Michio Kaku: The Dark Side of Technology | Big Think

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Michio Kaku explores the dark side of technology.
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MICHIO KAKU:
Dr. Michio Kaku is the co-founder of string field theory, and is one of the most widely recognized scientists in the world today. He has written 4 New York Times Best Sellers, is the science correspondent for CBS This Morning and has hosted numerous science specials for BBC-TV, the Discovery/Science Channel. His radio show broadcasts to 100 radio stations every week. Dr. Kaku holds the Henry Semat Chair and Professorship in theoretical physics at the City College of New York (CUNY), where he has taught for over 25 years. He has also been a visiting professor at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, as well as New York University (NYU).
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TRANSCRIPT:
Question: Why are there only 11 dimensions in the universe rather than something higher? (Submitted by John Menon)
Michio Kaku: I work in something called String Theory, that’s what I do for a living. In fact, that’s my day job. I’m the co-founder of String Field Theory, one of the main branches of String Theory. The latest version of String Theory is called M-Theory, “M” for membrane. So we now realize that strings can coexist with membranes. So the subatomic particles we see in nature, the quartz, the electrons are nothing but musical notes on a tiny vibrating string.
What is physics? Physics is nothing but the laws of harmony that you can write on vibrating strings. What is chemistry? Chemistry is nothing but the melodies you can play on interacting vibrating strings. What is the universe? The universe is a symphony of vibrating strings. And then what is the mind of God that Albert Einstein eloquently wrote about for the last 30 years of his life? We now, for the first time in history have a candidate for the mind of God. It is, cosmic music resonating through 11 dimensional hyperspace.
So first of all, we are nothing but melodies. We are nothing but cosmic music played out on vibrating strings and membranes. Obeying the laws of physics, which is nothing but the laws of harmony of vibrating strings. But why 11? It turns out that if you write a theory in 15, 17, 18 dimensions, the theory is unstable. It has what are called, anomalies. It has singularities. It turns out that mathematics alone prefers the universe being 11 dimensions.
Now some people have toyed with 12 dimensions. At Harvard University, for example, some of the physicists there have shown that a 12-dimensional theory actually looks very similar to an 11-dimensional theory except it has two times, double times rather than one single time parameter. Now, what would it be like to live in a universe with double time? Well, I remember a movie with David Niven. David Niven played a pilot, who was shot down over the Pacific, but the angels made a mistake, he was not supposed to die that day. And so the angels brought him back to life and said, “Oh, sorry about that. We killed you off by accident; you were not supposed to die today.”
So in a great scene, David Niven then walks through a city where time has stopped. Everyone looks like this. And there’s David Niven just wandering around looking at all these people. That’s a world with double time. David Niven has one clock, but everyone else has a separate clock and these two clocks are perpendicular to each other. So if there’s a double time universe, you could walk right into a room, see people frozen in time, while you beat to a different clock. That’s a double time universe.
Now this is called F-Theory, “F” for father, the father of strings. It’s not known whether F-Theory will survive or not; however, M-Theory in 11 dimension is the mother of all strings. And that theory works perfectly fine. So to answer your question, in other dimensions, dimensions beyond 11, we have problems with stability, these theories are unstable, they decay back down to 11 dimensions, they have what are called anomalies, singularities, which kill an ordinary theory. So the mathematics itself forces you to 11 dimensions.
Also because this is a Theory of Everything, there’s more room in higher dimensions to put all the forces together. When you put gravity, electromagnetism and the nuclear force together, four dimensions is not big enough to accommodate all these forces. When you expand to 11 dimensions, bingo, everything forms perfectly well.

[@jmf_qf1110]

watching this in 2020 scares me

[@heinrichswanepoel1030]

yes sir

[@okkedries8577]

True wtf

[@edwardgalan8821]

@@areslucas4326 miss me with that bs

[@smileerydaybright7573]

and more to come....

[@smugless191]

Especially when philosophies like efilism exist.

[@vpower3187]

We are fucked.

[@SeekLuminousThings]

This was more or less my take on it.

[@nicolaserriquenz9905]

This is what passing from society type 0 to society type 1 means basically... if we can't disrupt this differences between each other we're doom

[@southparkundersecretwisdom3230]

99.999% of the people are too stupid to see the wild card.

[@dakotadak100]

technology will make it impossible for clear thinking people to control the effects of those who are not thinking clearly.

[@1antti]

Age of Ice you are missing couple of decimals and equation of time.

[@emiranup]

This man talked about the weaponization of viruses in 2012 and here after 8 years we literally witnessed that as covid-19 pandemic.

[@infocruiseint.-bekerjadika3441]

Thank you Mr.Michio Kaku for making science at this level so clear for all

[@JuanGabrielOyolaCardona]

Ikr

[@pattiellis8773]

Global warming is a farce. What about the Grand solar minimum? Climate change is more appropriate a catch phrase than global warming. Michio Kaku ur a very intelligent man keep bringing us this future that is inevitable.

[@mariharrik5987]

@@pattiellis8773 do you have evidence that global warming is a farce

[@fitmarcus]

Really like this guy, in addition to being in awe of his intellect and accomplishments

[@TheMrSlyxx]

I could listen to this guy talk for hours. Just an amazing mind.

[@derp8575]

He spoke of the Spanish Flu. What he didn't mention was the fact that U.S. soldiers were injected with a vaccine, and the Spanish Flu followed shortly after. Most people died from bacteria issues. It would be interesting to know the ingredients of that vaccine.

[@lilharrell100]

The information is all ready out, and some of this stuff is a 100 years away this man is very smart

[@danniliu4413]

Watching it in 2020 has a whole new feeling growing after this video.

[@jaygill5582]

And I like ya'and I want cha'

[@joeartiealbano7679]

Every time Michio Kaku gets started on space, civilization, or physics, I'm blown away on his idealistic knowledge and how his intellectual capacity never stops, constantly thinking on a superior level of I.Q.

[@Leotique]

Wait, this was recorded before the Ebola broke out in 2014 ? Also kinda relevant now since CoVid 19/Sars 2 is a pandemic almost 13 years after he wrote this book.

[@juanmagallen1784]

I like Dr. kakus talk. It's very enlightining.

[@georgijaxx1557]

One of the best books i have ever read...very insightful and interesting

[@flatisland]

I like Mr. Kaku's way of presenting new physical discoveries and theories and in this videos I see he's also a scientist who's aware of the dangers and gives us a warning, that I like, too :-) one should never forget that as long as we depend on this planet we have to protect it and all its life. And one also shouldn't forget his or her roots, so this protection extends to the whole life-time of this planet, not just as long as we need it.

[@kriscruden9616]

agree this is one awesome dude

[@anandwankhade1191]

wow!this is both amazing and scary at the same time

[@lofimusic9660]

Thx Dr.

[@reeder77]

QUIT GIVING PEOPLE IDEAS, MICHIO!!!! haha

[@ravenous_7009]

Ahhhhhh!!!!!!

[@sherriestephenssnow4154]

Scott Reeder I have already thought of these possibilities, but what is scary is if these biological weapons got in the wrong hands. I hope that never happens.

[@AaronFruman]

People can be shitty. He's not giving them ideas. He's just bringing to light the possibilities if certain tech gets in the hands of shitty people. =/ A good reason why we non-shitty people need to stand up in mass to the few shitty people. More than we already do. If we do at all. . ..

[@techitovencent6224]

Scott Reeder people can't fly

[@HIS_VF]

Do you really think someone so intelligent would be so stupid in giving away ideas Scott? He’s only stating what already is.

[@andersemil]

The "typewriter" which Dr. Kaku describes has already, in a way, been made by Dr Craig Venter and his team. Only problem is we have no idea yet what to write. But it's possible to build genes from scratch and see what happens. Awesome and frightening all at once.

[@ravenous_7009]

This makes me wonder if I even want to have children and let them live in all the chaos and strangers future. My generation is messed up but I imagine the next generations. Makes me shiver.

[@pixiebomb28]

Dont. You’ll just be dooming them to a heavily shitty future. Things are going to get ALOT worse before we see the future Michio describes.

[@luna-pc3fk]

Sineade Williams you’re smart pls explain

[@gerrardjones28]

Dont worry if you have children they will have a better life than everyone before them.

[@derp8575]

@@luna-pc3fk "By 2030 you'll own nothing and you'll be happy" - The World Economic Forum. Also UN Agenda 2030. The goal is depopulation and enslavement of the rest, so long as they are useful.

[@mattstephentabamocosmic]

How about take a look at the opposite? Have children then teach them things that can be helpful to the world, so they can be part of the positive movers of the world, educate them, lead them, enlighten them, it will be a win win situation, you created an awesome children and do your part as a parent and your children contributed to the world.

[@ReceiverJake]

That made me lol props to you man, good shit

[@dephness8341]

personaly, and this may be nieve i think we are more like 'the ancients' pictured in stargate. the first intelligent life before all others, and its our job to seed life on other planets when we get there. IF we get there.

[@deletedgamer111]

Dephness have a thumbs up, just because STARGATE 😍😍😍

[@samusaran181818]

Would the downside of technology also include the development of technologies that gain considerable profits? For example, improving cell phones over finding cures for diseases

[@filipgustaf]

Quite interesting video.

[@TheBigbadugly1]

he is so straight forward

[@danielmanyol3971]

Well this video is relevant now with this corona madness

[@txblue33]

Leave it to humans to create something that would one day be our demise. Thank you Professor Kaku for putting things in simplest terms.

[@RiKa545]

i know right? i absolutely love that person! he is talking about everything using so simple words and explanations! i wish my physics teacher would do that ,maybe then i would like to pay attention

[@qayomjalali6626]

he is geniuse guy i loved to see all his video .

[@haykyepremyan2818]

Victor don't argue with this genius scientist please.

[@victorpond6222]

LOL....thanks...just trying to rattle his belief system a bit!

[@mihapavsic5842]

If we want to continue the human race, then we have to believe in better future of our world, regardless to dark side of the present and up-coming technologies.

[@nunisthathigh4825]

There's a dark side to everything, there is no better future save for extinction. And even then, that would have to be the extinction of everything, the whole universe. Which is, admittedly, highly unlikely.

[@Dyemare]

How to cause genocide, featuring Michi Kaku.

[@ventureelect]

Dyemare That is all we need is this idiot to give the muslims to use.

[@Handsx]

ventureelect this guy isnt giving away anything. honestly he is "physics for dummies" most of the time. to actually perfect the theories he talks about, would require vast amounts of research and money. so saying anyone could make it is, "theoretically possible" but not exactly "feasible". a mind free of ego can do anything within its given resources.

[@asaduzzamanbiplob4902]

I'm from Bangladesh. It's one of the never ending struggling land. What can we do about the future instead of leaving the country?!? You are the genius Mr. Michio kaku, I am one of your biggest admirer and we feel proud of you, your words really inspires us. Please give us some solutions instead of scaring only.

[@theodorewarthen6061]

well that's terrifying

[@fredrikriise5904]

When he said "dark side" there at the end, it was like looking at master Yoda.

[@TheMilkshaek]

I love this man. I love watching him speak.

[@medtttmed9848]

You are just great.

[@briantunzi3535]

Your The one smartest person I Can think of !

[@zytolen5356]

@Valerie O'Brien i like you're name, srsly

[@TheRatchetcitygoon]

This some real nigga shit

[@rougie8569]

omgg

[@colorchanginchev]

courtney wallace true

I just ordered your book

[@profanelogistics]

Good point on lasers, never thought about them that way b4.

[@2-old-Forthischet]

We are our worst enemy.

[@screengames5307]

Ugly as sin? What does sin look like? Does sin even exist?

[@TheBelldiver]

It's not; we. We have enough sense it's the morons following corporate policy for their food housing, boat, cars...

[@anhbayar11]

@@screengames5307 Stop it, Get some help......

[@moelopez270]

But I’m not evil 😥

[@Mursilia]

Uhg, even though i love all these cientific developments (i fucking love my pc, the internet, wikipedia, google, all the good medicine and video games), it actually frightens me what can also be done with it in the hands of some people who think they can create a new world from scrap; or to modify humans as they please.

[@Neosaigo]

Science is not at fault, since science only makes things possible, it doesn't determine what happen after. If people end up using technology to kill each other and do harm, then the responsibility is with humanity, or the lack thereof.

[@GoodScienceForYou]

Neosaigo Tell that shit to Einstein who spent his last years destroying science with fake theories in order to keep humans from every using his work again to kill on a massive level. If you don't know that most all of Einsteins later works were dedicated to destroying all functional science, then you don't know Einstein.

[@starmoguilll]

Neosaigo You have a very good point but you cant say that it starts with the creation and then use of the technology, etc. The responsibility starts at the science, saying I know I am able to do/make this, but that doesn't mean I should. The question never comes down to will my advances be used for "evil" but when, the true responsibility lies on those who gave the option for such things to happen!

[@GoodScienceForYou]

starmoguilll evolutionsciencenow.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-is-human-sin-and-where-is-it.html evolutionsciencenow.blogspot.com/2014/04/absolute-morality-what-is-it-by-james.html

[@Tastyelectro]

I feel you bro....

[@superbreastman]

Michio is great. A truth teller and a sage guy as well as a very clever physicist... I like this guy!

[@a0kenshin806]

ffs looks like someone in china heard you my guy.

[@heinrichswanepoel1030]

lol facts

[@wecantcontroltime]

Well boomer

[@SuperQazwsx21]

Uncle Kaku has been smoking the good stuff I sent him in the mail.

[@Slowmotion650]

Thank you for making my night

[@ethanatkinson5293]

That burger king ad was pretty awesome

[@sirrussii]

Right, i will start right away

[@harshilpatel2104]

Anyone watching during Quarantine? Lol

[@ANCIENTWARRI0R]

Good thing I've played Fallout 4, now I'm ready.

[@obamajoker7166]

Sorry but power armour and vault tech doesnt exist, you're fucked

[@dudik5299]

also you can't just level up and raise your attributes :>

[@aloysius260500]

Yet

[@GuitarGaming345]

radaway and radx and u got nothing to worry abt

[@TanitAkavirius]

I agree with that. My point was just to say that you can be happy without a vast amount of stuff.

[@HolyAwe10]

Maximum respect for this man,i want him to be my teacher! Simply everything he said sounds interesting

[@lootaboxi]

Well I think I will be dead before shit hits the fan.

[@TheSilenced]

If you stay alive for the next 15-20 years you will see the end of the world as we know it.. I promise

[@lootaboxi]

well atleast I have something to wait for.

[@gabrielmontreuil]

TheSilenced Please Let it be Zombies! "Cross Fingers" lol

[@silentk59]

TheSilenced You are aware people have been saying that for 10,000 years right? The Doomsayers are as old as the Earth itself, mankind will continue to be around for quite some time, simply because were so adaptive. How much longer and to what degree/life quality is unknown, but we will be here for some time. And the Earth will be here for much longer beyond us, its just taking out the trash right now.

[@howardbridge3141]

TheSilenced well it’s been 5 years and we are no closer to the end of the world

[@lalaland4961]

Who is here in 2020? 😱

[@so_es]

7 years later and you are right again

[@erikstigter7897]

don't worry, it's not the way I look at the world.. I agree with you on getting along with everyone, would be nice to get everybody educated enough to see we all are and want the same.

[@Alwo8]

Which one is the odd one out? A) PhD in Mathematical Biology B) PhD in Theoretical Physics C) PhD in Applied Mathematics D) Large Pepperoni Pizza E) PhD in Statisics Answer: (B) All the others can feed a family.

[@MrSpankee02]

Alec Wong v

[@mjsharif2]

Lol, the only noteworthy comment on Kaku I've seen to date.

[@mjsharif2]

....and it's only noteworthy because it's funny. Kaku is a successful author and professor... he feeds his family just fine. He is one of the best in his field today. This is a remarkable time in human history, filled with many brilliant scientists, visionaries, and entrepreneurs, but somehow I've found my way to Kaku's work... and I didn't even study physics (But his brilliant mind has inspired me to possibly do so.)

[@sharkfacemlg]

Wouldnt the advancement of technology also combat the effectiveness of such weapons?

[@ManyDog]

That only depends on who acts firsts. The people who want to destroy, and the ones who will create.

[@MrvoidPasta]

Ah clever. You are absolutely right. Surely government and scientists would see a unpredicted consequence to such developments. So what is the logical thing to do? Make a solution! You see, when people abuse new tech for their own selfish deviancy, they are considered outliers; as an outlier, they would not be considered as the prime result from the development of new tech. So they are unintended results, just like when the computers were invented, it was intended to help people. However, some people use it to hack. And how did the combat malicious hacking? With other hackers of coarse. You fight fire with fire. So, like doctors make antidotes to viruses using part of the virus! Tech developers must make an "antidote" to counteract the outliers.

[@davidsamuels1954]

The advancement of technology has not solve the danger of the atomic bomb. And all the bad guys know this or have no possible way of doing it.

[@beanhunter4647]

ya but then I think it would be a thing like if they are trying to take over a territory with mechs with no humans they should warn the citizens to pack up their stuff and go so it could be a mech battle with no lives being risked I find that smart but its never gonna happend.

[@feelthepony]

all that can be solved by a team of meta-humans.

[@EasyAl51]

Right on Technic6. On all your comments

[@DHGameStudios]

Hey BT, what do you think of Ray Kurzweil's theories about the future?

[@EpicNutez]

9000+ videos O-O

[@OttoVonGarfield]

so that's how Michio knows so much... He uses a scouter!

[@patricklowell6612]

The Venus Project

[@zunaidraoha8722]

As a Bangladeshi it breaks my heart!

[@Soytu19]

Seems like you are actually giving ideas for making new weapons.

[@todayisthedaytolive]

If people were conscious enough there there wouldn't be a dark side....

[@KristianKumpula]

That's a pretty big if

[@todayisthedaytolive]

Maybe in 100 years???

[@Tarikan5]

The brighter the light, the darker the shadow.

[@burakcimenli]

Well said!

[@usmcmanatee2591]

Can't have light without darkness and vice versa.

[@bentyreman5769]

he's supposed to be a top academic and yet doesn't even challenge the government funded evidence that says global warming is real LOL the irony of that is quite sickening

[@abduxcooper4089]

ahhhh, i see stupidity is alive and well

[@3lpancho657]

Can you explain how its like a typeboard?

[@Ugenetic]

how do you make sure the paragraph you wrote is going to be switched on at the right time?

[@1legninja]

Well now that im scared out of my mind, time to go watch cat videos.

[@Offroadcircus]

Bongoladesh

[@Rocky-me5cw]

That's humiliating.

[@bluenomadbruh]

I always think about the dangers of technology. I wish more people could see them to start thinking of how on avoid it.

[@The1mulc1]

Also might take into the acount the ice in the sea if you do that you realise if the watter in see whould also melt watter level whould be reduced !

[@ahmaddanishahmad3429]

he's actually giving ideas for future terrorists to develop their biochemical weapons lmao

[@kimpozon1]

+Ahmad Danish yeah indeed but read the title , we should be aware of it ! and he wants the government to prepare for worst because its true , even without kakku still people will have this idea of being curious . like the hackers , they wonder how it works until they figure it out how to hack .. get it son ?

[@danishahmad7889]

+khimpot xD of course,we are always aware of terrorism,but it keeps going man,you can never predict those fucking IS. peace👌

[@vedadusaklgil9674]

these ideas are nothing new, even i had thought making a virus when i first learned about viruses in school. Surely they will become easily programmable and producible things in near future.

[@raymondstemmer2051]

I'm sure this ideas aren't a secret !

[@Corpvane]

this guy is bringing people on ideas..

[@realrururu]

What a nice tie.

[@morrigan7454]

Why this videos get dislikes? how?

[@tiago198833]

you gotta press the thumbs down Button.

[@alexlol2428]

+Morgan Devine It's the internet

[@gerardotellez2907]

It's funny when I think about it, one of the main things that interested me in biochemistry was Resident Evil. I day dreamed about Regenerators (from Resident Evil 4) and even thought up of my own creations xD. I miss my childhood :(

[@zeldahotterthenyou]

This gave me ideas -Dr. Evil

[@grouchypus]

X'D that made my day man!

[@10kanojias]

this guy is freaking AWESOME!!!!

[@overthehills_faraway8320]

Nice tie.

[@melissawright9893]

He is sooooooooooooooooooooooooo awesome

[@jackieparrott74]

Looks like the first theory is happening

[@MingoKaza]

It all depends on what you perceive as smart, I can't say he is "smart" although I love his ability to look deeper into subjects and notions.

[@LobotomyTC]

Do you drive a Subaru Outback or Forester?

[@zeromailss]

Nice Tie

[@gyptice]

With the rise of these technologies must also come a countermeasure to the things that they open the doors to simultaneously.

[@The1mulc1]

First of all sorry for my bad eng. i get it wrong sometimes cus i write fast and dont check .p. "there aint that much of it" was refering to the land ice that whould actualy effect sea lvl. There is large amount of that 70 % ice that whouldn t efect sea lvl at all. And i know we are trying to solve this issue right now but what i was saying eaven if we fail we have other extreme methods that can be used if things get out of control.

[@Proskillz21]

I was talking about being able to type and print DNA sequences

[@MatthewBorn88]

Well, this video is filled with nightmares, thank you Dr. Kaku

[@johns9350]

The Dr. has amazing foresight. Putting advanced technology into the hands of a Great Ape that acquired the adaptation of cooperation by successfully killing off or otherwise eliminating other groups is arguably the biggest problem.

[@Zarrov]

Kaku was talking about profileration of weapons. But the real question is: is there any kind of technology that is in its essence benign but can cause only harm?

[@captain687]

Nice tie

[@ArmisVideo]

Armis is a strategy game designed to provide a fast brain workout Here are some benefits of playing Armis * Armis develops critical thinking skills, and provokes logical thinking * Armis builds self-esteem, and inspires you to be inventive * Armis spurs you to plan for and attain success * Armis emboldens you to learn and understand complex matters easier and faster * Armis boosts will-power * Armis sharpens your analytic and cognitive mind * Armis triggers post-traumatic growth

[@JCSolis_Lit]

I agree with Mr. Kaku. People have the power and tech. to do great things, good or bad. I can create a robot, for example: Rosie the Robot from The Jetsons or Terminator.

[@TheErkTube]

I LOVE THIS CHANNEL, I LOVE INTERNET PPL, AND I LOVE THIS COMENT SECTIOS.

[@Andystuff800]

Fair enough, I have my fair share of typos and errors, myself. But if we don't correct each other, no one will learn. What extreme methods do we have that can fix it?

[@612southsidezay]

Where can i get his back at?

[@MartinezNCHeels]

I have no doubt... especially rn

[@mistermeatyoaker8428]

right on i live by uranium city! thanks Michio!