Peter Woit: The Forgotten Geometry That Could Unify Physics

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

Curt Jaimungal

Physics, Philosophy, Society & Culture, Science

4.6 • 606 Ratings

🗓️ 2 September 2024

⏱️ 91 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

I personally subscribe to The Economist. TOE listeners get 35% off the annual subscription. No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOE Peter Woit (Columbia senior lecturer, *Not Even Wrong*) on GUT/string failures and a 4D spinor/Wick-rotation approach.0:00 Introduction1:31 Overview of Unification in Physics and the Standard Model5:11 Historical Development of the Standard Model and its Success7:00 Introduction to General Relativity and its Challenges9:32 Unanswered Questions in the Standard Model (SU1, SU2, SU3)13:12 Technical Issues in Quantum Field Theory and General Relativity17:24 The Rise of Grand Unified Theories (GUTs)21:07 Challenges and Failures of GUTs (Proton Decay)25:43 Abandonment of GUTs and Introduction of Supersymmetry26:45 Basics of Supersymmetry and Its Predictions31:28 Failure of Supersymmetry (No Evidence for Superpartners)32:08 Supergravity, Kaluza-Klein Theories, and Extra Dimensions35:52 String Theory and the Unification Paradigm in the 1980s39:00 Experimental Failures and the Lack of Evidence for String Theory41:00 Ongoing Pursuit of Failed Theories and Resistance to New Ideas47:09 The Shift in Attitudes Towards Unification Efforts in Physics48:13 Introduction to Peter Woit's New Ideas on Unification52:32 The Role of Four-Dimensional Geometry and Spinors in Unification58:11 Wick Rotation and Differences Between Euclidean and Minkowski Space-Time1:03:05 Technical Challenges in Wick Rotation and Quantum Field Theory1:09:01 Unique Aspects of Spinors in Euclidean vs. Minkowski Space-Time1:14:38 The Dirac Operator and its Role in Space-Time Symmetry1:18:02 Relation to Supersymmetry and the Right-Handed Nature of Space-Time1:22:04 Connection to Gravity and Loop Quantum Gravity (Ashtakar Variables)1:23:04 Outro / Support TOESPONSORS:- Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal- Crypto: https://tinyurl.com/cryptoTOE- PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE- TOE Merch: https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerchRESOURCES:- Peter Woit’s prior TOE appearance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z3JYb_g2Qs- Peter Woit, Quantum Theory and Representations: https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Theory-Groups-Representations-Introduction/dp/3319646109- Peter Woit’s Papers - https://inspirehep.net/literature?sort=mostrecent&size=25&page=1&q=a%20P.Woit.1- Peter Woit’s Blog - https://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/- Peter Woit, “Not Even Wrong”: https://amzn.to/3X8c1pS- YouTube Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join- Join TOEmail at https://www.curtjaimungal.org- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoriesofeverythingpod- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theoriesofeverything_- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt- Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802- Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e- Subreddit r/TheoriesOfEverything: https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science. FOLLOW: Substack | Spotify | YouTube | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by Shopify. With Shopify, 2026 is the year you make it happen. It gives you the tools to build your dream store, online and in person. Plus with marketing built in, it'll help you reach exactly who you need to. Join the millions who've already made the leap, like Jim Shark and all birds, and ring in the new year with Shopify.
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0:27.7	The reason we don't see any extra dimensions is that there aren't any most serious people in the subject.
0:34.9	Just stop working on the ideas that these things are failures.
0:38.7	It's all about four dimensions.
0:45.9	What if our quest for unification in physics has been fundamentally misguided?
0:53.2	Since the 1980s, string theory promised a unified framework, but after 40 years, it's failed to deliver.
0:56.3	Now, a growing number of physicists are calling for a radical rethinking of our foundations. Enter Peter White from Columbia University, who earned
1:03.0	his master's from Harvard and his PhD in particle physics from Princeton, known for his
1:07.9	incisive writings on Not Even Wrong, his textbook quantum theory
1:12.1	groups and representations, and a fresh approach to a theory of everything.
1:16.8	White isn't just pointing out flaws in mainstream fundamental physics.
1:21.0	He's proposing something disruptively new.
1:23.8	In this episode, we'll dive into the standard model, explore the problems with supersymmetry,
1:29.9	and uncover why White believes that the solution to unification lies in understanding imaginary time.
1:36.6	At the core of his approach are spinners, which researchers like Roger Penrose and Michael
1:41.4	Atia call the most mysterious objects in the world.
1:50.3	Welcome, Professor Peter White.
1:52.3	It's an honor to have you back on the podcast again.
1:55.3	It's your second round, I believe.
1:57.0	Yes, that's right. Thanks. Thanks. I'm glad to be back.
2:00.1	Today you have a talk prepared for this conference called Rethinking the Foundations of Physics and What is Unification is the theme of this year. So take it away.
	...

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