StarTalk Radio The Beginning of the Universe with Brian Keating
14 snips
May 6, 2025 
Brian Keating, a renowned cosmologist and professor at UC San Diego, dives into the fascinating world of cosmology and the universe's origins. He discusses the implications of the BICEP2 experiment and the complexities of detecting gravitational waves. The conversation touches on the mysterious Higgs field and dark matter, and how they relate to our existence. Humorous exchanges with Neil deGrasse Tyson add flair, while deep philosophical questions about the multiverse leave listeners pondering the unknown.
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BICEP2's False Discovery Story
- Brian Keating shared how the BICEP2 experiment initially claimed to detect primordial gravitational waves in 2014.
- This announcement was later retracted due to interference from cosmic dust, an unfortunate but scientific setback.
Jim Simons' Call After BICEP2 Claim
- Jim Simons once called Brian Keating after the BICEP2 announcement, concerned about the investment and result validity.
- Keating feared needing to refund millions if the result didn't hold, showing integrity under pressure.
Use Polarization to Filter Light
- Use polarization to filter light and remove glare, like polarized sunglasses do by suppressing horizontal light waves.
- Polarization helps detect cosmic microwave background features buried in noise and foreground signals.
