Brian Keating: Probing the Early Universe and Communicating about Science
Nov 29, 2022
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Brian Keating, an observational cosmology, discusses his work on measuring an imprint on the CMBR from the early universe. He shares the story of the BICEP 2 experiment and his new observatory project. They also talk about his podcast and efforts to engage kids with mathematics. Topics include parental influence, the relationship between religion and science, measuring polarization and gravitational waves in the CMB, the discovery of primordial waves, evidence for quantum gravity, and private funding in scientific research.
Studying cosmic microwave background radiation provides insights into the physics of the early universe and the possibility of other universes.
Brian Keating's research on cosmic inflation offers valuable knowledge about the origins of our universe and the laws of physics.
Bridging the gap between scientific research and public understanding is vital for scientists, emphasizing the importance of science popularization.
Confirmation from multiple experiments is crucial for scientific discoveries to gain trust and credibility.
The cosmic microwave background field offers opportunities to measure dark energy, neutrinos, and probe violations of fundamental symmetries.
Deep dives
Importance of Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation in Understanding the Early Universe
The podcast discusses the significance of studying the cosmic microwave background radiation, which is the afterglow of the Big Bang. This radiation carries valuable information about the early universe, particularly the period of cosmic inflation. Discovering signals from this radiation could provide insights into the physics of the early universe and potentially uncover the existence of other universes.
Brian Keating's Research on Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation
The podcast features Brian Keating, an experimental astrophysicist and cosmologist who has dedicated his career to studying the cosmic microwave background radiation. He explores his involvement in experiments aimed at detecting signals from cosmic inflation, the very early moments of the Big Bang. Keating's research offers valuable knowledge about the origins of our universe and the fundamental laws of physics.
Brian Keating's Experience as a Scientist and Interest in Science Popularization
In addition to his research, Brian Keating shares insights about his experiences as a scientist and his interest in science popularization. He discusses the challenges of being a scientist and the importance of making complex concepts accessible to a wider audience. Keating's passion for bridging the gap between scientific research and public understanding is evident throughout the discussion.
The Personal Journey and Influences of Brian Keating
The podcast delves into Brian Keating's personal journey, including his relationship with his parents and how it influenced his pursuit of science. Keating reflects on his father's absence and his desire to forge his own path in science. He also highlights the impact of mentors, such as Lawrence Krauss, and the role of personal experiences in shaping his scientific and personal beliefs.
The Simons Array and Simons Observatory
The Simons Array, a precursor to the Simons Observatory, is a project funded by the Simons Foundation. It consists of three telescopes, each with a diameter of three and a half meters, located in the Atacama Desert at an elevation of 17,200 feet. The Simons Array has 20,000 detectors and is capable of measuring the cosmic microwave background (CMB) as well as dust and synchrotron radiation. The Simons Observatory, the next generation project, will consist of four telescopes, three of which will be refracting telescopes similar to the Simons Array. It will also have a six-meter diameter telescope for fine-scale mapping of the sky. The Simons Observatory aims to have a better site for observations, as it will be located in Chile and will be able to observe nearly 80% of the sky. The project is set to be completed in April 2024.
The Importance of Confirmation in Science
Confirmation is a fundamental aspect of scientific experiments. This is exemplified by the BICEP experiment, which faced challenges in gaining full acceptance due to the lack of confirmation from other experiments. The Simons Observatory's capability to confirm BICEP's findings is emphasized, as it has more detectors and is more sensitive. Confirmation is crucial in building trust and credibility in scientific discoveries and ensuring the reproducibility of results.
Scientific Goals of the CMB Field
The cosmic microwave background (CMB) field continues to remain relevant and interesting due to its ability to address various scientific goals. CMB experiments, in collaboration with optical surveys, can measure the properties of dark energy and the mass of neutrinos, which have not been measured directly on Earth. Additionally, they offer the opportunity to probe violations of fundamental symmetries such as Lorentz invariance. Detecting departures from these symmetries could have profound implications for our understanding of physics. The CMB field, with its extensive capabilities, enables multiple avenues for scientific exploration.
The Challenges of Measuring Inflationary Gravitational Waves
The podcast episode discusses the challenges faced in measuring inflationary gravitational waves. The speaker emphasizes that while there were initial claims of evidence for these waves, further investigations and experiments, including the BICEP project, have not provided strong evidence for their existence. The experiment's limitations, such as looking in a direction where the dust signal was larger, and the importance of having multiple independent measurements are highlighted in the discussion.
The Role of Private Foundations in Funding Scientific Research
The podcast also touches upon the issue of private foundations, like the Simons Foundation, funding scientific research. The discussion explores the potential benefits and concerns associated with this trend. While private foundations allow for more agile and flexible funding, there are concerns about relying on the personal interests and whims of wealthy patrons. However, when scientists are involved in leading these organizations, like Jim Simons and David Spergel, their scientific expertise and commitment to the field can mitigate some of these concerns. The potential for collaboration between private foundations and government institutions is also highlighted as a way to maximize resources and efficiency.
Brian Keating is an observational cosmology whose work has focused on measuring a possible imprint on the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR) that could have come from the earliest moments of the Big Bang, and could even give possible indirect evidence for a multiverse. Indeed, an experiment he worked, called BICEP 2, in 2014 announced a possible result which electrified the science community, and clearly would have resulted in at least one Nobel Prize, had it been verified by other experiments. Unfortunately it turned out that the observed signal was due to an unanticipated dust background in our Galaxy. Brian has written about this experience in a book.
Brian has not given up the search however, and is spearheading a new major observatory, supported by the Simons Foundation, to push observations of the CMBR to continue to probe for primordial signatures of Inflation.
In addition to his scientific work, Brian is engaged in a host of projects aimed at improving the public’s understanding of science, including his own podcast, and also work he has done in San Diego to help excite kids about mathematics—running programs that I have been fortunate enough to be involved in.
We discuss all of these activities as well as his own rather unique background in a refreshing discussion about the ups and downs of science, the importance of public understanding, and also the exciting possibilities for the future of cosmology. And we have the kind of give and take discussion between a theorist and experimentalist that may be useful for non-scientists to listen to.
As always, an ad-free video version of this podcast is also available to paid Critical Mass subscribers. Your subscriptions support the non-profit Origins Project Foundation, which produces the podcast. The audio version is available free on the Critical Mass site and on all podcast sites, and the video version will also be available on the Origins Project Youtube channel as well.
