#204 – Cumrun Vafa: String Theory

Cumrun Vafa is a theoretical physicist at Harvard. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Headspace: https://headspace.com/lex to get free 1 month trial - The Jordan Harbinger Show: https://www.youtube.com/thejordanharbingershow - Squarespace: https://lexfridman.com/squarespace and use code LEX to get 10% off - Allform: https://allform.com/lex to get 20% off 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: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: - Check out the sponsors above, it's the best way to support this podcast - Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman - Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman 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