A podcast about how we understand the world, scientifically and as humans. Each conversation brings together visionaries from the worlds of arts, sciences, huma...
Inside Kelsey Johnson’s Daring Quest to Decode the Universe’s Secrets
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Can science, philosophy, and religion work together to address humanity's biggest questions? What lessons can the cosmos teach us about our place in the universe and the future of humanity? And how do we bring back that sense of curiosity that seems to have faded among professionals?
Here today to invite us into her daring quest to decode the universe’s secrets is the brilliant Kelsey Johnson. Kelsey is an accomplished astronomer, professor, and science communicator known for her groundbreaking work in astrophysics and her unique approach to blending science with philosophy and existential inquiry. She is a faculty member at the University of Virginia, where she has made significant contributions to the understanding of starburst galaxies, molecular clouds, and magnetic fields in the universe. Kelsey also founded the Dark Skies, Bright Kids program, which introduces rural communities to the wonders of astronomy.Â
Tune in to learn more about curiosity, the intersection of science and philosophy, and the universe’s mysteries.Â
Key Takeaways:Â
00:00:00 Intro
00:13:06 What inspired Kelsey to write Into the UnknownÂ
00:16:23 Why scientists lose their curiosityÂ
00:18:33 Judging a book by its cover
00:24:18 Balancing science and philosophyÂ
00:31:55 The role of religion in understanding science
00:37:21 The cosmic marshmallow testÂ
00:47:04 Dark Skies, Bright Kids
00:50:53 The Fermi paradox and the search for extraterrestrial life
01:00:55 Changing perspectives in cosmologyÂ
01:05:48 Starburst galaxies
01:08:03 Molecular clouds and feedbackÂ
01:10:38 Magnetic fieldsÂ
01:12:59 Arthur C Clarke’s three laws
01:19:31 Outro
Additional resources:Â
➡️ Learn more about Kelsey Johnson:Â
đź“š Get Into the Unknown on Amazon: https://a.co/d/5XW0bmGÂ
✖️ Follow Kelsey on Twitter: https://x.com/ProfKelsey
➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:
✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeatingÂ
đź”” YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1Â
đź“ť Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/listÂ
✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/Â
🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcastÂ
Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.
Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!
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1:21:20
Is the Universe a Simulation? Andrew Pontzen [Ep. 466]
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Simulations today are powerful tools for exploring the mysteries of our universe, but how close can they come to replicating reality? Can we recreate everything through simulations, or are there limits we can’t overcome? And how do today’s powerful simulations shape our understanding of everything from galaxies to climate change?
Here today, to answer all of these questions and more, is none other than Andrew Pontzen. Andrew is a cosmologist and professor known for his expertise in using computer simulations to understand the universe. He’s the author of The Universe in a Box, where he unpacks the complexities of cosmic simulations and their surprising limitations. Pontzen’s work is at the cutting edge of how we model and predict phenomena ranging from galaxy formation to climate change, bridging theoretical physics with practical, big-picture questions about reality.
As we head toward an era where simulations and AI are central to scientific discovery, these questions are more important than ever.Â
Tune in to learn about the power and limitations of simulation!Â
Key Takeaways:Â
00:00 Intro
00:44 Is it possible to simulate reality?Â
04:49 Early simulation experimentsÂ
10:30 Fluid dynamics and weather simulationsÂ
13:51 Judging a book by its coverÂ
16:01 End of the universe
19:13 Cosmic microwave background and spinning universes
24:11 Verification and validation
27:34 Big Bang controversy and the JWST
31:35 Galaxy simulationsÂ
42:23 Multiverse and quantum computingÂ
48:58 Ethics and energy impact of high-performance computing
55:34 Outro
Additional resources:Â
➡️ Learn more about Andrew:Â
đź“š Get The Universe in a Box: https://a.co/d/2V7vuFRÂ
✖️ Follow Andrew on Twitter: https://x.com/apontzen
➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:
✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeatingÂ
đź”” YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1Â
đź“ť Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/listÂ
✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/Â
🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcastÂ
Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.
Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1:15:57
Our Universe Is A Math Problem! Max Tegmark’s Brilliant Theory of Reality [Ep. 465]
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Is reality fundamentally mathematical? Is our universe just one of many? And will we ever discover extraterrestrial life?Â
This week on Into the Impossible, I sit down with renowned physicist and machine learning expert Max Tegmark to discuss some of the most fundamental questions of our time! Tegmark has dedicated his career to uncovering the mathematical fabric of reality, proposing that our universe itself might be a vast mathematical structure and that we could be living in a multiverse of endless possibilities. His work goes beyond physics to tackle the transformative power and ethical challenges of artificial intelligence, an area where he believes humanity must tread carefully.
In the first part of this mind-bending interview, we discuss his mathematical universe hypothesis, the search for extraterrestrial life, and AI’s role in science. Tune in!
Key Takeaways:Â
00:00 Intro
00:49 The multiverse and mathematical structuresÂ
02:33 Theory of inflation and the multiverse
06:52 Levels of multiverses and mathematical structuresÂ
11:19 Quantum mechanics and classical mechanics
14:21 The relationship between theory and experiment Â
21:48 The search for extraterrestrial lifeÂ
37:15 UFOs and military surveillance technologyÂ
41:19 Outro
Additional resources:Â
đź“š Our Mathematical Universe by Max Tegmark: https://a.co/d/03qjhLDÂ
➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:
✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeatingÂ
đź”” YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1Â
đź“ť Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/listÂ
✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/Â
🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcastÂ
Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.
Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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43:57
The mRNA Breakthrough That Changed Medicine Forever with Nobel Laureate Katalin KarikĂł [Ep. 464]
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What if the secret to saving millions of lives was hidden for years—overlooked, dismissed, and even rejected?
That’s the story behind the groundbreaking mRNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines.
Today’s remarkable guest, Dr. Katalin Karikó—a Nobel laureate whose persistence and vision changed the course of medical history—shares how she overcame countless setbacks to drive one of the biggest breakthroughs in modern medicine.
Discover how a humble butcher’s daughter from Hungary developed the foundation for the COVID-19 vaccine and why mRNA could hold the key to curing cancer and other deadly diseases.
Tune in to learn more about the mRNA revolution that almost didn’t happen!
Key Takeaways:Â
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:06 Origin of the Hungarian phrase “Marslahok”
00:02:11 Judging a book by its cover
00:05:40 The definition of life and extraterrestrial lifeÂ
00:09:28 Katalin’s early life and scientific curiosityÂ
00:18:00 Understanding RNA and mRNA
00:24:43 Development of the COVID vaccine
00:28:44 The COVID vaccine controversyÂ
00:35:41 Overcoming adversity and advice for young scientistsÂ
00:54:10 The future of mRNA research and dealing with pandemicsÂ
01:01:08 What was Katalin wrong about?
01:02:15 Outro
Additional resources:Â
đź“š Get “Breaking Through: My Life in Science” by Dr. Katalin KarikĂł: https://a.co/d/cZjaFCwÂ
➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:
✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeatingÂ
đź”” YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1Â
đź“ť Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/listÂ
✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/Â
🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcastÂ
Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.
Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1:06:09
Is Earth Truly One of a Kind? Exploring Exoplanets with Josh Winn [Ep. 463]
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Is Earth truly one of a kind?Â
This question has fascinated humans for decades, and with today's advanced technology, we're finally able to explore it scientifically. In this episode, renowned astrophysicist Josh Winn joins us to discuss the fascinating world of exoplanets, planetary systems, and the quest to discover other habitable planets.
Josh shares the latest breakthroughs in exoplanet research, from unexpected discoveries like hot Jupiters to the ongoing efforts to detect Earth-like planets around distant stars. He also explores the challenges of studying planets light-years away and the exciting future missions that could reveal more about the universe beyond our solar system.Â
Tune in to learn more about exoplanets and life beyond our solar system!
Key Takeaways:Â
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:34 Rare Earth HypothesisÂ
00:06:04 The role of stars in exoplanet habitabilityÂ
00:13:23 Judging a book by its coverÂ
00:16:50 Could aliens detect Tokyo?Â
00:19:42 The Habitable Worlds ObservatoryÂ
00:22:06 Methods for detecting exoplanetsÂ
00:25:21 The lazy methodÂ
00:30:03 Avi Loeb and Oumuamua
00:36:08 The nuts and bolts of Josh's workÂ
00:44:29 The role of technology in detecting exoplanetsÂ
00:52:48 Why should young people be interested in exoplanets?
00:57:22 Outro
Additional resources:Â
đź“š Get The Little Book of Exoplanets by Josh Winn: https://a.co/d/9PK4XFVÂ
➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:
✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeatingÂ
đź”” YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1Â
đź“ť Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/listÂ
✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/Â
🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcastÂ
Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.
Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A podcast about how we understand the world, scientifically and as humans. Each conversation brings together visionaries from the worlds of arts, sciences, humanities, and technology discussing the nature of reality and how we collaborate to create the future. Hosted by Dr Brian Keating, Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Physics at UC San Diego. For show notes go to: https://briankeating.com/podcast
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