Reason with Science

Evolution is often misunderstood as a process limited to biology and genes. In this in-depth conversation, evolutionary ecologist Mark Vellend challenges that narrow view and presents a powerful idea: evolution is a universal principle that governs all complex systems. In this episode of Reason with Science, we explore how evolution applies not only to living organisms, but also to languages, tech...

How sleep shapes the developing Brain with Mark Blumberg This conversation is with Mark Blumberg, a neuroscientist at the University of Iowa whose work has fundamentally reshaped how we understand infant sleep, movement, and early brain development. Mark’s research reveals that sleep is not a passive state, but an active, self-organizing process essential for building the brain’s earliest sensory...

This conversation is with Herman Pontzer, an evolutionary anthropologist and professor at Duke University. Herman is best known for his groundbreaking work on human metabolism and energetics, which challenges long-held assumptions about how our bodies burn and manage energy. His field research with hunter-gatherer and subsistence-farming populations—including the Hadza of Tanzania, the Daasanach o...

Can economics help us create a sustainable future? Our guest is Doyne Farmer, Director of the Complexity Economics Programme at Oxford University. Trained as a physicist, he’s spent his career studying chaos, complex systems, and prediction, and now applies those ideas to economics, sustainability, and climate change. In this episode, we’ll talk about why traditional economic models often fail, ho...

Is evolution predictable? The guest for this podcast is with Simon Conway Morris, Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology at the University of Cambridge. Famous for his work on the Cambrian explosion and the concept of evolutionary convergence, Conway Morris has written influential books including Life’s Solution: Inevitable Humans in a Lonely Universe, The Runes of Evolution, and From Extraterres...

This conversatio is with Ricard Solé, a leading thinker in complex systems and synthetic biology. Ricard heads the Complex Systems Lab at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, where he explores how simple rules give rise to life’s astonishing complexity. We open with a thought-provoking question: Can a biologist fix a radio? — an idea from Yuri Lazebnik that asks if breaking things down into parts...

This episode is with one of the most compelling voices in anthropology, Agustín Fuentes. Agustín is a professor, evolutionary theorist, and author of “The Creative Spark”, where he explores what truly makes us human, not just biologically, but culturally, socially, and creatively. In this episode, we discuss common misconceptions about evolution and explore the complex, branching story of our spec...

This episode is with John Tregoning, a leading expert in infectious diseases, professor at Imperial College London, and author of the books “Live Forever?” and Infectious. John’s work focuses on how our immune systems fight off disease and how scientific advances can help us live not just longer, but healthier lives. In this episode, we break down the science behind ageing and talk about the growi...

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 chemis...

This episode is with Kenneth Catania, a neuroscientist and biologist at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. His work has illuminated the fascinating sensory worlds of species like star-nosed moles, electric eels, and the emerald jewel wasp. Science is often thought of as a rigid, methodical pursuit, but in reality, it thrives on creativity, intuition, and the ability to recognize patter...

This episode is with Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo, whose research sheds light on one of the most fundamental transitions in the history of life—the evolution of multicellularity. Iñaki is a group leader at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona, where he investigates how unicellular organisms gave rise to complex multicellular life. Our conversation explores the deep evolutionary forces that shap...

This episode is with Kevin Mitchell. He is an associate professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin, where he investigates how genetic variations influence neural wiring, cognition, and conditions like autism and schizophrenia. Kevin is also the author of Innate: How the Wiring of Our Brains Shapes Who We Are and Free Agents: How Evolution Gave Us Free Will. Here, we discuss t...

This episode is with Michael Levin and William RatCliff. Mike is a Professor in the Biology department at Tufts University. He is a pioneer in the study of bioelectricity, regeneration, and morphogenesis. Will is a Professor in the School of Biological Science at Georgia Tech. He is a leading expert in the study of how single-celled organisms evolved into complex multicellular life forms. Here, we...

In this episode, we talk with cognitive scientist Hugo Mercier about the fascinating topic of reasoning - what it is, how it works, and why it matters. Hugo is a co-author of The Enigma of Reason (with Dan Sperber) and author of Not Born Yesterday. Here, we discuss why reason evolved, the good and bad sides of reasoning, and how our biases - like confirmation bias and motivated reasoning - affect...

This episode is with Kerstin Göpfrich. She is a leading researcher in the field of synthetic biology with experties in biophysics, DNA nanotechnology. and microfluidics. She leads the max plank research group of biophysical engineering at the max plank Institute for medical research in Heidleberg. Her research centers on utilizing DNA origami, a versatile technique that employs DNA molecules to co...

This episode is with Steven Austad. He is the Protective Life Endowed Chair in Health Aging Research, a Distinguished professor and Chair of the Department of Biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Steven has been at the forefront of unraveling the mysteries of why some individuals live longer and healthier lives than others. His work covers a diverse array of topics, from the cellula...

This episode is with Enrico Coen. He is a plant biologist and geneticist at John Innes Centre. Enrico's work has focused on unraveling the intricate genetic and molecular mechanisms that govern the formation and growth of plants. He is the author of two books, namely, 'Cells to civilizations' and 'Art of genes'. In this conversation we talk about major transitions in biology, e...

This episode is with John Bargh. He is a social psychologist at Yale University. John's work has shed light on the intricate workings of the human mind, delving into topics such as priming, automaticity, and the power of the unconscious. His research has challenged conventional notions, revealing how subtle cues and environmental factors can shape our perceptions,decisions, and actions. In thi...

This episode is with Michael Russell. He is geologist who works on the origin of life. Mike is an originator of the theory that life emerged at alkaline submarine hydrothermal vents. In this conversation we talk about topics related to origin of life, hydrothermal vents, alien life, artificial life, and are there new life forms emerging now? Guest info: Website: https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/d...

This episode is with Lee Cronin. He is the Regius Chair of Chemistry in the School of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow. He and his team are trying to make artificial life forms, find alien life, explore the digitization of chemistry, understand how information can be encoded into chemicals and construct chemical computers. In this conversation we talk about topics related to origin of life,...

This episode is with Robert Aumann (94 years old now). He is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers in game theory and decision theory. His exceptional work has not only reshaped the way we understand strategic decision-making and cooperation but has also garnered him numerous accolades. In 2005, Aumann was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his pioneering work in ga...

This episode is with Denis Noble. He is a renowned biologist, physiologist, and systems theorist, known for his pioneering research in the fields of cardiac physiology and systems biology. Noble's early work on the electrical activity of the heart was centered on this topic, and he was the first to put forth the notion of the cardiac action potential, which is now generally recognized in the f...

This episode is with Michael Levin and Nick Lane. Mike is a Professor in the Biology department at Tufts University. He studies the role of bioelectric signals in regulating development and regeneration in animals. Nick is a professor of Evolutionary Biochemistry at University College London. His work is focused on the fundamental processes that underlie the origin and evolution of life. In this c...

Support ALFA Mars: https://www.alfamars.org/get-involved/ For years, humanity has been captivated by the idea of the red planet and the possibility of finding extraterrestrial life. With advancements in technology and space exploration, the search for life on Mars has become more realistic than ever before. In this stream, we will talk about latest discoveries and developments in our understanding...

This episode is with Chris Stringer. Chris is a renowned paleoanthropologist and a leading expert in the study of human evolution. He is a researcher at the Natural History Museum in London. He is best known for his work on the origins and evolution of modern humans. In this discussion, we will delve into the topics of evolution of sapiens, the development of modern humans, the reasons for our uni...