Can you define life in three words?

The Loom
By Carl Zimmer
Jan 11, 2012 8:59 PMNov 19, 2019 11:49 PM

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We are all sure we know what life is, but if you try to actually define it, things get tricky fast. I wrote a feature about the scientific struggle to define life in 2007 for Seed, and I've been keeping tabs on the evolution of this metaphysical quandary ever since. I was particularly intrigued to discover recently that one scientist thinks he can define life--and do so in just three words. I've written an essay about his short and sweet definition for the web magazine Txchnologist. Check it out.

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