I’ve spent many years studying the history of a universe but today I would
history of a universe but today I would
history of a universe but today I would like to look into the future with you
there is an African proverb that says if
there is an African proverb that says if you don’t know where to go look where
you don’t know where to go look where
you don’t know where to go look where you come from maybe we should look up as
you come from maybe we should look up as
you come from maybe we should look up as well the night sky has always been
well the night sky has always been
well the night sky has always been contemplated by mankind with fear or
contemplated by mankind with fear or
contemplated by mankind with fear or amazement it forces us to think beyond
amazement it forces us to think beyond
amazement it forces us to think beyond our basic needs today we are going to go
our basic needs today we are going to go
our basic needs today we are going to go for the three evolutions the universe
for the three evolutions the universe
for the three evolutions the universe life on earth and the third evolution of
life on earth and the third evolution of
life on earth and the third evolution of which we are all part more about that
which we are all part more about that
which we are all part more about that later so let’s start with the first
later so let’s start with the first
later so let’s start with the first evolution the universe
evolution the universe
evolution the universe you will agree with me that as soon as
you will agree with me that as soon as
you will agree with me that as soon as you look up in the dark you see the
you look up in the dark you see the
you look up in the dark you see the empty vastness of the universe well it’s
empty vastness of the universe well it’s
empty vastness of the universe well it’s not so empty and it’s not so dark we
not so empty and it’s not so dark we
not so empty and it’s not so dark we live on a planet the earth circling a
live on a planet the earth circling a
live on a planet the earth circling a very dull star called the Sun and our
very dull star called the Sun and our
very dull star called the Sun and our Sun is circling inside a very dull
Sun is circling inside a very dull
Sun is circling inside a very dull galaxy called the Milky Way and there
galaxy called the Milky Way and there
galaxy called the Milky Way and there are billions of stars in our galaxy and
are billions of stars in our galaxy and
are billions of stars in our galaxy and there are billions of galaxies in the
there are billions of galaxies in the
there are billions of galaxies in the known universe so what sets our human
known universe so what sets our human
known universe so what sets our human condition in a very isolated and dull
condition in a very isolated and dull
condition in a very isolated and dull place so it has only been in the last
place so it has only been in the last
place so it has only been in the last century but we understand the universe
century but we understand the universe
century but we understand the universe evolves galaxies and stars have not been
evolves galaxies and stars have not been
evolves galaxies and stars have not been always around when we work out the
always around when we work out the
always around when we work out the expansion of a universe in Reverse the
expansion of a universe in Reverse the
expansion of a universe in Reverse the picture was very different 14 billion
picture was very different 14 billion
picture was very different 14 billion years ago
with a big bang model we now understand
with a big bang model we now understand what happened
what happened
what happened the latest flunk satellite image reveals
the latest flunk satellite image reveals
the latest flunk satellite image reveals the universe when it was only 400,000
the universe when it was only 400,000
the universe when it was only 400,000 years old we live in a single universe
years old we live in a single universe
years old we live in a single universe that looks the same wherever we look at
that looks the same wherever we look at
that looks the same wherever we look at it I spent 20 years of my life along
it I spent 20 years of my life along
it I spent 20 years of my life along with hundreds of others scientists
with hundreds of others scientists
with hundreds of others scientists studying that matter here ever details
studying that matter here ever details
studying that matter here ever details have been exaggerated but this image is
have been exaggerated but this image is
have been exaggerated but this image is much smoother than the skin of a
much smoother than the skin of a
much smoother than the skin of a grapefruit yet
grapefruit yet
grapefruit yet we are lucky to see some ripples because
we are lucky to see some ripples because
we are lucky to see some ripples because they are the signs of what will
they are the signs of what will
they are the signs of what will eventually collapse to form the galaxies
eventually collapse to form the galaxies
eventually collapse to form the galaxies as we know them today within galaxies
as we know them today within galaxies
as we know them today within galaxies stars can form and then a new range of
stars can form and then a new range of
stars can form and then a new range of possibilities happens to make complex
possibilities happens to make complex
possibilities happens to make complex atoms for example do you know that the
atoms for example do you know that the
atoms for example do you know that the spoon you use to eat your porridge every
spoon you use to eat your porridge every
spoon you use to eat your porridge every morning it’s made of metal produced in a
morning it’s made of metal produced in a
morning it’s made of metal produced in a supernova explosion this image on the
supernova explosion this image on the
supernova explosion this image on the Left shows how the death of a star can
Left shows how the death of a star can
Left shows how the death of a star can spread iron in the galaxies other stars
spread iron in the galaxies other stars
spread iron in the galaxies other stars can shed carbon oxygen nitrogen elements
can shed carbon oxygen nitrogen elements
can shed carbon oxygen nitrogen elements we say which are central to the
we say which are central to the
we say which are central to the chemistry of life these elements are
chemistry of life these elements are
chemistry of life these elements are very incorporated into the next
very incorporated into the next
very incorporated into the next generation of stars this is what
generation of stars this is what
generation of stars this is what happened to the Sun and our solar system
happened to the Sun and our solar system
happened to the Sun and our solar system with the evolution of the universe is
with the evolution of the universe is
with the evolution of the universe is central to producing interesting atoms
central to producing interesting atoms
central to producing interesting atoms the building blocks of the next
the building blocks of the next
the building blocks of the next evolution life on Earth
evolution life on Earth
evolution life on Earth [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] how life appeared is still a mystery but
how life appeared is still a mystery but
how life appeared is still a mystery but we now understand the basic properties
we now understand the basic properties
we now understand the basic properties of life all living bodies on earth share
of life all living bodies on earth share
of life all living bodies on earth share the same DNA and the same self structure
the same DNA and the same self structure
the same DNA and the same self structure the evolution of life from simple cells
the evolution of life from simple cells
the evolution of life from simple cells to complex multicellular organisms like
to complex multicellular organisms like
to complex multicellular organisms like onions
onions
onions dolphins scorpions is now understood
dolphins scorpions is now understood
dolphins scorpions is now understood Darwin has found the engine for
Darwin has found the engine for
Darwin has found the engine for evolution
evolution
evolution natural selection operates on various
natural selection operates on various
natural selection operates on various attempts made by reproduction with
attempts made by reproduction with
attempts made by reproduction with variations and better adapted species
variations and better adapted species
variations and better adapted species are selected from the constraints of the
are selected from the constraints of the
are selected from the constraints of the environment there are several methods
environment there are several methods
environment there are several methods for natural selection to operate for
for natural selection to operate for
for natural selection to operate for example there is your arms race bigger
example there is your arms race bigger
example there is your arms race bigger taller faster more poisonous and so on
taller faster more poisonous and so on
taller faster more poisonous and so on cheetahs can arrest can run faster and
cheetahs can arrest can run faster and
cheetahs can arrest can run faster and grab the weakest gazelles thus the
grab the weakest gazelles thus the
grab the weakest gazelles thus the gazelle population gets reinforced into
gazelle population gets reinforced into
gazelle population gets reinforced into the faster running ones and if gazelles
the faster running ones and if gazelles
the faster running ones and if gazelles go fast then in the cheetah population
go fast then in the cheetah population
go fast then in the cheetah population only the faster one with crime when new
only the faster one with crime when new
only the faster one with crime when new equilibrium will then appear between the
equilibrium will then appear between the
equilibrium will then appear between the species and Darwin was stunned at how
species and Darwin was stunned at how
species and Darwin was stunned at how the adaptation of all the species to the
the adaptation of all the species to the
the adaptation of all the species to the environment another way selection can
environment another way selection can
environment another way selection can operate is for species to find
operate is for species to find
operate is for species to find ecological niches where no one else is
ecological niches where no one else is
ecological niches where no one else is present for example the bat uses the
present for example the bat uses the
present for example the bat uses the night sky to fly around and find food
night sky to fly around and find food
night sky to fly around and find food and then sleeps when all the other
and then sleeps when all the other
and then sleeps when all the other species are active during the day a bit
species are active during the day a bit
species are active during the day a bit like teenagers
the peacock illustrates sexual selection
the peacock illustrates sexual selection so here the survival of an individual is
so here the survival of an individual is
so here the survival of an individual is increased by its attractiveness to be
increased by its attractiveness to be
increased by its attractiveness to be over sex for the peacock species the
over sex for the peacock species the
over sex for the peacock species the male as all the beauty for over species
male as all the beauty for over species
male as all the beauty for over species it’s a female in general evolution works
it’s a female in general evolution works
it’s a female in general evolution works as a blind process with inheritance and
it’s a bit like a bush in which there
it’s a bit like a bush in which there are many dead branches
are many dead branches
are many dead branches only the top twigs are still alive on
only the top twigs are still alive on
only the top twigs are still alive on earth and favour favourable changes are
earth and favour favourable changes are
earth and favour favourable changes are carried over from one generation to the
carried over from one generation to the
carried over from one generation to the next the genes which are chunks of DNA
next the genes which are chunks of DNA
next the genes which are chunks of DNA that could increase the population size
that could increase the population size
that could increase the population size have made it in the long run so Homo
have made it in the long run so Homo
have made it in the long run so Homo sapiens is just an animal at the end of
sapiens is just an animal at the end of
sapiens is just an animal at the end of one twig hope it doesn’t break over homo
one twig hope it doesn’t break over homo
one twig hope it doesn’t break over homo species like Homo habilis do not exist
species like Homo habilis do not exist
species like Homo habilis do not exist on earth anymore they aren’t dead
on earth anymore they aren’t dead
on earth anymore they aren’t dead branches so this standard picture should
branches so this standard picture should
branches so this standard picture should not be a straight line as on the left
not be a straight line as on the left
not be a straight line as on the left but rather a bushy tree as on the right
but rather a bushy tree as on the right
but rather a bushy tree as on the right so what is so special about human beings
so what is so special about human beings
so what is so special about human beings not bones not brain not even language
not bones not brain not even language
not bones not brain not even language dolphins have language so here is a bold
dolphins have language so here is a bold
dolphins have language so here is a bold idea to wake you up my contention is
idea to wake you up my contention is
idea to wake you up my contention is that almost appellants have several
that almost appellants have several
that almost appellants have several written languages they are not only
written languages they are not only
written languages they are not only utilitarian languages like English but
utilitarian languages like English but
utilitarian languages like English but there are also music the arts
there are also music the arts
there are also music the arts mathematics and so on opening new worlds
mathematics and so on opening new worlds
mathematics and so on opening new worlds our species converse communicate in
our species converse communicate in
our species converse communicate in space and time and this is what I call
space and time and this is what I call
space and time and this is what I call the third evolution ideas which I
the third evolution ideas which I
the third evolution ideas which I exchanged between one brain and another
exchanged between one brain and another
exchanged between one brain and another can propagate much faster than genetic
can propagate much faster than genetic
can propagate much faster than genetic inheritance in the past it took four
inheritance in the past it took four
inheritance in the past it took four days for a man
days for a man
days for a man on a horse to travel from Manchester to
on a horse to travel from Manchester to
on a horse to travel from Manchester to London nowadays it takes less than three
London nowadays it takes less than three
London nowadays it takes less than three hours on the train to do the same
hours on the train to do the same
hours on the train to do the same journey well if a train is on time
journey well if a train is on time
journey well if a train is on time whereas the genetic evolution is slow
whereas the genetic evolution is slow
whereas the genetic evolution is slow the speed at which the information can
the speed at which the information can
the speed at which the information can propagate around the globe
propagate around the globe
propagate around the globe makes this very evolution possible okay
makes this very evolution possible okay
makes this very evolution possible okay so the first evolution is the universe
so the first evolution is the universe
so the first evolution is the universe making the building blocks and this
making the building blocks and this
making the building blocks and this second evolution is about complex life
second evolution is about complex life
second evolution is about complex life so let me tell you more about the third
so let me tell you more about the third
so let me tell you more about the third evolution so we have our own circles
evolution so we have our own circles
evolution so we have our own circles family friends city country sport faith
family friends city country sport faith
family friends city country sport faith and we shall loyalties to our social
and we shall loyalties to our social
and we shall loyalties to our social circles by doing things in common and
circles by doing things in common and
circles by doing things in common and exchanging ideas for example I don’t
exchanging ideas for example I don’t
exchanging ideas for example I don’t took football with my wife I have
took football with my wife I have
took football with my wife I have another circle for that I think that the
another circle for that I think that the
another circle for that I think that the further evolution is cognitive in nature
further evolution is cognitive in nature
further evolution is cognitive in nature it is all about the link between people
it is all about the link between people
it is all about the link between people and their social circles and it has
and their social circles and it has
and their social circles and it has happened in the last in the in the last
happened in the last in the in the last
happened in the last in the in the last 10,000 years and these social circles
10,000 years and these social circles
10,000 years and these social circles are now quickly merging around the earth
all these circles are somehow
all these circles are somehow represented in each of our brain and are
represented in each of our brain and are
represented in each of our brain and are coated with chemicals between neurons
coated with chemicals between neurons
coated with chemicals between neurons neuroscientists have made a great leap
neuroscientists have made a great leap
neuroscientists have made a great leap forward but we are still very far from
forward but we are still very far from
forward but we are still very far from understanding this strange object called
understanding this strange object called
understanding this strange object called the brain we’ve barely scratched the
the brain we’ve barely scratched the
the brain we’ve barely scratched the surface there are hundred billion
surface there are hundred billion
surface there are hundred billion neurons in each other in each brain
neurons in each other in each brain
neurons in each other in each brain which is by the way the same number of
which is by the way the same number of
which is by the way the same number of stars in our galaxy each neuron is
stars in our galaxy each neuron is
stars in our galaxy each neuron is connected with at least 10,000 over
connected with at least 10,000 over
connected with at least 10,000 over neurons my brain is only 2% of a human
neurons my brain is only 2% of a human
neurons my brain is only 2% of a human body weight
however it gives 20% of the oxygen
however it gives 20% of the oxygen intake and even 25% of a glucose
intake and even 25% of a glucose
intake and even 25% of a glucose consumption and despite popular belief
consumption and despite popular belief
consumption and despite popular belief we do use 100% of our brain at all times
we do use 100% of our brain at all times
we do use 100% of our brain at all times so in fact the human body is just a
so in fact the human body is just a
so in fact the human body is just a slave taking care of a central
slave taking care of a central
slave taking care of a central processing unit the brain but in brain
processing unit the brain but in brain
processing unit the brain but in brain is nothing on its own
is nothing on its own
is nothing on its own Freud development a brain has to connect
Freud development a brain has to connect
Freud development a brain has to connect with other brains to synchronize ideas
with other brains to synchronize ideas
with other brains to synchronize ideas like a chair food love so the social
like a chair food love so the social
like a chair food love so the social side of human beings cannot be
side of human beings cannot be
side of human beings cannot be overstated we start as some little
overstated we start as some little
overstated we start as some little fragile being thrown into the deep end
fragile being thrown into the deep end
fragile being thrown into the deep end having only our parents to help us cope
having only our parents to help us cope
having only our parents to help us cope with life and this is the immersion in
with life and this is the immersion in
with life and this is the immersion in our social circles that makes us become
our social circles that makes us become
our social circles that makes us become who we are through education and by
who we are through education and by
who we are through education and by having more interaction with others I
having more interaction with others I
having more interaction with others I think it is fair to say that in a way we
think it is fair to say that in a way we
think it is fair to say that in a way we are born at 20 it takes 20 odd years
are born at 20 it takes 20 odd years
are born at 20 it takes 20 odd years just to get a float with complexity our
just to get a float with complexity our
just to get a float with complexity our civilization has reached some people at
civilization has reached some people at
civilization has reached some people at 50 still don’t get it back to ideas
50 still don’t get it back to ideas
50 still don’t get it back to ideas which are central to the third evolution
which are central to the third evolution
which are central to the third evolution there are many stupid idea
there are many stupid idea
there are many stupid idea splash on a bottle children like that or
splash on a bottle children like that or
splash on a bottle children like that or forbidden ideas score at football with
forbidden ideas score at football with
forbidden ideas score at football with your hand and there are many there are
your hand and there are many there are
your hand and there are many there are also sustainable ideas we are all equal
ideas fly from one brain to another by
ideas fly from one brain to another by communication and that’s where the
communication and that’s where the
communication and that’s where the society acts on booths ideas by
society acts on booths ideas by
society acts on booths ideas by filtering them out this is a sort of
filtering them out this is a sort of
filtering them out this is a sort of natural selection in the Darwinian sense
natural selection in the Darwinian sense
natural selection in the Darwinian sense there are no good or bad ideas just
there are no good or bad ideas just
there are no good or bad ideas just ideas which are relevant or not that’s
ideas which are relevant or not that’s
ideas which are relevant or not that’s typically how religions can spread or
typically how religions can spread or
typically how religions can spread or some food dishes
some food dishes
some food dishes we are somehow adapted to the society we
we are somehow adapted to the society we
we are somehow adapted to the society we live that Wynn was fascinated by evil
live that Wynn was fascinated by evil
live that Wynn was fascinated by evil way some birds in an island we’re so
way some birds in an island we’re so
way some birds in an island we’re so well adapted to the available food okay
well adapted to the available food okay
well adapted to the available food okay technically technological advances show
technically technological advances show
technically technological advances show the selection process vividly the arms
the selection process vividly the arms
the selection process vividly the arms race is everywhere more blades on a
race is everywhere more blades on a
race is everywhere more blades on a razor to get a cleaner shave or flying
razor to get a cleaner shave or flying
razor to get a cleaner shave or flying higher faster longer more comfortably
higher faster longer more comfortably
higher faster longer more comfortably and there are also ecological niches say
and there are also ecological niches say
and there are also ecological niches say a drone it has a limited range but it
a drone it has a limited range but it
a drone it has a limited range but it doesn’t require a pilot on board and
doesn’t require a pilot on board and
doesn’t require a pilot on board and there’s also selection by seduction by
there’s also selection by seduction by
there’s also selection by seduction by support with a brand by Apple so we find
support with a brand by Apple so we find
support with a brand by Apple so we find in the evolution of Technology the same
in the evolution of Technology the same
in the evolution of Technology the same patterns as in the Darwinian natural
patterns as in the Darwinian natural
patterns as in the Darwinian natural selection so comparing the three
selection so comparing the three
selection so comparing the three evolutions the universe life on earth
evolutions the universe life on earth
evolutions the universe life on earth and ideas we can see that one evolution
and ideas we can see that one evolution
and ideas we can see that one evolution is embedded in the previous one so let
is embedded in the previous one so let
is embedded in the previous one so let us now describe some of our common
us now describe some of our common
us now describe some of our common interesting features for start they are
interesting features for start they are
interesting features for start they are all digital they are ruled by ground
all digital they are ruled by ground
all digital they are ruled by ground numbers atoms in the universe of each
numbers atoms in the universe of each
numbers atoms in the universe of each got a discrete number of electrons and
got a discrete number of electrons and
got a discrete number of electrons and that gives rise to the periodic table of
that gives rise to the periodic table of
that gives rise to the periodic table of elements and all living bodies on earth
elements and all living bodies on earth
elements and all living bodies on earth our DNA coded with only four chemical
our DNA coded with only four chemical
our DNA coded with only four chemical letters ACGT and the third evolution is
letters ACGT and the third evolution is
letters ACGT and the third evolution is coded by letters of various alphabets
coded by letters of various alphabets
coded by letters of various alphabets and now binary coding is everywhere
another common feature is diversity many
another common feature is diversity many outputs can be obtained just by
outputs can be obtained just by
outputs can be obtained just by assembling the same building blocks in
assembling the same building blocks in
assembling the same building blocks in different ways there are many genes in
different ways there are many genes in
different ways there are many genes in common between giraffes and O copies or
common between giraffes and O copies or
common between giraffes and O copies or between onions and leeks we are just
between onions and leeks we are just
between onions and leeks we are just combined differently and for the third
combined differently and for the third
combined differently and for the third evolution
evolution
evolution linguists are amazed at the number of
linguists are amazed at the number of
linguists are amazed at the number of ways we can combine words to make
ways we can combine words to make
ways we can combine words to make meaningful sentences okay another
meaningful sentences okay another
meaningful sentences okay another feature which is most paradoxical
feature which is most paradoxical
feature which is most paradoxical feature is unicity we live in a single
feature is unicity we live in a single
feature is unicity we live in a single universe as far as we can observe the
universe as far as we can observe the
universe as far as we can observe the physical laws we have found on earth
physical laws we have found on earth
physical laws we have found on earth apply everywhere in the universe and
apply everywhere in the universe and
apply everywhere in the universe and there is a single brand of life the one
there is a single brand of life the one
there is a single brand of life the one which is coated with DNA and there is
which is coated with DNA and there is
which is coated with DNA and there is only one species that carries a third
only one species that carries a third
only one species that carries a third evolution Homo sapiens another feature
evolution Homo sapiens another feature
evolution Homo sapiens another feature is inheritance complex life does not
is inheritance complex life does not
is inheritance complex life does not occur spontaneously animals are born
occur spontaneously animals are born
occur spontaneously animals are born with almost the same genes as their
with almost the same genes as their
with almost the same genes as their parents and in the same way strong ideas
parents and in the same way strong ideas
parents and in the same way strong ideas other history and they are transmitted
other history and they are transmitted
other history and they are transmitted over and over this is what we call
over and over this is what we call
over and over this is what we call communication of general practice and
communication of general practice and
communication of general practice and knowledge finally we have seen that the
knowledge finally we have seen that the
knowledge finally we have seen that the three evolution share similar selection
three evolution share similar selection
three evolution share similar selection processes so now is a controversial
processes so now is a controversial
processes so now is a controversial issue I claim that a new method has
issue I claim that a new method has
issue I claim that a new method has emerged among Cubans to select ideas in
emerged among Cubans to select ideas in
emerged among Cubans to select ideas in only a few centuries the experimental
only a few centuries the experimental
only a few centuries the experimental method has led to a growing corpus of
method has led to a growing corpus of
method has led to a growing corpus of scientific knowledge which is just
scientific knowledge which is just
scientific knowledge which is just staggering so we are constantly
staggering so we are constantly
staggering so we are constantly generating new ideas but the ones that
generating new ideas but the ones that
generating new ideas but the ones that we’ve stand experimental evidence will
we’ve stand experimental evidence will
we’ve stand experimental evidence will spread like wildfire this is it and our
spread like wildfire this is it and our
spread like wildfire this is it and our journey through the three evolutions the
journey through the three evolutions the
journey through the three evolutions the universe life on earth and the third
universe life on earth and the third
universe life on earth and the third evolution which is how human beings
evolution which is how human beings
evolution which is how human beings exchange ideas in space and time the
exchange ideas in space and time the
exchange ideas in space and time the more you share the more you can advance
more you share the more you can advance
more you share the more you can advance and larger circles go out of your
and larger circles go out of your
and larger circles go out of your comfort zone and over the edge look
comfort zone and over the edge look
comfort zone and over the edge look around for inspiring ideas make mistakes
around for inspiring ideas make mistakes
around for inspiring ideas make mistakes well not to me
well not to me
well not to me making mistakes is part of selecting
making mistakes is part of selecting
making mistakes is part of selecting ideas put the concept of evolution into
ideas put the concept of evolution into
ideas put the concept of evolution into your everyday thinking things don’t pop
your everyday thinking things don’t pop
your everyday thinking things don’t pop out of nowhere where you come from gives
out of nowhere where you come from gives
out of nowhere where you come from gives you a big clue as to what lies ahead
you a big clue as to what lies ahead
you a big clue as to what lies ahead thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
”
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