Sir Roger Penrose: Are Singularities Real? (090)

A very special episode with Sir Roger Penrose, co-winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize in physics. We discuss Conformal Cyclic Cosmology, Black Holes, and of course, Nobel Prizes! Roger is a mensch. He always makes time for me and provided one of the first and most enthusiastic "blurbs" for my book, Losing the Nobel Prize. He has always been so generous with his time, even after winning the Nobel Prize when demands for his attention are relentless. 

He will also share insights into the thinking of a modern day theoretical physicist. Is the Universe destined to collapse, ending in a big crunch or to expand indefinitely until it homogenizes in a heat death? Roger will explain a third alternative, the cosmological conformal cyclic cosmology (CCC) scheme—where the Universe evolves through eons, each ending in the decay of mass and beginning again with new Big Bang.

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We'll also discuss possible observational searches for these cycles possibly encoded in the Cosmic Microwave Background. Lastly, tune in to hear what it's like to receive an early morning phone call from the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences and learn you've won half a Nobel Prize!

Sir Roger Penrose, Emeritus Professor at the Mathematical Institute of the University of Oxford, winner of the Copley Medal and the Wolf Prize in Physics, which he shared with Stephen Hawking, has made profound contributions encompassing geometry, black hole singularities, the unification of quantum mechanics and general relativity, the structure of space-time, nature of consciousness and the origin of our Universe.

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[flowerpt]

It's cool that Roger has been recognized, no matter how old his paper was. His new work will get more attention, which is very exciting.
My ultimate goal in life is to be as sharp and vivacious as Roger at the same age!

[JasonAStillman]

Penrose's 2020 Noble Prize is one of the few best things to come out of 2020. Warms my heart... :) Great pod Brian!

[Boballoo]

How humble can you be to hang up on your Nobel Prize phone call, saying, "They'll call back if it's important."? I love this man and his brilliant mind.

[Grandunifiedcelery]

Thank you so much Dr Brian and Sir Roger. It was a great time!

[klgamit]

What a lovely way to show appreciation to this lovely man, few deserve such recognition more than Penrose

[markcarey]

We will meet again in the conformal future when we are all redshifted into each other

[quickies]

but seriously, the range and power of Penrose's intellect is amazing. he reminds me of Michio Kaku, in the respect that he thinks without limits

[richardgalea]

Following Sir Roger all my life, I feel that the Noble Prize was long overdue……

[eipplusone]

Thank you Sir Roger for your contribution to the knowledge of the universe, your books and your class and kindness. You are a world treasure.

[CronyxRavage]

Brian, dude, turn your phone off (or on silent) when you're hosting a podcast.

[praneethbvs]

Sir Roger, A Great inspiration. My Hero! Greatest Mind of our times. I wish him all the good health. Hope I can attend one of his lectures in the future. Cycles of time - What a beautiful book. This is a great talk. Thanks for doing this Brian and keep them coming.

[stormtrooper]

Am really sorry I couldnt watch the live-stream!
But 10k view overall is criminaly underrated!

[JH_Phillips]

Roger Penrose AND Eric Weinstein?! Brian, you’re coming out with the best content/guests I’ve seen from any podcast lately! Thank you!

[vaughngzenda]

You're doing important work here Dr. Keating. I really appreciate it.

[shaunlanighan]

My all-time favourite Professor since 1976 when I read 'Relativity & Cosmology' and saw Penrose diagrams. I've been fascinated by this subject ever after. What wouldn't I give to have a mind like Sir Roger. Ah well, go stand in the corner Shaun and just listen, you might learn something!

[monkerud]

great stuff, sorry i missed the live stream, congratz :)

[Orpheuslament]

This is just awesome. I love this podcast. Thank you so much for making it.

[youtubebane]

I had just left a comment on one of Eric's videos a couple weeks ago about how he was my second favorite mathematician and physicist, in the world and that my very favorite was none other than sir Rodger Penrose.

[johnfyten]

Found another great Roger Penrose interview and just subscribed to your channel. Looking forward to checking out your wide variety of videos. They all look intriguing. Well done on this one for sure!

[snarzetax]

It's always a pleasure to listen to people who love discussing these topics.