Our Fractal Universe · Part One, Chris Lehto (DemystifySci +438)
Our Fractal Universe · Part One, Chris Lehto (DemystifySci +438)  
Podcast: The DemystifySci Podcast
Published On: Wed Aug 12 2026
Description: This week we are going to the core of what it means to be alive. If we don't understand where matter turns into the living then how can we be sure we're not missing biological processes all over the universe? Chris Lehto joins us for this first part of a two part series on his work surrounding the Fractal Universe, where we establish the historic basis for our present understanding of what it means to be living. We look at the NASA criteria, Michod's individuality gate, and the overlooked importance of will. This sets us up for part two where we'll put larger scale cosmic structures to the test, working from the city up to galaxies and beyond.Chris' book: https://amzn.to/3S29crAPATREON https://www.patreon.com/c/demystifysciPARADOX LOST PRE-SALE: https://buy.stripe.com/7sY7sKdoN5d29eUdYddEs0bHOMEBREW MUSIC - Check out our new album!Hard Copies (Vinyl): FREE SHIPPING https://demystifysci-shop.fourthwall.com/products/vinyl-lp-secretary-of-nature-everything-is-so-good-hereStreaming:https://secretaryofnature.bandcamp.com/album/everything-is-so-good-herePARADIGM DRIFThttps://demystifysci.com/paradigm-drift-show00:00 Go! Introductions and the Question of Life at Different Scales00:08:00 Anomalies and the Limits of What We Notice00:14:01 Microbes: Seen for Centuries, Never Called Alive00:24:38 Why Every Era Thinks It Sees Clearly00:33:08 Does Life Stop at Our Scale?00:42:49 Cosmic Analogies and the Trouble With Defining Life00:52:30 NASA's Four Tests for Life00:59:12 Drawing the Line: Fire, Rivers, Ecosystems01:05:00 Michod's Individuality Gate01:11:31 Intent, Agency, and the "Want" Problem#philosophy #philosophyofmind #emergence #consciousness #cosmos MERCH: Rock some DemystifySci gear : https://demystifysci-shop.fourthwall.com/AMAZON: Do your shopping through this link: https://amzn.to/3YyoT98DONATE: https://bit.ly/3wkPqaDSUBSTACK: https://substack.com/@UCqV4_7i9h1_V7hY48eZZSLw@demystifysci RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/2be66934/podcast/rssMAILING LIST: https://bit.ly/3v3kz2S SOCIAL: - Discord: https://discord.gg/MJzKT8CQub- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DemystifySci- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DemystifySci/- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemystifySciMUSIC: -Shilo Delay: https://g.co/kgs/oty671