Something Weird Happens When You Simulate Lifeless Molecules

Derek Muller dives into how you can go from lifeless atoms to full-blown Darwinian evolution—starting with a quirky take on why poop smells bad, then unpacking gene mutation, molecular simulations, natural selection, kin selection and Richard Dawkins’s “selfish gene.” Along the way he shows how simple rules applied to molecules can spark lifelike behaviors, with expert insights from Szostak, Sutherland, Masel and Joyce.

By the end, you’ll see that what we call “life” is really just a grand simulation of replicators competing and cooperating, proving that even in silico, evolution’s weird magic still works.

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