In this 54″ video made 13 October, 2022 Jesse Ausubel, awarded the 2022 Nierenberg Prize for Science in the Public Interest, discusses whether the human species can continue to improve—much like cars, computers, or other technology—or whether our species has reached its peak.
Area of Research: The Scientific Enterprise
Another podcast with Jesse about peak human and peak humans
Jesse H. Ausubel joins Jason Spiess on The Crude Life to discuss “Peak Human” and “Peak Humans” in a 34-minute podcast and explore new research showing how humans’ minds and bodies may near their limits and even start on a downward curve. “For 200-250 years humanity has had an incredible run,” Ausubel said. “When you think of your great grandparents, grandparents, parents and you, generally speaking you are going to be better… than they were.”
Jesse podcasts on “Peak Human?”
Journalist/author Robert Bryce interviews Jesse Ausubel about PHE’s work on “peak human” and “peak humans.” The interview covers four dimensions of human performance: the physical (how far and fast can we go?), lifetime (how long can we live and how well?), cognitive (measures of intelligence and learning), and immunity (is our resistance to disease waning?). The podcast was recorded on December 7, 2022. For the audio and transcript, see the Bryce website, and also on YouTube.
The Search for Leonardo’s Genome
Jesse’s Search for Leonardo’s Genome published
The journal Human Evolution has published Jesse Ausubel’s “The Search for Leonardo’s Genome,” an expanded, fully referenced version of a talk Jesse gave in June 2022 to a meeting of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. The Academy Bulletin will publish the colloquial version in its winter issue.
Jesse H. Ausubel, The Search for Leonardo’s Genome, Human Evolution 37 3-4: 221-228, 2022; DOI: 10.14673/HE2022341106
Jesse’s Search for Leonardo’s Genome published in Human Evolution
The journal Human Evolution has published “The Search for Leonardo’s Genome” (Vol. 37 – n. 3-4 pp 221-228, 2022; DOI: 10.14673/HE2022341106), a fully referenced expansion of a talk Jesse Ausubel gave in June 2022 to a meeting of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The Academy’s Bulletin will published the colloquial version in its winter issue.
Jesse Ausubel to receive 2022 Nierenberg Prize
Jesse Ausubel will be honored with the 2022 Nierenberg Prize for Science in the Public Interest. This award is presented annually by Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and the Nierenberg Family to honor the memory of William A. Nierenberg, an esteemed physicist and national science leader who served Scripps Oceanography as director for two decades. Previous awardees include atmospheric scientist Warren Washington, biochemist and Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna, filmmaker Sir David Attenborough, and primatologist Dame Jane Goodall, among others.
Andy Marshall Foundation seminar on experimentation, intellectual courage and mentorship
For its 2021 Annual Review, the Andrew W. Marshall Foundation presented an hour-long seminar in which Jesse Ausubel speaks briefly on experimentation, Melissa Flagg on intellectual courage, and Dan Patt on mentorship, followed by Q&A. IGood session. Jesse’s 5 minutes of remarks, titled Don’t Do Anything for the First Time, begin 15 minutes into the session following Jaymie Durnan’s opening review.
DNA & Art Law essay published
A slightly revised version of Jesse’s April 2021 talk to the Art Law Committee of the New York Bar Association on Some DNA Issues for Art Law appears in the August issue of the Media Law Letter. The essay was stimulated by the Leonardo Da Vinci DNA Project.