Lex Fridman Podcast #124 – Stephen Wolfram: Fundamental Theory of Physics, Life, and the Universe
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Sep 15, 2020 
In this engaging discussion, guest Stephen Wolfram, a renowned computer scientist and physicist, explores the intersection of mathematics, physics, and consciousness. He delves into the philosophy of science, revealing how simple computational rules can yield immense complexity in our understanding of the universe. Wolfram also discusses the unpredictability of the COVID-19 pandemic, unifying general relativity and quantum mechanics, and the quest for a fundamental theory of everything. His insights spark curiosity about the nature of reality and the universe.
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Physics Breakthroughs
- Scientific breakthroughs often lead to rapid progress, like the 1920s quantum mechanics revolution and the 1970s quantum field theory advances.
- These periods of rapid advancement are often driven by methodological advances that open up new avenues of exploration.
1970s Physics
- Wolfram recalls the 1970s realization that quantum field theory would be useful, a time of rapid progress.
- As a teenager involved in physics, he witnessed key figures like Feynman and Gell-Mann contribute.
Computational Irreducibility
- Computational irreducibility is a fundamental limit in science, meaning we can't always predict outcomes even if we know the rules.
- This is related to Gödel's theorem and Turing's halting problem.
