

I'm trying so hard to understand this 🤣

[@dandelionsoil]

24:00 😂😂😂😂

[@MichaelTheDanishHistorian]

damn she's sharp as a katana

[@Maphematics]

It's so attractive and interesting

[@tayeberhanu01]

It HAS been a delight! What an amazing scientist and human being!

[@itsthelittlethings100]

Chuck was dialed in in this ep. and Mz. Walker is fascinating.

[@brandt69420]

The real life Bernadette.

[@tonys123451]

This is definitely one of the best episodes. Sarah is just remarkable.

[@HalkerVeil]

I'm surprised very few are talking about this. It really changes everything with our understanding on the threshold crossing of life over chaos.

[@788home]

A few years ago, in a discussion about "detecting life" (at Caltech)... It suddenly occurred to me, that since "Entropy always increases..." That wherever entropy decreases, "life is present". Your presentation seems consistent with this, and suggests that even star and planetary formation suggests the presence of life.

[@belkyhernandez8281]

Chuck always amazes me. He is so smart to be able to keep up with whatever person comes on the show. I know Neil is smart too but he is a scientist so I expect him to have a certain understanding. Chuck isn't a scientist yet he picks up on things and has a quick wit.

[@arthurcamargo8416]

That was an amazing and interesting discussion! Thank you so much for inviting Dr. Sara Imari Walker on to your show! I hope she writes another book so she can return to the show! Or she just returns to the show!

[@Dirty__Dan]

3:47 I love that Chuck had to explain that that was a joke so she didn’t think he was an idiot