Physicists, and Brian Greene.

[LetterstoElise]

Well,
I just got four tickets to go hear Brian Greene speak on his String Theory.
The man is a harvard and oxford graduate. His theory, according to some of my physicists friends, is about three breaths from being complete and will be ground breaking. I do not know much about Brian Greene, but from what I've read, him and his work is pretty interesting.

I reccomend everyone to go google him, and I was wondering a few things.

1. Anyone heard of Brian Greene?
2. What about String theory?
3. Who is your favorite physicists/scientist/mathematician, etc.
4. Have you heard anyone speak?




Q: We have many high school students in our audience. What advice would you give to young people who are feeling very inspired by physics and are interested in studying string theory?

A: Well, I think the advice I would give is that in order to pursue research in string theory, one needs a great deal of mathematical background, and one should study as much mathematics as possible: geometry, algebra, things of that sort.


just had to relate it to numbe(3)rs somehow.

[rittenden]

...snip...
1. Anyone heard of Brian Greene?
2. What about String theory?
3. Who is your favorite physicists/scientist/mathematician, etc.
4. Have you heard anyone speak?
...snip...
1. Yes.
2. Yes - fascinating.
3. Stephen Hawking.
4. No, unfortunately. They never come here.

[mathfan9]

Well,
I just got four tickets to go hear Brian Greene speak on his String Theory.
The man is a harvard and oxford graduate. His theory, according to some of my physicists friends, is about three breaths from being complete and will be ground breaking. I do not know much about Brian Greene, but from what I've read, him and his work is pretty interesting.

1. Anyone heard of Brian Greene?
2. What about String theory?
3. Who is your favorite physicists/scientist/mathematician, etc.
4. Have you heard anyone speak?

1. Yes, he wrote The Elegant Universe, which was made into a three-part series on PBS.
2. Yes, I have a book called Superstrings and the Search for the Theory of Everything.
3. That's a tough one. For mathematician, I think I would pick Euler just because he was so prolific and did work so late in life. Or did you mean a currently practicing mathematician?
4. No one except college professors in class.

[rittenden]

1. Yes, he wrote The Elegant Universe, which was made into a three-part series on PBS.
...snip...
I saw that series! Watched it three times - I was positively glued to the television. I haven't been that stuck on a program ever - well, except for this one...

[LetterstoElise]

oooh i didn't know it was turned into a series... where could I get that... is there an illegal downloading geek underground scene that i've been excluded from? hm?

seriously, though, i heard you could buy PBS series on tape... anyone know how to do that?

[omphale23]

1. Anyone heard of Brian Greene?
2. What about String theory?
3. Who is your favorite physicists/scientist/mathematician, etc.
4. Have you heard anyone speak?

1. Yes--Elegant Universe and, um, Fabric of the Cosmos is the other one?
2. What about it? It's an absolutely incredible possibility for theoretical physics, but not quite testable. Or is that included in the definition of theoretical?
3. Nope. Not gonna pick one. That'd be like picking a favorite book. Generally my favorite physicist is the one I'm reading at the moment.
4. Just in classes, as an undergrad. And the PBS thing.

seriously, though, i heard you could buy PBS series on tape... anyone know how to do that?They have dvds for sale on the pbs website, and through the catalogues, too.

[Kristen]

oooh i didn't know it was turned into a series... where could I get that... is there an illegal downloading geek underground scene that i've been excluded from? hm?

seriously, though, i heard you could buy PBS series on tape... anyone know how to do that?Elise, this is a bit late, but since this thread has been moved to the new Math Forum I saw it. It appears you can watch it for free on the PBS site. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/program.html The main site link (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant) has a bunch of interesting stuff too.

Cheers,
Kristen

[omphale23]

We have a math forum now? Jeez, how long was I gone? I mean, it felt like about five years that I spent in Ohio, but I thought it was just a week or so in the real world.

[daisychain]

Elise, this is a bit late, but since this thread has been moved to the new Math Forum I saw it. It appears you can watch it for free on the PBS site. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/program.html The main site link (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant) has a bunch of interesting stuff too.

Cheers,
Kristen

Thanks for posting these links. I just watched some of this. It was fascinating and accessible even for people like me who find this stuff interesting but somewhat difficult. :)

Mind you, my brain has gone somewhat into shock having to concentrate on String Theory and Quantum Mechanics at the unearthly hour for such things of midnight. :eek: :)

[Kristen]

Mind you, my brain has gone somewhat into shock having to concentrate on String Theory and Quantum Mechanics at the unearthly hour for such things of midnight. :eek: :)Trying to do anything that requires much concentration and thought at midnight is always difficult, however for some reason String Theory and Quantum Mechanics always seem to make more sense to me during the hours after midnight.

I’m glad you enjoyed the link. It is fascinating stuff. I’ve just recently bought Brian Greene’s two books. I highly recommend them as well.

Kristen