Brian Keating and Lee Cronin: Do We Need New Laws for Life?

Brian Keating and Lee Cronin debate assembly theory and whether new physics laws explain life's origin They also tackle controversial claims about entropy, the prevalence of life in the universe, and the UFO phenomenon.

- 00:00:00 - Introduction
- 00:04:59 - Keating opening statements
- 00:08:21 - Cronin opening statements
- 00:13:45 - Defining life challenges
- 00:23:43 - Origin of life disagreements
- 00:38:12 - Entropy definition controversy
- 00:51:44 - Life in the universe
- 01:09:20 - JWST and life
- 01:12:37 - Fermi Paradox answer
- 01:24:26 - Assembly Theory overview
- 01:38:00 - Circular definition critique
- 01:46:37 - UFOs as academic project
- 01:54:26 - Galileo Project critique
- 02:03:47 - UFO video views
- 02:08:30 - Books and talks
- 02:12:54 - Time vs space claim
- 02:17:45 - Weinstein on UAP data
- 02:21:53 - Assembly theory and life detection
- 02:23:46 - Materialism and consciousness
- 02:30:05 - Need new laws?
- 02:33:41 - Physics and causation
- 02:35:27 - Something vs nothing
- 02:41:47 - Causation and life

SPONSORS:

- Brilliant: 20% off at https://brilliant.org/TOE
- Algo podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9IfRw1QaTglRoX0sN11AQQ
- Algo website: https://www.algo.com/
- Merch: https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerch
- Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
- Crypto: https://nowpayments.io/donation/TOE
- PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
- Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs
- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802
- Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
- Subreddit: https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything

Every episode days early, ad-free, plus my essays: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/subscribe

RESOURCES:

- YouTube link: https://youtu.be/BI7-5YnXSqk
- Brian Keating's Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating
- Brian Keating's "Losing the Nobel Prize": https://amzn.to/3AyXMyE
- Brian Keating's "Into the Impossible": https://amzn.to/33IjsfC
- Brian Keating's Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating
- Lee Cronin's Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecronin
- Brian Keating's appearance on Lex's podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhGwJLXzHs8
- http://betterleftunsaidfilm.com

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science.

SPONSOR: I personally subscribe to The Economist. FLASH SALE through Sep 23, 2026: 60% off the annual subscription! No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOE

FOLLOW: Substack | Spotify | YouTube | Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices