67 | Kate Jeffery on Entropy, Complexity, and Evolution

67 | Kate Jeffery on Entropy, Complexity, and Evolution

Our observable universe started out in a highly non-generic state, one of very low entropy, and disorderliness has been growing ever since. How, then, can we account for the appearance of complex systems such as organisms and biospheres? The answer is that very low-entropy states typically appear simple, and high-entropy states also appear simple, and complexity can emerge along the road in between. Today's podcast is more of a discussion than an interview, in which behavioral neuroscientist Kate Jeffery and I discuss how complexity emerges through cosmological and biological evolution. As someone on the biological side of things, Kate is especially interested in how complexity can build up and then catastrophically disappear, as in mass extinction events.

There were some audio-quality issues with the remote recording of this episode, but loyal listeners David Gennaro and Ben Cordell were able to help repair it. I think it sounds pretty good!

Support Mindscape on Patreon.

Kate Jeffery received her Ph.D. in behavioural neuroscience from the University of Edinburgh. She is currently a professor in the Department of Behavioural Neuroscience at University College, London. She is the founder and Director of the Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience at UCL.


Episoder(418)

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32 | Naomi Oreskes on Climate Change and the Distortion of Scientific Facts

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31 | Brian Greene on the Multiverse, Inflation, and the String Theory Landscape

31 | Brian Greene on the Multiverse, Inflation, and the String Theory Landscape

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28 Jan 20191h 11min

30 | Derek Leben on Ethics for Robots and Artificial Intelligences

30 | Derek Leben on Ethics for Robots and Artificial Intelligences

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29 | Raychelle Burks on the Chemistry of Murder

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28 | Roger Penrose on Spacetime, Consciousness, and the Universe

28 | Roger Penrose on Spacetime, Consciousness, and the Universe

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7 Jan 20191h 35min

Holiday Message 2018

Holiday Message 2018

There won't be any regular episodes of Mindscape this week or next, as we take a holiday break. Regular service will resume on Monday January 7, 2019. In the meantime, here is a special Holiday Messag...

24 Des 201844min

27 | Janna Levin on Black Holes, Chaos, and the Narrative of Science

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17 Des 20181h 8min

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26 | Ge Wang on Artful Design, Computers, and Music

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10 Des 20181h 10min

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