Dec 29, 2012
Lawrence Krauss joins Justin Trottier at The Star Spot to
discuss nothing, and how a universe can arise from it. Covering
Krauss' earlier book "The Physics of Star Trek," the two discuss
warp drives, time travel and transporters, and then reflect on the
likelihood of a space exploration future anywhere like that of the
Star Trek universe. Arguing that not only matter, space and time,
but the laws of physics themselves, can all be ultimately
explained, Krauss defends his assertion that the ultimate
question "Why is there something rather than nothing" properly
belongs to the realm of science, responding to critiques from
philosophers and some in the religious communities. The
conversation also focuses on quantum gravity, the anthropic
principle, and what it means about our place in the universe that
in the very long run, our universe seems to be heading back in the
direction of nothingness.
Professor Lawrence Krauss is Foundation Professor of the School of
Earth and Space Exploration and Director of the Origins Project at
Arizona State University. He grew up in Toronto and studied at
Carleton University, then received a PhD in physics at MIT. He
served on President Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign
science policy committee, and has received awards from the American
Physical Society, the American Association of Physics Teachers and
the American Institute of Physics. He is the author of a number of
books, including Hiding in the Mirror, Quantum Man: Richard
Feynman’s Life in Science, The Physics of Star Trek and A Universe
From Nothing: Why there is something rather than nothing.