Cumrun Vafa: String Theory | Lex Fridman Podcast #204

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 CORRECTIONS: - I'm currently hiring folks to help me with editing and image overlays so there may be some errors in overlays (as in this episode) as we build up a team. I ask for your patience. - At 1 hour 27 minute mark, we overlay an image of Brian Greene. We meant to overlay an image of Michael Green, an early pioneer of string theory: https://bit.ly/michael-green-physicist - The image overlay of the heliocentric model is incorrect. 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/ Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 Clips playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOeciFP3CBCIEElOJeitOr41 OUTLINE: 0:00 - Introduction 1:51 - Difference between math and physics 4:34 - Evolution of quantum mechanics 7:52 - Can mathematics lead humanity off track 8:51 - Beauty in mathematics 14:10 - Philosophers using symmetry 20:04 - How can ancient geometry be used to understand reality 23:16 - Key ideas in the history of physics 26:09 - Einstein's special relativity 29:46 - Physicists building intuition 37:44 - Best work by Einstein 39:28 - Quantum mechanics 49:30 - Quantum gravity 51:45 - String theory 1:07:54 - 10th Dimension 1:14:32 - Skepticism regarding string theory 1:25:37 - Key figures in string theory 1:29:56 - String Theory's Nobel Prize 1:33:01 - Edward Witten 1:41:39 - String Theory Landscape & Swamplands 1:50:29 - Theories of everything 2:04:55 - Advice for young people 2:07:57 - Death SOCIAL: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman - Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman - Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/lexfridman - Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman