Coral reef ecosystem at Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.
Photo credit: Jim Maragos / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
In a conversation with Steven Bartlett on The Diary of a CEO (aired August 29, 2024), neuroscientist Andrew Huberman revisits one of his earliest fascinations: aquaria. From childhood, he immersed himself in the study of tropical fish and coral reef ecosystems — enclosed microcosms of life that pulsed with interdependence, fragility, and pattern.
Over time, what began as a child’s biological curiosity matured into a worldview — one that understands society, emotion, and healing through the lens of systems. To see life as an aquarium — or a coral reef — is to acknowledge that what holds things together is often unseen. Coral ecosystems do not privilege visibility; they rely on relationships, flows, and functions. Tiny filtering organisms maintain balance. Root-like structures anchor the entire reef. Each component has significance — not in isolation, but in relation to others. Continue reading “The Aquarium of Life: Systems Thinking and the Architecture of Quiet Support”
