Richard Dawkins On Genes, Memes, AI, Religion, and Life Beyond Earth

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! — 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 — Additional resources:  ➡️ Learn more about Richard Dawkins: ✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/RichardDawkins/  💻 Website: https://richarddawkinstour.com/ — ➡️ 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  — Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices