Peter Woit: Unification, Spinors, Twistors, String Theory

Prof. Peter Woit discusses string theory, its decline, and introduces his graviweak unification theory using Euclidean twistor in Euclidean spacetime.

TIMESTAMPS:
- 00:00:00 Introduction
- 00:00:00 String theory's fundamental issues | Mathematicians' challenges
- 00:02:20 Spacetime and twistor theory insights
- 00:20:00 Bundles & diffeomorphism groups
- 00:38:34 Spinors as a spacetime point
- 00:46:57 Dominance of string theory & Ed Witten's influence
- 00:54:17 Quest for quantum gravity
- 01:03:22 String theory's lack of predictive power
- 01:09:33 Machine learning meets theoretical physics
- 01:18:56 Personal attacks vs. intellectual debate
- 01:24:49 Mathematicians vs. Physicists | Academic silos
- 01:37:15 Developing a contrarian view & the origin of 'Not Even Wrong'
- 01:40:54 Langlands & representation theory
- 01:48:51 Spacetime is NOT doomed
- 01:58:47 Sean Carroll's crisis in physics (odd responses to criticism)
- 02:13:21 Differentiable structures by dimension
- 02:26:10 Gravi-weak unification & chirality
- 02:32:57 Chern-Simons theory
- 02:42:20 Gravity as torsion or curvature
- 02:50:07 Category theory in physics
- 02:56:43 Defining a fulfilling life

LINKS MENTIONED:

[danscieszinski]

This is the most honest talk on the state of the open problems I’ve ever listened to. Props to this gentleman for being one of the most unbiased minds in the space.

[Davidg]

I love P. Woit's podcasts and lectures. He gives off a real OG vibe. This guys respects his own work and himself, plus he's a big brain! A real leader of humanity.

[thedouglasw.lippchannel]

This was great and it hasn't even begun yet.

[athelstanrex]

These videos are some of the only things keeping me sane in these insane times

[bigglesharrumpher]

As a very surprised 13 year old who suddenly learned this thing called algebra where letters were added, multiplied and divided (who knew?) to stumbling through High School and achieving a basic pass in mathematics, I knew the sciences were way beyond my pay grade. Fast forward 40 years and I cannot understand why I am fascinated by these complex Physics issues!!!

[symmetrie_bruch]

really refreshing hearing experts talk and not to have to suffer through the pre schooler version for the trillionth time. as a layman i don´t understand everything of course but i know where to pause button is and i know how to use google.

[edgedg]

This is packed with wisdom of goal selection. Treasure of a video. Thank you Curt!

[giovannironchi]

I have read his blog last years. It had a huge impact on me. Thanks a lot for the interview

[olbluelips]

Great discussion! Prof. Woit is very clear

[simonburton]

Wow, Peter seems like such a nice guy, super chilled out and willing to chat about anything. Wish he was my neighbour !

[BiswajitBhattacharjee-upvv]

Good interview, great job both of you.
I am also feeling great when I hear from a trained professional Mathamatcs senior lecturer with Physics inclined admit that space-time has handedness . Which was also my conclusion in 2002 after.
Before that I have had similar intuitive not only gravity but for quantum properties.
Thank TOE channel.

[NomenNescio]

This was a very interesting interview, especially the last half hour.

[zdzislawmeglicki]

I don't think "string theory" has been afflicted by "painful death." Not even by death as such. But it is true that through efforts of people like Woit, Hossenfelder, and others, the enthusiasm for it has diminished, while alternative theories, like loop quantum gravity and emergent gravity, have attracted interest. At the end of the day, physics is, and should remain, an empirical science, meaning that if you can't measure it, it's not physics. And if you can't prove it, it's not even mathematics.

[RH-ofcr]

Great and interesting conversation. Curt, you are doing good work.

[jacobvandijk]

@ 1:11:21 EXAMPLARY FOR MODERN DAY SCIENCE AND FOR THE CULTURE ON MANY UNIVERSITIES: being with "friends and colleagues" in the same snake pit.

[merchadiaz]

I really enjoy these long form videos ty anyways...

[cwcarson]

Had to laugh at the comment in the live stream "Woit's shirt hasn't fully rendered".

[davidwright]

In grad school in the late 1970s, looking at this stuff, I didn't for a split second think that in another four and a half decades, while lots of math has happened, no physics has!! Beyond 'just so' stories of fabled realms. I seem also to remember about the same time, Penrose's group was having difficulty getting actual testable numbers out of beautiful math. 'I think I'd better think it out again!' - Fagin, contemplating career change, in Oliver!, the musical.

[xbullets]

I think I started getting your videos because I watched American alchemist, good content, enjoy your UFO and physics interviews

[balasubr]

Interesting conversation about physics and mathematics for real life applications and measurement.