Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

Big Bang Productions Inc.

A podcast about how we understand the world, scientifically and as humans. Each conversation brings together visionaries from the worlds of arts, sciences, humanities, and technology discussing the nature of reality and how we collaborate to create the future. Hosted by Dr Brian Keating, Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Physics at UC San Diego. For show notes go to: https://briankeating.com/podcast read less
ScienceScience

Episodes

Daniel Dennett: Do We Have Free Will?
5d ago
Daniel Dennett: Do We Have Free Will?
Join my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA 🇺🇸 will WIN! Welcome everyone to a fascinating deep dive with the late Daniel Dennett! In our interview, we tackled fascinating problems like free will, human consciousness, ethics, and the philosophy of science. He also explained why he’s sounding the alarm on AI! Shortly after our interview, Daniel sadly passed away at the age of 82. He was a renowned philosopher, thought-provoking writer, brilliant cognitive scientist, and vocal atheist. He was the co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies, the Austin B. Fletcher Professor of Philosophy at Tufts University in Massachusetts, a member of the editorial board for The Rutherford Journal, and a co-founder of The Clergy Project. Known as one of the "Four Horsemen" of New Atheism, he was at the forefront of discussions on consciousness, free will, and the impact of Darwinian evolution on religious belief. Dennett's works, including "Breaking the Spell" and "Consciousness Explained," have provoked both admiration and controversy, challenging readers to reconsider deeply held beliefs about the mind and its relationship to the physical world. Needless to say, I was thrilled to have Dan on the show! The world has truly lost an extraordinary soul and a groundbreaking thinker. RIP Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:09:27 Judging a book by its cover 00:12:29 Dan's critique of Sam Harris's position on free will 00:21:43 The evolutionary advantage of music 00:29:01 Language, nonverbal communication, and artificial intelligence  00:34:33 Are brains computers? 00:46:04 Sounding the alarm on AI 00:51:38 Bioengineering and bioethics  00:57:21 Philosophy of physics  01:02:47 The evolution of academia 01:09:08 Audience questions  01:23:10 Outro — Additional resources: 📝 Get one month of Snipd Premium for free with this link: https://get.snipd.com/Cx7S/brianSnipd Snipd lets you take Smart Notes 🧠 with AI 💡 — it’s my favorite podcast player 😀 ! ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list  ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/  🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Does Time Really Exist and How Can We Measure It w/ Chad Orzel (#406)
14-04-2024
Does Time Really Exist and How Can We Measure It w/ Chad Orzel (#406)
Join my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA 🇺🇸 will WIN! Today on Into the Impossible, we’re exploring the fascinating realm of time with none other than the timekeeper himself – Chad Orzel.  Chad is a professor of physics and science communicator renowned for his popular science books, How to Teach Quantum Physics to Your Dog, Breakfast with Einstein, and How to Teach Relativity to Your Dog. He is also a regular contributor to Forbes.com.  In his most recent book, A Brief History of Timekeeping, Chad revisits the delicate negotiations involved in Gregorian calendar reform, the intricate and entirely unique system employed by the Maya, and how the problem of synchronizing clocks at different locations ultimately required us to abandon the idea of time as an absolute and universal quantity.  From sundials to sandglasses and mechanical clocks, this sharp and engaging story isn't just about the science of timekeeping—it's a riveting tale encompassing politics, philosophy, and the very essence of space and time. Tune in! Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:07 Judging a book by its cover 00:05:07 Galileo’s telescope helmet 00:10:23 The connection between time and astronomy 00:13:11 Why is longitude so hard to measure? 00:15:32 The relativity of simultaneity 00:22:12 The future of education after COVID 00:25:55 The standard definition of time 00:31:19 Attosecond clocks 00:36:33 Why time is so much more perplexing than space 00:40:23 How to teach students new things 00:43:14 On education   00:49:05 Outro — Additional resources: 📝 Get one month of Snipd Premium for free with this link: https://get.snipd.com/Cx7S/brianSnipd Snipd lets you take Smart Notes 🧠 with AI 💡 — it’s my favorite podcast player 😀 ! ➡️ Learn more about Chad Orzel: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/orzelc/  📚 Website: https://chadorzel.com/ ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list  ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/  🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Science and Wonder of Solar Eclipses: 4/8/24 (#405)
08-04-2024
The Science and Wonder of Solar Eclipses: 4/8/24 (#405)
Join my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA 🇺🇸 will WIN! On April 8th, 2024, the USA will be treated to a rare celestial phenomenon—a total solar eclipse. During a total solar eclipse, the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow that temporarily darkens parts of the Earth. Astronomers and enthusiasts eagerly await the chance to witness this remarkable event and delve deeper into the mysteries of our solar system.  Today, I want to do a deep dive into solar eclipses so that you can better appreciate them, whether you’ll be able to see the one on Monday or not. Eclipses are awe-inspiring phenomena that bridge the gap between wonder and discovery and have fascinated humanity for millennia. So, without further ado, let’s dive right in!  Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro  00:01:37 Ancient observations  00:03:02 Cultural and religious significance  00:04:27 Scientific contributions  00:05:47 Practical applications  00:09:09 Solar eclipse of 2024 00:10:40 Outro — Additional resources: 😎 Buy solar eclipse glasses here: https://a.co/d/4LuQa5u ☀️ Check out how to make a solar eclipse viewer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMPBWLSYKaw 📝 Get one month of Snipd Premium for free with this link: https://get.snipd.com/Cx7S/brianSnipd Snipd lets you take Smart Notes 🧠 with AI 💡 — it’s my favorite podcast player 😀 ! ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list  ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/  🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How Our Moon Shaped the Course of Human History and Humankind w/ Rebecca Boyle (#404)
07-04-2024
How Our Moon Shaped the Course of Human History and Humankind w/ Rebecca Boyle (#404)
Join my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA 🇺🇸 will WIN! Today on Into the Impossible, we're joined by the renowned cosmic journalist Rebecca Boyle.  As a lifelong lunar enthusiast, Rebecca has extensively studied how the Moon has shaped human history and life on Earth. Rebecca's new book, aptly titled ‘Our Moon,’ explores the mysteries of the Moon, from its crucial role in stabilizing Earth's orbit and shaping our climate to its influence on the evolution of life itself. Furthermore, she sheds light on how ancient civilizations used the Moon's phases to measure time, laying the foundations for scientific observations that continue to this day.  Today, she has kindly joined us to share her insights and discoveries. So, without further ado, let's dive right into this pure lunacy! Rebecca Boyle is a journalist covering the cosmos, focusing on astronomy, space exploration, and history. She is a contributing editor at Scientific American, a contributing writer for Quanta Magazine and The Atlantic, and a frequent contributor at the New York Times, Popular Science, Smithsonian Air & Space, and many other publications. She has received numerous writing awards throughout her career, and her work has been anthologized multiple times in The Best American Science & Nature Writing. Boyle is a former newspaper reporter, a former Space Camp attendee, and a lifelong Moon enthusiast. Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:24 Judging a book by its cover 00:05:08 Rebecca’s personal connection to the Moon 00:11:16 The Moon in occultism and modern science 00:13:36 Women’s menstrual cycles and the Moon 00:16:03 The Moon’s impact on climate change on Earth 00:18:50 How Earth beat the odds 00:22:58 Early life formation and the impact of the Moon 00:26:48 Going back to the Moon and colonizing space 00:35:53 Audience questions 00:38:38 Outro — Additional resources: 📝 Get one month of Snipd Premium for free with this link: https://get.snipd.com/Cx7S/brianSnipd Snipd lets you take Smart Notes 🧠 with AI 💡 — it’s my favorite podcast player 😀 ! ➡️ Learn more about Rebecca Boyle: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/rboyle31  📚 Our Moon: https://t.co/dVkJ6HUZH8 ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list  ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/  🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chris Hayward: Lerner and Gupta Are WRONG About the Big Bang (#403)
31-03-2024
Chris Hayward: Lerner and Gupta Are WRONG About the Big Bang (#403)
Join my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA 🇺🇸 will WIN! When the JWST captured the first images of the earliest galaxies in our universe, scientists were shocked.  The galaxies appeared to be way too bright, way too big, and way too mature to have formed so soon after the Big Bang. This discovery has, rightfully so, sparked a massive debate among astrophysicists. Some even started to question the standard model of cosmology.  However, using new simulations, some astrophysicists decided to investigate this controversy. Among these extraordinarily talented and bright minds is today’s guest, Chris Hayward, founding member of the FIRE project.  Tune in to discover the truth about the mysterious brightness at cosmic dawn! Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:02 What is a FIRE simulation? 00:03:11 The mysterious brightness at cosmic dawn 00:12:36 How FIRE provides information on the maturity of a galaxy 00:16:18 Galaxy dynamics and black holes 00:18:50 How FIRE simulations can help resolve tensions in cosmology 00:27:32 “I was made for science.”  00:34:09 The experimental minimum  00:39:54 What if the universe is actually 26 billion years old?  00:43:35 What's next for this type of research? 00:47:25 Outro — Additional resources: 📝 Get one month of Snipd Premium for free with this link: https://get.snipd.com/Cx7S/brianSnipd Snipd lets you take Smart Notes 🧠 with AI 💡 — it’s my favorite podcast player 😀 ! ➡️ Read more about the Mysterious Brightness at Cosmic Dawn https://www.simonsfoundation.org/2023/10/05/bursts-of-star-formation-explain-mysterious-brightness-at-cosmic-dawn/ ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list  ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/  🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why ChatGPT Can’t Tell Compelling Stories (Yet) w/ John Vervaeke and Shawn Coyne (#402)
24-03-2024
Why ChatGPT Can’t Tell Compelling Stories (Yet) w/ John Vervaeke and Shawn Coyne (#402)
Join my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA 🇺🇸 will WIN! “What is it about Artificial Intelligence driving tech giants like Elon Musk, Marc Andreessen, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Sam Altman? Why are they racing to develop and own these thinking machines while unsure of the harm they could cause us? Can we trust nation-states and NGOs to use their totalitarian strategies when they don’t truly understand the problems we face?” Here today to discuss this with me are John Vervaeke and Shawn Coyne, two extraordinarily bright minds in the field of artificial intelligence.  John Vervaeke is a renowned philosopher and cognitive scientist. He is an associate professor and award-winning lecturer at the University of Toronto, teaching in the Department of Psychology. His work and research are far-ranging, including topics such as human intelligence, rationality, wisdom, and AI. Shawn Coyne is a writer, editor, and publisher with over 30 years of experience. He has analyzed, acquired, edited, written, marketed, agented, or published 374 books, including dozens of bestsellers in all genres, generating more than $150,000,000 in revenue. John and Shawn recently published Mentoring the Machines, a book in which they discuss the issues that others like to sweep under the rug. In today's episode of Into the Impossible, we'll tackle these issues with them! Tune in.  Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:31 Judging a book by its cover  00:08:20 Psychology, alignment, and embodiment  00:16:20 AI’s impact on editing and publishing 00:20:39 Knowledge and wisdom  00:30:08 The true Turing test  00:37:05 Conscious machines  00:44:26 AI’s impact on education  00:53:30 Tailored audiobooks for kids  00:58:12 Promising intersections of AI and psychology 01:04:04 Outro — Additional resources: 📝 Get one month of Snipd Premium for free with this link: https://get.snipd.com/Cx7S/brianSnipd Snipd lets you take Smart Notes 🧠 with AI 💡 — it’s my favorite podcast player 😀 ! 📚 Get Mentoring the Machines: https://www.mentoringthemachines.com/  ✍️ Check out Storygrid: https://storygrid.com/  🔔 Check out John’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke  ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list  ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/  🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sam Harris: God Did NOT Write the Bible! (#401)
17-03-2024
Sam Harris: God Did NOT Write the Bible! (#401)
Join my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA 🇺🇸 will WIN! Today’s guest needs no introduction… Meet Sam Harris. Neuroscientist, philosopher, New York Times best-selling author, host of Making Sense, creator of Waking Up, and one of the most thought-provoking intellectuals of our time. Known as one of the "Four Horsemen" of New Atheism, along with Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett, he fearlessly navigates even the most difficult of topics.  He’s a true advocate of reason and an explorer of the human condition. His ideas transcend boundaries, challenge our perceptions, and invite us to think deeply about the world around us. In our thought-provoking conversation, we wrestle with topics ranging from the existence of free will to psychedelic drugs, meditation, and religion.  Join us for an exploration of reason, morality, and consciousness like no other! Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:10:18 Judging a book by its cover 00:13:37 Woke identitarian politics and recent developments in AI 00:25:43 Making your mind into a friend 00:30:52 Meditation and the nature of self  00:52:51 Slipping into psychopathy 01:00:59 The psychedelic experience  01:18:52 Who Sam relies on for external advice 01:25:42 On Trump’s narcissism  01:42:21 Musk’s ambition to colonize Mars 01:59:14 Does Sam miss academia?  02:08:51 Free will, consciousness, and scientific experimentation 02:52:32 Can AI have free will? 02:54:38 Should we teach kids religion?  03:03:50 Barbaric beliefs in different religions  03:18:46 Outro — Additional resources: 📝 Get one month of Snipd Premium for free with this link: https://get.snipd.com/Cx7S/brianSnipd Snipd lets you take Smart Notes 🧠 with AI 💡 — it’s my favorite podcast player 😀 ! ➡️ Connect with Sam Harris: 💻 Website: https://www.samharris.org/ ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list  ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/  🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why Are People Protesting Against a Telescope? | Robert Kirshner (#400)
10-03-2024
Why Are People Protesting Against a Telescope? | Robert Kirshner (#400)
Join my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA 🇺🇸 will WIN! Today, we’re joined by a real hero of mine and mentor to millions around the world – dr. Robert Kirshner!  Robert is an astronomer of great renown. He is the Clowes Research Professor of Science at Harvard University and executive director of the Thirty Meter Telescope. This remarkable international scientific endeavor will radically change our understanding of the universe and our place within it. With its unprecedented design, the TMT will feature unique capabilities for exploring black holes, dark matter, and the possibility of life outside the solar system. Tune in to learn more about Robert’s monumental discoveries and the most controversial telescope on Earth. Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:27 Judging a book by its cover 00:03:29 The discovery of cosmic acceleration  00:08:18 The history of cosmic expansion, dark energy, and the density of the universe 00:22:51 Balancing confidence and humility in scientific research  00:25:21 Telescope technology and its applications in astronomy  00:35:05 Did the Big Bang never happen?  00:39:54 The most controversial telescope on Earth 00:56:49 What would Robert do differently? 01:00:21 Outro — Additional resources: 📝 Get one month of Snipd Premium for free with this link: https://get.snipd.com/Cx7S/brianSnipd Snipd lets you take Smart Notes 🧠 with AI 💡 — it’s my favorite podcast player 😀 ! ➡️ Check out Robert Kirshner:  💻 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-kirshner-3a740026 📚 Get the Extravagant Universe on Amazon: https://a.co/d/cWvZRHk ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list  ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/  🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Cal Newport: Want to Be More Productive? Do LESS (#399)
05-03-2024
Cal Newport: Want to Be More Productive? Do LESS (#399)
Join my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA 🇺🇸 will WIN! What if I told you that you could be more productive… by doing less? Sounds crazy, but as per today’s extraordinary guest, it’s true! Meet Cal Newport, associate professor of computer science at Georgetown University and bestselling author of Deep Work, Digital Minimalism, and other books that offer a refreshing departure from the hustle culture that pervades modern society. Instead of advocating for endless multitasking and shallow engagement, Newport champions the art of deep work – the ability to focus intensely on cognitively demanding tasks, producing results that are not only profound but also deeply satisfying.  Today, he presents his newest book, Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout.  Join us as we explore the potential beyond the constant hustle and bustle of modern life and discover what you can accomplish by doing not more but fewer things! Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:04:50 Judging a book by its cover 00:07:48 The meandering path of productivity  00:13:54 The importance of time blocking 00:17:47 Working on fewer things  00:26:48 Controlling time and scheduling 00:31:02 Quality over quantity  00:45:31 Cal’s thoughts on writing books  00:53:37 Galileo’s scientific legacy and engaging with new ideas 01:12:44 What’s your five-year plan?  01:22:06 The potentials and dangers of AI  01:33:45 The value of technology in education  01:54:14 Outro — Additional resources: 📝 Get one month of Snipd Premium for free with this link: https://get.snipd.com/Cx7S/brianSnipd Snipd lets you take Smart Notes 🧠 with AI 💡 — it’s my favorite podcast player 😀 ! 📢 Ownership of your health starts with AG1. Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 and 5 FREE AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase 👉 https://drinkag1.com/impossible ➡️ Connect with Cal Newport: 💻 Website: https://calnewport.com/ 📚 Get Slow Productivity by Cal Newport: https://calnewport.com/slow/ ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list  ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/  🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
My conversation with Elon Musk: Cosmology, AI, and Dying on Mars (#398)
04-03-2024
My conversation with Elon Musk: Cosmology, AI, and Dying on Mars (#398)
Join my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA 🇺🇸 will WIN! Katherine Brodsky recently hosted an interview with the one and only Elon Musk. I had the privilege of joining them and used my opportunity to confront Elon about Starlink, AI, and his plan to colonize Mars! Enjoy.  Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro  00:04:44 Starlink and Cosmic Microwave Background Research 00:06:57 A True Turing Test 00:09:54 Can We Break Physics? 00:11:24 Dying on Mars — Additional resources: 📝 Get one month of Snipd Premium for free with this link: https://get.snipd.com/Cx7S/brianSnipd Snipd lets you take Smart Notes 🧠 with AI 💡 — it’s my favorite podcast player 😀 ! 📢 Ownership of your health starts with AG1. Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 and 5 FREE AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase 👉 https://drinkag1.com/impossible ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list  ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/  🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bringing Astrophysics to Life Through Art with Kip Thorne and Lia Halloran (#397)
25-02-2024
Bringing Astrophysics to Life Through Art with Kip Thorne and Lia Halloran (#397)
Please join my mailing list here 👉 https://briankeating.com/list to win a meteorite 💥 What do you get when you combine the minds of a Nobel Prize-winning theoretical physicist and an outstanding artist?  The Warped Side of Our Universe by Kip Thorne and Lia Halloran! A remarkable book that explores Thorne's astrophysical discoveries through poetic verse and otherworldly paintings.  Today, Kip and Lia will guide us through the process of creating their wonderful book. Tune in!  Kip Thorne is a theoretical physicist known for his contributions to gravitational physics and astrophysics. In 2017, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics along with Rainer Weiss and Barry Barish for decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves.  Lia Halloran is an award-winning painter and photographer. She received her BFA at UCLA and her MFA in Painting in Printmaking at Yale. She serves as Associate Professor of Art and Director of the Painting and Drawing Department at Chapman University in Orange, CA.  Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Judging a book by its cover 00:04:46 What would Stephen Hawking make of the LIGO detector?  00:08:04 The color choices in the book  00:11:55 The origin story of their collaboration  00:21:33 The two cultures and the scientific revolution 00:33:16 Teaching arts and physics 00:44:42 Fermilab and the intersection of arts and science 00:51:10 Is the Big Bang too good to be true? 00:59:45 The criticisms of LIGO 01:08:16 What motivates Kip and Lia? 01:14:41 Kip’s bet with Stephen Hawking  01:15:54 Can human beings be replaced? 01:21:28 Kip’s book Gravitation  01:25:20 The most magical human invention  01:29:14 What were Kip and Lia wrong about? 01:34:05 Advice for their younger selves 01:37:26 Outro — Additional resources: 📚 The Warped Side of Our Universe by Kip and Lia: https://a.co/d/4JttLua  📝 Get one month of Snipd Premium for free with this link: https://get.snipd.com/Cx7S/brianSnipd Snipd lets you take Smart Notes 🧠 with AI 💡 — it’s my favorite podcast player 😀 ! 📢 Ownership of your health starts with AG1. Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 and 5 FREE AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase 👉 https://drinkag1.com/impossible ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list  ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/  🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What Is Dark Matter Really Made Of? (#396)
23-02-2024
What Is Dark Matter Really Made Of? (#396)
Please join my mailing list here 👉 https://briankeating.com/list to win a meteorite 💥 Remastered from our interview in 2022.  There are few concepts in physics as frequently discussed but as poorly understood as dark matter. After all, we don’t even know what it’s made of!  However, there are many potential candidates, and I had the pleasure of explaining them in my interview with Arvin Ash. We also talked about the fascinating possibility of detecting gravitational waves from the polarization of the CMB and why it is very likely that there is, in fact, no life outside of Earth.  Tune in! Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro  00:00:37 What is the CMB? 00:01:25 What is the polarization of the CMB? 00:04:49 What is the evidence for cosmic inflation?  00:05:46 What is the leading contender for dark matter? 00:11:51 There may be no other life in the universe! — Additional resources: ➡️ Check out Arvin Ash: 💻 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpMcsdZf2KkAnfmxiq2MfMQ  ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvin_ash?lang=en 📝 Get one month of Snipd Premium for free with this link: https://get.snipd.com/Cx7S/brianSnipd Snipd lets you take Smart Notes 🧠 with AI 💡 — it’s my favorite podcast player 😀 ! 📢 Ownership of your health starts with AG1. Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 and 5 FREE AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase 👉 https://drinkag1.com/impossible ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list  ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/  🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why There’s No Such Thing as Free Will w/ Robert Sapolsky (#395)
18-02-2024
Why There’s No Such Thing as Free Will w/ Robert Sapolsky (#395)
Please join my mailing list here 👉 https://briankeating.com/list to win a meteorite 💥 Whether or not there is free will has tortured scientists from many fields since philosophers in ancient Greece started wondering about it. But for one scientist, there’s no question about it… Meet neuroendocrinology researcher, bestselling author, and Stanford University professor – Robert Sapolsky! Sapolsky’s journey has led him from studying stress and neuronal degeneration in wild baboons in Kenya to exploring the relationship between schizotypal disorders and the emergence of shamanism and the major Western religions. But more recently, Sapolsky has plunged into philosophical waters, studying free will, or rather the lack thereof, to come up with A Science of Life Without Free Will. Today, he’s here to present his case! Tune in. Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:27 How can we understand free will without understanding consciousness?  00:04:30 Panpsychism  00:07:25 Quantum indeterminacy and free will  00:15:17 Do baboons have free will? 00:19:36 Are there levels of determinism?  00:30:46 The neuroscience of free will 00:37:42 Free will, ethics, and a criminal justice reform  00:45:58 Punishment and justice in Judaism  00:54:37 God’s omniscience and free will  01:01:16 What can we learn from baboons?  01:05:26 The most magical discovery 01:08:11 What did Robert change his mind on?  01:10:08 Outro — Additional resources: 📚 Get Determined by Robert Sapolsky on Amazon: https://a.co/d/csNwICN  📝 Get one month of Snipd Premium for free with this link: https://get.snipd.com/Cx7S/brianSnipd Snipd lets you take Smart Notes 🧠 with AI 💡 — it’s my favorite podcast player 😀 ! 📢 Ownership of your health starts with AG1. Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 and 5 FREE AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase 👉 https://drinkag1.com/impossible ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating  🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1  📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list  ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/  🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Should We BELIEVE In Science? DemystifySci & Brian Keating (#394)
13-02-2024
Should We BELIEVE In Science? DemystifySci & Brian Keating (#394)
Please join my mailing list here 👉 https://briankeating.com/list to win a meteorite 💥 Should we believe in science? Is there any room to scrutinize the scientific method? And does Eric Lerner have a point? Recently, my dear colleagues, Dr. Anastasia Bendebury and Dr. Michael Shilo DeLay joined me at UCSD to discuss how scientists come to conclusions about the world, the role of belief in science, and what we can learn from modern controversies in cosmology. Dr. Anastasia Bendebury and Dr. Michael Shilo DeLay are scientists and explorers who host the weekly podcast DemystifySci. Each week, they interview a new theorist about the ideas that will rewrite our understanding of nature.  Join us as we explore the complexities of science and the scientific method! Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Should we believe in science?  00:07:07 The nature of science and truth  00:11:31 What is the scientific method?  00:17:17 Controversies in modern cosmology 00:33:27 Does Eric Lerner have a point? 00:35:08 On paradigm shifts 00:41:01 Back to the scientific method 00:43:09 Outro — Additional resources: ➡️ Check out DemystifySci: 💻 Website: https://demystifysci.com/  ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/demystifysci 📝 Get one month of Snipd Premium for free with this link: https://get.snipd.com/Cx7S/brianSnipd Snipd lets you take Smart Notes 🧠 with AI 💡 — it’s my favorite podcast player 😀 ! 📢 Ownership of your health starts with AG1. Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 and 5 FREE AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase 👉 https://drinkag1.com/impossible ➡️ Follow me on your favorite platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/mailing_list ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/blog.php 🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Michael Saylor: The Thermodynamics of Bitcoin EXPLAINED (2021) (#393)
09-02-2024
Michael Saylor: The Thermodynamics of Bitcoin EXPLAINED (2021) (#393)
Please join my mailing list here 👉 https://briankeating.com/list to win a meteorite 💥 Remastered from our interview in 2021.  There is a lot of talk about how to make money with Bitcoin…  But how does it actually work? What are the physics behind it? And can Bitcoin replace the US dollar? Here today to answer all of these questions and more is Michael Saylor. Michael J. Saylor is an American entrepreneur and business executive who co-founded and led MicroStrategy, which provides business intelligence, mobile software, and cloud-based services. Saylor authored the 2012 book The Mobile Wave: How Mobile Intelligence Will Change Everything. He is also the sole trustee of Saylor Academy, a provider of free online education. As of 2016, Saylor has been granted 31 patents and has 9 additional applications under review. MicroStrategy added $175 million of Bitcoin to its holdings in September 2020 and another $50 million in early December 2020. On December 11, 2020, MicroStrategy announced that it had sold $650 million in convertible senior notes, taking on debt to increase its Bitcoin holdings to over $1 billion worth. On December 21, 2020, MicroStrategy announced their total holdings, including 70,470 bitcoins purchased for $1.125 billion at an average price of $15,964 per bitcoin. Saylor, who controls 70% of MicroStrategy's shares, dismissed concerns by observers that the move is turning MicroStrategy into a Bitcoin investment firm or exchange-traded fund (ETF). Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:39 Judging a book by its cover 00:04:59 What's the next (6th?) technology wave? 00:08:52 The next megatrend: Virtualization 00:17:01 Why are there ridges on coins? 00:19:20 Where does gold come from, and can virtual currencies replace real ones? 00:32:41 Why is blockchain so great now? 00:37.53 Risk management in science and all things. 00:57:16 The physics of Bitcoin  01:33:35 What is your ethical will? 01:38:54 What would you put on your billion-year monument? 01:40:59 What mystified you as a 20-year-old that has come to pass? — Additional resources: ➡️ Check out Michael Saylor: 💻 Website: https://www.michael.com/  ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/saylor/  📝 Get one month of Snipd Premium for free with this link: https://get.snipd.com/Cx7S/brianSnipd Snipd lets you take Smart Notes 🧠 with AI 💡 — it’s my favorite podcast player 😀 ! 📢 Ownership of your health starts with AG1. Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 and 5 FREE AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase 👉 https://drinkag1.com/impossible ➡️ Follow me on your favorite platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/mailing_list ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/blog.php 🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Discover the Joy of Science w/ Jim Al-Khalili (#392)
06-02-2024
Discover the Joy of Science w/ Jim Al-Khalili (#392)
Please join my mailing list here 👉 https://briankeating.com/list to win a meteorite 💥 Remastered from our interview in 2022.  What can science learn from poetry? Can you teach someone to become a scientist? And what’s the biggest source of hype in science right now? In 2022, I had the pleasure of discussing these topics with the amazing Jim Al-Khalili. Jim is a theoretical physicist at the University of Surrey, where he holds a Distinguished Chair in physics as well as a university chair in the public engagement in science. He received his Ph.D. in nuclear reaction theory in 1989 and has published widely in the field. His current interest is in open quantum systems and the application of quantum mechanics in biology. Tune in to discover the joy of science with us!  Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:18 Judging a book by its cover 00:03:28 What can science learn from poetry?  00:07:17 What does the phrase “follow the science” mean to you?  00:10:10 What do you think about Karl Popper's philosophy and the falsification rule?  00:17:58 How can you teach someone to be a scientist?  00:25:17 On science communication and popularization  00:29:07 What is the biggest source of hype in science now?  00:30:57 The self-correcting essence of science  00:35:10 What have you changed your mind about? 00:37:27 What's the most exciting area of physics? 00:39:47 How do you explain the difference between electricity and electromagnetism? 00:41:49 Outro — Additional resources: ➡️ Check out Jim Al-Khalili: 📚 Get The Joy of Science on Amazon: https://a.co/d/c4v0iLE  💻 Website: https://jimal-khalili.com/  ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jimalkhalili 📝 Get one month of Snipd Premium for free with this link: https://get.snipd.com/Cx7S/brianSnipd Snipd lets you take Smart Notes 🧠 with AI 💡 — it’s my favorite podcast player 😀 ! 👉 Want to stay fully informed on breaking news, compare coverage, and avoid media bias? Go to https://www.ground.news/drbrian and sign up through my link for 30% OFF unlimited access! 📰 📢 Ownership of your health starts with AG1. Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 and 5 FREE AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase 👉 https://drinkag1.com/impossible ➡️ Follow me on your favorite platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/mailing_list ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/blog.php 🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
New COLD WAR Over Computer Chips? w/ Chris Miller (#391)
02-02-2024
New COLD WAR Over Computer Chips? w/ Chris Miller (#391)
Please join my mailing list here 👉 https://briankeating.com/list to win a meteorite 💥 If there's one key factor securing America's economic prosperity and military superiority, it's not oil; it's chips. No, not the chips we all love to snack on during movies, but highly efficient computer chips. Chips that power pretty much everything from our military machinery to our iPhones. The United States held the top spot in crafting the fastest chips on Earth for a long time. But countries like Taiwan and China are catching up fast. This unfolding race that will determine our future has been thoroughly chronicled by today's guest, Chris Miller, in his book Chip War.  Wanna know what he found out during his research? Then tune in to this exciting episode of Into the Impossible!  Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:58 Judging a book by its cover  00:03:36 Moore’s law and the history of semiconductors 00:11:28 The challenges of developing chips 00:17:50 Communism vs. capitalism  00:23:48 The importance of military funding  00:25:52 Chip manufacturing and geopolitics  00:36:16 China’s demographic and economic challenges  00:41:21 Bitcoin mining and energy efficiency  00:48:02 Outro — Additional resources: 👉 Are you hungry for knowledge? Visit https://www.brilliant.org/DrBrianKeating and try everything Brilliant has to offer —free—for a full 30 days. The first 200 of you will get 20% off Brilliant's annual premium subscription! 🤓 📝 Get one month of Snipd Premium for free with this link: https://get.snipd.com/Cx7S/brianSnipd Snipd lets you take Smart Notes 🧠 with AI 💡 — it’s my favorite podcast player 😀 ! 📢 Ownership of your health starts with AG1. Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 and 5 FREE AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase 👉 https://drinkag1.com/impossible ➡️ Check out Chris Miller: 📚 Chip War by Chris Miller: https://a.co/d/5hh45IW  💻 Website: https://www.christophermiller.net/ ➡️ Follow me on your favorite platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/mailing_list ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/blog.php 🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mo Gawdat: “Life is a Video Game!” | The Shocking Case for Intelligent Design (#389)
24-01-2024
Mo Gawdat: “Life is a Video Game!” | The Shocking Case for Intelligent Design (#389)
Please join my mailing list here 👉 https://briankeating.com/list to win a meteorite 💥 Will AI destroy humanity? Can we bring the dead back to life? And is there any convincing evidence for intelligent design?  Joining me today to explore these fascinating topics is none other than Mo Gawdat! Mo is the founder of the non-profit organization One Billion Happy and host of the #1 mental health podcast Slo Mo. He is the author of the bestselling books Solve for Happy and Scary Smart and used to work as chief business officer at Google X.  Mo has profoundly shaped my perspectives on artificial intelligence, fatherhood, happiness, and the biggest questions in the universe. I’m sure he will have the same impact on you, so without further ado, let’s jump right into the episode!  Tune in.  Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:31 Judging two books by their covers  00:07:34 Can a computer be happy?  00:17:08 Mo’s timeline for AGI  00:24:40 What it was like to work for X, Google's top-secret moonshot factory 00:31:37 WIll programmers forget how to code?  00:35:25 Elon Musk’s new AI  00:39:46 Our generations y2k problem  00:48:35 The Keating test 00:55:05 Bringing the dead back to life  01:06:36 The case for intelligent design  01:16:51 How to be happy during challenging times 01:29:36 The coolest thing ever invented  01:37:41 Outro — Additional resources: ➡️ Check out Mo Gawdat: 💻 Website: https://www.mogawdat.com/  ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mgawdat 👉 Want to stay fully informed on breaking news, compare coverage, and avoid media bias? Go to https://www.ground.news/drbrian and sign up through my link for 30% OFF unlimited access! 📰 📢 Ownership of your health starts with AG1. Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 and 5 FREE AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase 👉 https://drinkag1.com/impossible ➡️ Follow me on your favorite platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/mailing_list ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/blog.php 🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Did Stephen Wolfram Finally Prove the Second Law of Thermodynamics? (#388)
19-01-2024
Did Stephen Wolfram Finally Prove the Second Law of Thermodynamics? (#388)
Please join my mailing list here 👉 https://briankeating.com/list to win a meteorite 💥 Has the second law of thermodynamics finally been proven? The second law of thermodynamics has been shrouded in mystery for a century and a half. Now, after building on the recent breakthroughs in the foundations of physics, Stephen Wolfram has finally provided a resolution to the mystery.  Stephen Wolfram is a computer scientist, physicist, and businessman. He is the founder and CEO of Wolfram Research and the creator of Mathematica, Wolfram Alpha, and Wolfram Language. Over the course of 4 decades, he has pioneered the development & application of computational thinking. He has been responsible for many discoveries, inventions & innovations in science, technology, and business. In this in-depth interview, he shares his findings, shines a light on some of the most misunderstood concepts in physics, and answers some of our most pressing questions about the nature of the second law, entropy, and the dark side of the universe.  Tune in! Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:27 Judging a book by its cover 00:11:28 Proving the second law of thermodynamics  00:15:00 What is time?  00:18:20 What is temperature?  00:28:20 The role of the observer  00:43:08 What do we know about dark matter so far? 00:52:16 Black hole entropy  01:01:25 Classical mechanics vs. quantum mechanics  01:13:35 The consequences of dimension fluctuations in physics  01:21:55 Questions from the audience  01:32:55 Outro — Additional resources: 📢 Ownership of your health starts with AG1. Try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 and 5 FREE AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase 👉 https://drinkag1.com/impossible ➡️ Follow me on your favorite platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/mailing_list ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/blog.php 🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices