Cumrun Vafa is a theoretical physicist at Harvard. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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CORRECTIONS:
– I’m currently hiring folks to help me with editing and image overlays so there may be some errors in overlays (as in this episode) as we build up a team. I ask for your patience.
– At 1 hour 27 minute mark, we overlay an image of Brian Greene. We meant to overlay an image of Michael Green, an early pioneer of string theory:
– The image overlay of the heliocentric model is incorrect.
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OUTLINE:
0:00 – Introduction
1:51 – Difference between math and physics
4:34 – Evolution of quantum mechanics
7:52 – Can mathematics lead humanity off track
8:51 – Beauty in mathematics
14:10 – Philosophers using symmetry
20:04 – How can ancient geometry be used to understand reality
23:16 – Key ideas in the history of physics
26:09 – Einstein’s special relativity
29:46 – Physicists building intuition
37:44 – Best work by Einstein
39:28 – Quantum mechanics
49:30 – Quantum gravity
51:45 – String theory
1:07:54 – 10th Dimension
1:14:32 – Skepticism regarding string theory
1:25:37 – Key figures in string theory
1:29:56 – String Theory’s Nobel Prize
1:33:01 – Edward Witten
1:41:39 – String Theory Landscape & Swamplands
1:50:29 – Theories of everything
2:04:55 – Advice for young people
2:07:57 – Death
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