The mind-bending probability of our existence | Sean B. Carroll: Full Interview

 It could have gone very differently...

The mind-bending probability of our existence | Sean B. Carroll: Full Interview | Big Think

What if your existence hinged on a single cosmic accident that took place millions of years ago? Biologist Sean B. Carroll examines the chain of events that made humanity’s domination as a species possible.

From the specific chemistry of an asteroid to Earth’s shifting atmosphere, Carroll unpacks how a series of fortunate events made our planet the perfect cradle for mammals.

...and, as for your individual existence once humans exist? You are one it 70 trillion!

00:00:00 Part 1: The role of chance in the creation of life

00:00:16 What are the odds that life exists on any given planet?

00:00:48 What developments led to life on Earth?

00:01:58 Where do you begin our origin story?

00:04:51 What is unique about the last 3 million years on Earth?

00:06:04 What mass extinctions has Earth faced?

00:07:33 What events allowed humans to flourish?

00:15:37 Why was the K-Pg asteroid so devastating?

00:18:25 How did life on Earth rebound from the K-Pg asteroid?

00:19:57 How much have we evolved since the age of hunter-gatherers?

00:24:16 Are we lucky to be here?

00:27:20 Part 2: The resilience of nature.

00:27:30 Would nature heal itself if humans ceased to exist?

00:29:36 How much of an impact have humans had on Earth?

00:33:16 Can we think of Earth as an organism?

00:37:16 What are the “Serengeti rules?”

00:39:48 What is the leading cause of biodiversity loss?

00:46:56 How resilient is nature?

00:51:12 What did COVID teach us about nature’s ability to rebound?

00:53:09 Why is biodiversity critical to human flourishing?

00:54:04 What can we do to protect both us and the planet?

01:00:39 Is there time for the planet to rebound?

01:04:42 PART 3: The evolution of human experience.

01:04:52 Has the quality of human life improved over time?

01:06:27 What impact has medical science had on humanity?

01:08:23 How have agricultural advances changed lives?

01:10:12 Why is it important to understand the rules of life?

01:09:14 How are our bodies regulated?

#environment #nature #biodiversity #ecology

UN Passes Nuclear Weapons Ban Dr. Gordon Edwards on Canada’s Nuclear Waste Insanity – Nuclear Hotseat #316

Dr. Gordon Edwards on Canada's #ChalkRiver proposed/planned #Nuclear waste megadump upriver from Ottawa, Quebec drinking water supply. Heidi Hutner of Stony Brook calls #NuclearHotseat from inside the #UN minutes after passage of the Nuclear Weapons Ban! Historic audio! http://ow.ly/TnoJ30dywh6

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Nuclear, Nuclear Diseases, Nuclear Reactor, Radiation, Fukushima, NRC, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Radioactive, Cancer, IAEA, UNSCEAR, WHO, Three Mile Island, West Lake Landfill, Nuclear Bomb, San Onofre, West Lake Landfill, Hanford

LISTEN NOW: UN Passes Nuclear Weapons Ban Dr. Gordon Edwards on Canada’s Nuclear Waste Insanity – Nuclear Hotseat #316