Robert Hazen

Dr. Robert Hazen, a leading mineralogist and geologist at the Carnegie Institution, introduces a groundbreaking concept of a second arrow of time, focused on increasing functional information in evolution. He argues that as the universe ages, it becomes more organized and purposeful, challenging traditional views of entropy. Using the coffee cup as an analogy, he illustrates how function shapes the evolution of complex systems, suggesting a new understanding of time, evolution, and reality itself.

Robert Hazen, a leading mineralogist and professor, delves into the captivating topic of mineral evolution and its connection to life on Earth. He reveals how the universe began with just a handful of minerals, which have since diversified into thousands. Hazen highlights the shared characteristics of all evolving systems—interaction, configuration, and selection—drawing parallels between minerals and living organisms. His insights encourage us to rethink our place in the cosmos by understanding the deep interconnectedness of geological and biological systems.

Susie Sheehy, physicist and author who tells the human stories behind experiments. Robert Hazen, geoscientist and mineral evolution expert. Michael Wong, astrobiologist proposing a law of rising functional information. They explore a universal evolutionary process behind complexity. They contrast serendipitous and hypothesis-driven experiments and trace how selection, information, and human creativity reshape matter, life, and technology.