#246 – Peter Woit: Theories of Everything and Why String Theory is Not Even Wrong

About this episode

<p>Peter Woit is a theoretical physicist, mathematician, critic of string theory, and author of the popular science blog Not Even Wrong. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:<br /> &#8211; <b>The Prisoner Wine Company</b>: <a href="https://theprisonerwine.com/lex">https://theprisonerwine.com/lex</a> to get 20% off &#38; free shipping<br /> &#8211; <b>Linode</b>: <a href="https://linode.com/lex">https://linode.com/lex</a> to get $100 free credit<br /> &#8211; <b>Sunbasket</b>: <a href="https://sunbasket.com/lex">https://sunbasket.com/lex</a> and use code LEX to get $35 off<br /> &#8211; <b>BetterHelp</b>: <a href="https://betterhelp.com/lex">https://betterhelp.com/lex</a> to get 10% off<br /> &#8211; <b>SimpliSafe</b>: <a href="https://simplisafe.com/lex">https://simplisafe.com/lex</a> and use code LEX to get a free security camera</p> <p><b>EPISODE LINKS:</b><br /> Peter&#8217;s website: <a href="http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/">http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/</a><br /> Peter&#8217;s blog: <a href="https://bit.ly/3xCwm9F">https://bit.ly/3xCwm9F</a><br /> Not Even Wrong (book): <a href="https://amzn.to/3peDzZs">https://amzn.to/3peDzZs</a><br /> Quantum Theory, Groups, and Representations (book): <a href="https://amzn.to/316iAjf">https://amzn.to/316iAjf</a><br /> Love and Math (book): <a href="https://amzn.to/3If7B8m">https://amzn.to/3If7B8m</a><br /> The Second Creation (book): <a href="https://amzn.to/3rlWzIu">https://amzn.to/3rlWzIu</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 /> (07:22) &#8211; Physics vs mathematics<br /> (21:51) &#8211; Beauty of mathematics<br /> (43:42) &#8211; String theory<br /> (1:12:15) &#8211; Theory of everything<br /> (1:32:23) &#8211; Twistor theory and spinors<br /> (1:48:50) &#8211; Nobel Prize likelihood for theory of everything<br /> (1:52:36) &#8211; Simulating physics<br /> (1:56:07) &#8211; Sci-Fi, aliens and space<br /> (2:05:19) &#8211; Responsibility of scientists</p>