This episode “The world according to physics” with Jim Al-Khalili, professor of in physics and public engagement of science and author of “The Joy of Science”, will take you on a journey through what we understand about physics, the quantum and reality at extreme cosmic scales. All this just after HVAD plays a mixture of Indian instruments and electronics.
How much of an understanding do we currently have about the physical world and where does theoretical physics research stand in the third decade of the twenty-first century? Are we finally approaching the end of physics when the rich tapestry of the universe will be revealed to us and we will finally understand the true nature of reality?
If we are honest then we must admit that while what we do know is dazzlingly impressive there is still much we have yet to grasp, all the way down to the fundamental nature of space and time to the meaning quantum mechanics, let alone mysteries of dark matter and dark energy.
This episode starring world-famous physicist Jim Al-Khalili will shine a light onto the most profound insights revealed by modern physics, to reveal what this crucially important science tells us about the universe and the nature of reality itself. Al-Khalili begins by introducing the fundamental concepts of space, time, energy, and matter, and then describes the three pillars of modern physics—quantum theory, relativity, and thermodynamics—showing how all three must come together if we are ever to have a full understanding of reality.
Using wonderful examples and thought-provoking analogies, Al-Khalili illuminates the physics of the extreme cosmic and quantum scales, the speculative frontiers of the field, and the physics that underpins our everyday experiences and technologies, bringing the reader up to speed with the biggest ideas in physics in just a few sittings. Physics is revealed as an intrepid human quest for ever more foundational principles that accurately explain the natural world we see around us, an undertaking guided by core values such as honesty and doubt. The knowledge discovered by physics both empowers and humbles us, and still, physics continues to delve valiantly into the unknown.
Event held in English with the generous support of the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Jim Al-Khalili is Distinguished Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Surrey and one of Britain’s best-known science communicators. He has written numerous books, including The World According to Physics (Princeton); Quantum: A Guide for the Perplexed; and Life on the Edge: The Coming of Age of Quantum Biology. He is a fellow of the Royal Society and lives in Southsea, England. Twitter @jimalkhalili