In Good Company with Nicolai Tangen HIGHLIGHTS: Saul Perlmutter
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Dec 26, 2025 
Saul Perlmutter, a Nobel Prize–winning physicist, is renowned for his discovery of the universe's accelerating expansion. In this conversation, he shares insights on the importance of doubt as a superpower and humility as a driver of innovation. He discusses how collaborative scientific efforts have evolved, emphasizing the value of productive disagreement within teams. Saul also highlights the challenges of measuring supernovae and the intriguing concept of an infinite, expanding universe. Tune in for a fascinating mix of science and teamwork philosophy.
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We Can Solve Planetary Problems Now
- We now have the tools to solve planetary-scale problems but lack the social processes to agree and act together.
- Saul Perlmutter argues the real bottleneck is how we talk and work with each other, not our scientific capability.
Doubt Is A Scientific Superpower
- Doubt and looking for mistakes is the core strength of scientific thinking.
- Perlmutter calls individual humility a superpower because it pushes you to question assumptions and find errors.
Science Has Become A Team Sport
- Modern science is fundamentally collaborative and increasingly team-based rather than solitary.
- Perlmutter notes Nobel Prizes and big discoveries now often require coordinated groups with diverse expertise.