Cumrun succeeds in delivering a very clear exposition of string theory that I have not heard anywhere else! Its clear he is a master of the game.

his explanation is great, especially with Lex's clarifying questions

I love his energy so much, i wish i was half as passionate about something as this man is about physics

Imagine alien civilization where this stuff is common knowledge - taught in 'third grade' or something.

"The STRING in my leg is gone!" - Peter Sellers, Dr. Strangelove

This was so entertaining. Always have been fascinated with string theory

Fascinating, I just learned so much !

Lex has chosen a very difficult job. Lol😂 Respect!👍🏼

I like this explanation, very interesting as always

What an intelligent human being

Very impressive, first time I understood someone discussing string theory …. Iranian born physicist

So nice to have it explained in such a linear and contextual "narrative". Brilliant

Up to this point, I only have heuristic half-knowledge of String Theory (trying to go through Polchinski‘s 1st book one time, but not quite making it :-)). But as far as I can compare, his explanations are pretty descriptive and on point. Good episode of this podcast!

It amazes me how Cumrun can explain complicated topics in such a clear and concise way.

Lex is such a good interviewer!!! He and Rogan are the best imo. They both know when to shut up, and they both know when to kind of butt in with a clarifying question for the listeners. Well done.

I understand completely

thank you!

We always separate the microverse from the macroverse. Which makes studying either very difficult. Yet, as I theretically stroll the solar system out to the clusters of solar systems in our galaxy. I even try to fathom other galaxies that make up our visible universe. One thought always comes to mind the farther out in the macroverse we go. The point I travel from seems to be microscopic. I'm no scientist or scholar but it seems like we should be able to infer way more about the microverse from the macroverse.

this is a great physics history summary, experimental observation of anomalies colliding with mathematical dreamers

Thank you, best explanation yet for me.

i think its unavoidable that dimensionality shrinks as the number grows, when you say 'big dimensions and small dimensions' what is the relative sizes and how is it changing as you get into higher dimensions? can dimensionality into 'higher' dimensions be actually a subset or subdivision of the 3+1 that we are familiar with? as the particles of the atom are a subset of the atom with mirroring and twisting and 'flavor' or w/e the terminology is? i am not sure string theory is the answer but if it is sourcing some parts of the standard model (i find this ironic actually) it seems to me there would be a symmetry or similarity in the particles as well as the theoretical higher dimensions

I would like to know the very piece of math that was produced the very first time, of the very first day, even the contours of it. what exactly was the initial sketch of the theory ?

What about Raptor theory ? The entire universe is composed of point sized Velociraptors. They can stretch as well and grow larger as well based on their junkfood consumption

Background Info: Cumrun Vafa is a prominent Iranian-American physicist who is known for his contributions to string theory and its application to various areas of physics, including particle physics and cosmology.

String theory is the theory that since everything is nothing so when you unfold nothing you might get back everything - its what happens when the math gets so hard you imagine it has to answer the fundamental question.

watt in the hertz is he talking about

Now I get it.. Thanks

Lex made me think of ippo in the boxing manga hajime no ippo

Lex's face... Oh my gawd... LOL ahhahahaha, I can't stop laughing..... . 11:26

What’s the story with the hedgehog? 🦔 🤣🤣

I feel like I’m from Mars listening to this guy…

Prof Vafa is a wonderful guest

Just wait until we find the DMT dimension

My thoughts after listening in full: I used to think I was smart, until I smartened up and realized I was an idiot.

Even if supersymmetry string theory doesn’t apply to the laws of physics in our dimensional universe, the multiverse could still be a reality and the physics of string theory could apply to other universes in other dimentions. 🤔

Face it folks it’s a simulation.

oh, NOW I get it!

My brain broke

Here's a standing wave analogy: ANTINODES are your forces while NODES are your mass particles. Don't be confused by morphing or transmutation characteristics. It's far easier to think of it in terms of as being membranes rather than strings. Strings going through a spacetime is complicated mathematically while a membrane universe where everything is already connected is far less complicated from a mathematical point of view.

Idk this extra dimensions in black holes sounds a little too convenient...

We can only observe a tiny fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum. So why is it so farfetched to think we can only observe a tiny fraction of the dimensions that exist?

Woop di doo Basil, what does it all mean?

Supersymmetric particles from another dimensional parallel universe, could be what the dark matter is in our 4 dimentional universe. 🤔

Sounds like tripping / visions to me.

Strings sound like God. A theory.

The meaning I inferred from15:50 and onwards has some deeply philosophical and spiritual consequences.

We need to start giving our physicists DMT

Ethan the HR nightmare!😂

String Theory was not a waste of time. Geometry is the key to Math and Physics. What if we describe subatomic particles as spatial curvature, instead of trying to describe General Relativity as being mediated by particles? Quantum Entangled Twisted Tubules: "A theory that you can't explain to a bartender is probably no damn good." Ernest Rutherford The following is meant to be a generalized framework for an extension of Kaluza-Klein Theory. Does it agree with the “Twistor Theory” of Roger Penrose? During the early history of mankind, the twisting of fibers was used to produce thread, and this thread was used to produce fabrics. The twist of the thread is locked up within these fabrics. Is matter made up of twisted 3D-4D structures which store spatial curvature that we describe as “particles"? Are the twist cycles the "quanta" of Quantum Mechanics? When we draw a sine wave on a blackboard, we are representing spatial curvature. Does a photon transfer spatial curvature from one location to another? Wrap a piece of wire around a pencil and it can produce a 3D coil of wire, much like a spring. When viewed from the side it can look like a two-dimensional sine wave. You could coil the wire with either a right-hand twist, or with a left-hand twist. Could Planck's Constant be proportional to the twist cycles. A photon with a higher frequency has more energy. ( E=hf, More spatial curvature as the frequency increases = more Energy ). What if gluons are actually made up of these twisted tubes which become entangled with other tubes to produce quarks. (In the same way twisted electrical extension cords can become entangled.) Therefore, the gluons are a part of the quarks. Quarks cannot exist without gluons, and vice-versa. Mesons are made up of two entangled tubes (Quarks/Gluons), while protons and neutrons would be made up of three entangled tubes. (Quarks/Gluons) The "Color Force" would be related to the XYZ coordinates (orientation) of entanglement. "Asymptotic Freedom", and "flux tubes" are logically based on this concept. The Dirac “belt trick” also reveals the concept of twist in the ½ spin of subatomic particles. If each twist cycle is proportional to h, we have identified the source of Quantum Mechanics as a consequence twist cycle geometry. Modern physicists say the Strong Force is mediated by a constant exchange of Mesons. The diagrams produced by some modern physicists actually represent the Strong Force like a spring connecting the two quarks. Asymptotic Freedom acts like real springs. Their drawing is actually more correct than their theory and matches perfectly to what I am saying in this model. You cannot separate the Gluons from the Quarks because they are a part of the same thing. The Quarks are the places where the Gluons are entangled with each other. Neutrinos would be made up of a twisted torus (like a twisted donut) within this model. Gravity is a result of a very small curvature imbalance within atoms. (This is why the force of gravity is so small.) Instead of attempting to explain matter as "particles", this concept attempts to explain matter more in the manner of our current understanding of the space-time curvature of gravity. If an electron has qualities of both a particle and a wave, it cannot be either one. It must be something else. Therefore, a "particle" is actually a structure which stores spatial curvature. Can an electron-positron pair (which are made up of opposite directions of twist) annihilate each other by unwinding into each other producing Gamma Ray photons? Does an electron travel through space like a threaded nut traveling down a threaded rod, with each twist cycle proportional to Planck’s Constant? Does it wind up on one end, while unwinding on the other end? Is this related to the Higgs field? Does this help explain the strange ½ spin of many subatomic particles? Does the 720 degree rotation of a 1/2 spin particle require at least one extra dimension? Alpha decay occurs when the two protons and two neutrons (which are bound together by entangled tubes), become un-entangled from the rest of the nucleons . Beta decay occurs when the tube of a down quark/gluon in a neutron becomes overtwisted and breaks producing a twisted torus (neutrino) and an up quark, and the ejected electron. The phenomenon of Supercoiling involving twist and writhe cycles may reveal how overtwisted quarks can produce these new particles. The conversion of twists into writhes, and vice-versa, is an interesting process. Gamma photons are produced when a tube unwinds producing electromagnetic waves. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Within this model a black hole could represent a quantum of gravity, because it is one cycle of spatial gravitational curvature. Therefore, instead of a graviton being a subatomic particle it could be considered to be a black hole. The overall gravitational attraction would be caused by a very tiny curvature imbalance within atoms. We know there is an unequal distribution of electrical charge within each atom because the positive charge is concentrated within the nucleus, even though the overall electrical charge of the atom is balanced by equal positive and negative charge. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> In this model Alpha equals the compactification ratio within the twistor cone. 1/137 1= Hypertubule diameter at 4D interface 137= Cone’s larger end diameter at 3D interface where the photons are absorbed or emitted. The 4D twisted Hypertubule gets longer or shorter as twisting or untwisting occurs. (720 degrees per twist cycle.) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> How many neutrinos are left over from the Big Bang? They have a small mass, but they could be very large in number. Could this help explain Dark Matter?

What if there is not a bunch of strings but actually just one string and it actually isn't a string but a single point?

It's not a theory, it's a hypothesis.

Cumrun vafa is a cool name

It's very strange the way he decided to spell his name in English

Cumrun? Come on. Really? I'm so immature 😂

Lex has the charisma of an envelope

Sheldon would be so proud! More important, Lex why are single? you are such a beautiful person! Put a new item on you morning mantras! You are a gem, thanks Joe Rogan 😊

Physicists will say that gravity is the weakest Force but I think gravity is the strongest force it's just getting poured through so many faucets that it seems like it is nothing we started thinking about other dimensions and how many dimensions there were well gravity works on all dimensions gravity is everywhere it is the greatest force in the universe yet it is so spread out but it seems really pathetic and weak

Uhhh...what?

..never mind.

First like what what!!!

Cumrun

The man is describing exactly what you see on certain Psychedelics and doesn't even know.

Surely I'm naive, but I detect an issue. The logical steps are... (1) 2 fundamental theories are in conflict. (2) resolve conflict by theorizing new fundamental elements. (3) discover that those theoretical elements don't model well in 3 dimensions. (4) assume there must be more dimensions. Unless there is some extraordinary way to make observations, this seems more like metaphysics than physics.

Hehehe.... cumrun

Spiderweb

Lex, I'm CIA agent I remember me as you in the 90's filming in Farragut. String theory is one thing but math is needed for everything. I'm in God's class. These are my works right now. Physics,. Formics, Physics by Nature, Physics by Mechanics, Contiplation by Memory. I got 14 more to go after that. That's not contemplation.

Geometric Unity.

I intuitively know all this stuff. I must be smarter than all of you combined.

Cumrun😂😂😂

Is it just me, or does Lex seem bored in this clip?

Here’s the thing truthfully; string theorist assume that the Gravity is an actual force and it’s produced by an elusive particle field called a graviton. So far there hasn’t been any evidence of a graviton. There’s also this false idea that gravity is weak, rather then looking at the strength of gravity, as nothing more then the mass or energy exerted on space time. Meaning that a mass of a planet will create a curvature of space time, but the gravity will still be weak enough we’re the other forces of nature will still over come it’s weak gravitational interactions. But what if gravity was a lot stronger, due to larger mass or energy created a warp in space time? Let’s say a black hole as an example? Then in the singularity of a black hole, the force of gravity becomes infinite, and electromagnetism, weak and strong nuclear forces will yield to the gravity of a black holes singularity. What this mathematical equation means is that the strength of gravity is nothing more then the amount of mass or energy that is creating a warping of space, the gravitational force of a black hole singularity will over come all of the strong forces of the universe. So gravity isn’t created due to elusive particle fields of a graviton but rather the degree of strength of the mass and energy of a planet, star or a black hole.

No. Just no.

... when he mentioned graviton, I lost all interest...

One dimensional strings? I’m sorry what

Here’s the thing truthfully string theorist assume that the Gravity is an actual force and it’s produced by an elusive particle field called a graviton. So far there hasn’t been any evidence of a graviton. There’s also this false idea that gravity is weak, rather then looking at the strength of gravity, as nothing more then the mass or energy exerted on space time. Meaning that a mass of a planet will create a curvature of space time, but the gravity will still be weak enough we’re the other doves of nature will still over come it’s weak gravitational interactions. But what if gravity was a lot stronger, due to larger mass or energy created a warp in space time? Let’s say a black hole as an example? Then in the singularity of a black hole, the force of gravity becomes infinite, and electromagnetism, weak and strong nuclear forces will yield to the gravity of a black holes singularity. What this mathematical equation means is that the strength orb gravity is nothing more then the amount of mass or energy that is creating a warping of space, the gravitational force of a black hole singularity will over come all of the strong forces of the universe. So gravity isn’t created due to elusive particle fields of a graviton but the degree of strength of the mass and energy of a planet, star or a black hole.

I think the string theory is bollocks. Everything "new" in physics isn't even observable anymore. Strings, dark matter, dark energy... like wtf are you guys hunting there? Just look at your current models and think about why they are wrong instead of coming up with nonsense to fix those holes in the current model nobody can measure anyway.

Spoiler: i dont belive the earth is flat but sometimes i am amazed that conspiracy theoriests (specially in the extreme way) count as sick and dumb but when the most educated persons create these crazy unproofen theories they count as highly Intelligent and healthy... little bit weired no ?

Conclusion? String theory is a bunch of BS.

I have a theory. all theories are subjective opinions.

I think how much of this is true? I would follow the money anyway.

Take me back to the Times these topics were talked about with a good interviewer. JRE#100 " let's talk about string theory ok uh so um we will start with what is string theory " No flow to the conversation, feels unnatural. I miss feeling like you're there like early JRE

String Theory really has always sounded like a lot of baseless nonsense to me, and it still does after listening to this guy. Then again, what do I know. But I do believe it was Eric Weinstein who said that String Theory isn't even a theory, and even calling it a hypothesis would be generous, and I respect that guy and his knowledge in this field a lot more than random String Theorists so I'm just gonna go with my gut and call BS on this one.