“Evolution's just another word for nothing-stays-the-same...” Okay, so that's not quite the way the famous song goes, but for Dr. Eric Chaisson, it goes right to the heart of the matter—all matter, in fact. In this dialogue with WIE's Elizabeth Debold, Dr. Chaisson, research professor of astronomy and physics at Tufts University, speaks about the unifying principles of cosmic evolution in terms of energy, change, and intelligence. His foundational definition of evolution as change yields a rich complexity that encompasses everything that has occurred in our universe since its mysterious inception and everything that will occur as we continue onward toward an unknown, infinite future. He introduces us to his seven ages of the cosmos, which mark the progress of evolution from the formless era of radiation to the origins of life and higher intelligence. But in the end, it is human culture and our seemingly innate inclination toward higher consciousness that captures Chaisson's passion and imagination. The ultimate question, he suggests, is whether we as a race can survive and thrive—given that 99.9% of all life forms that have existed on earth are extinct—by adapting and evolving quickly enough to beat such formidable odds. Can we develop a universal human code of ethics, consistent with the underlying principles of evolution itself, in order to insure our collective progress and deem us worthy of carrying the ultimate mantle of evolution itself?

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