In this Veritasium deep dive, Derek Muller goes from “why does poop smell bad?” to the chemistry that probably sparked life on Earth. You’ll see how simple molecules could’ve mutated into self-replicators, why computer simulations help us test theories of early evolution, and get clear explanations of gene mutation, natural selection, and kin selection—all with help from experts like Jack Szostak and John Sutherland.
Along the way, there’s a shout-out to Richard Dawkins’ Selfish Gene, a demo of the Snatoms molecular model kit, and plenty of fun animations. It’s a brisk, informal tour through biology’s origins, showing how life may just be one big, mind-blowing simulation.
Watch on YouTube
Top comments (0)