Oldest Molecule, Programmable Proteins, Europa Radar & Light’s Double Life (EP. 3)

From First Principles · Aug 14, 2025 · 1h 16m · transcript

We go from the universe’s first chemistry to tomorrow’s designer biology, swing by Mars to tune Europa Clipper’s ice radar, and finish with a fresh take on the double-slit experiment.

In this episode

The “oldest molecule” puzzle (HeH⁺), cooling the early universe, and why JWST’s findings matter

Programmable proteins: reassigning codons, recoding organisms, and real biosafety

Europa Clipper’s REASON radar test at Mars: frequencies, ice thickness & ocean clues

Double-slit, demystified: single photons, “which-path” info, and measurement reality

Chapters

00:00 Intro

• 01:26 First molecule

• 22:27…