(Credit: Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer)
“Be curious and try to find solutions to problems.” – Lisa Randall
Professor Lisa Randall (@lirarandall) researches particle physics and cosmology at Harvard, where she is a professor of theoretical physics.
Professor Randall was the first tenured woman in the Princeton physics department, and the first tenured female theoretical physicist at Harvard. In autumn 2004, she was the most cited theoretical physicist of the previous five years.
In 2007, Randall was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People (Time 100) under the section for “Scientists & Thinkers.” Randall was given this honor for her work regarding the evidence of a higher dimension.
She has written several mind-expanding books, the newest of which is Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs: The Astounding Interconnectedness of the Universe. If you want a semi-psychedelic experience (viewing the world through a new lens) without imbibing substances, this is worth checking out.
You can find the transcript of this episode here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.
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Want to hear another podcast related to spirituality and science from a world class thinker? — Listen to my conversations with Sam Harris. In this episode, we discuss spirituality, neuroscience, meditation, and more (stream below or right-click here to download):
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QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What are your thoughts on the value of applied science and basic science? Is one more valuable than the other? If so, why? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
- Inside Job — a documentary on Wall Street shenanigans and financial meltdowns
- Learn more about the Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (Math Camp)
- Warped Passages: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe’s Hidden Dimensions by Lisa Randall
- The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
- Knocking on Heaven’s Door: How Physics and Scientific Thinking Illuminate the Universe and the Modern World by Lisa Randall
- Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs: The Astounding Interconnectedness of the Universe by Lisa Randall
- Hidden Cosmos by Timothy Ferris in National Geographic
- The Pleasure of Finding Things Out by Richard Feynman
- Learn more about Interstellar
- Higgs Discovery: The Power of Empty Space by Lisa Randall
- Learn more about Jimmy Chin and Meru
- I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
- Connect with Lisa Randall on Twitter
Show Notes
- How do you answer the question, “what do you do?” [6:33]
- Defining physics [8:08]
- Defining theoretical physics [8:58]
- Defining cosmology [9:53]
- On succeeding in the male-dominated world of science, and the value of “math camp” [12:33]
- Explaining the title for Warped Passages [25:33]
- Defining hidden dimensions [28:18]
- The search for fundamental connections in the universe [34:13]
- Defining dark matter and dark energy [40:28]
- Why are outer planets in our solar system bigger than those closer to the sun? [44:28]
- Common misuses of physics terms [45:53]
- Is time an illusion? [51:43]
- Are there aspects of philosophy that are becoming more relevant to physics? [54:28]
- How science could expand empathy [57:08]
- Thoughts on Interstellar [1:01:03]
- Thoughts on consciousness after physical death [1:02:53]
- Could you describe a tennis ball as it moves through additional dimensions of space? [1:05:13]
- What is the significance of the Higgs boson? [1:06:43]
- Why does cosmology research matter? [1:11:33]
- What is the difference between basic science and applied science? [1:13:28]
- When you think of the word successful, who is the first person who comes to mind and why? [1:15:13]
- In the last five years, when have you felt the most successful? [1:16:13]
- Most gifted books [1:18:03]
- What purchase of $100 or less has most positively affected your life recently [1:20:08]
- What do you believe that other people might consider to be insane? [1:21:03]
- Should the scientific community be focusing on large-scale expensive science projects or create many smaller scale science projects? [1:22:58]
- Thoughts on the superstring theory. [1:25:53]
- If you could put a billboard anywhere and write anything on it, where would it be and what would it say? [1:27:38]
- Advice for your 30-year-old self [1:28:58]
- An ask or request for the audience [1:29:53]