Richard Dawkins On Genes, Memes, AI, Religion, and Life Beyond Earth [Ep. 454]

Why are men's sex drives so strong? Can genetic information be destroyed? And why does the desert lizard have such intricate patterns? 

I had the extraordinary privilege of exploring these topics with Richard Dawkins, one of the world’s most influential and thought-provoking scientists!

Dawkins is a renowned evolutionary biologist, zoologist, and author. He is also a prominent figure in New Atheism alongside Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens and is well known for his criticisms of creationism and intelligent design. 

In our wide-ranging conversation, we explored the evolution of sex drive and aesthetic appreciation, genetics, the intersection of theoretical and experimental science, the potential of artificial intelligence, and more. 

Tune in!

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Key Takeaways: 

00:00 Intro

01:56 Why is the sex drive in men so strong?

04:44 DNA, origin of life and panspermia 

10:28 Is there life elsewhere in the universe?

14:58 Memes and their evolution 

21:13 Homage to Daniel Dennett 

23:20 Natural selection and evolution 

26:59 The threats and opportunities of AI

31:05 A shifting moral zeitgeist 

35:15 Science communication 

43:02 Audience questions 

47:01 Technology, magic, and time capsules

56:22 Outro

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Additional resources: 

➡️ Learn more about Richard Dawkins:

✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/RichardDawkins/ 
💻 Website: https://richarddawkinstour.com/

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➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 
🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 
📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list 
✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 
🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast 

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Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

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