Cumrun Vafa: String Theory | Lex Fridman Podcast #204

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: https://bit.ly/michael-green-physicist
- The image overlay of the heliocentric model is incorrect.

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:
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Clips playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOeciFP3CBCIEElOJeitOr41

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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