Should we abandon the multiverse theory? | Sabine Hossenfelder, Roger Penrose, Michio Kaku

What is driving the mulitverse theory? Are the multiverse stories only a sticky-plaster solution to the Big Bang theory problem? Leading thinkers Sabine Hossenfelder, Roger Penrose and Michio Kaku debate.

00:00 Introduction
02:22 Michio Kaku | Multiverse theory has now dominating cosmology; it is unavoidable.
06:03 Sabine Hossenfelder | Believing in the multiverse is the logical equivalent to believing in God.
07:57 Roger Penrose | Universes are sequential and so are not independent worlds.
16:36 Theme 1 | Do scientifc theories need to be testable?
28:45 Theme 2 | Are tales of the multiverse solutions to the Big Bang theory in trouble?
42:49 Theme 3 | Will theories of the universe always be bound by untestable elements?

Multiverses are everywhere. Or at least the theory is. Everyone from physicists Stephen Hawking and Brian Greene to Marvel superheroes have shown their support for the idea. But critics argue that not only is the multiverse improbable, it is also fantasy and fundamentally unscientific as the theory can never be tested - a requirement that has defined science from its outset.

Should we reject the grand claims and leave multiverse theories to the pages of comic books? Are tales of the multiverse really sticking-plaster solutions for Big Bang theory in trouble? Or should we take multiverse theory as seriously as its proponents, and accept that modern science has moved beyond the bounds of experiment and into that of imagination?

#TheMultiverseFantasy #BigBangTheoryProblem #SpaceTimeContinuum

Michio Kaku is the co-founder of string field theory and the author of several books including several New York Times best sellers such as ‘The God Equation: The Quest for a Theory of Everything became.’ He is also professor of theoretical physics in the City College of New York and CUNY Graduate Center.

Sabine Hossenfelder is a theoretical physicist who specializes in the foundations of physics. She is a Research Fellow at the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies where she leads the group on Superfluid Dark Matter.

Roger Penrose is a world-renowned mathematician and Nobel Laureate in Physics. He is best known for his work on general relativity and sharing the Wolf Prize for Physics with Stephen Hawking for his work on black holes.

Hilary Lawson hosts.

[nicoladisvevia]

That Sir Roger Penrose is still doing serious scientific research at his age is astounding. Long may he last!

[sergiomanzetti]

Sabine Hossenfelder is as usual the anchor of reason, Roger Pennrose the symbol of intelligence, and Michio Kaku, the representative of Hollywood.

[Baekstrom]

Roger Penrose has a sharper mind at the age of 91 than I have had at any point in my life.

[BS-vxdg]

31:20 I absolutely love and respect how Dr. Penrose doesn't mind saying "I'm confused" and using that as an argument against the gobbledygook that Kaku is putting forth.

[nikitaelizarov]

Was a fan of Kaku in my youth. Now see him as a Steven Seagal of cosmology.

[natewaddoups]

Michio thought this was about string theory, Roger thought he'd been invited to talk about cosmology, and Sabine thought they were going to be talking about quantum mechanics...

Penrose was clearly annoyed, Sabine tried to salvage it, and neither Michio nor the host seemed to understand that multiverse means different things to different scientists.

This was really painful to watch.

[TheMildConfusion]

I remember when Michio was one of the science educators who inspired me to learn more about the universe. Now he sounds like he’s trying to sell me a book or something.

[valeriobertoncello]

24:17 "I know lot of string theorists... serious string theorists" SHEESH 💀

[giorgosg]

Michio Kaku is actually inspiring for young teenagers who don't yet know physics, he was for me. But he is very cringe once you know a couple things about quantum mechanics etc., it is uncomfortable listening to him recite his rehearsed analogies that sell books.

[MrAlanCristhian]

30:11
- Lawson: Do you agree?
- Penrose: no.
🤣

[ian_b]

When Penrose says he's confused, he actually means he's hearing total BS :)

[Eliza.--.]

I wasn't expecting to watch a comedy sketch, but this was ridiculously funny. I can't get over the increasingly expressions on Sir Roger's and Sabine's faces

[sprobablycancr]

The faces of Hossenfelder + Penrose while Kaku speaks. Priceless.

[gregt]

Props to Hossenfelder and Penrose for their clarity and rationality, and Kaku for selling books.

[eipplusone]

Sir Roger is a world treasure. He is over ninety and still doing mathematical physics.

[RendySinoman]

Please be advised that Kaku spends most of his time writing pop-sci books, he quits doing research 20 years ago, meanwhile Sabine and Roger are still doing cutting-edge research.

[jeffwads]

I like how Penrose just calls out the whole thing "Are we talking about String Theory or the Multiverse Theory here?".

[larslarsheim]

Penrose is always the brightest bulb in the room because his ego allows him to say "I don't know"

[mp]

It's pretty clear what Sabine and Penrose think of Michio in this, despite how diplomatic they were, lol.

[Lachgummei]

24:10 what a jab.
I know a lot of "serious" string theorists.