Freeman Dyson: A ‘Rebel’ Without a Ph.D.

A wide-ranging interview with the legendary mathematical physicist Freeman Dyson in which he discusses his work with Richard Feynman, his attempts to build a spaceship propelled by nuclear bombs and his controversial views on climate change.
QUANTA MAGAZINE
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Freeman Dyson is a world-renowned mathematical physicist who helped found quantum electrodynamics with Richard Feynman. Read Quanta Magazine’s conversation with Dyson: www.quantamaga.... Video filmed by Ben Henretig/Micro-Documentaries. Editing by Aaron Biscombe. Music by Dexter Britain.
Quanta Magazine is an editorially independent publication launched by the Simons Foundation.

[@nikos29911]

What is really amazing is the clear state of mind this man was at the age of 92, truly remarkable person. A great inspiration for all researchers.

[@LaGrandeBayou]

Agreed. Shame they cut off an edited his climate answer.

[@LaGrandeBayou]

Larry maybe that’s how it ended but It seemed he had more to say on the topic of climate change but was tentative about speaking on it because his opinions go against the narrative. He was clearly saying that it’s not at all like what we’re being told and he is correct.

[@sdwone]

I've always liked rebels... Because these are the ones that tear up the old rule books and do their OWN thing! Einstein was another rebel... So was Feynman! And when I used to teach, I was always drawn to those students who had their own unique way of doing things. Squeaky clean and obedient students that simply followed the rules were... Nice... But were pretty forgettable by and large!

[@tonygojanovic554]

@@sdwone I agree as well. It often takes incredible courage to go against the grain though, most people aren't cut out for that part of it. I always look for the outside thinkers.

[@michaelhunte743]

The best mathematician is the one with curiosity and humility. Dyson is a legend of any age.

[@shashwatjha3537]

It's a shame he's not with us anymore.

[@mikemondano3624]

The best is the one with the best results.

[@peeper2070]

He died on 28 February 2020, I feel surprised that I didn’t know much about him until today.

[@6900xx]

Same. May he rest in peace.

[@E-2.71]

You think that you would have heard something!!

[@lastsunshinee]

”He loves to talk” I think Richard Feynman was the most charming and outgoing Scientist ever.

[@jacob9673]

Who also creeped on Cornell undergrads while he was a professor there. He was an idol to me until I learned about that.

[@boncoderz1430]

​@@jacob9673I've heard of him taking trips to local strip clubs and going out with married women before, never this.

[@huskiehuskerson5300]

I can't believe I live in a world where streamers exist and people make them rich and famous when there are people like this man who deserve more

[@valerierit2003]

It's seriously sad thing

[@HowToAiNow]

I don't think he cares about money much. Money is a medium. A profesor at a good university don't have to worry about money, and thats enough.

[@capifds]

Much like athletes, streamers provide a service in entertainment.

[@lungzs]

cringe

[@مجودالسيفي]

Me too

[@primenumberbuster404]

This guy transformed fyenmen's diagrams into pure mathematics! This guy is a legend.

[@patrickyoukidean6938]

@@someone1059 A few years before his death, Einstein commented on Poincaré as being one of the pioneers of relativity, saying "Lorentz had already recognized that the transformation named after him is essential for the analysis of Maxwell's equations, and Poincaré deepened this insight still further ...." --- saw this on wiki

[@drbonesshow1]

I talked with Mr. Dyson (now more than 25 years ago) when he was at the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton). During our conversation, he asked me why I was pursuing my PhD (knowing that he didn't complete his under Hans Bethe at Cornell). I said, "Well, for me it's like a carrot before me and I want to bite it and then eat it." To which he replied, "Okay." Then we talked about other things. May he RIP.

[@stuartwiner7920]

I assume you need the PhD to get in the door so people would take you seriously. Dyson had produced seminal work with Hans Bethe and Feynman, so he was already well inside the door and very productive. At that point the diploma is not important. But he probably should have gotten it anyway just to placate his parents.

[@drbonesshow1]

@@stuartwiner7920 Had he completed the PhD he would not have spent so much of his time talking about why he didn't think it was important.

[@Treviscoe]

@@stuartwiner7920 Yes, I think this is the correct answer.

[@jamesmoconnell]

I had the *supreme* honor of meeting Freeman Dyson after a summer lecture at the Chautauqua Institute in the late 80's. I was an undergraduate physics major at a nearby University, and we had a wide-ranging conversation about the future of science and practical applicaitons of mathematics in emerging tech. Wonderful, personable man; a real pleasure to speak with.

[@atharvabhagwat2082]

He showed the world that 'Curoisty is much more important than any degree anyone who is smart enough to study a subject gets PhD but to make contributions you need a driving curiosity and dedication' 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@atharvabhagwat2082]

@@dutcheastindies8354 no

[@dannatravinci7380]

Beautiful

[@kaninma7237]

I have a BS in electrical engineering and an MS in physics; and I have worked as a full-time physics professor and, presently, a full-time math professor. His story further encourages me to continue my research interests in math, theoretical physics and engineering. Thanks for sharing this.

[@abijo5052]

Awesome! I want to become a professor of CS or Maths, and idk just seeing a random person on youtube who has already made the journey I plan to make is kind of inspiring.

[@aesthetictrashgang]

@@abijo5052 I hope you got it

[@E-2.71]

Don't stop educating yourself, kaninima, we need more educated and intelligent people in this world to help improve life!

[@leomiller2291]

Six years later, how’s the research coming along?

[@russeldioneo5187]

This is the exact feelings i have for mathematics, like playing a piano, i may not be as brilliant as this man far from it i know, but i just see alot of myself in him its amazing, i never relate to anyone like this before my whole life

[@senthilkumarpanneerselvam6657]

Moist Go ahead with your passion.. I support you brother From Tamilnadu India.

[@seaknightvirchow8131]

What a brilliant, curious, and humble man. It is wonderful to see a man of this age still so lucid. His youth reminds me the curiosity Feynman had as a youth. It is sad that science gets choked by men who have an agenda but that has always been so.

[@FirebirdAD]

Freeman John Dyson FRS (15 December 1923 - 28 February 2020)--Rest in Peace

[@caunteya]

Humility is underrated. He is a legend. 🙏

[@leizero]

Currently reading his book "Origins of Life" and his insights are both lovely and amazing. It reminded me of my love for science since I was a kid. I admit I do not understand a lot of the physics jargon and equations since I am mainly on the medical field, but it is amusing to skim through and read the simplifications. He is indeed a legend.

[@MohsenAnsariJavid]

I just love Freeman Dyson and the way he said "...was an absolute genius..."!

[@Celevie]

Mohsen Ansari Javid where r u

[@99bits46]

Richard Feynman was a clown - Freeman Dyson 1:47

[@proloycodes]

@@99bits46 lol

[@koyelsarkar7507]

He transformed Feynman's diagram in pure mathematics. He is a genius. He is a legend. Live long sir.

[@iamsantanubanerjee]

Unfortunately he is no longer with us "Physically"

[@thefarmlifeinhd]

I just had an epiphany seeing all those books around him. Im an engineering student and I almost never use a physical textbook when seeking information. I always look online or watch youtube videos to learn. Its sad in a way, as there will be no physical record of my years of studying other than the notebooks and diploma.

[@theskeletonboi]

Soon the notebooks and physical diploma will go away too. Many students use a laptop entirely, and we've already started using block-chain technology for diploma verification.

[@dalirkosimov4623]

I'll be totally honest, video and online forms of learning are SO much more efficient than physical books

[@evanjameson5437]

@@dalirkosimov4623 it doesn't feel the same and doesn't give the same pause for reflection..

[@piqscel8134]

@@dalirkosimov4623 no

[@denrimi]

@@evanjameson5437 pause and reflection is up to the student and how dedicated they are. Having more accessible content anytime only boosts learning.

[@nicosmind3]

Probably the most amazing fact ive ever heard about anyone is that Freeman Dyson at the age of 6 worked out how many atoms are in the sun. Now for anyone with knowledge of basic mathematics thats not a hard thing to do. Find the formula, find the average density of the sun, plug one into the other. Volume = 4/3Pi r^3. But for a 6 year old to get that is friggin amazing!

[@DrakeLarson-js9px]

Great interview... I got to know Teller exceptionally well in '73-75, and Dyson's video description of him was 'spot on'...Dyson lived in the 'golden age' of particle physics when cyclotrons were numerous; and graduated students were given 'hands on' examples - now centrally located chiefly at CERN. RIP...

[@kb15875]

These five minutes feel awesome and refreshing. 👌👌

[@ipsb]

20% of people makes 80% of contribution to humanity and this man is surely in the top 5%.

[@abulkhaiyrtalapov3038]

He looks like that lonely guy, yet he's happy. Bravo, the first video that gave me goosebumps in a while. Edit: Lol 40 likes

[@B20C0]

The man who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The man who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been before.

[@lucasmartiniano6915]

​@@B20C0 Love that one!

[@Gaur1983]

Men of Mathematics .Same book that inspired John Nash ,to take up mathematics.

[@iLoveTurtlesHaha]

I just found my next book. Haha, I hope I don't quit halfway like I do most books.

[@nestorlopez4284]

@iloveturtleshaha i do too! a good book that you will end up wanting more of is Surely you're joking mr feynman

[@dougr.2398]

I know the book and own a (largely unread) copy!

[@dougr.2398]

That Nazi! (Nash)

[@dougr.2398]

Nate yes, it is well written and researched. There is not a lot of math in it, though and you won’t find John Horton Conway or Benoit Mandelbrot in it, or Paul A.M.Dirac or Oliver Heaviside....(considering when it was written, Mandelbrot & Conway should not be expected!)

[@deezynar]

I like his vacuum cleaner.

[@rubadux]

and I'm a fan of his fans.

[@awc7279]

Different Dyson (u probably jest but some may not know.. :D)

[@billowen3285]

@@awc7279 I didn’t, thanks

[@victor.gizatullin]

What an outstanding gentlemen

[@user-xn2hf9re8r]

beautiful man; beautiful mind and attitude.

[@DraKBC]

It is time to extend to Mr. Dyson his well deserved and earned PhD for all he have done. I don't think anyone would reject. I believe this should open academics, staff members, committee, and students to start a movement. Karen from Puerto Rico

[@judoskeleton]

He doesn't want it or need it.

[@abijo5052]

Tbh he is qualified for a PhD just having done research. If he wanted one it's totally within his rights at the Uni where he worked to get one.

[@archangel_metatron]

As if geniuses require paperwork from non-geniuses to create unique inventions and/or make discoveries.

[@cbr125rcanada]

4:19 - "Eyes up here buddy. Eyes up here, I said!".

[@proloycodes]

lmao

[@zwagig1761]

I would love to see space travel developed enough to start space tourism so that this great man can witness and enjoy the fantasies he has had about travelling in space. This may sound strange, even now I picture him as mildly smiling with content travelling and see the space from a space ship and rejuvenate for a moment as the curious happy boy he had been when he was small to have the feeling of fulfillment of discovery and to be in awe of exploration to satisfy one's own curiosity. That moment for me would be the most precious and rewarding for any person to have which makes life all the much worth living.

He's dead

[@richardcarew2481]

My father taught me calculus when I was 3... he was at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey getting his first Master's degree in physics... he threw a ball... and described its flight away from the acceleration of his hand... the ball, of course, immediately begins to decelerate because it is going uphill against the "pull of gravity " is what he said... the arc changes over time because of this... so along with sliding scales I also got the fundamentals of the laws of motion...he was very clear and concise... because he absolutely understood mathematics.. he was at Sandia base building the weapons that they "tested" in New Mexico for Oppenheimer and Feynman et al... every math teacher I had in school was absolutely clueless about math... so they "teach" rules and regulations instead... because, if you follow the rules you sorta get the right answer... it's not the only way to get there... I don't have to think about it... because I see numbers in my head... our brains are really quantum computers... but they require... exercise, like any other activity... practice practice practice... because... math is not hard at all... it's easy peasy... pure logic... and Big Fun too

[@richardcarew2481]

I learned to read about the same time because I wanted to know what the chart under glass on his desk was... it was the periodic table... I was all excited after figuring out how to read.. and I read the abbreviations for the various properties and I still didn't understand... so I kept reading.. other things.. until I understood, not quite there yet, but I am working on it... I also played with his slide rule... which is an archaic tool for math in physics... it shows the relationship between numbers... like an abacus.. which is why Chinese and Japanese people are always better at mathematics... they grew up seeing... the relationship between numbers... that's what mathematics is... .. we learn best when we are having fun.. I have played with numbers all my life... my son was accelerated into college level calculus in 7th grade, because he grew up knowing the stuff... he learned calculus with his mother's milk

[@richardcarew2481]

No one is smarter than anyone else... we all start out with the same basic equipment... it's what you do with it that makes the difference.... I don't watch television.. I never have... I read... I have enough education, and have done the research that leads to new science... in geology chemistry and physics, and at least a master in economics... but I didn't do it to obtain a piece of paper for my wall... I did it because I was having fun.. I like to read... my father used to quote Issac Newton about playing along the shore picking up shiny pebbles... playing is how we learn the best

[@dastoastbrot6625]

There are many people who have the potential to bring much knowledge to this world I wish you the Best

[@franshartman4378]

Wonderful video! And appreciating von Braun eternally.

[@wcw3086]

One of my heroes....God bless him

[@issyjas3309]

Very inspiring interview, fascinating man

[@indobalkanizer6557]

Wow, how did I never know abt this gem before, tysm YT for such recommendations 🙏

[@dougr.2398]

Dr. Dyson was the awesome dinner speaker at the Gibbs Symposium at Yale University which I had the great privilege of attending. His work found the underlying principle that united the Quantum Electrodynamic work of R. Feynman, A. Salaam and S. Tomonaga (et alii) and showed their equivalence. However, his position against the mainstream of climatologists has been destructive, I am sad to say. 35 years ago, I realized the connection between a widening ozone hole and more extreme weather, which a few years ago meteorologists FINALLY agreed is true.... simply due to more rapid heating and cooling at the South Polar zone.... unfortunately, I had no Earth & Space Science connection at SUSB where I eventually I left Grad school for the second time, after admission to Doctoral Candidacy in Physics by a colleague of Einstein, students of others of his colleagues, and an MIT Doctoral graduate whose lab employee won a Nobel prize for laser cooling of atoms. Hal Metcalf gave me the most difficult and daunting of oral exam topics... hidden Variable theory & experiments.... which I did the best on I could, but I failed in my own rigorous standards and left his Group ignominiously for Low Temperature Solid State (liquid helium temperature Josephson Junctions) where I failed again (and I know why)... maybe the third time might be more “charming” ??!

[@DibyajyotiDas]

If I ever had the chance to grow up, I would like to imagine growing up in the company of men like these.

[@johnanderson6946]

Rest in Peace Champ the world needs more people like you wayyy more!

[@jonabirdd]

The first person I know of whose room looks like mine :)

[@s-c-iulian]

so humble, I like that man how it is, I never heard about him before, first time I`ve seen him here ...

[@gordonrichardson2972]

3DSasuCatalin There are lots of brilliant men (and women), who through the fate of history did great things, but never became famous. Can you name all 12 men who walked on the moon? The first one is easy (Neil Armstrong), thereafter it gets harder!

[@verward]

How was he not promoted based on his works on the feynman diagrams?

[@SolaceEasy]

There is always a place for the subgenius in the realms of knowledge.

[@fd7231]

He's exceptionally humble and understated about himself. In reality, Freeman Dyson was a Genius with the capital G, and an enormously visionary one too.

[@vinesthemonkey]

Moral of the story: You don't need a PhD if you do pioneering work with Feynman and Bethe

[@JordanBeagle]

Absolute legend

[@rajghatage7151]

If he is alive, somebody tell him, he was right about Dyson spheres but in a very very different way....

[@usmanzafar4751]

Can you please elaborate more. I am curious

[@highviewbarbell]

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN

[@MrFrazerz]

Rest In Peace… such an inspiration; such great honesty…

[@imad_uddin]

Thanks for the interview

[@ashirrelevent1062]

if he did that after 6 months with Feynman, i only want him for a week

[@__idan__]

Glad I had this recommended to me, thank you.

[@abhinayakde9292]

wow so amazing..

[@collinsdarkwa281]

Interesting

[@marcinmarcin5802]

This guy looks amazingly physically similar to late John Nash!

[@BarrySchweig]

His book, Infinity in All Directions, is well worth reading.

[@jasonmenmuir1980]

Proof! A Spiritual being, sharing his human experience.

[@JordanBeagle]

The man the Dyson sphere is named after!

[@talesmusic739]

Very good!!

[@thaalsmythic8731]

Happy birthday Mr. Feynman.

[@marcelocassio7358]

Bacana. As ciências exatas são lindas construções da humanidade.

[@ИгорьДымченко-к9л]

Absolutely Great Man.

[@E-2.71]

Amazing man, no PhD and can increase people's understanding of scientific knowledge!

[@neojohns2487]

He is not the Only one guys Professor S N Bose also did'nt had phd..(Boson was named after him)..he didn't got Nobel prize..but many people who worked upon his theory got Nobel prize

[@physicspoint3356]

May God bless you sir

[@stevenanderson236]

Wonderful

[@ben-tv8lt]

I always wondered who was behind that great vacuum

[@soldtobediers]

''Upon resurrection... Each seeking physicist... Will look at each other & declare... Oh my God, how could it all have been otherwise?'' -gilpin 21818

Magic isn't real, grow up.

[@pabrielgomez5879]

God bless him!

[@sherlockholmeslives.1605]

I have not got a Ph.D. either.

[@grahamy3400]

Why does KZbin seek to place its own information whenever a person questions climate change?

[@hardikjoshi8557]

This guy lived upto his name.

[@thaisplouvier5403]

famous the guy movement i loved to listen result it will take alot of hard work journey

[@khier-eddinehennaoui9783]

Give that man a PhD.

[@mdogzino]

Holy suit, he has a perfect blend of American and English accent

[@mdogzino]

@@ccriztoff u don't say

[@nisc_k]

We are getting to see the 1st stage of conceptualizing and creating a dyson sphere.

[@zalooooo]

Could you elaborate? Sounds like you're saying there's some kind of funding or venture for the creation of a dyson sphere? Would love to get info or a link if that's the case

[@nisc_k]

@@zalooooo Not sure about that one, but it was just an expression of feeling. It feels like we at the brink of Type 1 civilization, where we have ran out of energy sources on earth.

[@luciel3910]

​@@nisc_k A type 1 civilisation has nothing to do with running out. Its about the amount of Energy a Civilisation can use.

[@almondlove1865]

Happy New year

[@rajeev_kumar]

Good man

[@circlesinthenight3141]

hes fascinating

[@TheSabian321]

He was named Freeman for a reason.

[@caiusKeys]

Know who else didn't have a PhD? Jay Forrester, and he did okay.

[@MrSushant220]

LOVELY..............

[@haveatyou1]

Great vacuum cleaners too. This guy has it all.

[@dresdenkiller]

Forget the Dyson spheres, I am a big fan of his hair dryers.

[@RottenDoctorGonzo]

J.R. Hartley!

[@electricdreamer]

Freeman Dyson's view on climate is the one we should adopt, that is to be skeptic. That's the correct way of science. To push a conclusion to the public that's not solid or well understood enough is simply not a good idea.

[@Philitron128]

Unfortunately it is pretty well understood. By this I mean that we understand the impact that CO2 (and other greenhouse gases) have on the climate. They cause a warming effect. This exact effect was first predicted in the late 19th century, and it was confirmed in the 20th. Our predictions have been frighteningly accurate, if a bit conservative. The evidence is absolutely overwhelming at this point. We have already been very skeptical, and it turns out that the people saying that CO2 causes global warming which will change the climate were right.

[@axelf4515]

Freeman Dyson, the daddy of Gordon Freeman :)

[@miguelangelo5046]

"The human race must start leaving Earth within 30 years to avoid being wiped out by over-population and climate change, Professor Stephen Hawking has warned."

Not really.

[@miguelangelo5046]

Seán O'Nilbud "Clive Hamilton in his "Requiem for a Species: Why We Resist the Truth About Climate Change" describes a dark relief that comes from accepting that "catastrophic climate change is virtually certain." This obliteration of "false hopes," he says, requires an intellectual knowledge and an emotional knowledge. The first is attainable. The second, because it means that those we love, including our children, are almost certainly doomed to insecurity, misery and suffering within a few decades, if not a few years, is much harder to acquire. To emotionally accept impending disaster, to attain the gut-level understanding that the power elite will not respond rationally to the devastation of the ecosystem, is as difficult to accept as our own mortality. The most daunting existential struggle of our time is to ingest this awful truth -- intellectually and emotionally -- and rise up to resist the forces that are destroying us." Chris Hedges

[@miguelangelo5046]

Seán O'Nilbud www.independent.co.uk/environment/global-warming-temperature-rise-climate-change-end-century-science-a8095591.html

[@dutchmilk]

bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb our way up!

[@christopherarmstrong2710]

1:32 Richard Feynman

[@gianmarcomarin8391]

What’s the image at 4:29?

[@AngelRodriguez-qg5zq]

Y nos regaló la oportunidad de imaginar su esfera

[@senthilkumarpanneerselvam6657]

It is not easy to understand the the language of the Old western people..... Another Great man like him where you cant understand what he talks is "Noalm Chomsky"

[@muhammadchaldun6631]

He is amazing scientist

[@Sharperthanu1]

This scientist is telling me that Richard Feynman is a genius and another scientist online is telling me that Richard Feynman is overrated. Who do I listen to?

[@warmesuppe]

are you talking about unzickers view? he talks a lot of rubbish

[@justinleo2982]

BOMB BOMB BOMB BOMB BOMB BOMB BOMB BOMB

[@imesliagrawli5028]

The title of the music please !!

[@JunaidKhawaja]

+Imesli Agrawli music is by Dexter Britain, don't know the title but each of his music is beautiful! You can listen to every piece on SoundCloud

[@osqandeel]

Imesli Agrawli Listen to Blissful Ignorance by Dexter Britain #np on #SoundCloud soundcloud.com/dexterbritain/blissful-ignorance

[@zeondsouza]

Isn't he Death from Supernatural?

[@warpman345]

4:28 can somebody tell me the variation of this picture or where I can find it?

[@iamsantanubanerjee]

Not sure, but Quanta Magazine has awesome artists associated with them. I'm sure this is not copied from somewhere. You might find them on the official website (if there is an article on Dyson), or maybe nowhere else.

[@StarsManny]

LOUD MUSIC

[@youcanthandlethetruth6976]

Smartest men in the world couldn't get rockets to space. But here comes the Nazi's and the Federal Government doing what no one else can do! I think Dyson was correct in saying, all the rockets do is bomb bomb bomb.

[@howardnelritta]

Amazing man genius