Into The Impossible

What happened after the Big Bang? To answer this question, I invited a true pioneer in the field of cosmic microwave background, Bruce Partridge! Bruce Partridge is an emeritus professor of astronomy in the science department at Haverford College. He has served as an Education Officer of the American Astronomical Society, president of the Commission on Cosmology, International Astronomical Union, and President of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.  His research interests lie in the intersection of cosmology and radio astronomy, and he spent most of his career researching the cosmic microwave background. Join us as we embark on a captivating journey into the early Universe! Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Judging a book by its cover (01:27) Coupling together theory and experiment (04:18) The discovery of the coming microwave background (07:23) Patience and perseverance in scientific research (15:01) Nerve gas and rabbits in Arizona (18:27) Why we need to listen to theorists (21:05)  Inflation a

Remastered from our interview in May 2023 A few months ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing the Nobel Laureate, Barry Barish, for UCTV. Barry is an experimental physicist and a professor at UC Riverside. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics along with Rainer Weiss and Kip Thorne for decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves.  In our interview, Barry reflects on his life in science, being curious, experiencing imposter syndrome, and working in the field of physics. Tune in!  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) How to get over impostor syndrome (00:40) Exploring curiosity (06:34) The art of science (11:08) The probability of a quantum theory of gravity (21:36) Would Barry visit a black hole? (26:12) Barry’s origin story (30:53) Could we make an AI physicist? (42:19) Outro (46:12) — Additional resources: 

It's no secret that almost every step we take is being tracked or recorded in some way. However, plenty of things need to be clarified about what this means for our personal freedoms and safety. Today, David Brin, a world-renowned expert on privacy and transparency, will shed light on these complex issues weighing on our society! David is an award-winning science fiction author, technical consultant, astrophysicist, and public speaker. He helped establish the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination at UCSD and serves on the advisory board of NASA's Innovative and Advanced Concepts group. In our interview, we explore fascinating topics like AI, human augmentation, the origin of the Universe, privacy, and the values of a transparent society. Tune in!  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) The notion of the fourth turning (04:18) Artificial intelligence vs. augmented intelligence (12:55) The potential for sentient AI (22:17) Plasma cosmology and the origin of the Universe (27:50) The most compelling theor

Remastered from our interview in May 2023 Will humans soon go extinct? Are we already on borrowed time?  I had the honor of discussing this with none other than the Canadian Prepper himself! Canadian Prepper is an educational YouTuber who talks about self-defense, survival, and all things preparedness. He analyzes current events, reviews innovative equipment, and theorizes about the demise of civilization as we know it. In our interview, we dive deep into extinction-level events. Tune in! Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Are we on borrowed time? (02:17) Why are we so obsessed with end times? (14:22) Types of civilizations (20:37)  Fermi paradox and the great filter (26:52) — Additional resources: 

✨ To try everything Brilliant has to offer—free—for a full 30 days, visit https://brilliant.org/DrBrianKeating The first 200 of you will get 20% off Brilliant's annual premium subscription. ✨ I had the pleasure of participating in an exciting onstage dialogue with the renowned theoretical physicist Lawrence M. Krauss. We had a lively discussion about the mysteries of the Universe, the latest scientific discoveries, and their implications for our understanding of existence. From the origins of dark energy to nuclear war, pandemics, and climate change - we delved into it all! Join us for A Night at the Museum, presented by the Origins Project.  Lawrence M. Krauss is a highly acclaimed theoretical physicist, commentator, bestselling author, President of The Origins Project Foundation, and host of the Origins Podcast. Among his many significant scientific contributions was the 1995 proposal that most of the Universe's energy resides in empty space.  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Dark energy and its mysteriou

Is the Matrix really real? And if so, which pill would David Chalmers take?  Join us for a mind-bending journey through virtual worlds, human consciousness, technology, philosophy, and religion, and find out!  David Chalmers is an Australian philosopher and cognitive scientist specializing in the areas of philosophy of mind and philosophy of language. He is a Professor of Philosophy and Neural Science at New York University and co-director of NYU's Center for Mind, Brain, and Consciousness (along with Ned Block).  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Judging the book by its cover (01:49) Defining the hard problem of consciousness (04:50) Why is there tension between physics and philosophy (07:20) The Chalmers equation for the simulation hypothesis? (11:57) What have we learned about consciousness from computer analogs? (21:24) AI physicists (32:08) What is it from bit? Or is that bit from it? (40:10) What does it take for the maker of the simulation to be god or godlike? (47:50)  Why create the world (o

Is it still possible to make a case for string theory? And should we treat the multiverse as a serious idea and explore it mathematically? Here to discuss these fundamental questions with me today is the one and only Brian Greene. Brian Greene, of course, needs no introduction. He is an American theoretical physicist and mathematician. He’s a professor at Columbia University and the director of Columbia’s Center for Theoretical Physics.  Greene has gained a lot of popularity through his books that bring complex physical issues closer to general audiences: The Elegant Universe (1999), Icarus at the Edge of Time (2008), The Fabric of the Cosmos (2004), and The Hidden Reality (2011), a book he promoted in the TV show The Big Bang Theory!  In this episode, Brian and I discuss the experimental relevance of string theory, the multiverse hypothesis, the likelihood of alien life, and much more.  Tune in! Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) What’s the experimental minimum? (01:05) String theory’s experimental releva

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? Here to discuss these claims with me is none other than Cumrun Vafa! Cumrun is the Hollis 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 why we should trust String Theory, Fine Tuning, and the message he'd put into a billion-year time capsule. We also talked about his recently released book Puzzles to Unravel the Universe.  Tune in!  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Judging a book by its cover (01:04) What is a puzzle versus a mystery? (03:37) Is string theory actually science? (10:37) Dimensional analysis (17:02) Singularities (19:41) ADS and 5 dimensions (27:04) Abandoning string theory (34:12) Supersymmetry (35:12) On religion (39:50) A scorecar

Welcome to a very important, meaningful, and delightful episode of Into the Impossible, with an impossibly brilliant guest who has inspired me since my young days as a graduate – Michael Turner!  Michael Turner is a renowned theoretical cosmologist and professor of physics at the University of Chicago. He is a pioneer in exploring what he calls the dark side of the Universe. He coined the term dark energy, and his ideas led to the cold dark matter theory of structure formation.  Michael’s contributions to modern physics are truly invaluable, and I am beyond thrilled to have him as a guest on my show.  Join us as we explore the origins and evolution of the Universe!  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Judging a book by its cover: The Early Universe (01:44) Was there a Big Bang or not? (06:23) The most important discoveries in physics (12:44) The origin of dark energy (29:32) The Hubble constant and its precision (41:44) Magnetic fields, dark energy, and resolving the Hubble tension (48:20) Dark photons

What’s written in our stars? Here to read humanity's horoscope is none other than Lord Martin Rees!  Lord Martin Rees has played a huge role in my career and is an inspiration to me and millions of scientists around the world. There is literally nothing beyond his purview, and our conversation bore this out -- we covered everything from A to Z: artificial intelligence to zoology! Nothing was off-limits – we even shared our mutual and controversial distaste for alchemy and astrology! Lord Rees of Ludlow, the Astronomer Royal, is the Co-founder of the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk and an Emeritus Professor of Cosmology & Astrophysics at Cambridge University. He is the 38th Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. He is the author of ‘On the Future’ and 10 other books and the 60th President of the Royal Society. Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Judging a book by its cover: On The Future (01:48) Reading the Queen's horoscope (03:08) Do physicists envy mathematicians? (06:46) Why is Einstein so often a

Katherine Freese first presented the concept of dark stars at a conference in 2007. It was not well received at the time, as there was no evidence for it, and finding it seemed impossible. That is until recently… Katherine Freese is a renowned theoretical physicist, professor of physics at the University of Texas at Austin, and a member of the Simons Observatory. She works on a wide range of topics in theoretical cosmology and astroparticle physics, including her quest to identify the dark matter and dark energy that permeate the universe. She wrote The Cosmic Cocktail: Three Parts Dark Matter, published in June 2014 by Princeton University Press. She is one of the most renowned scientists that exists today, and I’m excited to have her back on the show to discuss Hubble tension, natural inflation, dark energy, and, of course, the star of the show (pun intended), dark stars! Tune in.  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) In honor of Steven Weinberg (01:09) Katie’s take on Hubble tension (03:28) Natural inflation

What's really going on in a black hole? Why are there so many theories of everything? And did Leonard Susskind, the father of string theory, ever feel like an impostor? Find out in this thrilling interview with none other than Susskind himself. Susskind is an American physicist and a professor of theoretical physics at Stanford University. He is also the founding director of the Stanford Institute for Theoretical Physics. In 1995, Susskind was the first to give a precise string-theoretic interpretation of the holographic principle and the first to introduce the idea of the string theory landscape in 2003.  In this interview, we discuss Susskind's popular science book, The Black Hole War, which covers the black hole information paradox and the related scientific dispute between Stephen Hawking and Susskind himself. We also talk about other developments in modern physics and more! Tune in! Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) The difference between writing for broad and small audiences (05:56) Impostor syndrome (0

Humans have never lived in such abundance as we do today. Yet we are miserable, divided, and lonely. We have everything we need to flourish, so why are we wilting? Today’s extraordinary guests, Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein, say it’s because the modern world is out of sync with our ancient brains and bodies! They explore this bold thesis in their book A Hunter Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century, which we will discuss extensively in this interview.  Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein are evolutionary biologists who have been invited to ad­dress the US Congress, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Education and have spoken before audi­ences across the globe. They both earned PhDs in Biology from the University of Michigan, where their research on evolution and adaptation earned awards for its quality and innovation. They have been visiting fellows at Princeton University and, before that, were professors at the Ever­green State College for fifteen years. Join us as we explore evolution, the ch

Is math real? How to bake pi? And how much is x+y, really?  Many people don't like math because they find it too complicated or boring. But math can actually be a lot of fun, and we can find it everywhere in life, even in the most mundane things like baking. And it is through baking that today's guest, Eugenia Cheng, decided to rid the world of math phobia. Dr. Cheng is a renowned mathematician, educator, author, and concert pianist. She's a scientist in residence at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she teaches mathematics to art students. She is an expert in category theory and has recently published a book, Is Math Real?, which we will discuss in detail today! Join Eugenia and me as we explore mathematics’ deepest truths. Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Judging a book by its cover: Is Math Real? (01:10) On the unreasonable power of mathematics in the physical sciences (04:05) If there were no physical world, would math exist? (08:14) The number zero (10:30) Is our brain a massive co

There is a God equation in mathematics; could there be a God equation in physics?  This is the question to which Dr. Michio Kaku has dedicated his life. Dr. Kaku is a theoretical physicist, bestselling author, acclaimed public speaker, renowned futurist, and popularizer of science. As co-founder of String Field Theory, Dr. Kaku carries on Einstein’s quest to unite the four fundamental forces of nature into a single grand unified theory. In this episode of Into the Impossible, Dr. Kaku and I embark on a quest to find this theory of everything. We discuss artificial intelligence, string theory, God, agnosticism, how to become the next Einstein and one of my favorite books – The God Equation. Tune in!  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Could an advanced AI create a game like chess? (02:23) Balancing fame with physics (04:31) Has particle physics been dormant for the last 50 years? (08:32) Rivals to the string theory (18:39) Different laws for different universes (25:38) Is string theory falsifiable? (31:0

Is life insurance a scam? What is the difference between a visionary and someone who’s all talk? And what would Patrick Bet-David's next five moves be if he lost his job? On this episode of Into the Impossible, Patrick Bet-David and I discuss his book, 'Your Next 5 Moves: Master the Art of Business Strategy,' his approach to business, visionaries, life insurance, and his enthusiasm for helping others reach their full potential. Patrick Bet-David immigrated to the US from Iran as a child. He served in the U.S. Army and began working in the financial industry. He founded the successful insurance sales company PHP Agency. His Valuetainment YouTube channel has nearly 5 million subscribers, and he hosts The Bet-David Show.  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) If Patrick got fired, what would be his next five moves? (01:09) Judging a book by its cover: Your Next Five Moves (05:20) Is Patrick a deep or a broad guy? (07:05) The value of Valuetainment fans (12:54) The difference between a visionary and someone who’

How does a Nobel Prize winner create ideas and bring them to life? What can starlings teach us about physics? And what is a spin glass? Here today, to take us on a fascinating journey from bird flocks to condensed matter physics is none other than Nobel Prize laureate Giorgio Parisi. Giorgio is an Italian theoretical physicist and author of many wonderful works, such as In a Flight of Starlings: The Wonders of Complex Systems, which we will discuss in detail in this episode. Giorgio is an incredibly inspiring mind who has contributed so much to our understanding of nature and complex systems, and it was an honor to interview him! Tune in.  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Judging a book by its cover: In a Flight of Starlings (00:38) Nicola Cabibbo as an advisor (07:10) Why do starlings form murmurations? (12:12) Giorgio’s work on spin glasses (22:04) How Giorgio lost the Nobel Prize (29:38) Can scientists work in isolation? (35:10) How ideas are born (38:28) Room-temperature superconductivity (43:08

Usually, I’m the one interrogating guests, but every now and then, I find myself on the hot seat, too! Enjoy my conversation with Francis and Konstantin on their show, TRIGGERnometry. We discussed the idea of colonizing Mars, aliens, the origin of everything, the complex correlation between science and religion, everything wrong with the Nobel Prize, and much more!  TRIGGERnometry is a YouTube show and podcast in which comedians Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster create honest conversations with fascinating people.  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Are we too pessimistic, and do we have a future in space? (03:27) Is there anything for us on Mars? (12:48) Storing consciousness & the survival of humanity (19:42) The discovery of extraterrestrial life (28:35) Humility in the field of science (46:24) Criticism of the Nobel Prize (52:49) Will we ever be able to travel space effectively? (58:33)  Are we alone in the Universe? (1:03:54) Where does everything come from? (1:11:17) What is the one thing we’r

Are you ready for the battle of the theories of everything? Eric Weinstein and Stephen Wolfram, two mathematical mavericks and personal heroes of mine, joined me on the show to debate their theories of everything, answer questions from the audience, and discuss the fundamental nature of the universe.  I thoroughly enjoyed this deep and wide-ranging conversation, and I hope you will, too!  Tune in.  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Why are young people so interested in theories of everything? (06:32) Is it possible to reconcile Eric's and Stephen's theories? (13:43) The notion of paradigm shifts (20:22) Too simplistic or too complex? (40:02) Comparing and contrasting different approaches (1:07:15) Of what value is a theory if it’s not testable? (1:17:03) The role of AI and the simulation hypothesis (1:31:46) Final thoughts (1:43:59) Outro (1:49:30) — Additional resources: 

Have you ever wondered who Ben Shapiro is beyond politics? Well, you are in luck because today, you have the incredible opportunity to get to know him in a way that only a few do! In our exciting interview, we talked about nearly everything •except• politics.  Tune in and find out what Ben would be doing if he wasn’t famous, why he loves science fiction, who he would MOST like to have on his show, what he would do if elected president, and the downside of success. We also get into one of his recent books, How to Destroy America in Three Easy Steps.  Ben Shapiro is the author of multiple New York Times best-selling books. His popular podcast, “The Ben Shapiro Show” has millions of followers and is syndicated to radio stations nationwide. In 2015, Shapiro founded the conservative news site The Daily Wire. He has a B.A. in political science from UCLA and a degree from Harvard Law School.  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) How marriage and kids helped Ben mature (03:05) A day in the life of Ben Shapiro (05:49)