Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

Latest Episodes:

Accidental Discoveries That Shaped Astronomy | Chris Lintott Jul 28, 2024

Show notes

Science might seem opposed to chance discoveries due to its focus on meticulous methods.

But surprisingly, serendipity, the art of fortunate accidents and happy discoveries, plays a big role, especially in astronomy.

Some of the greatest cosmic discoveries were accidental. Unexpected findings have greatly shaped our understanding of the universe.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of getting into the fascinating world of serendipitous astronomy with Chris Lintott, astrophysicist, professor, and host of BBC's "The Sky at Night."

We discuss the delicate balance between speculation and scientific rigor, famous cases like the cosmic microwave background, and recent observations from the James Webb Space Telescope.

Chris opens up about the role of citizen science in modern astronomy and how it's changing the way we approach cosmic mysteries. This episode might just change how you think about scientific discovery.

Tune in!

Key Takeaways:

00:00 Intro

01:09 Many cosmic discoveries came about by accident

02:16 Importance of showing astronomy in action

03:40 Discussion of Oumuamua and interstellar objects

08:10 Importance of speculative research

15:37 Accidental discovery of the cosmic microwave background

25:06 Success of the Galaxy Zoo project

35:45 Historical context of serendipitous discoveries

47:52 James Webb Space Telescope challenging cosmological models

52:48 Balancing scientific rigor with public communication

54:45 Chris Lintott’s perspective on dark matter and dark energy

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Additional resources:

➡️ Connect with Chris Lintott:

Website: https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/our-people/lintott

X/Twitter: https://x.com/chrislintott

The Sky at Night Program: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/4jgzzH6CBH7b5K0qblb73nZ/professor-chris-lintott

Our Accidental Universe Book and others: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Chris+Lintott

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—

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Terrence Howard and Candace Owens: The Wildly Unhinged World of Celebrity Science Jul 25, 2024

Show notes

Is Terrence Howard onto something, or is he completely off the rails with his wild theories?

In this episode, I was privileged to appear on Piers Morgan Uncensored, alongside Eric Weinstein and Tom Bilyeu to dissect the viral phenomenon of Terrence Howard's unconventional theories on Joe Rogan's podcast and their impact on public perception of science.

The conversation touches on the impact of social media in amplifying non-expert voices and the need for scientists to better communicate with the public.

We also highlight the tension between established scientific methods and popular skepticism, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tune in now and join the conversation!

Key Takeaways:

00:00 Intro

00:24 Trust in science challenged post-COVID pandemic

00:54 Terrence Howard's unconventional scientific theories go viral

04:07 Eric Weinstein analyzes Howard's claims, finding some merit

08:07 Debate on peer review's role in scientific validation

11:35 Eric Weinstein's interaction with Terrence Howard

22:31 Impact of amplifying pseudoscience from official sources

25:30 Brian Keating defends traditional scientific processes

49:30 Future and integrity of science

Additional resources:

➡️ Piers Morgan Uncensored: https://www.youtube.com/@PiersMorganUncensored

➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating

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📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast

—

Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Keating on the Israel-Gaza Conflict, Campus Politics & Podcasting w/ James Altucher Jul 23, 2024

Show notes

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A couple of months ago, I had the pleasure of chatting with James Altucher. James is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, bestselling author, and host of The James Altucher Show. In the first part of our interview, James wanted to learn more about black holes, wormholes, and the origin of the universe, so we explored these topics in detail.

In this second part, we moved away from physics and talked about the complexities of the Israel-Gaza conflict, campus politics, podcasting, and more! Enjoy.

Key Takeaways:

00:00 Intro

00:48 Reflecting on a year of achievements and challenges

08:02 Debating the complexities of the Israel-Gaza conflict

12:47 Navigating the challenges of campus politics

17:22 Reflecting on career progress and future projects

20:04 Podcasting and advertising

28:03 The struggle to improve and the concept of age

33:18 The importance of numbers and the balance of fun

36:07 Future plans and the art of writing

41:27 Outro

Additional resources:

➡️ Connect with James Altucher:

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJamesAltucherShow

💻 Website: https://jamesaltucher.com/

➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast

—

Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

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Your Phone Is A Government Spy! | Andrew Bustamante [Ep. 442] Jul 21, 2024

Show notes

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Is the CIA spying on Americans? How can we stay safe in the surveillance age? Is the government keeping secrets from us? And which covert missions have secretly shaped the course of world politics?

I had the pleasure of discussing all this and more with Andrew Bustamante! Andrew Bustamante is a former covert CIA intelligence officer, Air Force combat veteran, and Fortune 10 corporate advisor.

After his career in the CIA, Bustamante transitioned to public speaking, training, and consulting, sharing his insights on espionage, intelligence operations, and personal development. He often discusses topics such as applying espionage techniques to everyday life, business strategies, and security practices. He gained recognition through his podcast, "EverydaySpy," where he delves into various aspects of espionage and how they can be applied to enhance personal and professional success.

Tune in!

Key Takeaways:

00:00:00 Intro
00:01:21 Does the CIA spy on Americans?
00:04:18 Are we entitled to classified information?
00:11:11 Science, scientists, and national security
00:25:02 What really happened in the Roswell UFO incident?
00:28:50 Missileers and hypersonic missiles
00:35:38 Which conflict concerns Andrew the most?
00:46:05 Best way to exploit an individual’s vulnerabilities
00:59:07 Privacy concerns in the digital age
01:11:07 Gathering intelligence on another planet
01:15:37 The definition of a classified document
01:21:21 Everyday spy tactics
01:30:10 Audience questions
01:49:03 Outro

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➡️ Connect with Andrew Bustamante:

💻 Website: https://andrewbustamante.org/

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Andrew-Bustamante

➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating

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✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

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Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

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Don Lincoln: Did Einstein Waste The Last 30 Years of His Life? [Ep. 439] Jul 14, 2024

Show notes

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For centuries, we have observed the night sky and wondered about the laws of nature, matter, and our place in the universe.

Once rooted in theology and philosophy, these questions are now being explored through the prism of high-energy particle physics with one goal in mind - to discover the final, definitive theory - the theory of everything. But what is a theory of everything? And does it even exist?

Here today, to explore these questions with me, is none other than Don Lincoln, a renowned experimental physicist and host of the Fermilab YouTube channel! Don has recently published Einstein's Unfinished Dream, a book in which he explores the cutting-edge research of modern particle physicists that is slowly pushing us towards a theory of everything.

Tune in!

Key Takeaways:

00:00:00 Intro
00:01:20 Did Einstein waste the last 30 years of his life?
00:01:49 Israel presidency
00:02:37 Judging a book by its cover
00:05:47 The grand unified theory and the theory of everything
00:14:56 Is there anything significant about the Planck length?
00:19:13 The path to discovery nowadays
00:24:17 Why do theorists get all the attention?
00:28:35 Is there a fascination with symmetry?
00:39:36 Is space-time a metaphysical concept?
00:43:53 Alternatives to string theory
00:53:44 LHC and its discoveries
01:02:04 Muon collider
01:10:45 Dark matter, neutrinos and quark mysteries
01:21:05 Science communication
01:28:25 Audience questions
01:45:12 Outro

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➡️ Connect with Don Lincoln:

💻 Website: https://drdonlincoln.com/

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/drdonlincoln

➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating

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📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast

Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

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Keating Goes to Congress: Combating Antisemitism in Universities Jul 11, 2024

Show notes

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I was proud and humbled to share the harrowing experiences of Jewish students and faculty at the University of California since October 7. With help from Congress, we can continue to be a beacon in the darkness. Let there be light!

—

Additional resources:

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Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

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Can Science and Religion Coexist? w/ Danny Miranda (2021) Jul 09, 2024

Show notes

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Can science and religion coexist? Is it true that scientists cannot be religious? And what’s really behind supposed coincidences?

I had the privilege to discuss all this and more with Danny Miranda on his podcast. Danny is a writer turned leading podcaster. He is a communicator who strives to empower people to become the highest version of themselves and to raise the consciousness of humanity - one conversation at a time.

We talked about some of my early influences, coincidences that are too good to be true, my journey with Judaism, science, and more!

Enjoy.

Key Takeaways:

00:00:00 Intro
00:01:30 My roommate Thomas
00:04:48 On coincidences
00:07:16 Getting fired
00:17:30 My healing journey
00:22:23 What values lead my life
00:30:03 Religion as a source of sanity
00:34:25 Holding together science and religion
00:50:34 The most powerful tool
00:55:13 The most unique thing about being a human
00:57:15 Into the Impossible
01:06:52 Imposter syndrome among women and minorities
01:10:40 What I’ve learned from a student
01:15:41 Where’s education going?
01:24:18 Final piece of advice
01:28:30 Outro

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Additional resources:

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➡️ Connect with Danny Miranda:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/heydannymiranda

➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating

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✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast

Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

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Addressing the Biggest Controversies in Modern Cosmology with George Efstathiou [Ep. 436] Jul 07, 2024

Show notes

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Modern cosmology is full of controversies, challenges, and unresolved tensions. This can, of course, be very frustrating. But it’s also extremely fun!

Especially if we approach these challenges with brilliant minds who aren’t afraid to tackle them head-on.

One such luminary is the renowned George Efstathiou. George is a British astrophysicist and Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge. He was the first Director of the Kavli Institute for Cosmology at the University of Cambridge from 2008 to 2016.

George joins me today for a cosmological episode in which we look at cosmic acceleration, Hubble tension, Sigma-8 tension, inflation theory, BICEP2, Planck collaboration, and more.

Tune in!

Key Takeaways:

00:00:00 Intro
00:04:25 Baseless claims in cosmology
00:13:57 Solving the Hubble tension
00:23:11 Axion-like early dark energy
00:28:03 Primordial magnetic fields
00:30:36 Solving the Sigma-8 tension
00:38:37 Inflation and the Multiverse
00:48:30 BICEP2
00:54:50 Existential question
00:56:42 Outro

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➡️ Learn more about George Efstathiou:

💻 Website: https://people.ast.cam.ac.uk/~gpe/

➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating

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✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

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Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

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Exploring the Mysteries of the Expanding Universe with Adam Riess Jul 04, 2024

Show notes

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What is the Hubble tension? How does it challenge our current understanding of the universe? Why do different methods of measuring the universe’s expansion yield different results? And does our cosmological model need a complete overhaul?

I had the honor of discussing all this and more with none other than Adam Riess. Riess is a renowned astrophysicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his groundbreaking research on the expansion of the universe. Through extensive measurements and collaborations with other scientists, Riess discovered an intriguing tension in the size of the expansion of the universe, which has been steadily increasing over the last decade. These results, which have reached a significant level of more than 5 sigma, have revealed an unexpected phenomenon: the universe's expansion rate seems to vary depending on whether we start from the beginning shortly after the Big Bang or from the present.

In this episode of Into the Impossible, Riess and I explore the challenges of measuring distances in the universe, the possible role of dark energy, and how this challenges the concept of the cosmological principle.

Tune in!

Key Takeaways:

00:00 Intro
01:03 Proving Einstein wrong
06:38 Struggling with experiment results
08:57 What is the Hubble tension?
18:45 Can curiosity be cultivated and sustained?
24:05 Measuring distances in the universe using parallax
32:54 The Hubble tension persists
38:56 Revising the cosmological principle
42:47 Gravitational lensing
51:03 Surprising JWST findings
54:33 Theoretical implications of the Hubble Tension measurements
56:47 Outro

—

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➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast

Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Terrence Howard & Eric Weinstein Drop Bombshells on Joe Rogan Experience: Part 1 Jul 04, 2024

Show notes

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Does 1x1 equal 3? Is gravity actually a form of electricity? And is the periodic table based on... sound?

These are just some of the outrageous claims made by Terrence Howard on the Joe Rogan Experience. As a professor, I cannot let such claims stand, especially when they are broadcast on a platform as large as the Joe Rogan Experience. That’s why today, I will systematically debunk every single one of them and explain the importance of checking your sources.

Tune in.

Key Takeaways:

00:00 Intro
00:44 Always check your sources!
01:28 Terrence’s claims on Joe Rogan
04:47 What is the spiral periodic table?
16:03 1x1=3?
22:17 Is gravity electricity?
33:34 Does Terrence really have 97 patents?
38:11 Conclusion and outro

—

Additional resources:

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➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

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📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast

Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices