The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss

Brian Keating: Probing the Early Universe and Communicating about Science

4 snips

Nov 29, 2022

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.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Exploring the Influence of Parents and the Journey to Graduate School

01:51 • 23min

Choosing Physics Over Biology

25:01 • 17min

Reflections on Honoring Parents and Its Impact on Life

41:50 • 3min

The Relationship Between Religion and Science

44:23 • 2min

Wisdom and Progress: Ancient Stories and their Relevance Today

46:15 • 5min

The Excitement of Measuring Polarization and Gravitational Waves in the Cosmic Microwave Background

51:15 • 16min

The Exciting Discovery of Primordial Waves

01:06:56 • 22min

Exploring the Relationship Between Ground State and Forces, and the Potential Evidence for Quantum Gravity

01:29:14 • 2min

Measuring Quantum Fluctuations and Fundamental Symmetries in the Early Universe

01:31:39 • 12min

Private Funding and Scientific Collaboration

01:43:44 • 12min

Find Brian’s INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/39UaHlB and on Spotify here spoti.fi/3vpfXok

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.

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