Physicist Eric Hedin: Information Processing as a Hallmark of Life

Physicist Eric Hedin: Information Processing as a Hallmark of Life

Author: Discovery Institute August 18, 2025 Duration: 22:45
What if life isn’t just a collection of molecules bumping around? What if every living thing, from a single cell to a human being, is doing something much more surprising—processing information and communicating in complex, purposeful ways? On this episode of ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid begins a two-part conversation with Dr. Eric Hedin, a physicist and author who’s been asking bold questions about the hidden patterns of life. He’s argued recently that the way living systems handle information—and communicate—is more likely evidence of intelligent design, not blind, undirected processes. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Dive into the ongoing conversation at the intersection of science, philosophy, and culture with Intelligent Design the Future. Produced by the Discovery Institute, this podcast offers a focused exploration of the arguments and discussions surrounding intelligent design and evolutionary theory. Rather than lengthy lectures, it presents concise, digestible episodes that fit into your day, featuring direct conversations with researchers and thinkers actively engaged in this scientific field. You'll hear from scientists, scholars, and institute fellows who break down new developments, analyze recent publications, and address the broader implications of these ideas for education and society. The discussions are grounded in the perspective that nature presents evidence of design, tackling complex topics in astronomy, biology, and the philosophy of science with a specific point of view. Each episode aims to provide clarity on current debates, making the content accessible whether you're deeply familiar with the subject or just beginning to explore these fundamental questions. This is a place for substantive dialogue on one of the most enduring topics in modern thought, all packaged in a brief, engaging format that prioritizes depth over duration. Tune in to hear the voices shaping this particular strand of scientific discourse.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Intelligent Design the Future
Podcast Episodes
Eric Hedin on Free Will and Morality in a Designed World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:13
Are we responsible for our choices? What can the laws of nature teach us about morality? On this classic episode of ID The Future from the archive, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes back Dr. Eric Hedin, Professor Emeritus o…
When Engineering Meets Biology: More From Our Scientist Roundtable [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:26
A Quick Message From Host Andrew McDiarmid: Hey thanks for joining me! Did you know that although ID The Future is free content, it’s not free to produce? If you’re enjoying the interviews, commentaries, and readings you…
Eric Hedin on Suffering in a Designed World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:35
Is natural evil an argument against intelligent design? And is human evil more consistent with naturalism or theism? On this classic ID The Future episode, host Andrew McDiarmid speaks with Dr. Eric Hedin about his artic…
Why Intelligent Design Best Explains the Laws of Nature [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:05
On today’s ID The Future, host Brian Miller concludes a two-part conversation with physicist Aaron Zimmer and mathematician Ellie Feder, hosts of the Physics to God podcast, as they critique current explanations for the…
Beyond Fine-Tuning: Why the Laws of Nature Indicate Design [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:31
You might already have heard that the laws that govern our universe are finely tuned to allow for our existence. But beneath the special numbers of the universe lies an even deeper mystery: the laws of nature themselves.…
Thus Saith the Science: C.S. Lewis on the Dangers of Scientism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:41
Progress is an appealing idea, but what happens when we do not all desire the same things? On this ID The Future, we mark the 60th anniversary of the death of British writer C. S. Lewis as host Andrew McDiarmid concludes…
Michael Behe: Why Darwinism Will Eventually Collapse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:55
Failed ideas tend to eventually crumble under the weight of contrary evidence. Is modern evolutionary theory heading for the same fate? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid speaks to biochemist Michael J. Behe ab…
C. S. Lewis’s Prophetic Legacy on Scientism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:14
What happens when science leaves human values behind? Or when governments become beholden to scientists? On this classic ID The Future out of the vault, we mark the 60th anniversary of the death of British writer C. S. L…