#325 – Michael Levin: Biology, Life, Aliens, Evolution, Embryogenesis & Xenobots

About this episode

<p>Michael Levin is a biologist at Tufts University working on novel ways to understand and control complex pattern formation in biological systems. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:<br /> &#8211; <b>Henson Shaving</b>: <a href="https://hensonshaving.com/lex">https://hensonshaving.com/lex</a> and use code LEX to get 100 free blades with your razor<br /> &#8211; <b>Eight Sleep</b>: <a href="https://www.eightsleep.com/lex">https://www.eightsleep.com/lex</a> to get special savings<br /> &#8211; <b>LMNT</b>: <a href="https://drinkLMNT.com/lex">https://drinkLMNT.com/lex</a> to get free sample pack<br /> &#8211; <b>InsideTracker</b>: <a href="https://insidetracker.com/lex">https://insidetracker.com/lex</a> to get 20% off</p> <p><b>EPISODE LINKS:</b><br /> Michael&#8217;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/drmichaellevin">https://twitter.com/drmichaellevin</a><br /> Michael&#8217;s Website: <a href="https://drmichaellevin.org">https://drmichaellevin.org</a><br /> Michael&#8217;s Papers:<br /> Biological Robots: <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.00880">https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.00880</a><br /> Synthetic Organisms: <a href="https://tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19420889.2021.2005863">https://tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19420889.2021.2005863</a><br /> Limb Regeneration: <a href="https://science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abj2164">https://science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abj2164</a></p> <p><b>PODCAST INFO:</b><br /> Podcast website: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/podcast">https://lexfridman.com/podcast</a><br /> Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://apple.co/2lwqZIr">https://apple.co/2lwqZIr</a><br /> Spotify: <a href="https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8">https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8</a><br /> RSS: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/">https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/</a><br /> YouTube Full Episodes: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexfridman">https://youtube.com/lexfridman</a><br /> YouTube Clips: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexclips">https://youtube.com/lexclips</a></p> <p><b>SUPPORT &#38; CONNECT:</b><br /> &#8211; Check out the sponsors above, it&#8217;s the best way to support this podcast<br /> &#8211; Support on Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman">https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/lexfridman">https://twitter.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman">https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman">https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Medium: <a href="https://medium.com/@lexfridman">https://medium.com/@lexfridman</a></p> <p><b>OUTLINE:</b><br /> Here&#8217;s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.<br /> (00:00) &#8211; Introduction<br /> (06:40) &#8211; Embryogenesis<br /> (14:08) &#8211; Xenobots: biological robots<br /> (27:55) &#8211; Sense of self<br /> (37:27) &#8211; Multi-scale competency architecture<br /> (48:58) &#8211; Free will<br /> (58:27) &#8211; Bioelectricity<br /> (1:11:44) &#8211; Planaria<br /> (1:23:33) &#8211; Building xenobots<br /> (1:47:08) &#8211; Unconventional cognition<br /> (2:11:39) &#8211; Origin of evolution<br /> (2:18:42) &#8211; Synthetic organisms<br /> (2:25:27) &#8211; Regenerative medicine<br /> (2:29:14) &#8211; Cancer suppression<br /> (2:33:15) &#8211; Viruses<br /> (2:38:28) &#8211; Cognitive light cones<br /> (2:43:03) &#8211; Advice for young people<br /> (2:47:47) &#8211; Death<br /> (2:57:17) &#8211; Meaning of life</p>