Entropy and Coherence Could Change Everything We Know About the Universe! w/ Dick Bond
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Could entropy and coherence change everything we know about the universe? How does quantum information flow in the cosmic superweb? And will quantum mechanics reveal our universe’s deepest secrets?
Today, I’m joined by the one and only Dick Bond, a theorist who has helped reshape our understanding of dark matter, entropy, and quantum mechanics, to discuss how every aspect of the universe could be a result of quantum mechanics. Dick is a renowned astrophysicist known for his significant contributions to cosmology and the study of the universe's large-scale structure. He has worked extensively on topics such as dark matter, dark energy, the cosmic microwave background (CMB), and quantum cosmology.
We also have a treat for you at the end of the episode, as Dick will grace us with a lecture titled Entropy in a Coherent Universe: Quantum Information Flows in the Cosmic SuperWeb. Don’t miss out!
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Key Takeaways:
00:00 Intro
01:29 Lecture preview
06:42 Training the next generation of scientists
10:59 Influences and early career
15:18 The role of entropy and coherence in quantum mechanics
20:41 Challenges in communicating science
31:32 The multiverse and quantum mechanics
36:22 The role of information in physical reality
40:34 The Hubble tension and dark energy
47:10 Outro
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Additional resources:
➡️ Learn more about Dick Bond:
💻 Website: https://www.cita.utoronto.ca/~bond/
➡️ 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
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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 follow so you never miss an episode!
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53:59
Andrew Huberman’s Guide to Eye Health
Andrew Huberman and Brian Keating dive deep into optimizing astronomical vision and the physiological challenges faced at high altitudes. Huberman shares insights on nose breathing, creatine supplementation, and adapting to extreme environments like the South Pole. The conversation also touches on eye health, offering practical advice for dealing with jet lag, light adaptation, and conditions like dry eyes and glaucoma.
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16:44
Earth Growing an AI Brain? Planetary Computation Explained with Ben Bratton [Ep. 486]
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Pique is offering 20% off for life AND a free Starter Kit with your purchase—that's a rechargeable frother and glass beaker to make the perfect cup every time. Just go to http://piquelife.com/impossible
Please join my mailing list here 👉 https://briankeating.com/list to win a meteorite 💥
What is planetary computation, and why does it matter? Are humans and AI truly separate, or are we actually co-evolving? And how did we end up building a megastructure that’s quietly reshaping governance, knowledge, and power on a planetary scale?
Here to shed light on our evolving technological reality is Ben Bratton, philosopher of technology and professor at UCSD. Ben is the Director of Antikythera, a research program at the Berggruen Institute focused on the future of planetary computation. The program explores five core areas: planetary computation, synthetic intelligence, recursive simulations, hemispherical stacks, and planetary sapience. He is also the author of The Stack, a groundbreaking book that introduced the term “planetary computation” and mapped its political, social, and philosophical implications.
In our wide-ranging conversation, Ben explains how computation has evolved far beyond servers and algorithms to become an organizing force of the planet itself. We also dive into the future of AGI, the ethics of machine valence, terraforming Earth as a philosophical imperative, non-biological life, and how speculative design and planetary sapience might reframe humanity’s role in the cosmos.
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Key Takeaways:
00:00 Intro
01:02 Antikythera and planetary computation
07:50 AI and the limits of computation
18:04 Terraforming and the future of humanity
19:55 The role of language in AI
31:01 Planetary data centers and future energy needs
34:00 Techno signatures
39:10 Science and philosophy
41:09 The Stack: On Software and Sovereignty
45:52 Outro
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Additional resources:
➡️ Learn more about Ben Bratton:
💻 Website: https://bratton.info/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benjaminbratton
✖️ X: https://x.com/bratton
📚 The Stack: https://amzn.eu/d/j80ENZW
➡️ 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 so you never miss an episode!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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51:37
Cosmology, Cosmic Inflation & Nobel Prizes | Dr. Brian Keating on Know Time
Prof. Brian Keating talks about the origins of the universe, the Big Bang, cosmic microwave background radiation, cosmic inflation, BICEP & POLARBEAR experiments, the Simons Array and the Nobel Prize!
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1:00:02
Can Future Telescopes Solve Dark Matter Mysteries? | Bob Kirshner
Bob Kirshner and Brian Keating explore the future of the TMT and GMT telescopes in studying dark energy and exoplanets. They also consider recent controversies in cosmology regarding dark energy and the potential for astronomical measurements of neutrino mass.
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A podcast about how we understand the world, scientifically and as humans. Each conversation brings together visionaries from the worlds of arts, sciences, humanities, and technology discussing the nature of reality and how we collaborate to create the future. Hosted by Dr Brian Keating, Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Physics at UC San Diego. For show notes go to: https://briankeating.com/podcast
South Africa