What is the nature of biological time? How do symmetries and singularities shape living organisms? In a recent podcast, researchers Giuseppe Longo and Maël Montévil delve into these profound questions, offering a philosophical and mathematical perspective on biology.
The discussion, available on YouTube, challenges traditional views of time in biological systems. Unlike the linear, reversible time of physics, biological time is intertwined with history, development, and evolution. Organisms exhibit temporal asymmetries and singular events that cannot be reduced to simple clock time.
Longo and Montévil explore how symmetries—or their breakings—define biological organization. From the symmetry of a developing embryo to the broken symmetries in cancer, these patterns offer insights into life's complexity. Singularities, such as birth or death, are critical points where biological systems undergo qualitative changes.
This podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of biology, mathematics, and philosophy. It invites us to rethink the fundamental principles that govern life.