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PODCAST

The Last Theory

The Last Theory is an easy-to-follow exploration of what might be the last theory of physics. In 2020, Stephen Wolfram launched the Wolfram Physics Project to find the elusive fundamental theory that explains everything. On The Last Theory podcast, I investigate the implications of Wolfram"s ideas and dig into the details of how his universe works. Join me for fresh insights into Wolfram Physics every other week.

science physics

All Episodes

16:27

How big is the computer that runs the universe?

The Last Theory ·

2022/10/13

As you’ll know from Episode 8: Where’s the computer that runs the universe? ( read ⋅ listen ⋅ watch ), I have my doubts about the existence of a computer that’s whirring away, applying Wolfram’s rules to Wolfram’s graphs, performing the computations required to run our universe.This computer, if it exists, is necessarily invisible to us, and as I warned in Episode 12: Beware invisible things ( read ⋅ listen ⋅ watch ) we should be wary of what we can’t see.Still, I want to revisit this idea

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9:44

Unary, binary, ternary, k-ary hyperedges in Wolfram...

The Last Theory ·

2022/09/29

Here are answers to some fundamental questions about hypergraphs:A hyperedge can connect any number of nodes: one, two, three, four, seventeen or any other number.And a hypergraph can include any of these different kinds of hyperedge, or all of them.Let’s take a look at what this means for Wolfram Physics... and at some of the beautiful hypergraphs it allows us to generate!I release The Last Theory as a video too! Watch here.The full article is here.Kootenay Village Ventures Inc.

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12:05

What is a hypergraph in Wolfram Physics?

The Last Theory ·

2022/09/15

In previous episodes, I’ve been simulating Wolfram Physics using graphs.But you may have come across simulations of Wolfram Physics using hypergraphs.What’s the difference?What is a hypergraph?—This epsiode refers to previous episodes on dimensionality:How to measure the dimensionality of the universe audio ⋅ video ⋅ articleAre Wolfram’s graphs three‑dimensional? audio ⋅ video ⋅ articleWhat are dimensions in Wolfram’s universe? audio ⋅ video ⋅ articleand previous episodes on space:What is

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12:57

Where to apply Wolfram's rules?

The Last Theory ·

2022/09/02

Confession time: I haven’t been entirely honest with you about applying a rule to a graph in Wolfram Physics.I’ve explained precisely how to apply a rule, but I’ve been strangely silent when it comes to where to apply the rule.I know, it’s unlike me to be silent, right?Time to come clean.It turns out that the question of where to apply Wolfram’s rules is not as easily answered as you might think.This seemingly straightforward question will take us into the philosophy of time, causality,

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12:18

Space-time is dead

The Last Theory ·

2022/08/04

In his General Theory of Relativity, Einstein combined the three dimensions of space with the one dimension of time in what we now know as Einstein’s equations.Ever since, physicists have thought of space and time as effectively the same thing: components of four-dimensional space-time.This might be the biggest blunder physicists have ever made.Stephen Wolfram, on page 22 of his book A project to find the Fundamental Theory of Physics, calls it the “one ‘wrong turn’ in the history of

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9:06

Is space continuous or discrete?

The Last Theory ·

2022/07/21

We’re used to thinking of space as continuous.A stone can be anywhere in space. It can be here. Or it can be an inch to the left. Or it can be half an inch further to the left. Or it can be an infinitesimal fraction of an inch even further to the left. Space is infinitely divisible.The graphs of Wolfram Physics, however, are discrete.If, as Stephen Wolfram proposes, the universe is a graph, then you can’t be just anywhere in space. It makes sense to think about a node of the graph as a

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10:44

Beware invisible things

The Last Theory ·

2022/07/07

We humans have always been fond of invisible things.Poltergeists, fairies, unicorns, the Yeti, the Lost City of Atlantis.Just because you can’t see them, it doesn’t mean they aren’t there.Scientists, no less than any other humans, suffer from this fondness for invisible things.Phlogiston, miasma, ether, strings.Just because you can’t see them, scientists have insisted, it doesn’t mean they aren’t there.Beware these invisible things.As I explore Wolfram Physics, I’m aware of certain

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11:39

What are dimensions in Wolfram’s universe?

The Last Theory ·

2022/06/09

We know what it means when we say that our universe is three-dimensional: it means that we can move in three orthogonal directions: left-right; up-down; forwards-backwards.But what would it mean to say that a universe is 2½-dimensional?Or 3.37-dimensional?Or 9-dimensional?When I measured the dimensionality one of Wolfram’s graphs, I found it to be at least 3.37-dimensional.If Stephen Wolfram is right, then our universe might not be uniformly three-dimensional.So maybe dimensionality isn’t

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14:48

Are Wolfram’s graphs three‑dimensional?

The Last Theory ·

2022/05/26

Are Wolfram’s graphs three-dimensional?In Episode #009: How to measure the dimensionality of the universe – watch the video or read the article – I introduced a mathematically-minded crab, which was able to determine the dimensionality of its universe by measuring how much space it covered moving different distances in every possible direction.Now I’m going to use the same crabby method to determine the dimensionality of graphs generated by Wolfram Physics.I’m finally going to answer the

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9:45

How to measure the dimensionality of the universe

The Last Theory ·

2022/05/12

Today’s episode includes a lot of visuals, so I recommend you watch the video or read the article rather than listen to the audio.In Episode #007: The expanse: dimension, separation & explosion – watch the video or read the article – I argued that the graphs of Wolfram Physics are going to have to be three-dimensional to be a true representation of our universe.But how can we tell whether these graphs are three-dimensional? Many of them are so convoluted that it’s difficult to tell

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11:49

Where’s the computer that runs the universe?

The Last Theory ·

2022/04/28

I’ve been running simulations of our universe, according to Stephen Wolfram’s computational theory of physics.Where’s the computer that runs these simulations?Well, it’s right here. This a low-powered laptop in my hand is literally the computer that runs these universes.It’s natural to ask a follow-up question.If Wolfram’s right and the real universe evolves computationally in the same way as these simulated universes, where’s the computer that runs the universe?I release The Last Theory as

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9:39

The expanse: dimension, separation & explosion

The Last Theory ·

2022/04/14

In the last episode, I introduced two fundamental characteristics of space: position and distance.Today, I’m going to introduce three more characteristics of space: dimension, separation & explosion.If it’s to be a viable theory of physics, Wolfram Physics has to accurately model space as we know it, including all five of these characteristics.Let’s see how it measures up.—Today’s episode includes a lot of visuals, so you might prefer to read the article, or watch the video, where

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9:52

What is space? the where and the how far

The Last Theory ·

2022/03/31

What is space in Wolfram Physics?I’ve talked about the basic concepts of Wolfram Physics: nodes, edges, graphs & rules.I just threw these concepts out there. No explanation. No rhyme, no reason. Nodes, edges, graphs & rules. Take them or leave them.Naturally, this raised a few questions in some people’s minds.These questions can be summed up as follows:Wait... What? Nodes, edges, graphs & rules? Why?This a deep question.Let’s get into it.—This episode includes a few visuals, so

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10:19

What is physics? the how and the why

The Last Theory ·

2022/03/17

I like being asked questions about Wolfram Physics.When I try to answer them, though, I often find myself trapped in an infinite regress.To address a question about Wolfram Physics, I might first need to address another, more fundamental question, about physics.And to address that question, I might first need to address another, more fundamental question, than might be more philosophy than physics.Today, I’m going to go to one of those deep questions that need to be asked, if not answered,

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20:05

Different rules, different universes

The Last Theory ·

2022/03/03

It’s all about the animations.I’ve been coding coding coding the few weeks to develop my simulations of Wolfram Physics.So now I’m able to explore a number of simple rules and ask a number of simple questions.What different rules could be applied to our universe?What different universes would arise from these rules?Today, I explore different rules, different universes.Today’s episode includes a lot of visuals, so you might prefer to read the article, or watch the video, where they’re fully

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8:06

Why you’ve never heard of Wolfram Physics

The Last Theory ·

2022/02/17

Wolfram Physics might be the most fundamental scientific breakthrough in your lifetime.And yet you’ve probably never heard of it.Here’s why.—Albert Einstein’s 1905 papersStephen Wolfram’s project to find the fundamental theory of physicsStephen Wolfram’s 2020 announcementThere are maybe half a million physicists in the world—Prefer to watch the video? Watch hereThe full article is here

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8:46

Nodes, edges, graphs & rules: the basic concepts of...

The Last Theory ·

2022/02/03

Are you ready?Today, I’m going to dive right into Wolfram Physics.If you’ve never heard of Stephen Wolfram or his team’s project to find the fundamental theory of physics, don’t worry.Think of it like this: I’m going to dive right into the fundamental structure of the universe.And, well, you might not believe that the words “simple” and “physics” can go together, but I’m going to keep it simple.Today’s episode includes a lot of visuals.You can find them in the article, or you might want to

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6:54

Why I’m writing about Wolfram Physics

The Last Theory ·

2022/01/20

I always envy those people who, through a fantastic stroke of luck, find themselves to be exactly the right person in exactly the right place at exactly the right time to seize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.I always ask myself, why can’t that happen to me?Well, it just did.Let me explain.In this week’s episode, I discuss why I’m writing about Wolfram Physics.I’ll be digging into the details, as well as taking a step back to see some of the philosophical implications, in future

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1:00

The most fundamental scientific breakthrough of our time

The Last Theory ·

2021/12/27

Welcome to The Last Theory, an easy-to-follow exploration of what might be the last theory of physics.In 2020, Stephen Wolfram launched the Wolfram Physics Project to find the elusive fundamental theory that explains everything.On The Last Theory, I investigate the implications of Wolfram’s ideas and dig into the details of how his universe works. Join me for fresh insights into Wolfram Physics every other week: subscribe to the free newsletter, podcast or YouTube channel at

en

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