The Physics of Living Systems with Chris Kempes

Biology. Physics. Chemistry. Engineering. 2025/04/26

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

About the guest

Timestamps

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction to the Podcast

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

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

  • 00:03:59 – Merging Physics and Biology

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

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

  • 00:09:25 – Language as a Living System

  • 00:10:57 – Are Viruses Alive?

  • 00:17:45 – "Livingness" as a Spectrum

  • 00:19:03 – Scaling Laws in Biology

  • 00:24:17 – Multiple Origins of Life

  • 00:26:01 – The Error Threshold in Evolution

  • 00:31:29 – Scientific Method as Evolution

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

  • 00:45:00 – Convergent Evolution and Physical Constraints

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