A Series of Fortunate Events: Chance and Contingency (Ep 51)

Big Biology

What is the role of chance in explaining variation in biology? How has it shaped the history of life on Earth? And how do scientists incorporate chance into their performing experiments?

In this episode of BigBiology, we talk to Sean Caroll, an award-winning scientist, author, educator and, film-producer about his latest book, A Series of Fortunate Events, in which he writes about how chance has shaped life on Earth. In Sean’s view, chance is the creative process and contingency is the aftermath of chance. Consider the asteroid impact that killed off the dinosaurs and paved the way for the rise of mammals and ultimately humans. It could have missed our planet altogether. Or it could have hit 30 minutes earlier, or later, landing in the ocean and having effects that were much less severe.

Sean argues that chance is not limited to biology but plays a big role society including the entertainment industry. The common theme between thinkers and comedians is that they tell the truth, but in a very different way. How do comedians get away with bold statements while scientists run into a controversy for the same ideas? Do scientists have something to learn from comedians?

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