What if a single mutation millions of years ago is the reason you're here reading this right now?

Richard Anderson is the author of Nautilus Award winner “The Evolution of Life: Big Bang to Space Colonies,” which details the history of the universe and life, as well as the present and future of humanity, life, and the planet. Richard holds a master’s degree in microbiology from San Jose State University, with further studies in molecular biology and biochemistry.

In this episode, Richard and I unpack the story of life, from the origins of the universe to the evolutionary occurrences that made us human. We explore how stars forged the physical world, how early life sparked into existence, and why a single evolutionary twist set humans apart. This conversation covers the narrative of the universe, from the Big Bang to the present day.

0:00 Intro

00:22 How Did the Universe Begin?

04:10 How Did Life Begin?

07:52 How Did Reproduction Begin?

09:45 The First Life Forms

11:35 The First Breakthrough In Evolution

14:51 Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells

19:21 How Humans Evolved

26:12 How the Human Brain Evolved & How We Became Great Hunters

31:00 Humans Evolved Predatory Eyesight

33:38 How Tools Altered Human Evolution

34:51 The Virus That Altered Mammalian Evolution

41:46 Male vs. Female Brain Differences

44:11 Conservative vs. Liberal Brain Differences

47:04 Criminal & Psychopath Brain Differences

54:25 Most Of Your Body Doesn’t Contain Your DNA

58:19 Can Humans Live in Space?

01:10:00 Can Humanity Overcome Ideological Differences

01:20:39 All Humans Are Practically the Same

01:31:02 How Will Humans Evolve Next?

01:34:17 Robotic Evolution

Get Richard's Book "The Evolution of Life: Big Bang to Space Colonies" - https://amzn.to/4gsHWJD

Richard's Website: https://richardandersonauthor.com/

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NR0gOZu2oCQ