Brian Keating: Cosmology, Astrophysics, Aliens & Losing the Nobel Prize | Lex Fridman Podcast #257

Brian Keating is an experimental physicist at the UCSD, author of Losing the Nobel Prize, and host of the Into the Impossible podcast. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:

EPISODE LINKS:
Books and resources mentioned:

PODCAST INFO:

OUTLINE:
0:00 - Introduction
0:27 - Telescope
5:51 - Beginning of the universe
26:04 - Science and the Soviet Union
31:30 - What it's like to be a scientist
50:26 - Age of the universe
53:17 - Expansion of the universe
1:01:18 - Gravitational waves
1:04:30 - BICEP
1:29:45 - Nobel prize
1:52:47 - Joe Rogan
2:00:02 - Recognition in science
2:08:11 - Curiosity
2:15:59 - Losing the Nobel Prize
2:28:53 - Galileo Galilei
2:47:41 - Eric Weinstein
3:06:01 - Scientific community
3:23:42 - James Webb telescope
3:28:42 - Panspermia
3:32:12 - Origin of life
3:37:40 - Aliens
3:43:22 - Death and purpose
3:47:34 - God
3:53:30 - Power

SOCIAL:

[lexfridman]

Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast.
0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions:
0:27 - Telescope
5:51 - Beginning of the universe
26:04 - Science and the Soviet Union
31:30 - What it's like to be a scientist
50:26 - Age of the universe
53:17 - Expansion of the universe
1:01:18 - Gravitational waves
1:04:30 - BICEP
1:29:45 - Nobel prize
1:52:47 - Joe Rogan
2:00:02 - Recognition in science
2:08:11 - Curiosity
2:15:59 - Losing the Nobel Prize
2:28:53 - Galileo Galilei
2:47:41 - Eric Weinstein
3:06:01 - Scientific community
3:23:42 - James Webb telescope
3:28:42 - Panspermia
3:32:12 - Origin of life
3:37:40 - Aliens
3:43:22 - Death and purpose
3:47:34 - God
3:53:30 - Power

[DrBrianKeating]

Thanks Lex. This is a bucket list interview for me. I hope the bucket doesn’t get kicked for many years however. I loved the opportunity to share time with you and bask in your unique blend of humanity, humility, and curiosity. Thrive my brother AD ASTRA!

[michaelcook]

Many nights I fall asleep re-listening to your previous podcasts. I’ve often had the most incredible and hyper realistic dreams into which I’m obviously going in and out of listening and dreaming and, invariably part of what is being discussed becomes part of my dream. Some of the scenes and characters that have plaid out have been amazing… from childhood to current concerns to the possibilities of the future. I love your podcasts.

[EventHorizonShow]

Great episode Lex. Brian is fantastic and getting to see him in a one on one in person discussion is a real treat.

[Fjolvarr]

When you got to the Joe Rogan part and started talking about this... toxic competition in academic science, it really made me think of my journey in grad school. Everyone was very quick to tear down others achievements or diminish others. Like, I love competition but for whatever reason the environment felt like it lost the excitement for actual science, and was instead just about frustration, anger, and jealousy towards others all the time and it didnt really help my already horrible mental health.

[murthi]

Brian is like this charismatic and funny science teacher who makes you love science . Thank you for this great episode . Probably on my top ten lex episodes thank u

[bloodhwk]

I was a huge JRE fan, and watched about 80% of the episodes in full. The last two years I've lost interest to the point of only watching 1 in 30 episodes very rarely. I'm not sure if it's because of Joe, because of the guests, or that I've changed, or even as simple as you can only listen to the same person talk for so long. I always enjoyed the episodes with Lex, and while I knew this podcast existed, I never sought it out. It came across my feed, and I've watched a couple episodes including one with his father Alexander Fridman, Elon Musk, and Sam Harris. I'm so happy I did, as I now have a wonderful backlog of episodes to watch of my new favorite podcast. Keep up the awesome work Lex! Cheers!

[erika]

This guy cracks me up! Lex is not appreciating his jokes enough. Great episode. We need a round 2!

[connormatthews]

Man this flows so well, Brian came with no fixed intentions, just flows between topics effortlessly and engages in return

[BarackObamaJedi]

Man, many of Lex's interview are just timeless. He almost unfailingly finds the right chemistry and humour with the guest, as with the depth and uniqueness of questions he asks them

[alexbarnett]

Why is YouTube forcing Lex Friedman on me?

[moseslloyd]

The only way you're going to get anywhere in life is surround yourself with people smarter than you. this podcast helps a lot. Thank you for this interview it's been so enlightening. I ain't saying I understand everything you are talking about. But I am 100% grateful for it!

[maserin]

Thank you for this amazing episode with the marvelous Dr. Keating, Lex! Your podcast, along with Jordan Peterson's, are what is keeping me sane and intellectually stimulated during an extended Covid isolation period. I especially appreciated your commentary about the misguided and myopic tendencies of those in academia when it comes to one-upmanship, the playing of zero-sum games, and knowledge-hoarding. It is one of the principal reasons I abandoned my PhD program in radio astronomy and took a job with a private engineering firm instead. Hearing you and Brian talk with authentic excitement about the true meaning and purpose of scientific inquiry as one of discovery for the betterment of mankind was the biggest breath of fresh air I've experienced in a long while. This is your greatest asset, in my opinion-- even more than your stunning intellect, it is your heart and your humanity that gives you the edge. Never, ever change!

[peterjung]

I'm always impressed by the fact that your guests have a grasp of the history of science. They are very appreciative of those who came before.

[xxHEADSHOTTxx]

"If you're a Pollock and you're painting chaos, it's much more comforting to see that they can paint an accurate picture" was so true, same reason I love aphex twin's piano pieces

[ZbEn]

I’m a new subscriber- going through old episodes. Each one is such a delight. Thanks Lex for sharing all these beautiful and sublime guests with the world.

[markthompson]

Hi Lex, Brian. I needed a filler for my morning cuppa joe, and tuned in to this amazing podcast. One of the most important lessons I ever got was that to do something without passion is just like not doing it at all. It was thus the opening lesson I gave to every new group of students I had the privilege of teaching. It doesn't resonate with everyone but for those in which it reverberates so beautifully, the change in confidence, hunger for more knowledge and the ability to pass that passion on throughout their careers and personal lives is what I call a real miracle. People from any walk of life, any corner of the earth, any educational level, financial situation and so on, can achieve great things with that essential ingredient, if you will, as part of their repertoire. Thank you for making my day.

[commoncents]

scientists and intelligent and interesting people ARE the celebrities now with the popularity of many many podcasts just like this one its so nice to know we're not alone with what we cherish and prize in couldnt care less about Hollywood anymore but its all I had outside of talk radio for decades. And you are one of the pillars Lex . Bravo!

[vernonwright]

8 minutes 15 seconds in, and I'm grinning like an idiot. Got to love this podcast....

[DTLVER]

Thank you for making the internet so amazing. These podcasts are incredible!!!