#204 – Cumrun Vafa: String Theory

About this episode

<p>Cumrun Vafa is a theoretical physicist at Harvard. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:<br /> &#8211; <b>Headspace</b>: <a href="https://headspace.com/lex">https://headspace.com/lex</a> to get free 1 month trial<br /> &#8211; <b>The Jordan Harbinger Show</b>: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/thejordanharbingershow">https://www.youtube.com/thejordanharbingershow</a><br /> &#8211; <b>Squarespace</b>: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/squarespace">https://lexfridman.com/squarespace</a> and use code LEX to get 10% off<br /> &#8211; <b>Allform</b>: <a href="https://allform.com/lex">https://allform.com/lex</a> to get 20% off</p> <p><b>EPISODE LINKS:</b><br /> Cumrun&#8217;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/cumrunv">https://twitter.com/cumrunv</a><br /> Cumrun&#8217;s Website: <a href="https://www.cumrunvafa.org">https://www.cumrunvafa.org</a><br /> Puzzles to Unravel the Universe (book): <a href="https://amzn.to/3BFk5ms">https://amzn.to/3BFk5ms</a></p> <p><b>PODCAST INFO:</b><br /> Podcast website: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/podcast">https://lexfridman.com/podcast</a><br /> Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://apple.co/2lwqZIr">https://apple.co/2lwqZIr</a><br /> Spotify: <a href="https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8">https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8</a><br /> RSS: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/">https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/</a><br /> YouTube Full Episodes: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexfridman">https://youtube.com/lexfridman</a><br /> YouTube Clips: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexclips">https://youtube.com/lexclips</a></p> <p><b>SUPPORT &#38; CONNECT:</b><br /> &#8211; Check out the sponsors above, it&#8217;s the best way to support this podcast<br /> &#8211; Support on Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman">https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/lexfridman">https://twitter.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman">https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman">https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Medium: <a href="https://medium.com/@lexfridman">https://medium.com/@lexfridman</a></p> <p><b>OUTLINE:</b><br /> Here&#8217;s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.<br /> (00:00) &#8211; Introduction<br /> (07:08) &#8211; Difference between math and physics<br /> (09:51) &#8211; Evolution of quantum mechanics<br /> (13:09) &#8211; Can mathematics lead humanity off track<br /> (14:07) &#8211; Beauty in mathematics<br /> (19:27) &#8211; Philosophers using symmetry<br /> (25:20) &#8211; How can ancient geometry be used to understand reality<br /> (28:32) &#8211; Key ideas in the history of physics<br /> (31:26) &#8211; Einstein&#8217;s special relativity<br /> (35:03) &#8211; Physicists building intuition<br /> (43:01) &#8211; Best work by Einstein<br /> (44:45) &#8211; Quantum mechanics<br /> (54:47) &#8211; Quantum gravity<br /> (57:02) &#8211; String theory<br /> (1:13:11) &#8211; 10th Dimension<br /> (1:19:48) &#8211; Skepticism regarding string theory<br /> (1:30:53) &#8211; Key figures in string theory<br /> (1:35:13) &#8211; String Theory&#8217;s Nobel Prize<br /> (1:38:18) &#8211; Edward Witten<br /> (1:46:56) &#8211; String Theory Landscape &#38; Swamplands<br /> (1:55:46) &#8211; Theories of everything<br /> (2:10:12) &#8211; Advice for young people<br /> (2:13:14) &#8211; Death</p>