Episodes

  • Cumrun Vafa: Puzzles to Unravel the Universe (2020)

    Cumrun Vafa: Puzzles to Unravel the Universe (2020)
    Oct 1 2024
    Is string theory actually science? Many argue that string theory cannot be proven and should therefore be abandoned. For them, string theory is not science at all. But are they right? I had the pleasure of discussing this with none other than Cumrun Vafa! Cumrun is a Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in the Department of Physics at Harvard University, where he has been researching and teaching theoretical physics since 1985. His primary area of research is string theory. In our interview, we discussed whether we should trust string theory, fine-tuning, and the message he'd put into a billion-year time capsule. We also talked about his book Puzzles to Unravel the Universe. Tune in to learn about string theory! Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:20 Judging a book by its cover 00:03:35 What is a puzzle versus a mystery? 00:06:06 Black hole entropy 00:08:12 Godel's Theorem: Are some puzzles not solvable? 00:12:04 Is string theory actually science? 00:17:15 Dimensional analysis 00:21:15 Singularities 00:28:31 ADS and 5 dimensions 00:30:48 String theory 00:34:49 Supersymmetry 00:40:22 On religion 00:52:45 A scorecard for physics 00:55:21 What would your "ethical will" be? 01:02:50 What have you accomplished that once seemed impossible? 01:06:30 Outro Additional resources: ➡️ Learn more about Cumrun Vafa: 📚 Puzzles to Unravel the Universe: https://a.co/d/iWnNDup 💻 Cumrun’s website: https://www.cumrunvafa.org/ ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast ✨ Member's only playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UUMOmXH_moPhfkqCk6S3b9RWuw Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • How the Higgs Field Gives Mass to Everything in the Universe with Matt Strassler

    How the Higgs Field Gives Mass to Everything in the Universe with Matt Strassler
    Sep 29 2024
    Have we been completely wrong about the Higgs boson? What if it’s not what we think but something far more elusive? And what does the origin of mass in the universe have to do with music? Here today to explore these mind-bending questions is theoretical physicist Matt Strassler. Matt is known for his work in particle physics, particularly in the context of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and quantum field theory. He has been involved in research on the Higgs boson, supersymmetry, and other topics in high-energy physics. In our insightful interview, we dive into the mysteries of quantum physics, the nature of space, and how waves—not just particles—form the building blocks of reality. Tune in to find out how the Higgs field gives mass to everything in the universe! Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:24 Deepak or Matt? 00:03:18 Judging a book by its cover 00:06:27 Energy, frequency, and vibration 00:11:53 What is a phib, and why should the reader care? 00:16:15 Galileo’s impact 00:20:51 The Higgs field and the Higgs boson 00:28:17 Fine-tuning problems of matter and anti-matter 00:33:57 Renormalization 00:38:59 The luminiferous ether 00:49:08 Why Mach didn’t play a part in Matt’s book 00:52:08 Inflation and the Higgs field 00:55:35 Rapid questions 01:03:21 Outro Additional resources: ➡️ Learn more about Matt Strassler: 💻 Website: https://profmattstrassler.com/ ✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/mattstrassler 📚 Waves in an Impossible Sea by Matt Strassler: https://a.co/d/1E8MxT8 ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast ✨ Member's only playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UUMOmXH_moPhfkqCk6S3b9RWuw Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Searching for Extraterrestrial Life with Dr. Luke Barnes and Dr. Jay Richards

    Searching for Extraterrestrial Life with Dr. Luke Barnes and Dr. Jay Richards
    Sep 26 2024
    Are we alone in the universe? I had the great pleasure of discussing this fundamental existential question with astrophysicist Dr. Luke Barnes and philosopher Dr. Jay Richards! In this exciting discussion, we dove headfirst into the implications of the SETI project, the Rare Earth hypothesis, and the possibility of habitable planets in other solar systems. Together, we explored the probabilities and challenges of the search for extraterrestrial life, taking into account the vastness of the universe and the fine-tuning required for life to exist. Tune in to find out more about the search for extraterrestrial life! This debate was hosted by the Hoover Institution. Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:50 Cosmic fine-tuning 00:12:13 The Privileged Planet 00:21:09 When did the fine-tuning take place? 00:28:05 The SETI project 00:30:59 The lack of life on Mars 00:39:40 Why we’re so fascinated by this question 00:57:28 Quantum mechanics and Einstein’s relativity 01:02:01 Human exceptionalism 01:08:46 Science and religion 01:12:58 Outro Additional resources: ➡️ Check out my incredible colleagues: 🔔 Hoover Institution: https://www.hoover.org/ 🔔 Hoover Institution YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HooverInstitution ✖️ Dr. Luke Barnes: https://x.com/lukebarnesastro/ ✖️ Dr. Jay Richards: https://x.com/drjayrichards/ ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast ✨ Member's only playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UUMOmXH_moPhfkqCk6S3b9RWuw Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Extra Dimensions Could Change Everything We Know About Physics | Dan Hooper [Ep. 459]

    Extra Dimensions Could Change Everything We Know About Physics | Dan Hooper [Ep. 459]
    Sep 22 2024
    Is the universe hiding extra dimensions we can’t see? Could a graviton – a particle we haven’t even proven to exist – change everything we know about the cosmos? And what does the future of physics hold if the standard model fails? Today, I sit down with the renowned cosmologist Dan Hooper to discuss some of the most complex and exciting theories in modern cosmology. Dan is a leading theoretical physicist at Fermilab and a professor at the University of Chicago, specializing in the mysteries of dark matter, the early universe, and extra dimensions. In this thrilling episode, Dan and I explore how hidden dimensions and mysterious particles could fundamentally challenge our understanding of the universe! Tune in! Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 01:12 Judging a book by its cover 03:00 The Kaluza–Klein theory 06:29 Extra dimensions and gravitons 14:05 Supersymmetry and spin-3/2 particles 19:16 The Desi experiment and neutrino mass 24:58 What has Dan been wrong about? 27:40 Outro Additional resources: ➡️ Learn more about Dan: 🎶 The Spectral Distortions: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2sazg5S1hrbt5Rk4lxoVHy 🎙️ Why This Universe?: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbfIVYxgDnR3dicM18TwS8w ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast ✨ Member's only playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UUMOmXH_moPhfkqCk6S3b9RWuw Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • Will We Ever Find a Theory of Everything? Brian Keating & Curt Jaimungal

    Will We Ever Find a Theory of Everything? Brian Keating & Curt Jaimungal
    Sep 20 2024
    Will we ever find the theory of everything? What’s the real difference between artificial intelligence and artificial wisdom? And do experimental physicists really need a deeper understanding of theory than the theorists themselves? I had the incredible pleasure of diving into these profound questions with Curt Jaimungal, host of the popular podcast and YouTube channel Theories of Everything. In our insightful conversation, we explored the nature of theoretical physics, the role of experimental science, and the ongoing quest to understand the origins of the universe, from the Big Bang to the possibility of a cyclical cosmos. Tune in. Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:34 My goals in life 00:02:44 Artificial intelligence vs. artificial wisdom 00:09:20 Gödel's incompleteness theorem 00:19:55 Theoretical vs. experimental physics 00:27:00 What textbooks are there for experimental physics? 00:36:50 What's needed for a Theory of Everything? 00:40:56 What are the limits of experimental physics? 00:42:37 Free will, reductionism, and God 00:51:34 Eric Weinstein's geometric unity 00:59:12 Outro Additional resources: ➡️ Check out Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal: 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w 💻 Website: https://www.curtjaimungal.org/ ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast ✨ Member's only playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UUMOmXH_moPhfkqCk6S3b9RWuw Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • How Did Tardigrades End Up on the Moon? w/ Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe

    How Did Tardigrades End Up on the Moon? w/ Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe
    Sep 20 2024
    What are tardigrades, and how did they end up on the moon? I had the pleasure of exploring the evolution, resilience, and potential use cases of these microscopic creatures that can survive in extreme environments with Daniel Whiteson and Jorge Cham from Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe. Enjoy! — Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 01:52 Are tardigrades colonizing the moon? 04:12 A little bit about myself 08:37 Ask the wrong expert 15:03 Why are tardigrades so terrifying? 16:50 Their extreme survival abilities 26:18 How they ended up on the moon 28:29 Can they survive on the moon? 33:41 Outro — Additional resources: ➡️ Check out Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe: 🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daniel-and-jorge-explain-the-universe/id1436616330 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5t4keSVD2zRQuUEtwuoq4V — ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast — Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • Why I Worry Every Time Someone Says to “Follow the Science” w/ Georgia Howe

    Why I Worry Every Time Someone Says to “Follow the Science” w/ Georgia Howe
    Sep 19 2024
    I’m a scientist. But every time someone says to “follow the science,” I worry. Why? Find out in my conversation with Georgia Howe from The Daily Wire. The Daily Wire is a news website and media company founded in 2015 by political commentator Ben Shapiro and film director Jeremy Boreing. Enjoy! Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 01:08 Knowledge vs. wisdom 02:42 Follow the science 08:42 Politics and science 11:23 Integrity in science 14:07 Outro Additional resources: ➡️ Check out PragerU: 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PragerU ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast ✨ Member's only playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UUMOmXH_moPhfkqCk6S3b9RWuw Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    17 mins
  • Are We Living in a Simulation? Nick Bostrom (2022)

    Are We Living in a Simulation? Nick Bostrom (2022)
    Sep 17 2024
    What if everything you know is just a simulation? In 2022, I was joined by the one and only Nick Bostrom to discuss the simulation hypothesis and the prospects of superintelligence. Nick is a Professor at Oxford University, where he heads the Future of Humanity Institute as its founding director. He is the most-cited professional philosopher in the world aged 50 or under and is the author of some 200 publications, including Anthropic Bias (2002), Global Catastrophic Risks (2008), Human Enhancement (2009), and Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies (2014), a New York Times bestseller. With a background in theoretical physics, computational neuroscience, logic, and artificial intelligence, there is no one better to answer this question than him! Tune in. — Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:44 Judging a book by its cover 00:05:22 How could an AI have emotions and be creative? 00:08:22 How could a computing device / AI feel pain? 00:13:09 The Turing test 00:20:02 The simulation hypothesis 00:22:27 Is there a "Drake Equation" for the simulation hypothesis? 00:27:16 Penroses' orchestrated objective reality 00:34:11 SETI and the prospect of extraterrestrial life 00:49:20 Are computers really getting "smarter"? 00:53:59 Audience questions 01:01:09 Outro — Additional resources: 📚 Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom: https://a.co/d/fYC5DH0 — ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast — Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to follow so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 4 mins