Mindscape Ask Me Anything, Sean Carroll | June 2021

Patreon: / seanmcarroll
Blog post with audio player, show notes, and transcript: www.preposterousuniverse.com/...
Welcome to the June 2021 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by Patreon supporters (who are also the ones asking the questions). I take the large number of questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable size - based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the questions themselves are good - and sometimes group them together if they are about a similar topic. Enjoy!
Mindscape Podcast playlist: • Mindscape Podcast
#podcast #ideas #science #philosophy #culture

[@the_neutral_container]

The "general implausibility of aliens coming here and their inabiliy to hide themselves"-angle seems to be based on two assumptions I find kind of weird/contradictory: - that they‘d somehow be advanced enough to come here, but not advanced enough to have a clue what they‘re doing; - that they'd even care enough to _try_ to hide (as opposed to just appear and disappear as a function of their tech). My two Galactic Credits.

[@kcinkg]

Sean has the best cadence on KZbin ‼️👨🏽‍💻

[@bepowerification]

Oh man. So much knowledge available for free in an awesome format. The internet is an incredible thing even if its mostly facebook, instagram and tiktok.

[@joeflosion]

great profile pic, you actually got me!

[@bepowerification]

@@joeflosion I am glad I got you but 8 months later relistening to this I am still amazed this is available for everyone for free. This is awesome and this is what the internet was created to do for people. Despite the fact its mostly commercial and stupid bull... right now. This channel should have at least 10 million subs.

[@emilydavid3104]

Great content as always thank you!

[@althomas6045]

1:20:34 this question and answer just delightfully, randomly made location/velocity measurement issues very much more clear to me. not surprising though as delightful and random and informative are sean's middle names.

[@richardbrucebaxter]

1:31:30 (the ship of Theseus) - the question is what separates/distinguishes one subjective point of view from another (subjective experience at physical replica #1 vs physical replica #2). See for example; "One self: The logic of experience" (Arnold Zuboff).

[@JohnBaker821]

I have been wondering what happens at the end of branching for a long time. I'm glad someone asked that. I never considered maximum entropy, I was picturing frozen worlds lol

[@sirilandgren]

You know why the AMA:s are better than your regular episodes? Because they're longer.

[@jps0117]

I always look forward to Sean Carroll and the opportunity he gives me to expand my understanding of many things (even though I'm not a many-worldser).

[@Rattus-Norvegicus]

Thank "God" you posted, you just saved the night. 😁

[@Rattus-Norvegicus]

@@HEXiT_ shut up.

[@rusty1here]

Question: My understanding of the best description on how the material world that we perceive arises from the underlying quantum fields is through a lexicographical matrix to what we call reality. First, is this roughly correct? Second, is a lexicographical matrix in essence, a game theory matrix? Lastly, if these are both yeses, I have a thought experiment for you. What would happen if the Nash Equilibrium we enjoy in our current orbit around the Son was suddenly moved out beyond Pluto's orbit and why? Hints: Nash Equilibrium = “negotiated peace” and what is in the middle of selflessness and selfishness? Thanks for indulging me.

[@hmp01]

hey, Sean love your content, and thanks! you should definitely switch to Ableton Live for all your audio because when I heard you are using audacity ngl I got shaken up a little.

[@paulc96]

Thanks Professor Sean. Great - as always.

[@jaxtonjase7189]

I realize it's kinda off topic but does anybody know of a good place to stream newly released series online?

[@jeromemoshe8653]

@Jaxton Jase try Flixzone. Just google for it :)

[@shanegrayson2507]

@Jerome Moshe Yup, been using FlixZone for since april myself :)

[@jaxtonjase7189]

@Jerome Moshe Thank you, signed up and it seems to work :D I really appreciate it!!

[@jeromemoshe8653]

@Jaxton Jase no problem xD

[@js-bf6nh]

Thanks

[@JCChavz]

Thanks for doing these, Sean. You really are doing the world a great service.

[@emmz6703]

Great Video

[@napben8933]

May I ask the following question ; if objects in space are not moving but Space itself is stretching then what happens at the Planck scale level .......

[@prashantchauhan6990]

Really good questions and more interesting answers.. thanks for such a great content!

[@mrt.7146]

Would be awesome if Alan White from Yes asked questions on Mindscape 🥳

[@MrMrdazzab]

Love your content. You have been my entryway into the world of physics. Q? Stephen Wolfram or Johnathan Gorard on your show? Would love to hear your thoughts on their theories.

[@dwayneduval6785]

These AMA are excellent!

[@winstonalaneme7610]

Yay, another AMA!

[@ezgz4737]

Have to v ovooooyyccppp. P pcp poop oolgggggctcc tttttttctcttt tccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc

[@ezgz4737]

You know how people feel to me you

[@ezgz4737]

Ppp. V you ihave vv

[@ezgz4737]

Vvcggvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv v right to be honest and you are a very welcome love love baby baby doll doll and happy mother’s birthday to

[@AndriiMuliar]

My family has a tradition: procreate like crazy. I already have about 20 nephews. True utilitarian morality.

[@kevinwoods9274]

Irony?

[@mitchkahle314]

Simple Question: Could gravity be an effect of the displacement of space/time by matter? ie, the greater the quantity/density of matter assembled, the greater or stronger the effect we call "gravity." A very dense or large neutron star will "displace" more space than a smaller or less dense object, thus less "gravitational" effect. Anyway, just an idea from the bath tub.

[@origins7298]

If you change the word displace with curvature , this is exactly what general relativity says. Gravity is the curvature of space and time created by the amount of matter and energy in a particular region. But general relativity has limitations when it comes to understanding black holes and the beginnings of the universe so there is a search for a more comprehensive theory of gravity. But anyway your idea is basically just what general relativity predicts but you're using a different term of displacement instead of the curvature of space and time

[@mikebrant4615]

I am pleased to hear a Yes reference nice musical taste

[@antoniomonteiro3698]

2:52:46 I asked this question several years ago to the "‎Quirks and Quarks" radio show. As I remember they replied to the email basically saying: "you ignorant fool! just google relativity" :)

[@viewer3091]

Does the fact that things become smaller when moving at near the speed of light have any affect on their “ Time “ ? Would this make their clock smaller and there-fore the duration of their second ( time ) shorter ?

[@origins7298]

It depends, when you compare the geometry of space and time between a fast-moving and a slow-moving Observer. Yes you will see a radical difference in the spatial and temporal geometry in comparison. But it's only when you compare them to each other not within each Realm Things get contracted when viewed from observers who are not moving fast in relationship. But for those who are moving fast there is no change in spatial dimensions, at least in terms of all the things on the ship that are moving fast do not get contracted. They only get contracted when you compare them to objects that are not moving at great speed Anyway as Sean says a second is still a second no matter what your speed is. It's just when you compare it to things that are moving much slower is there a difference. It's better just to think of it as a curvature of space and time. So just like you can get to the same point by traveling either through a big curve or through a straight line. You can also get to the same temporal Point by traveling through a straight path or through a big curve of time. People who speed up are traveling to the same temporal location much more directly than people who are at a slow comparable speed

[@origins7298]

Also there is a contraction along certain spatial dimensions. But overall mass increases proportionally as speed increases. So people traveling fast are actually getting much more massive So if anything it's the exact opposite. Their clocks would be much larger and that's why time would be slowing down in relationship. The people who are moving slower we have much smaller clocks and they would experience time at a faster rate But again it's only if you could compare things which would be very difficult at greatly different speeds. The only thing you can do is compare when you arrived at the same location in space and time. The slow-moving people will experience much more time has elapsed. While the fast-moving people will experience much less time and we'll be much younger in relationship.

[@viewer3091]

@@origins7298 Thanks.

[@viewer3091]

@@origins7298 Thanks.

[@scytale2242]

1:32:00 Where there is history, there no longer is identity. Or may be the opposite ? Also, would the "many worlds" be embedded inside a "super Universe" ?

[@Stadtpark90]

1:31:14 „There’s one of me, there’s two of me... - you never outfox the fox“ (Danny Kaye in The Court Jester)

[@Stadtpark90]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZvahXqFZsh1ocU

[@andrewluckless]

at 37:44 Sean Carroll comes out in support of astrology 😂

[@DiegoRodriguez-vx6ys]

grande Sean!!!

[@benjaminjiin8432]

42:00 Concerning democracy and weighted votes based on contribution to budget: The weighted vote is a good idea. I would call it a vote vs opinion. If i know nothing about programming and computer science and a vote on net neutrality comes up, should I have a vote or an opinion. I understand that I should only have an opinion. But every single programmer (see W2) and graduate with a degree in computer science (see reputable university/college degree) should have a vote. So an informed vote vs opinion. I think we need to begin to create a direct, informed, restrained, smart democratic system with a gradient vote/opinion. If say 60% of the opinion or actual vote is against than the vote or weighted vote the vote would be vetoed. Restrained meaning a bill of rights. Smart being narrow AI managed. Direct being some kind of decentralized block chain enabled direct democracy, with the obvious above mentioned points. Gradient vote/opinion being: • I love this • sounds good • good • needs work • I see problem(s) • no • hell no • over my dead body • need more information • irrelevant • no confidence A process such as this would give a much more accurate picture of a population.

[@Caleb-zu1pk]

Wish more teachers were like you!

[@thewaythingsare8158]

Does anybody know where all the new space is coming from to fill the expanding universe?

[@crunchy3546]

Nope. You should ask him though

[@Lance_Lough]

C'mon Sean. Popper's philosophy stresses error correction as primary.. And by the conjecture/critique criteria, only the conjecture-if found in error-would be discarded, not the entire theory.

[@StuftBanana]

A chile releno belongs bathed in a green sauce-do an experiment: have one chile releno in a red sauce and one in a green sauce. I predict that your buds will find that green reigns on the releno. 😬 🍻

[@StuftBanana]

Great show, btw.

[@bolbelikan1583]

What's a podcast? Is he referencing these KZbin videos?

[@1isten2me]

Hi Sean, I think you missed the central point of the first priority question. What happens to a photon traveling towards us from a distance far away so that the stretching of space time is faster than the speed of light? Does it “hang” out there forever or does it annihilate at some point?

[@origins7298]

A photon will do whatever it does. It is not affected locally, in any noticeable way by the expansion of the universe It is simply that if the expansion of the universe is greater than the speed of light in relation to some Faraway distance, then all of that part of the universe is simply Beyond observation and the light will never reach us The photon will just travel through the universe exactly as it would have anyway local effects will not be any different

[@1isten2me]

Thanks Chris, so if the photon leaves a star in a region where the stretching is just above the speed of light, and after a few years it enters a region with a stretching below the speed of light. Then I suppose the photon will get to us? However from a red shifting point of view the frequency goes to zero before it arrives.

[@origins7298]

@@1isten2me are you a physics student? I'm curious about your level of training in this area of physics? Anyway we can only talk meaningfully about what photons or information can actually reach us, or is observable! Light from areas of the universe that are receding from us faster than the speed of light will never reach areas of the universe that are within our light cone They are expanding away from us faster than the speed of light, they can never reach areas that are not expanding faster than the speed of light At least according to general relativity and according to our light cone and perspective of space and time.

[@1isten2me]

@Chris P, thanks again. I think that you are right, I just don’t understand why a star in the faster than light region also has a faster than speed of light relative to the visible sub speed of light region. I have training in math and engineering, but not in physics, so this may be a motivation to dig into the math details of general relativity :-)

[@rohanjagdale97]

No matter how you (all humans) struggle., We can't beat nature. Nature is science., science is nature. We humans tiny part of it.

[@rohanjagdale97]

@GRUMMLER Yes 😊. But some research and human activities goes wrong ways and harm nature 😕

[@jephiedane2645]

Nice

[@wenqiweiabcd]

You're married to someone with a black belt in Brazillian jiu-jitsu?!🤯

[@HarryNicNicholas]

have you ever been tempted to commandeer a remote island and become a mad scientist? i've just been made redundant as a henchman.

[@SpaceExplorer]

hi Shawn

[@CarolaAdolf]

question…. If the universe is expanding why are Andromeda and Milkyway expected to collide eventually??

[@origins7298]

Oh I don't know maybe gravity wins out in the short-term , but the expansion wins out in the long term. I mean the universe is expanding and yet gravity is keeping our solar system and our galaxy together. So I imagine over small-scale it might win out and pull some galaxies together

[@mr51406]

2:58:08 Parallax Nick did an excellent video about the issue of “Is Planet 9 a black hole?” on his channel in his wonderful “Planet X” series. I hope Sean is a fan of that channel, or he should be. Nick is a wonderful raconteur and he deserves MANY more subscribers. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2KrfqB6bsxki5Y Otherwise thanks for being there, Sean. Listening to you helps ground me and it makes my life better. 🌟

[@jamesreilly7684]

As much as I genuinely love listening to the Walter Cronkite voice of physics and in general enjoy his analysis of most topics, his comments about Bayesian analysis of UFOs has framed the question in a self-evidently narrow and easily dismissable fashion. His argument could be applied to the early days of relativity or to evidence of black holes or any number of topics. The issue that he sidesteps is the human witness accounts that have taken place over many years. Are they all so easily dismissible? Hmmm. Even though his bias clearly is to dismiss UFOs as not credible he would be much more credible if he first attempted to make the best possible argument for these phenomena. Frankly, I would really enjoy his advocating for the most interesting explanations for UFOs. It is not that he is wrong or right about UFOs that I have an issue with. Instead, it is the same "Too many notes" type dismissiveness that Niel De Grass Tyson and other: 'no longer a scientist but play one on TV' spokesmodels proffer. I would guess that if Richard Feynmann were alive he would relish the opportunity to create thought experiments related to the new evidence for UFOs. His particular willingness to buck the tide helped us greatly in the space shuttle disaster investigation. On the other hand, I really cannot see Professor Carroll playing the bongos and being the life of a party.

[@hokiturmix]

People went Qbomb crazy when Sam Harris done that podcast with Ben Shapiro.

[@dougmarkham]

It's a shame scientists aren't more open with their criticism in general. I wonder why people say what they say in public sometimes. What I heard you say (paraphrasing) was that you are not an expert in CMB analysis (fair enough, not many are), but that other experts don't find evidence that Penrose's collaborators found. As they are the experts, you will go with the majority. Why cede to their agency and spread their veiled criticisms if you don't fully understand? Can't the CMB people explain themselves? Is it too complex for them to articulate to anyone not in their field? In a recent KZbin upload, Penrose himself said both he and collaborators had not received much explicit feedback from the CMB community. Have these CMB experts published content precisely explaining their criticisms in a way that can be understood and questioned publicly? I recall Feynman once said something like: if you can't explain something in laymen terms, then you probably don't understand well enough. Why don't the CMB experts come onto shows like Mindscape and explain in full how their evaluations were different and why their methods are better. Then we would know more about the field, which would help drive up interest in the CMB area. Don't get me wrong, I like your content and much appreciate your contributions. I don't expect you to be a perfect person or anything lol. Perhaps I am being unreasonable or rash by bringing this up... It bugs me that we humans spread critical comments (without the informed rationale) from others without full understanding.

[@skepticalbadger]

I don't think "opaque" means what you think.

[@dougmarkham]

@@skepticalbadger Thank you, I missed that!

[@HarryNicNicholas]

can we do something about this phrase "do you believe in" as in "do you believe in god" or "do you believe in aliens" it is a silly way to pose the question, the ONLY thing i can "believe in" is ME. do i think god exists? no, do i think aliens exist, perhaps. but do i believe in, what does that mean???? no one says "do you believe in icebergs" no one says "do you believe in atomic bombs" it strikes me when people ask "do you believe in _____?" they mean "can you tell me what to believe"

[@julabernier3915]

3

[@ffmaniac]

myeah... the God argument that a God... or better said... a Creator, would make himself "visible" to his creations ... hmm that's just a presumption with the same "weight" as its counter-presumption.... first of all you must know the reason, if there is a reason behind the creations, so if a reason exists then maybe the Creator has a reason to stay hidden or may have a reason to make himself visible, who knows, but you can't just say it's certainly one way.

[@ffmaniac]

or maybe the Creator does not have a reason, maybe it was just pure Chaotic choice, the reason for creating does not exist in the most pure sense, even then, does not make sense to go certainly with just 1 theory (the one you said in the video).

[@julabernier3915]

2

[@julabernier3915]

COIN

[@Krypto_Knite]

Bit snobby, your comment about other youtubers I thought. Ability to communicate well is a big factor. How Do you know when a Scientist is outgoing? They look at Your shoes when talking to You.

[@julabernier3915]

1

[@ccarson]

All those that don't win the lottery put their head in Max Tegmark's suicide machine. All Sean Carrolls end up rich.

[@ShaRMz6g]

It’s been safe to go on planes Sean have you not been following the science

[@origins7298]

Maybe, but that's assuming everybody follows the rules. And the Plains Equipment is up to standards. And that doesn't take into account all the tons of people you have to interact with to get on the plane. And then all the people you have to interact with during the rest of your travels. So I can kind of see his basic idea to be safe than sorry.

[@lainas3603]

It’s the sexiest thing I’ve heard when Sean says “let’s go”

[@Lance_Lough]

category error?

[@linuxbest239]

no vaccine for me in Australia i'm 39 , still waiting for a chance to get it

[@julabernier3915]

💀

[@johndaly6732]

1:14:55 I wonder if Sean is talking about Eric Weinstein. He's had run-ins with him in the past. Although, Weinstein is sorta similar to Julian Barbour who Sean seems to take seriously.

[@youaremopped]

Love you Sean, but your position on UFOs and extraterrestrials is not likely to age well. 👽

[@Rattus-Norvegicus]

Yeah but any religious person could say the exact same thing so...

[@frankiethefish73]

It amazes me how very smart people are thinking about the UFO phenomenon with a very superficial human based logic. When Sean says it doesn't make sense that aliens would behave this way, he is basing it on his human level perspective. The motives and ways of thinking of an advanced alien intelligence may be completely incomprehensible to us.

[@twonumber22]

What are you hiding then? You got ET in your closet or something? Alf? Joking aside, if the ET's ever actually show up, I think either everyone will notice or no one will. What we've seen so far look an awful lot like human activities.

[@guinevere4365]

@@frankiethefish73 l

[@guinevere4365]

Yes agree. Just watch a few episodes of Super Soldiers/James Rink, or read the books of Penny Kelly. So many ETs look humanoid, and they are here to help us during this time of our ascension into the galactic community now that we have overcome the dark forces that have controlled earth for millennia. Sean is as yet stuck in the old paradigm as are many. He will awake when he is ready. So odd to hear how stuck he is. It unfortunately makes him sound pretty ridiculous.

[@markdevaney4594]

Somebody monitors these. If I were to pose an interesting, or intriguing enough question to Sean, I wonder would it get passed on?...Too poor and uneducated for patreon! ;P

[@MaxUgly]

You're not alone!

[@fultzjap]

When he said a buck a week is sufficient, I think I finally just caved in. I'm gonna pay this dude to keep me company while I mow the grass.

[@Acezx15]

"I don't know 'exactly' what she said about it but I disagree" lmao what? That's Sean Carroll for ya everybody.

[@GEAsolar]

Can a photon get blue-shifted? Amazing.

[@rudolfst3367]

People should interfere with procreation. You should need a licence for it, to prove you are fit to be a parent. Those who do it anyway, get a fine and kids taken away. Second offence - sterilization.

[@servety8472]

draft science youtube channel explains better