Brian Keating on Theories of Everything, Free Will, and thoughts on Eric Weinstein's / Wolfram's TOE

In 'Losing the Nobel Prize,' Brian Keating recounts the story of the BICEP2 experiment's detection of what was initially believed to be evidence of gravitational waves from the Big Bang. However, the findings were later disputed due to potential interference from intergalactic dust. Keating reflects on the competitive and often ruthless world of modern science, arguing that the Nobel Prize system hampers scientific progress by encouraging speed, competition, and greed over collaboration and innovation. He proposes reforms to the Nobel Prize criteria, including the possibility of posthumous awards and greater recognition for serendipitous discoveries. The book is a blend of personal history, scientific narrative, and a critical examination of the Nobel Prize's impact on science.

In 'Lost in Math', Sabine Hossenfelder critiques the dominance of the concept of 'beauty' in theoretical particle physics. She argues that the emphasis on mathematical elegance and symmetry has hindered progress in the field, leading to untestable theories such as string theory and supersymmetry. Through interviews with prominent physicists and detailed analysis, Hossenfelder highlights the problems with current approaches and suggests that a more pragmatic and evidence-based approach is needed. The book also explores historical examples where 'beautiful' theories were initially rejected but later proven correct, and it questions the anthropic arguments that some physicists use to justify untestable theories.

Lee Smolin's "Time Reborn" challenges the prevailing view in physics that time is an illusion. He argues that time is fundamental to the universe and that our current understanding of physics needs to be revised to incorporate this. Smolin explores the implications of a universe where time is real, impacting our understanding of cosmology, quantum mechanics, and the nature of reality itself. The book delves into the philosophical implications of a time-dependent universe, questioning our assumptions about the nature of laws and constants. Smolin proposes a new framework for understanding the universe, one that embraces the reality of time and its role in shaping the cosmos.

Written in 1884, 'Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions' is a satirical novella by Edwin Abbott Abbott. The story is set in a two-dimensional world inhabited by geometric figures, where social status is determined by the number of sides of each figure. The narrator, A Square, guides readers through the practicalities and social hierarchy of Flatland, before being introduced to the concept of higher dimensions by a Sphere. The book is both an introduction to the idea of higher dimensions and a satire of Victorian society, critiquing its class system, gender roles, and social norms. Despite its satirical elements, the book also delves into mathematical concepts and the limitations of perception in different dimensions.

In 'A Wrinkle in Time,' Madeleine L'Engle tells the story of 13-year-old Meg Murry, who is struggling to fit in at school and is deeply concerned about her father's mysterious disappearance. Along with her brother Charles Wallace and friend Calvin O'Keefe, Meg is guided by the enigmatic Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which on a journey through space and time to find her father. Using a process called tessering, they travel to various planets, including Uriel and Camazotz, to confront the evil force known as The Black Thing. The novel explores themes of good vs. evil, conformity, and the power of love and family bonds.

This book tells a unique story of the parallel lives of Kurt Gödel, the greatest logician of many centuries, and Alan Turing, the extraordinary code breaker during World War II. It delves into their work, which proved that truth is elusive and that machines could think, while also exploring their personal struggles, including Gödel's delusional paranoia and Turing's conclusion that humans are soulless biological machines. The novel highlights the contrast between their genius and their tragic endings.

This book chronicles the scientific journey behind the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite, which measured cosmic microwave background radiation and provided significant evidence for the big-bang theory. Written by John C. Mather, a key figure in the COBE project and Nobel Prize winner, and John Boslough, the book offers insights into the development, launch, and findings of COBE, as well as its implications for cosmology.

Jo Dunkley takes readers on a grand tour of space and time, starting from Earth’s neighborhood and explaining the nature of the Solar System, the stars in our night sky, and the Milky Way. She traces the evolution of the universe from the Big Bang to the present and beyond, discussing cutting-edge debates about phenomena such as the accelerating expansion of the universe and the possibility of multiple universes. The book combines observational cosmology with a solid theoretical framework, making it an essential guide for anyone interested in understanding the universe.

In this landmark book, P. J. E. Peebles offers an unparalleled personal perspective on how the field of cosmology developed over the past century. Peebles, one of the world's most esteemed theoretical cosmologists, describes how scientists built on Einstein's thoughts and many new measurements to arrive at a well-tested physical theory of the structure and evolution of our expanding universe. He explores major advances, wrong turns, and unexplored roads, sharing recollections from key players and providing an inside look at how natural science is conducted. The book covers fundamental contributions to our understanding of helium and microwave radiation from the hot big bang, the distribution and motion of ordinary matter, and the role of dark matter.

Written by one of the world's leading experimental cosmologists, this book provides a breathtaking look at our universe on the grandest scales imaginable. It describes what scientists are revealing through precise measurements of the faint thermal afterglow of the Big Bang, known as the cosmic microwave background (CMB), and how these findings are transforming our view of the cosmos. The book explains current observations and measurements, how they form the Standard Model of Cosmology, and the ongoing search for deeper knowledge at the field's frontiers, including quests to understand neutrinos, dark energy, and the physics of the very early universe.