When Matter Makes Decisions: Michael Levin on the Intelligence of Form
NextIn this episode of Grow Everything, hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan have a conversation with Professor Michael Levin, Ph.D., Wyss Associate Faculty member and the Director of the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University. He reveals how cells make decisions without brains, store memories without DNA, and navigate anatomical space like we navigate physical space. Discover how his team created two-headed immortal worms whose memory persists across regeneration cycles, how bioelectrical patterns control body shape independently of genetics, and why the future of medicine lies in communicating with the collective intelligence of our cells rather than micromanaging their molecular machinery. From xenobots made of frog cells to the anatomical compiler that will revolutionize regenerative medicine, this episode explores the frontier where developmental biology, cognition, and robotics converge to redefine what it means to be alive.