The Equations of Life

How Physics Shapes Evolution

By: Charles S. Cockell

Narrated by: Ian Porter

We are all familiar with the popular idea that strange alien life is wildly different from life on Earth. Maybe it's made of silicon! Maybe it has wheels! Or maybe it doesn't.

In The Equations of Life, biologist Charles S. Cockell makes the forceful argument that the laws of physics narrowly constrain how life can evolve, making evolution's outcomes predictable. If we were to find something very much like a lady bug eating something very much like an aphid on a distant planet, we shouldn't be surprised. The forms of life are guided by a limited set of rules, and, as a result, there is a narrow set of solutions to the challenges of existence.

A remarkable scientific contribution breathing new life into Darwin's theory of evolution, The Equations of Life makes a radical argument about what life can - and can't - be.

©2018 Charles S. Cockell (P)2018 Dreamscape Media, LLC

The limits to Evolution

Excellent analysis of the constraints to life forms, from upper and lower temperature boundaries, pressure, water, pH.. Are there alternatives to water solution? To carbon based life forms? Why are there four bases on DNA and not more? Why ACTG specifically? How well do the various materials available in space lend themselves to life formations? Explaining this takes some time and attention, this is not a quick read. But it's accessible to laypersons with interest in science.

The conclusion is that, contrary to Charles Darwin, Peter Gould, and common speculation life can't just pop up in endless forms most beautiful. There are narrow lanes and many guardrails, thanks to the universal rules of physics.

Life is amazing, but has limits.

A fascinating journey to the various barriers that life encounters. For anyone who wants to dive deeper into the world around them, definitely add this one to your reading list. Yes they do read off the equations, but considering the title it comes with the territory. The math ties in very well with many other sciences.

Too many equations, not enough insights

This was a pretty good attempt at explaining the impact of physics and chemistry on life as it evolved on Earth and as it might evolve on other worlds. There were not many new insights for me - we know that carbon-based chemistry is much richer than chemistry based on silicon or other elements. And the physical forces on life are well known. The chapter I enjoyed most was about life on planets with a higher gravity than Earth. I understood that such lifeforms would be shorter and stockier, but had not realized that the higher density of air would make flight possible for many more animals. A wonderful insight.

The rest of the book is rather dry and falters (for the Audible reader) where equations are given. The poor narrator has to explain complicated equations in detail (T sub f divided by pi R squared equals ...). Even if you're familiar with the physics it's hard to visualize what the equations look like. This may be better in the printed version, but why provide equations at all without explaining what they mean and where they come from? The book becomes a textbook and not a very good one. My least favorite college textbooks were the ones that presented complicated equations with no history or background.

It all makes sense

The physics is pretty simple as is the biology- but Cockell puts them together in a way that just makes sense. I've been in biology for 50 years yet only now did things like "why 20 amino acids?" becomes clear- or at least, likely. The astrobiology is of interest more to him than me but there is still stuff to be learned.

The speaker was exceptional in clarity, phrasing and pace. It would have been perfect except weird pronunciation of several science words like. a priori or cytosine.

Biological Roots in Physics

A readable explanation of how physics constrains evolution. Don't let the equations scare you away. You may not agree with the author but you will understand his perspective.