Newton Medal winner (2010): Edward Witten

Dame Jocelyn Bell presents the 2010 Newton Medal to Edward Witten who gives a revealing interview to the Institute of Physics. He applied mathematical techniques to our understanding of the Universe.
www.iop.org/res...

[@snowpants2212]

"The hardest part of research is always to find a question that's big enough that it's worth answering, but little enough that you actually can answer it."

[@DR-rl2st]

Who is here after the Joe Rogan and Eric Weinstein podcast?

[@adielstephenson2929]

Pretty much everyone.

[@santoshchhetry5127]

I too got learn his name via Joe Rogan Podcast.

[@whatsupmz4204]

Me

[@mdnazmulalamreazhossain3342]

🖐️

[@daniaa.oliva-pena7338]

😂😂😂😂😂 here!

[@isakwilkinson2491]

I love how this man talks about his children and allowing them to make their own decisions but obviously pointing in the direction of science but still loud allowing them to make their own decisions that is commendable and that is completely awesome

[@Slowhobolicker]

Joe Rogan wants this guy as a guest, let's make it happen.

[@ChrisPBacon-wm8dk]

Yes! How do we make it happen?

[@iampiyushsingh7544]

Like Taleb he might not want to come

[@LinkLegend0]

Joe Rogan is highly unscientific. This guy wont want to waste his time with someone as opinated as joe. It would take weeks for joe to even understand 1% of the frontier of modern particle physics even if he tries to learn.

[@deenzmartin6695]

@@LinkLegend0 LOL idiot

[@cybermonkmusic]

@@LinkLegend0 they wouldn't talk about deep particle physics lmao.

[@woobmonkeyp3537]

One theory to rule them all One theory to find them One theory to bring them all And gravitationally bind them.

[@MiamiUFO]

The history of Science and results from Mathematical Logic strongly points to the fact that no theory of reality will be ever "complete"; a "theory of everything" is an unattainable dream and the ultimate prize of reductionism, but that dream is bound to fail and that is really very fortunate because reality will always bring new surprises to uncover/discover and the dogmatism and complacency pervading modern scientific thinking and theoretical physics in particular will be replaced by a more objective philosophical approach to reality. String theory is a very successful Mathematical theory but it is a failure as a Physics theory of reality.

[@CFLsurfr]

@@MiamiUFO The painter and the painting. There will always be a easel needed for the painting, a room for the painting to occur, a floor for the easel to sit...I assure you the people working on this theory at a fundamental level know these issues you raise. It's not going to stop them, nor should it.

[@howardleekilby7390]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@maxkanoff9682]

I want him to record a guided meditation.

[@Kevinkenodavis682]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@SpottyDorsord]

He's so concise. I can't decide whether he's prosaic or poetic.

[@cymoonrbacpro9426]

SpottyDorsord I hear something different, he discover enigmas upon enigmas, never ending questions with on conclusions!

[@iamalive2826]

definetly poetic

[@ronniehobbs6031]

If feels very asbergerish. So that makes me wonder do those that have those conditions have an advanced understanding and some are able to articulate and some are not

[@btherron5]

Deliberate, to say the least

[@nathanclarke7162]

Autistic is the word

[@qwertyzxcv123]

I understand now why his fellow physicist fear him - its because of humility and his knowledge about almost everything under the sun.

[@41_balisingh20]

He is so elegant and precise in his speech. It almost seems like he's reading from a book..

[@BenGras]

incredible, i had the exact same thought. it sounds like he's reading from text - in the good sense; in the sense that the sentences are so well prepared. not in the sense that he's reading it out emotionlessly.

[@2hedz77]

@@BenGras he could be. Is he sitting in front of a teleprompter or is this really an interview?

[@timgibsonfitness]

17:00

[@loganlee5875]

He's reciting. Not reading.

[@sherryjia0705]

I am sure he was not reading. If you compare some other videos when he had other interviews and conversations with others. @@2hedz77

[@PeSOVIN]

I am saying this with admiration and respect. he is really is half human half computer. A truly remarkable individual.

[@Helmutandmoshe]

Peter Sovinc No, not computer. Computers can never create the mathematical beauty this man has.

[@Helmutandmoshe]

You know, Kurt Godel was strongly against the notion that the human mind was something a computer could reproduce.

[@Say_When]

I close my eyes.. change... his voice slightly... And I hear Data

[@alexjbriiones]

Absolutely correct. He is probably an alien from another galaxy. This is what a future AI looks like and I am saying this with the utmost respect.

[@friendlystonepeople]

He oozes intellect and kindness, which is even more impressive.

[@amjan]

Woah, don't confuse gentleness with kindness!! He might be able to slit your mother's throat and not even blink while doing it.

[@thesergio9444]

Yes, he sounds like a good reasonable guy. Speaks softly and is quite eloquent.

[@arturperzyna5453]

Why is it a surprise?

[@sreekarguddeti9664]

the hardest part of research is asking a question worthy of being answered but not big enough that it cant be answered-- ed witten

[@kotsabas4tw]

He looks like a perfect role model for young physicists.

[@srallulrich]

He's kinda boring though

[@Spidr-Man]

​@@srallulrichLmao you expected him to be like your Instagram influencers or NDT?💀

[@srallulrich]

@@Spidr-Man Feynman, Susskind, Alexander Belavin and others (perhaps you've no idea who that last guy is) more fun to watch. Witten just seems too perfect. He is still among the greatest scientists of all time

[@mamindhive]

​@@srallulrich that's a bald statement, and quite off, considering the significant discoveries and achievements in the past few thousand years were made by hundreds of others, not him.

[@SanderBessels]

I think he was. Especially to young physicists in the 90s and early 2000s. He literally said he didn’t have doubts that string theory was on the right track. In a more recent interview (around 2020), he rightfully calls string theory “Not a complete theory, but a long term speculative enterprise we only understand certain aspects of”. That’s much more honest, but frankly speaking, he should have always described it that way. Well, if your biggest mistake in life was being too hopeful and spreading too much optimism, there are bigger sins than that ;).

[@mr.miller2828]

This guy would make a perfect bond/spy villain. The pace he talks at, the almost blank facial expressions…

[@JohannRosario1]

Absolutely!

[@whitehawk5493]

Only missing the high backed chair and a persian kitty on his lap :D

[@samuellp1146]

@@whitehawk5493 hahahaha you didn't forget the cat, nice one!

[@gangster3591]

Boundless respect for this man. Widely regarded as the greatest living physicist, Prof Witten remains as unassuming, warm and humble as he is brilliant. Imagine what humanity could accomplish if people learned to value geniuses like Witten instead of 'celebrities'

[@arsenalgam189]

Bro I am in absolute delight I used to be very interested in celebrities and more but since I started focusing on written Stephen hawking Andrew wiles well intelligent and sophisticated human geniuses I'm seen massive and apparent change in my life I concur to what you've just said I'm so happy to turn to this geo .

[@innosanto]

Greatest living physicist is Richard Penrose, he could be the second.

[@stonehaven2289]

​@@innosanto depends on who you ask... Everywhere I've searched it lists Edward Witten as the Greatest Living Physicist... He's also the only Physicist to receive the Fields Medal... That's pretty respectable...

[@penguinista]

Truly a beautiful mind! And that is the best interviewer ever.

[@Mrdenverfan01]

Great interview, Dr. Witten!

[@sayunts]

Edward Witten is known by his great contribution in the String Theory. He is the one of outstanding physical theorists today. Respect this man.

[@cymoonrbacpro9426]

sayunts He’s the lover of puzzles never ending creations of puzzles, with no answers!

[@stevenmarshall1119]

disrespect

[@RobAgrees]

Not just today... EVER!

[@paulmichaelfreedman8334]

@@RobAgrees Despite his arrogance and narcissism, Isaac Newton is considered to be the single most brilliant human being, ever. Not for his gravitation formula, but for his contributions in math. He devised a whole new way to calculate Pi much, much faster than was previously possible. This is but one of many revelations Newton brought to math. Ed Witten is on the level of Newton, but with out the arrogance and narcissism.

[@deenzmartin6695]

string theory is by and large a scam

[@mito88]

the story with his father is wonderful

[@ludwigsagan9663]

so smart and humble at the same time just amaze me

[@physicsman3788]

The only theoretical physicist has won the field medal so far. Scary

[@ASingh21112]

Wrong. Kontsevich has one.

[@LoquaciousApe]

It's fascinating that despite his rather late arrival to the theoretical physics scene, he managed to accomplish so much.

[@robhoppe9189]

He's probably the illegitimate son of Paul Dirac

[@SoundsSilver]

His dad was a physicist… he always had a background in it

[@Spidr-Man]

​@@SoundsSilverMy dad is a mechanic and never shuts his mouth about it and I know jack about cars lmao

[@lvsoad22]

@@Spidr-Man yes but if you were actually interested I’m sure you’d have a nice head start. Duhhh

[@robbie_]

What precisely has he accomplished?

[@ZidaneTribal93]

Awesome voice.

[@raffaberg521]

Best voice in universum

[@edwardjones2202]

He speaks in unbroken sentences. I couldn't hear an "err" until 11:37.

[@rammetin99]

the first err I heard was at 9:49 :)

[@edwardjones2202]

Ramtin Javanmardi You got me!

[@edwardjones2202]

Froggy Noddy Loool

[@safouanepieterse9149]

Edward Jones Another one: 3:37

[@TipoQueTocaelPiano]

+Edward Jones It's prepared and he's probably reproducing and script.

[@Spidr-Man]

3:36 - 4:00 Not only a great scientist but also a great father

[@Danzelblock]

He has a quality about him that even garden analytical thinkers lack. I think the source of his brilliant ideas are a deep creative side.

[@walterbishop3668]

He is a deep thinker in nature not by experience or practice .

[@Danzelblock]

walter bishop High intuition requiresexpertise. Of course, he has to learn the material, but he also has to have high fluency and control over variables in the course of experimental thought.. Wittens brain is likely efficient in the 'pre-analytical' process of creating, analyzing and breaking down experimental (empirical) models. Fluency in higher cognition, can to much extent be developed, but the structure of the brain determine the natural capacity(s) for intuition in different domains (some argue the density and type of glial cells, and overall connectivity of the brain). These capacities are also not the same as IQ, which is involved in analyzing/evaluating models 'after' we have constructed them.

[@TheIceman815]

this guy is the best...lucky to have him among the human race!

[@stevenmarshall1119]

the worst one

[@dudeTVofficial]

@@stevenmarshall1119 why?

[@hokkitt]

Lucky to have jews among us!

[@AyeCriz]

@@dudeTVofficial guys just miserable

[@dudeTVofficial]

@@AyeCriz how so?

[@dani61350]

i'm so proud 2 live this moment n watch this interestin man talkin about how he could made all of this . thats amazin believe me !

[@innosanto]

He is so humble that he doesnt say that he was the main actor who proved the 5 string theories to be limiting cases of one theory.

[@juliaelrod2154]

You can tell he's very proud of his kids.❤

[@SanderBessels]

I think it was super funny how at 2:05 he tried to tell a relatable story by saying: “Growing up, you know, you’re a kid and your father explains everything to you and gives you these really advanced books.” Yeah, totally relatable. 😂

[@manaoharsam4211]

He deserves the medal.

[@pzever]

what an outstanding brilliant yet humble man! there should be more people like you dr. Witten

[@sonarbangla8711]

I expected more of Witten's work , I wonder why his abstract algebra are not shown.

[@3094usmc]

He seems like such a chill dude!! Wife, kids, funny, extremely smart is almost an understatement lol. Would love to have a beer with him and talk some physics.

[@techteampxla2950]

Dont hate or judge, but today was my first day I found Prof. EdWit. I cant wait to see more!!!!

[@adamkadmon6339]

What an amazing genius. For negative comments you have to go to the bottom of the list.

[@The_Isaiahnator]

He's such a pleasure to listen to.

[@joepoe8861]

Young people need to listen on how he speaks. He thinks first then speaks. No stuttering or using the word “ like” a million times. With that said I am clueless what he is explaining but I am here because of joe Rogan. This man can also be categorized in the “ asmr “ algorithm because I am falling asleep.

[@arlieferguson7442]

Taking your kids to the Galapagos islands “partly for fun“ might be the most Science-family thing I’ve ever heard.

[@LuKiSCraft]

This guy is the smartest human alive today change my mind

[@worldsalvatony5801]

His partner? Juan Martín Maldacena?

[@guillermo9140]

Terence Tao?

[@sibbyeskie]

Decent attempts by the commenters here, except for one problem. The ones listed specialize in one domain. Witten, love him or not, he is actually an old school generalist like that of Newton, Da Vinci, Von Neumann. A whole other class of genius you’re lucky to find one of in a lifetime.

[@stevezane7920]

Chris Langan

[@frankmaitland1254]

It's weird is someone asking him questions or is he just explaining stuff

[@idkidk2459]

Great man; we need more of him.

[@skroot7975]

Average > Smart -> Intelligent > Superintelligent > Genious > Supergenious > Hypergenious > Witten

[@jamesbentonticer4706]

You do realize that what you have typed here says that Witten is less than average, right?

[@HarrySmart]

James Benton Ticer hahahahaha you got it right ;) hahaha

[@HarrySmart]

Knurte Farblekund you can't compare him to Leonardo da Vinci, Newton and Einstein cuz these were Ultra Geniuses

[@thetyler315]

There not less than symbols there arrows.

[@thenextshenanigantownandth4393]

lmao inequalities don't work like that buddy.

[@waperboy]

I'm beginning to understand why "the rest of the maths and physics community" say they're "afraid" of him. He's brilliant and accomplished, and also... He's not a Brian Greene, Jim al Khalili or Michio Kaku, who are great people-communicators, but more like "The Borg" - lay down the facts, you have to assimilate.

[@frankmaitland1254]

I'm thinking if anyone could explain economics it would be this guy.

[@ASLUHLUHC3]

2:52 What an eloquent way of putting it

[@sameertomar5099]

Biggest genius of this century

[@brendawilliams8062]

He has a remarkable soft voice.

[@worldsalvatony5801]

Juan Martín Maldacena, his coworker, also deserves acknowledgment.

[@stalkinglikecandy]

So was the point that Eric thought this dude has taken some crazy wrong turn in physics?

[@truemanc]

Its funny how he mentioned a tuning folk! .... Still....I'm glad we have people like this in the world to solve the difficult stuff.

[@noamorwell]

+truemanc *tuning fork

[@truemanc]

And help me spell ;)

[@dontwannabefound]

I am not even qualified to properly praise this fellow.

[@huking1000]

he has an unique brain and one of the best in the history no doubt about that,and i dont think the voice matters that much.And the best part is he seems a cool and nice guy,which i rate better as having an unique brain as his

[@anunusualnick8340]

Ok, lets assume the string theory is correct. But there arrives a new problem. What are these strings made of. Etc.

[@DavidThompson892]

He is very modest,For being so far ahead of everyone else in his field. Loo

[@maitiaru]

Interestingly, he is speaking as if reciting something he has memorised earlier. His pauses manifest this more acutely.

[@JohannRosario1]

*This is the guy who's siting at a keyboard responding to you when you use GPT4.*

[@dalalaljazzaf8139]

how could he move from history and linguistics? is it still possible to shift majors like that?

[@ArcadianGenesis]

You can study any undergraduate degree and apply for a graduate program in almost any different field. If the advisor likes you and thinks you have potential, they'll take you under their wing.

[@shortcutDJ]

hey i did not know Ed Witten was from Baltimore, shoutout to David Simon the best writer and tv maker in the world ever, he just like Ed are GOAT.

[@srallulrich]

All in the game yo, all in the game

[@jtcaruanafan4617]

@@srallulrich Edward Mitten for Mayor

[@aniccadance13]

Ed Witten oozes intelligence..Thanks for uploading:)

[@noamorwell]

+aniccadance13 Why, I'm sure, he'd appreciate that certificate from you, notwithstanding that he is a Physicist who won the Newton medal.

[@aryamanmishra154]

@@noamorwell and fields medal in 1990

[@willmosley3215]

If everyone loved what they did as much as he does, this world would be a paradise of passions and love instead of a zoo of human toil and struggle.

[@sibbyeskie]

2:05 you can tell that little pause and sheepishness was editing out how the student had surpassed the master (his own father). He is surprisingly humble.

[@jizim8947]

I really don't think I've seen someone this smart before...

[@cadamham]

He never says uhh or umm or

[@puffkitty007]

4:01

[@Qwerty-qy9oj]

@@puffkitty007 bruh

[@billybobobenner]

Mr Witten's manner of speech is very particular. I especially liked this excerpt at 21:58 - 22:08.

[@innosanto]

We have occassionally collaborated but not usually.

[@Mr_i_o]

did he tape this himself? #productionQuality

[@Smoothspin1]

At 9:05 he says that negative energy cannot exist. But the Janus cosmological model of Jean Pierre Petit is making a great deal of negative energy.

[@hermes5456]

I pictured his voice different in my mind.

[@rishabhaniket1952]

I really think language and articulation must be such a limitation for someone like Witten because they are not sophisticated or big enough to express his vision and thoughts.

[@innosanto]

If it was like that, he wouldnt be in love with libguistics as he says. I think he sees the beauty and great capacities of language.

[@just2share]

IMO the 'treassure', by digging into the nature of our reality, which we'll find out one day, is the most fundamental 'element', which I call 'primordial consciousness' -- it is essential for making up everything we observe in our Universe, from fundamental particles like quarks, photons, electrons, gravitons, to what we see as human consiousness (which is result of human brains being imbeded with this field of primordial consciousness).

[@GalactusOG]

Respect.

[@DstnLaPres]

I'm not sure if I should be a little concerned that 99% of the public only just now discovered who Professor Ed Witten is and only now because of Joe Rogan--A man who has about as much business talking about advanced mathematics/Quantum Physics, as Prof.Witten would have walking into Princeton today to teach a class on professional stand-up comedy... Or if I should just be thrilled that someone, anyone has attracted more attention to a crucial topic which Humanity needs to continue to attract it's top thinkers to work on? Having just now written that, I tend to believe a little of both... Godspeed all you Seekers, you Dreamers, you Thinkers Romantic, or Realist... Godspeed All ye Polymaths, You Relativists, both Beseechers and Priests of The Great Church of Reason... Shine on....

[@shieneehead1]

Was the voice of HAL in 2001: Space Odyssey modeled after him?

[@Sirchud68]

Genius

[@DD-sw1dd]

His voice is nothing like I thought it’d be. He looks like he’d have a deep voice.

[@williamtaylor5193]

His bulb is mesmerizing.

[@Stefanoitch]

What a facinating human being

[@puertoricanboy100]

Been following Mr.Witten since 2001, he is not from this world.❤

[@ohurley11]

How tall is Edward Witten?

[@davidwalker5054]

This is one of the very few monster intellects to realise the nature of the universe is beyond the limits of the human brain

[@boomelyh3llik]

i find string/m theory both compelling and baffling - as layman, i must say that i really have only enthusiasm and awe as tools for progessing my knowledge. one question i have relates to gravity... that is: if gravity is merely a distortion of the geometry of space time, then it is not a 'force' in the convention sense. since we are yet to discover graviitons, i wonder why it is treated as a force with the same characteristics as the other three known forces and there force carrying partices (for unification purposes). any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks for the upload!

[@the.amazing.spatterman]

I'm with you on that.

[@bhrisvfyapn]

+Seamus Mac All fundamental forces contribute of space curvature. for example electromagnetic forces have MUCH higher potential to warp space. as for the reason of treating gravitation as a force: in string theory all fundamental forces are just different aspects of gravity. They look separate to us because of low energy densities we live in.

[@enioprenda8074]

+Seamus Mac Nassim Haramain's The connected universe... You will find most, if not all your answers about gravity and much more. Keep an open mind. You got nothing to lose but a few hours of your time.

[@sherlockholmeslives.1605]

WOW! Why do so many people have so much knowledge in such a complex subject?! I am relieved that there are people in the world who are more intelligent than myself! I don't understand String Theory. I have tried to read the book Exploring The Earth and Moon by Patrick Moore. I did not understand Patrick's explanation of tidal effects. It had Lovely, Juicy pictures in it! I got a GCE F in Physics from school. I can not read adult intelligence level books for more than about 5 or 10 minutes without my mind losing the plot of what I am reading. I forget what I read basically immediately after I read it in adult intelligence level books. My favourite Beatles' album is Please, Please Me from 1963. I like Fish and Chips. Cheers - Mike.

[@boomelyh3llik]

I like your humility Mike... and your sense of humour too. With tools like those, I'm sure you'll go far. They are refreshing, rare and invaluable... I relate to almost all of it... apart from the most important one (as far as it's impact on the human race)... that being, 'Revolver'. I will drop the mic at this point!! Hehe. Take it easy sir

[@codeTopia379]

He looks like one of the smartest humans in history

[@erichayestv]

My IQ was raised several points just by listening to his voice.

[@LarsAndersenFrihed]

What an absolute high IQ badass. Witten FTW!

[@Scalettadom]

I should also mention that SUSY has effectively been proven to not exist at this point. The same can effectively be said for String Theory. See, for instance, Not Even Wrong by Peter Woit.

[@alimahdavi2276]

Why does he look like the scared man in Wendy's in the movie Mulholland Drive?

[@anthonywoolf580]

Elementary particles are/is due to the notion of the environment not existing uniformly or consistent but a variance in amplitude. Also a jig structured by another reality being an actual solid that is shattered giving obstruction to and shaping particles.

[@anotherboredgenius283]

"Study your math, kids... it's the key to the universe." - - Gabriel (The movie the Prophecy)

[@coolcat23]

A beautiful mind

[@tomswanton9529]

I cried when I figured out how little I know

[@mercedesmalone973]

How could he get into grad school for physics with a degree in history?????

[@Helmutandmoshe]

Mercedes Malone You demonstrate your knowledge and aptitude. His was maximal.

[@Leo-wt1cb]

But how does one do so? GREs?

[@Gabbargaamada]

Because he is unbelievably smart. He had mastered Calculus at 11. He finished a dense textbook of Electrodynamics by Jackson in a week! The same textbook takes one or two years for good students at top schools.

[@anovaancova]

@@Gabbargaamada Where did you hear about him finishing Goldstein's textbook in a week? I need a reference...

[@Gabbargaamada]

@@anovaancova I read about that in a blog post by a professor who Witten had visited for advice when he was 22-year-old history graduate. The said professor is a theoretical physicist at UMary. I have lost the link of that blog post. You could also look it up on Quora where a former professor of Witten mentions the same thing. Here I got the Quora answer where the son of the said professor has related the same incident.www.quora.com/How-did-Edward-Witten-get-accepted-for-a-PhD-in-Physics-when-he-was-a-History-major/answer/Toby-Bern I had mentioned Goldstein's textbook on Classical Mechanics which is not the case due to a mistake. Witten had finished an equally difficult textbook on Electrodynamics by David Jackson. The said textbook was completed in two semesters at my university and we skipped some parts.

[@jamesfahy3963]

The most remarkable comment is not about physics, but his logic about the Middle East.

[@dpactootle2522]

So, basically we don't know sh$t. He is very honest

[@adityasinghverma4765]

The real Mr. Robot.

[@morpher44]

this guy says "inevitable" a lot.

[@LostSockDrawer]

I only needed to hear a few sentences from this guy to know he is bounds beyond anyone spiritually.

[@Franciscasieri]

9:05 We have to assume the extra dimension in order to prove we are here and didn't blow up billions of years ago If that isn't circumstantial enough evidence of string I don't know what is Supersymetrry must exist but it may never be experimentally verifiable

[@ronniehobbs6031]

This man demonstrates the inferiority’s of my inherited genetic traits.

[@rhmcvay]

Edward Witten is a physics oracle of our time. Imagine if Einstein was on our new digital media.

[@ronniehobbs6031]

I think that is a tough one. Einstein may not have done well in todays time and vice versa. I think the universe puts people in right place at right time for our evolution

[@sirloin7633]

Einstein was a hack and a thief

[@ktw5141]

Einstein would've been canceled for having sexual relations with his cousin and secretary and none of his work would've gotten recognition.

[@TomBrady-x8c]

@@ronniehobbs6031 Fact

[@e.oul3394]

poetry