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PODCAST

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

Big Bang Productions Inc.

Think like a physicist. Wonder like a human. Into the Impossible is where Cosmic Conversations happen — uniting Nobel Prize winners, iconoclasts, authors, and technologists to explore reality’s deepest questions. From AI to aliens, from biophysics to the brain, from the cosmos to the multiverse, Brian Keating, Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Physics at UC San Diego covers it all. If you’ve ever asked What’s out there? or What’s next?, this is where curiosity meets clarity. Learn to think

science natural sciences

All Episodes

31:41

The Shocking Similarities Between Our Eyes and...

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/10/17

Have you ever wondered how your eyes compare to a telescope? The answer is more surprising than you might think! Today, we will look at the fascinating parallels between the human eye and one of the most powerful astronomical instruments - the telescope. From lenses and apertures to light detection and color vision, we will explore how these two systems, one biological and the other mechanical, have strikingly similar properties. Tune in to learn more about how nature's best telescope matches up

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114:39

Uncovering the Lost Connection Between Science and...

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/10/15

Can science and religion be reconciled to provide a deeper understanding of the universe? How do modern scientific discoveries, like quantum mechanics and cosmology, relate to ancient religious texts? And what role do consciousness and language play in bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and spiritual belief?Here today, to challenge conventional narratives about the relationship between science and religion is host of the Young Heretics podcast, Spencer Klavan! Spencer is an acclaimed

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66:16

Think Like Galileo: My Brown University Commencement...

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/10/12

In 2022, I had the honor of delivering the commencement address at Brown University. I used this incredible opportunity to talk about a personal hero of mine: Galileo Galilei. Galileo was a scientist like no other. He boldly challenged the status quo through his discoveries and relentlessly pursued the truth, even when persecuted for doing so. His journey offers timeless lessons for scientists today, especially for graduate students who will shape the future of science. My goal with this lecture was

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70:20

Exploring the Secrets of the Infant Universe with...

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/10/11

What is the cosmic microwave background (CMB), and why is it essential in cosmology? What role do instruments like BICEP and the Simons Observatory play in studying the early universe? And is the multiverse real? I had the absolute pleasure of discussing these questions with Dr. Hugh Ross, astrophysicist and founder of Reasons to Believe. In our conversation, Hugh and I discuss my research on polarization signals in the cosmic microwave background (CMB), focusing on my work with the BICEP,

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17:18

The Loop Quantum Gravity War

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/10/08

A few weeks ago, I released a video about whether string theory’s biggest competitor, Loop Quantum Gravity, might have suffered a fatal blow. The video sparked a lively debate across YouTube, with creators like Sabine Hossenfelder and Phil Halpern making reaction videos and Carlo Rovelli even reaching out to me personally, asking me to take it down. Now, I want to clarify the situation and share my perspective on whether Loop Quantum Gravity is truly on its last legs—or if there’s more to the

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48:54

Did JWST Just Solve the Biggest Crisis in Cosmology?...

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/10/06

Discrepancies between different measurements of the Hubble constant have caused a major crisis in cosmology. Our guest today, the incredible Wendy Freedman, is at the forefront of efforts to resolve this tension. Known for her pioneering work on the Hubble Key Project and her important contributions to the measurement of the Hubble constant, Wendy is now using the James Webb Space Telescope to bring clarity to this debate. With decades of experience and a deep understanding of the complexity of

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69:35

Cumrun Vafa: Puzzles to Unravel the Universe (2020)

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/10/01

Is string theory actually science?Many argue that string theory cannot be proven and should therefore be abandoned. For them, string theory is not science at all. But are they right? I had the pleasure of discussing this with none other than Cumrun Vafa! Cumrun is a Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in the Department of Physics at Harvard University, where he has been researching and teaching theoretical physics since 1985. His primary area of research is string theory. In our

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66:36

How the Higgs Field Gives Mass to Everything in the...

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/09/29

Have we been completely wrong about the Higgs boson? What if it’s not what we think but something far more elusive? And what does the origin of mass in the universe have to do with music? Here today to explore these mind-bending questions is theoretical physicist Matt Strassler. Matt is known for his work in particle physics, particularly in the context of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and quantum field theory. He has been involved in research on the Higgs boson, supersymmetry, and other topics in

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75:26

Searching for Extraterrestrial Life with Dr. Luke...

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/09/26

Are we alone in the universe?I had the great pleasure of discussing this fundamental existential question with astrophysicist Dr. Luke Barnes and philosopher Dr. Jay Richards! In this exciting discussion, we dove headfirst into the implications of the SETI project, the Rare Earth hypothesis, and the possibility of habitable planets in other solar systems. Together, we explored the probabilities and challenges of the search for extraterrestrial life, taking into account the vastness of the universe

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30:23

Extra Dimensions Could Change Everything We Know...

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/09/22

Is the universe hiding extra dimensions we can’t see? Could a graviton – a particle we haven’t even proven to exist – change everything we know about the cosmos? And what does the future of physics hold if the standard model fails?Today, I sit down with the renowned cosmologist Dan Hooper to discuss some of the most complex and exciting theories in modern cosmology. Dan is a leading theoretical physicist at Fermilab and a professor at the University of Chicago, specializing in the mysteries of dark

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36:27

How Did Tardigrades End Up on the Moon? w/ Daniel and...

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/09/20

What are tardigrades, and how did they end up on the moon? I had the pleasure of exploring the evolution, resilience, and potential use cases of these microscopic creatures that can survive in extreme environments with Daniel Whiteson and Jorge Cham from Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe. Enjoy! — Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 01:52 Are tardigrades colonizing the moon? 04:12 A little bit about myself 08:37 Ask the wrong expert 15:03 Why are tardigrades so terrifying? 16:50 Their

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63:16

Will We Ever Find a Theory of Everything? Brian...

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/09/20

Will we ever find the theory of everything? What’s the real difference between artificial intelligence and artificial wisdom? And do experimental physicists really need a deeper understanding of theory than the theorists themselves? I had the incredible pleasure of diving into these profound questions with Curt Jaimungal, host of the popular podcast and YouTube channel Theories of Everything. In our insightful conversation, we explored the nature of theoretical physics, the role of experimental

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17:09

Why I Worry Every Time Someone Says to “Follow the...

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/09/19

I’m a scientist. But every time someone says to “follow the science,” I worry. Why? Find out in my conversation with Georgia Howe from The Daily Wire. The Daily Wire is a news website and media company founded in 2015 by political commentator Ben Shapiro and film director Jeremy Boreing. Enjoy! Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 01:08 Knowledge vs. wisdom 02:42 Follow the science 08:42 Politics and science 11:23 Integrity in science 14:07 Outro Additional resources: ➡️ Check out PragerU: 🔔

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63:50

Are We Living in a Simulation? Nick Bostrom (2022)

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/09/17

What if everything you know is just a simulation? In 2022, I was joined by the one and only Nick Bostrom to discuss the simulation hypothesis and the prospects of superintelligence. Nick is a Professor at Oxford University, where he heads the Future of Humanity Institute as its founding director. He is the most-cited professional philosopher in the world aged 50 or under and is the author of some 200 publications, including Anthropic Bias (2002), Global Catastrophic Risks (2008), Human Enhancement

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59:37

What Do Our Genes Reveal About Our Past? w/ Richard...

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/09/17

What do our genes reveal about our past? Richard Dawkins, one of the world’s most influential and thought-provoking scientists, explored the most profound principles of evolutionary history in his new book, The Genetic Book of the Dead. Dawkins is a renowned evolutionary biologist, zoologist, and author. He is also a prominent figure in New Atheism alongside Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens and is well known for his criticisms of creationism and intelligent design. I had the

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49:18

Brian Keating Discusses Cosmic Origins and Simulation...

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/09/13

I was recently invited on Coast to Coast AM to discuss topics ranging from cosmic origins and the simulation hypothesis to religion and the Nobel Prize. Enjoy! Coast to Coast AM is a late-night radio talk show covering various topics. Most often, the topics relate to paranormal phenomena or conspiracy theories. It was hosted by its creator, Art Bell, from its inception in 1988 until 2003 and is now hosted by George Noory. — Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 01:02 Simulation hypothesis 05:36 The

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61:38

Is Earth Unique? Mario Livio and Jack Szostak on the...

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/09/10

Does life exist beyond Earth, or is our planet genuinely unique? Can we recreate the origins of life in a lab? And what role does Mars play in the quest for cosmic life? I had the extraordinary honor of discussing this with two outstanding scientists, Mario Livio and Jack Szostak. Mario and Jack just released their new book, Is Earth Exceptional?, which seeks to answer whether life is a freak accident or a chemical inevitability. Tune in and join us for this mesmerizing exploration! Mario Livio is

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89:57

Sara Walker: How the Origin of Life Could Guide Our...

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/09/01

What is the connection between the origin of life on Earth and the search for extraterrestrial life? Could a revolutionary new theory guide us in our search for aliens? And is consciousness an inevitable outcome of life’s complexity, or is it something more mysterious?I had the pleasure of discussing these fascinating issues with the incredible astrobiologist and theoretical physicist Sara Walker. Sara has greatly contributed to our understanding of how life emerges from non-living matter and how

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159:48

Do We Need New Laws of Physics to Explain the Origins...

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/08/30

Do we need new laws of physics to explain the origins of life? I had an amazing discussion about this with the one and only Lee Cronin on Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal. We talked about life, consciousness, physics, chemistry, assembly theory, the Drake equation, and more! Lee Cronin is a chemist and the Regius Chair of Chemistry in the School of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow. His research focuses on synthetic life forms, the self-assembly of molecules, and the origin of life

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47:28

Confessions of an Alien Hunter with Seth Shostak (2021)

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating ·

2024/08/27

What is the current state of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI)? Why do scientists often raise their eyebrows at UFO sightings? And what might the future of SETI look like with ongoing technological advancements?I had the privilege of diving into these fascinating topics with the professional alien hunter Seth Shostak! Seth Shostak is an astronomer and author who directs the search for extraterrestrials at the SETI Institute in California—trying to find evidence of intelligent

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