Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal Garrett Lisi: Retired Off Apple Stock Then Revolutionized Physics Living in Hawaii
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Sep 25, 2024 Garrett Lisi, a theoretical physicist and surfer, revolutionized physics with his 'Exceptionally Simple Theory of Everything' focused on the E8 Lie group. In this engaging discussion, he unpacks the role of symmetry and geometry in unifying physics, while exploring the complexities of string theory and differential geometry. Lisi also shares personal anecdotes about his journey outside traditional academia and emphasizes the beauty of mathematical constructs like quaternions and Dirac spinners. Enjoy a deep dive into the fascinating world of theoretical physics!
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Apple Investment
- Garrett Lisi invested his graduate stipend in Apple stock during the 90s after using a NeXT computer.
- This allowed him to move to Maui and pursue independent physics research, foregoing a traditional postdoc.
Geometric Spinors
- Garrett Lisi left academia to explore the geometric nature of spinor fields, a question his colleagues weren't interested in.
- He investigated geometric algebra but found its limitations in describing physical phenomena.
Differential Geometry's Power
- Differential forms are essential for integration and describing certain physical phenomena, unlike Clifford algebra.
- Principal bundle connections are best described as Lie algebra-valued one-forms.