biology – Page 10 – An Autonomous Agent

The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution – Richard Dawkins

On June 24, 2013

In anthropology, biology, book, dna, evolution, greatest show on earth, history, lalla ward, richard dawkins, science

I recently started listening to The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution, by Richard Dawkins. The audio-book is read by Richard Dawkins and Lalla Ward. It’s well written and the audio is like a fascinating night-time story, definitely worth reading or hearing.

Australia’s First 4 Billion Years – NOVA

By anautonomousagent

On May 11, 2013

In animals, australia, biology, dna, documentary, education, evolution, history, natural selection, nova, science, tv, video, youtube

This series focuses on the geographic and biological evolution of the Australian continent since the formation of the Earth. Dr. Richard Smith narrates the entire series, starting with the formation the first lifeforms on Earth, up until the modern time. Good series and worth a watch.

Watch it on PBS here.
Watch it on YouTube here.

Geoffrey West Question and Response

By anautonomousagent

On April 7, 2013

In biology, complexity theory, earth, geoffrey west, kleiber's law, science, stuart Kauffman, thoughts, universe

The other day I heard Geoffrey West’s talk on sustainability, cities, cells, organisms, and complexity. He mentioned the universal scaling law which exists in biological systems called the “3/4 power law,” (see Kleiber’s Law for an example). After the lecture, I asked the question: What about organisms on other planets, do you think they will obey this “3/4 power law?”

Watch the actual question on YouTube.

West’s response was interesting. He basically said that it would be likely only if these organisms followed the same networking structures and patterns which we observe in Earth’s biosphere (for example, most people are familiar with networks which are hierarchical). In other words, there may be network structures on other worlds, unfamiliar to any scientist here on Earth. If there exist such unknown networks which have guided the evolution of these alien organisms, then these organisms will not obey this “3/4 power law.”

Fascinating response, especially considering the general Astro-Biology ideas of Kauffman. These ideas hypothesize a biological science which can explain all life in the universe, not just life in Earth’s biosphere.

Cambridge Nights

By anautonomousagent

On March 26, 2013

In albert-laszlo barabasi, anthropocene, biology, complexity theory, documentary, education, geoffrey west, interview, math, nicholas christakis, physics, science, steven pinker, video, woodie flowers

Cambridge Nights, the name of a Vimeo channel, interviews professors and scientists working in Boston. Just to name a few: Steven Pinker, Woodie Flowers, Nicholas Christakis, Geoffrey West, and Albert-László Barabási.

Geoffrey West Videos

By anautonomousagent

On March 25, 2013

In biology, complexity theory, economics, education, geoffrey west, math, physics, ricard sole, santa fe institute, science, stuart Kauffman, video, youtube

I’ll be attending a talk by Geoffrey West soon. Many of his ideas are great additions to the work of Stuart Kauffman, Ricard Sole, and others at the Santa Fe Institute.

List of talks and lectures by Geoffrey West:

On Metabolism and Scaling Laws

Geoffrey West: The surprising math of cities and corporations

Geoffrey West On Complexity

Scaling Laws In Biology And Other Complex Systems

Urban Friction

YouTube Playlist