Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

222 | Andrew Strominger on Quantum Gravity and the Real World

Jan 9, 2023

Andrew Strominger, Gwill E. York Professor of Physics at Harvard and a leading mind in string theory and quantum gravity, discusses the challenges of merging quantum mechanics with gravity. He highlights the key historical figures in quantum gravity and the evolution of string theory, including insights on black holes and their entropy. The conversation covers the complexities of theoretical physics, emergent symmetries, and the relevance of holography. Strominger emphasizes the importance of staying connected to real-world phenomena as physicists navigate these intricate concepts.

01:24:38

Episode guests

Andrew Strominger

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Exploring Quantum Gravity and String Theory

11min

The Evolution of Quantum Gravity

5min

Exploring the Depths of String Theory

25min

Navigating Quantum Gravity and Holographic Principles

11min

Exploring Emergent Symmetries in Physics

4min

Exploring Conformal Symmetry and Black Holes

26min

The Knife Edge of Scientific Inquiry

3min

Quantum gravity research is inspired by experiment — all of the experimental data that supports quantum mechanics, and supports general relativity — but it’s only inspiration, not detailed guidance. So it’s easy to “do research on quantum gravity” and get lost in a world of toy models and mathematical abstraction. Today’s guest, Andrew Strominger, is a leading researcher in string theory and quantum gravity, and one who has always kept his eyes on the prize: connecting to the real world. We talk about the development of string theory, the puzzle of a positive cosmological constant, and how black holes and string theory can teach us about each other.

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Andrew Strominger received his Ph.D. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is currently the Gwill E. York Professor of Physics at Harvard University. Among his awards are the Dirac Medal, the Klein Medal, the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, and a Guggenheim Fellowship.

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