222 | Andrew Strominger on Quantum Gravity and the Real World

Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

09-01-2023 • 1 hr 24 mins

Quantum gravity research is inspired by experiment — all of the experimental data that supports quantum mechanics, and supports general relativity — but it’s only inspiration, not detailed guidance. So it’s easy to “do research on quantum gravity” and get lost in a world of toy models and mathematical abstraction. Today’s guest, Andrew Strominger, is a leading researcher in string theory and quantum gravity, and one who has always kept his eyes on the prize: connecting to the real world. We talk about the development of string theory, the puzzle of a positive cosmological constant, and how black holes and string theory can teach us about each other.

Support Mindscape on Patreon.

Andrew Strominger received his Ph.D. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is currently the Gwill E. York Professor of Physics at Harvard University. Among his awards are the Dirac Medal, the Klein Medal, the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, and a Guggenheim Fellowship.


See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You Might Like

StarTalk Radio
StarTalk Radio
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Hidden Brain
Hidden Brain
Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
Speaking of Psychology
Speaking of Psychology
American Psychological Association
Something You Should Know
Something You Should Know
Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media | Cumulus Podcast Network
The Science of Happiness
The Science of Happiness
PRX and Greater Good Science Center
Stanford Psychology Podcast
Stanford Psychology Podcast
Stanford Psychology
Radiolab
Radiolab
WNYC Studios
Paranormal Mysteries Podcast
Paranormal Mysteries Podcast
Paranormal Mysteries | Unexplained Supernatural Stories
BrainStuff
BrainStuff
iHeartPodcasts
Real Ghost Stories Online
Real Ghost Stories Online
Real Ghost Stories Online | Paranormal, Supernatural & Horror Radio
Science Friday
Science Friday
Science Friday and WNYC Studios