Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal 20th Century’s Greatest Living Scientist | Sir Roger Penrose
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Sep 28, 2024 Sir Roger Penrose, a celebrated physicist and mathematician, discusses his groundbreaking contributions to theoretical physics, including Twister theory and cyclic cosmology. He critiques quantum mechanics, arguing for a reevaluation of its foundational principles while exploring its relationship with consciousness. Delving into the complexities of space-time, he highlights the challenges of merging gravity with quantum mechanics. Personal anecdotes enrich the scientific discourse, offering insights into his academic journey and the evolving nature of research in physics.
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Twister Theory's Origin
- Roger Penrose recounts the origin of Twister Theory, linking it to a car ride with Pista Oshvat after Kennedy's assassination.
- During the quiet car ride, he had a key insight about the degrees of freedom in light ray configurations.
Dimensionality in Twister Theory
- Penrose emphasizes Twister Theory's specific applicability to our 3+1 dimensional spacetime.
- He views extra dimensions in theories like string theory as irrelevant to physics.
Cambridge and Grothendieck
- Penrose recalls his time at Cambridge as an outsider in algebraic geometry, contrasting his work with Michael Atiyah's.
- He attended a lecture by Atiyah as a graduate student and found it incomprehensible.