#204 – Cumrun Vafa: String Theory

Cumrun Vafa is a theoretical physicist at Harvard. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Headspace: https://headspace.com/lex to get free 1 month trial – The Jordan Harbinger Show: https://www.youtube.com/thejordanharbingershow – Squarespace: https://lexfridman.com/squarespace and use code LEX to get 10% off – Allform: https://allform.com/lex to get 20% off EPISODE LINKS: Cumrun’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/cumrunv Cumrun’s Website: https://www.cumrunvafa.org Puzzles to Unravel the Universe (book): https://amzn.to/3BFk5ms PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: – Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast – Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman – Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman – Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) – Introduction (07:08) – Difference between math and physics (09:51) – Evolution of quantum mechanics (13:09) – Can mathematics lead humanity off track (14:07) – Beauty in mathematics (19:27) – Philosophers using symmetry (25:20) – How can ancient geometry be used to understand reality (28:32) – Key ideas in the history of physics (31:26) – Einstein’s special relativity (35:03) – Physicists building intuition (43:01) – Best work by Einstein (44:45) – Quantum mechanics (54:47) – Quantum gravity (57:02) – String theory (1:13:11) – 10th Dimension (1:19:48) – Skepticism regarding string theory (1:30:53) – Key figures in string theory (1:35:13) – String Theory’s Nobel Prize (1:38:18) – Edward Witten (1:46:56) – String Theory Landscape & Swamplands (1:55:46) – Theories of everything (2:10:12) – Advice for young people (2:13:14) – Death

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This episode was published on July 26, 2021.

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