Worklife with Adam Grant Life, the universe, and everything with Nobel laureate physicist Saul Perlmutter
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Oct 18, 2022 Saul Perlmutter, a Nobel laureate in physics, shares his journey in unveiling the universe’s accelerating expansion. He discusses the emotional landscape of scientific discovery and the essential blend of humility and collective confidence needed to tackle global issues. Delving into the nature of scientific thinking, Saul highlights the significance of continuous learning and critical evaluation in science. He also addresses the pitfalls of pseudoscience and reflects on the universe's fate, emphasizing humanity's endless capacity for curiosity and understanding.
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The Supernova Search
- Saul Perlmutter's team needed 30 supernovae to measure the universe's expansion, but it took five years to find one.
- After nine years, they had 42, a number significant to fans of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
The Emotional Arc of Science
- Scientific discovery involves an interplay of emotions and rational thought.
- Initial excitement fuels the project, while frustration requires perseverance and self-motivation.
Understanding Expansion
- The universe's expansion doesn't involve a wall moving outward, especially in an infinite universe.
- Expansion means extra space appears between all objects, like galaxies, increasing their distance.