#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:
Cumrun’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/cumrunv
Cumrun’s Website: https://www.cumrunvafa.org
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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