Kip Thorne, Emeritus Professor of Theoretical Physics at Caltech and a Nobel laureate, shares his remarkable journey from a Mormon upbringing to groundbreaking work on gravitational waves. He discusses the delicate balance of representing science in Hollywood, particularly in 'Interstellar' and 'Oppenheimer.' Kip reflects on the profound influence of his parents and recounts his passion for discovery that led to the historic detection of gravitational waves. He also explores the exciting future of astrophysics, including wormholes and quantum gravity.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Personal Connection with Oppenheimer
Kip Thorne personally knew J. Robert Oppenheimer.
This connection proved valuable during his advisory role on the Oppenheimer biopic.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Upbringing and Family Influence
Kip Thorne grew up in Logan, Utah, in a Mormon family with diverse views.
His mother, despite having a PhD in economics, couldn't teach due to nepotism laws, becoming a community activist instead.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Early Inspiration and Gamow's Influence
Kip Thorne's interest in physics sparked at 13 after reading George Gamow's book.
Years later, Gamow contacted Thorne, acknowledging his influence.
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Kip Thorne's Mother
One Two Three... Infinity; Facts and Speculations of Science
George Gamow
This book, written by George Gamow, delves into a wide range of scientific and mathematical topics. It is divided into four parts: 'Playing with Numbers,' 'Space, Time & Einstein,' 'Microcosmos,' and 'Macrocosmos.' The book discusses subjects like infinity, the theory of numbers, relativity, atomic structure, nuclear fission, and the origin of the solar system. Gamow's unique ability to combine technical accuracy with readability and his own delightful pen-and-ink illustrations make the book engaging and accessible to readers from middle school students to intelligent laymen. The book has been praised for its ability to entertain while instructing and has influenced many in their scientific careers[1][4][5].
Kip Thorne is an emeritus professor of theoretical physics at Caltech, the California Institute of Technology, and someone who has had a huge impact on our understanding of Einsteinian gravity. Over the course of his career Kip has broken new ground in the study of black holes, and been an integral parts of the team that recorded gravitational waves for the very first time – earning him a share in the 2017 Nobel Prize for Physics.
He went on to promote physics in films: developing the original idea behind Christopher Nolan’s time-travel epic Interstellar and, since then, advising on scientific elements of various big-screen projects; including, most recently, the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer.
In a special edition of The Life Scientific recorded in front of an audience of London’s Royal Institution, Prof Jim Al-Khalili talks to Kip about his life and career, from his Mormon upbringing in Utah to Hollywood collaborations – all through the lens of his unwavering passion for science.
Discovery 