Putting Einstein to the TEST: Jim Gates (#293)

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

Brian Keating

Science, Physics, Natural Sciences

4.7 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 31 January 2023

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

#einstein #relativity #gravity In 1911, a relatively unknown physicist named Albert Einstein published his preliminary theory of gravity. But it hadn't been tested. To do that, he needed a photograph of starlight as it passed the sun during a total solar eclipse. So began a nearly decade-long quest by seven determined astronomers from observatories in four countries, who traveled the world during five eclipses to capture the elusive sight. Over the years, they faced thunderstorms, the ravages of a world war, lost equipment, and local superstitions. Finally, in May of 1919, British expeditions to northern Brazil and the island of Príncipe managed to photograph the stars, confirming Einstein's theory. Sylvester James (Jim) Gates Jr. is an American theoretical physicist. He currently holds the Clark Leadership Chair in Science with the physics department at the University of Maryland College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences. He is also affiliated with the University Maryland's School of Public Policy. He served on former President Barack Obama's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. An excerpt from his book, Proving Einstein Right: The Daring Expeditions that Changed How We Look at the Universe- At its heart, this is a story of frustration, faith, and ultimate victory--and of the scientists whose efforts helped build the framework for the big bang theory, catapulted Einstein to international fame, and shook the foundation of physics. Get the book here: https://amzn.to/3HDekKS More: https://www.quantamagazine.org/asymmetry-detected-in-the-distribution-of-galaxies-20221205/ Connect with Professor Keating: 🏄‍♂️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list; just click here http://briankeating.com/list ✍️ Detailed Blog posts here: https://briankeating.com/blog.php 🎙️ Listen on audio-only platforms: https://briankeating.com/podcast Subscribe to the Jordan Harbinger Show for amazing content from Apple’s best podcast of 2018! https://www.jordanharbinger.com/podcasts 🎧 On Apple devices, click here, https://apple.co/39UaHlB scroll down to the ratings and leave a 5 star rating and review The INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast. Other ways to rate here: https://briankeating.com/podcast Support the podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/drbriankeating or become a Member on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmXH_moPhfkqCk6S3b9RWuw/join Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Physics is not a faith-based organization and the reason it's not is because we are in
0:11.2	conversation with nature with our observations and with our
0:14.2	experiments, and without that physics becomes like a religion.
0:20.0	Welcome everyone. To this replay edition of Into the Impossible
0:26.1	featuring celebrated theoretical astrophysicist and professor
0:30.1	extraordinary the Ariadite Sylvester James Gates.
0:35.0	They're going to discover why Professor Gates has pursued
0:38.0	super symmetry and superstring theory for most of his legendary career,
0:42.0	being one of the first to recognize its potential.
0:47.0	Learn why the Solar Eclipse of 1919 was pivotal in the history of science and the dramatic story of how it made Albert Einstein
0:55.6	an international science celebrity by verifying his general theory of relativity.
1:01.1	Listen along as Brian and James ponder the outsized role of imagination in scientific discovery.
1:08.0	Please let us know you're out there by taking a moment to write a review and give us a five star rating.
1:17.0	We love hearing from you.
1:19.0	Now come along as your host Brian Keating and Professor Gates
1:23.7	discussed the gripping book, Proving Einstein Right
1:27.8	as we venture into the impossible.
1:31.8	Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
1:37.0	Open the podbed doors please help.
1:40.0	Well, welcome everybody out there and watching this live or perhaps watching it recorded.
1:47.0	I am Brian Keating and I am the Associate Director of the Arthur C. Clark Center for Human Imagination at the University of California San Diego. the
1:53.4	of Arthur C. Clark Center for Human Imagination at the University of California, San Diego, and today,
	...

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