What's the Meaning of Life?

Jordan Ellenberg is a mathematician and author of Shape and How Not to Be Wrong. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Secret Sauce: https://wondery.com/shows/secret-sauce/
– ExpressVPN: https://expressvpn.com/lexpod and use code LexPod to get 3 months free
– Blinkist: https://blinkist.com/lex and use code LEX to get 25% off premium
– Indeed: https://indeed.com/lex to get $75 credit

EPISODE LINKS:
Jordan’s Website: http://www.jordanellenberg.com
Jordan’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/JSEllenberg

PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips

SUPPORT & CONNECT:
– Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast
– Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman
– Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman
– Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(06:44) – Mathematical thinking
(10:21) – Geometry
(14:58) – Symmetry
(25:29) – Math and science in the Soviet Union
(33:09) – Topology
(47:57) – Do we live in many more than 4 dimensions?
(52:28) – How many holes does a straw have
(1:01:53) – 3Blue1Brown
(1:07:40) – Will AI ever win a Fields Medal?
(1:16:05) – Fermat’s last theorem
(1:33:23) – Reality cannot be explained simply
(1:39:08) – Prime numbers
(2:00:37) – John Conway’s Game of Life
(2:12:29) – Group theory
(2:15:45) – Gauge theory
(2:23:47) – Grigori Perelman and the Poincare Conjecture
(2:33:59) – How to learn math
(2:41:08) – Advice for young people
(2:43:13) – Meaning of life