#204 – Cumrun Vafa: String Theory Lex Fridman Podcast

Cumrun Vafa is a theoretical physicist at Harvard. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:

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EPISODE LINKS:

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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