299 | Michael Wong on Information, Function, and the Origin of Life

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Living organisms seem exquisitely organized and complex, with features clearly adapted to serving certain functions needed to survive and procreate. Natural selection provides a compelling explanation for why that is so. But is there a bigger picture, a more general framework that explains the origin and evolution of functions and complexity in a world governed by uncaring laws of physics? I talk with planetary scientist and astrobiologist Michael Wong about how we can define what "functions" are and the role they play in the evolution of the universe. S upport Mindscape on Patreon . Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/12/16/299-mi…