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

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