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In this episode, I speak with Professor Nikita Nekrasov, one of the most original minds in theoretical physics. We dive into why quantum field theory still isn’t fully understood, despite its experimental success and why a complete axiomatic foundation might not even be possible. Nikita walks us through his solution to the Cyberg-Witten puzzle, the birth of the Nekrasov partition function, and how exotic structures in four dimensions could underlie the chemistry of life. This conversation blends deep math, quantum weirdness, and personal stories from the front lines of discovery. If you’ve ever wondered what it really means to understand reality, this one’s for you.
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Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:13 Understanding Quantum Field Theory
04:38 The Journey to Gauge Origami
06:53 The Story of the Microsoft Partition Function
19:12 Connecting Quantum Mechanics and Field Theory
36:43 The Nature of Instantons
45:05 Exotic R4 and Its Implications
49:01 Dealing with Non-Compactness
52:25 The Emergence of Non-Commutative Geometry
1:04:29 Lessons from Mentors
1:20:11 Language as a Dynamic System
1:22:35 The Concept of Gauge Origami
1:30:48 Insights from Collaboration with Peers
1:37:15 Aspirations for Future Work
1:38:15 Advice for Aspiring Researchers
Links Mentioned:
• Nikita’s Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=bKV59LwAAAAJ&hl=en
• Nikita’s Lecture: https://scgp.stonybrook.edu/archives/44062
• Two Dimensional Gauge Theories [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-th/9204083
• Richard Borcherds [TOE]: https://youtu.be/U3pQWkE2KqM
• Edward Frenkel [TOE]: https://youtu.be/n_oPMcvHbAc
• Edward Frenkel’s Presentation [TOE]: https://youtu.be/RX1tZv_Nv4Y
• Edward Frenkel’s Presentation [Part 2]: https://youtu.be/0AC-Ol1z5vI
• String Theory Iceberg [TOE]: https://youtu.be/X4PdPnQuwjY
• Roger Penrose [TOE]: https://youtu.be/sGm505TFMbU
• Cumrun Vafa [TOE]: https://youtu.be/kUHOoMX4Bqw
• Garrett Lisi [TOE]: https://youtu.be/z7ulJmfFvd8
• Chiara Marletto [TOE]: https://youtu.be/Uey_mUy1vN0
• Debunking “All Possible Paths” [TOE]: https://youtu.be/XcY3ZtgYis0
• Peter Woit [TOE]: https://youtu.be/TTSeqsCgxj8
• Leonard Susskind [TOE]: https://youtu.be/2p_Hlm6aCok
• Seiberg-Witten Prepotential from Instanton Counting [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-th/0206161
• Eva Miranda [TOE]: https://youtu.be/6XyMepn-AZo
• Leptons and Quarks [Book]: https://www.amazon.com/LEPTONS-QUARKS-SPECIAL-COMMEMORATING-DISCOVERY/dp/9814603007
• Brian Greene [TOE]: https://youtu.be/O2EtTE9Czzo
• David Wallace [TOE]: https://youtu.be/4MjNuJK5RzM
• Jenann Ismael [TOE]: https://youtu.be/7kvXihDAOi0
• Claudia de Rham [TOE]: https://youtu.be/hNPMKy6RxCE
• Yang-Mills [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2504.19097
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