Making Sense of Complexity with Cole Mathis: Are other futures possible? The emergence of life and the origin of alternative histories

The origin of life remains one of the most profound open questions in science. At its core lies the challenge of explaining how complex adaptive systems emerge from the universal and seemingly immutable laws of physics. In this talk, I will argue that the very existence of life — and complex adaptive phenomena more generally — suggests a fundamental gap in our current physical frameworks. I will introduce a computational model that can be used to explore how novel organizational structures can arise through simple generative rules. By examining this model, I will demonstrate how we can reconcile the rigidity of physical law with the potential for alternative futures, focusing specifically on the transition from abiotic chemistry to biological function.

Cole Mathis is an assistant professor in the School of Complex Adaptive Systems and in the Biodesign Center for Biocomputing, Security and Society. He is a physicist and astrobiologist who studies the origin and nature of life on Earth as well as the possibility of life beyond our planet. The focus of his research is connecting theoretical concepts with experiments and empirical validation, with the goal of helping create de novo life forms in the lab. He has a PhD in physics from ASU. Before starting his own lab he was a NASA astrobiology postdoctoral fellow.