F

Forum Moderator

What happens when you mix cosmology, AI, and a dash of existential curiosity? Physicist Anthony Aguirre (Co-Founder of FQxI) sits down with Founding Circle Member of the World Experience Organization, Heather Gallagher, to untangle the weirdest questions at the edge of modern science. From “Can AI help us rethink time?” to “What will the future look like as humans and AI begin to integrate further?”. Recorded live at XPANSE 2024, the conversation speaks to how AI might reshape physics, why the universe’s biggest puzzles still baffle us, and what it all means for the future of human knowledge. Love this stuff? Help keep these conversations alive. FQxI is a nonprofit that backs bold, curiosity-driven science—the kind that asks “What is reality, anyway?” Donate here → https://fqxi.org/support-our-work/don...

Keywords: AI, Time, Space, Aguirre

Raphael Bousso: "Entanglement Wedges for Gravitating Regions"

Keywords: Gravity, Bousso, Physics

Talk at Strings, Fields and Holograms held at Monte Verità Conference Center, Ascona, Switzerland, Oct.11-15, 2021. Event website: conf.itp.phys.ethz.ch/string21 Enjoy!

Keywords: Quantum, Bousso, Theory

http://www.proteus-pmte.eu/ http://www.proteus-pmte.eu/conference... ‘The cycles of bouncing cosmology' 1st History and Philosophy of Cosmology Conference – H&PC2022 This video is part of the PROTEUS project that has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant agreement No. 758145) Key

Keywords: Martin Bojowald, Cosmology, Physics

This talk was part of the Thematic Programme on "Higher Structures and Field Theory" held at the ESI August 1 to 26, 2022. Deformations of spacelike hypersurfaces in space-time have recently been shown to form an L-infinity algebroid. Space-time models for gravitational field theories, however, are commonly derived and analyzed using a Poisson bracket. The discrepancy may have implications for physics questions such as the nature of black-hole singularities.

Keywords: Hypersurface deformation, Martin Bojowald, Field Theory

Talk by Diego Blas as part of the Particle Physics Meets Cosmology (PPMC) program at the IFT.

Keywords: Gravitational Wave, Blas, Particle Physics

Online seminar in the "Newton 1665" series.

Keywords: Dark Matter, Atomic Clocks, Magnetometers

Title: "Binary systems as gravitational wave detectors" Speaker: Diego Blas, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) / Institut de Física d'Altes Energies (IFAE)

Keywords: Gravitational Wave, Blas, Binary System.

Dynamics of Excited Solitons Many solitonic configurations in field theory have localized bound states in their spectrum of linear perturbations. This opens up the possibility of having long lived excitations of these solitons that could affect their dynamics. In this talk we will describe in detail how these states appear in some field theory models of low dimensionality like kinks in 1+1 dimensions and vortices in 2+1 dimensions and study their dynamical properties through a series of numerical experiments.

Keywords: Solitons, Field Theory, Blanco-Pillado

In this talk we will review how cosmic strings appear as solitonic solutions in many models of high energy physics beyond the Standard Model. We will also describe the main ingredients for the cosmological formation and evolution of a network of strings. We will then discuss the latest results from large scale simulations of these networks and their implications for the expected stochastic background of gravitational waves. Finally we will comment on the current bounds on these models coming from current and future gravitational wave observatories.

Keywords: Cosmic Strings

Today we continue the FQxI "My Favourite" short series, where our members explore profound scientific ideas. In this episode, Robert Lawrence Kuhn delves into the mind-bending concept of the multiverse, reflecting on the staggering scale of potential universes. Drawing from his work on "Closer to Truth", Kuhn explores the philosophical implications of inflation theory and the provocative question: Why does anything exist at all? Join us as he contemplates the breathtaking vastness of reality and the mathematical scales that challenge our understanding of existence. Closer to Truth: https://closertotruth.com/ Watch the episode of Closer To Truth featured in this video: Series 01, Episodes 02: How Vast is the Cosmos? https://closertotruth.com/video/how-v... Stay tuned for the next episode, where another FQxI member reveals their most cherished scientific inspiration.

Keywords: #Inlfationary_Cosmology #Multiverse #Pocket_universes

Today we launch the FQxI "My Favourite" short series, where our members discuss their favourite equation or paper. In the inaugural episode, Nicole Yunger Halpern talks Carnot's theorem, highlighting its significance in thermodynamics. Carnot's theorem is a fundamental principle in thermodynamics that reveals the maximum theoretical efficiency of heat engines. Developed by French physicist Sadi Carnot in 1824, it demonstrates that no heat engine can be more efficient than a reversible engine operating between the same temperature extremes. Carnot's theorem laid the groundwork for understanding energy conversion and the fundamental limits of mechanical work. Stay tuned for the next episode, where another FQxI member reveals their most cherished scientific inspiration.

Keywords: Carnot's theorem, Halpern, Short, Sadi Carnot

Huw Price discusses various perspectives on the nature of time.

Explore more:

• Sean Carroll on Causality and the Arrow of Time
• Dirty Secrets of Cosmology by Anthony Aguirre: More dirty secrets, this time with cosmology. Join Anthony Aguirre as he delves into profound questions about the nature of the universe, eternal inflation, cosmological parameters, gravitational waves, and more.
• More from Mind Matter Conference in Tuscany, with Sean Carroll on Causality and the Arrow of Time

Keywords: Huw Price, Arrow of time, Universe.

Henry Roediger talks about the illusion of remembering.

Explore more:

• "Paul Davies: The Demon the Machine": Physicist Paul Davies talks about What is life? Can life be explained by physics?
• The stochastic thermodynamics of computation David Wolpert Santa Fe Institute: David Wolpert present formulas for the thermodynamic costs of implementing (loop-free) digital circuits, of implementing Turing machines, and of implementing multipartite processes like the interacting organelles in a cell.
• Observers as Systems that Acquire Information to Stay out of Equilibrium: Join David Wolpert as he explores the concept of being an observer in the context of non-equilibrium statistical physics, delving into how systems acquire information from the outside world to stay out of thermal equilibrium.

Keywords: Memory, Roediger, Scandinavia

George Ellis discusses the nature of time and existence, critiques Sean Carroll's ideas on time, and presents an alternative perspective.

Explore more:

• George Ellis: How can agency be compatible with physics?:George Ellis speaking at the 6th International FQXi Conference, "Mind Matters: Intelligence and Agency in the Physical World."
• The Quantum State of the Universe - A Dialogue with Sean Carroll and Alan Guth: Sean Carroll and Alan Guth discuss the quantum state of the universe.
• Panel -- Is Free Will Real?: "What is free will, and do we have it?" This intriguing question is explored in the panel discussion "Is Free Will Real?" moderated by Jennan Ismael, with panelists Sara Walker, David Haussler, Jan Wallaczek, and Sean Carroll.

Keywords: Existence, Cosmology, Ellis

Geoffrey West talks about how complexity, scaling laws, and network dynamics shape biological, ecological, and socioeconomic systems.

Explore more:

• "Gavin Crooks on COMPLEXITY"Gavin Crooks talks about time asymmetry in everyday life, thermodynamic systems, and molecular-scale machines.
• A mathematical theory of semantic development in deep neural networks: Explore the intersection of neuroscience, machine learning, and physics with Surya Ganguli as he sheds light on the hierarchical differentiation of learned concepts and the dynamics of deep neural networks.
• The Quantum State of the Universe - A Dialogue with Sean Carroll and Alan Guth: Sean Carroll and Alan Guth discuss the quantum state of the universe.

Keywords: Complexity, Geoffrey West, Scaling Law

Gavin Crooks talks about time asymmetry in everyday life, thermodynamic systems, and molecular-scale machines.

Explore more:

• David Haussler - Self organizing neural complexity: Join David as he explores how cerebral organoids are revolutionizing our understanding of human brain development and neural circuitry.
• The stochastic thermodynamics of computation David Wolpert Santa Fe Institute: David Wolpert present formulas for the thermodynamic costs of implementing (loop-free) digital circuits, of implementing Turing machines, and of implementing multipartite processes like the interacting organelles in a cell.
• Observers as Systems that Acquire Information to Stay out of Equilibrium: Join David Wolpert as he explores the concept of being an observer in the context of non-equilibrium statistical physics, delving into how systems acquire information from the outside world to stay out of thermal equilibrium.

Keywords: Complexity, Asymmetry, Crooks,

Fotini Markopoulou discusses the challenges of reconciling quantum mechanics and general relativity, and how emergent space and locality might offer new insights into quantum theory.

Explore more:

• "What Exists in the Quantum Universe by Steve Giddings"Quantum mechanics is undoubtedly one of the most successful physical theories, and seemingly all observed events respect its principles. However, will it still hold true for the Ultimate Quantum Theory? What implications does it have for questions like "What exists?", "What are observations?", and "What is the structure of quantum gravity?" Join Steve Giddings as he delves into these profound topics.
• " Quantum Gravity and Indefinite Causal Structure with Dr. Lucien Hardy ": Physicist Lucien Hardy discusses Quantum Gravity and the concept of Indefinite Causal Structure
• The Quantum State of the Universe - A Dialogue with Sean Carroll and Alan Guth: Sean Carroll and Alan Guth discuss the quantum state of the universe.

Keywords: Quantum Gravity, Markopoulou, Scandinavia