Dr. Brian Keating: Charting the Architecture of the Universe & Human Life
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In this episode, my guest is Dr. Brian Keating, Ph.D., a cosmologist and professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego. We discuss the origins of the universe and how humans have used light and optics to understand where and how life on Earth emerged.
We explore how early humans charted the stars, sun, moon, and other celestial events to measure time and track seasons, as well as how stargazing continues to connect us to a shared ancient experience. Additionally, we examine the scientific process, the practical and ethical challenges of pursuing groundbreaking discoveries, and the emotional toll of striving for recognition in one’s profession.
Finally, we discuss whether astrology has any scientific validity and consider the possibility of life beyond Earth.
Books
Other Resources
- Man vs Dog Thoughts (cartoon)
- Telescope Buyer’s Guide
- Brian Keating on The Joe Rogan Experience
- BICEP (Stanford)
- US Antarctic Program
- Simons Observatory
- Contact (movie)
- Freeman Dyson (Brian Keating’s Into the Impossible Podcast)
Huberman Lab Episodes Mentioned
- Morgan Housel: Understand & Apply the Psychology of Money to Gain Greater Happiness
- Dr. Bernardo Huberman: How to Use Curiosity & Focus to Create a Joyful & Meaningful Life
People Mentioned
- Karl Popper: science philosopher
- Vilayanur Ramachandran: Professor of Psychology, University of California San Diego
- Tycho Brahe: Danish astronomer
- Galileo: Italian astronomer, physicist, engineer
- Johannes Kepler: German astronomer and mathematician
- Nicolaus Copernicus: Polish astronomer
- Albert Michaelson: American astronomer, physicist
- Santiago Ramón y Cajal: Spanish neuroscientist
- Euclid: Greek mathematician
- Aristotle: Greek philosopher, mathematician
- David Kipping: Professor of Astronomy, Columbia University, exomoons
- William Herschel: British astronomer
- Caroline Herschel: German astronomer
- Edwin Hubble: American astronomer
- Henrietta Leavitt: American astronomer
- Arno Penzias: American physicist, Noble Laureate, Big Bang theory
- Robert Wilson: American physicist, Noble Laureate, Big Bang theory
- Adam Riess: American physicist, Noble Laureate
- Brian Schmidt: American physicist, Noble Laureate
- Barry Barish: American physicist, Noble Laureate
- Guido Imbens: Profesor of Economics, Stanford University, Noble Laureate
- Alan Guth: American physicist, cosmologist
- Alexei Starobinsky: Russian theoretical physicist, cosmologist
- Andrei Linde: Russian-American theoretical physicist
- Arthur Kornberg: American biologist, Nobel Laureate
- David Baltimore: Professor of Biology, Caltech
- Frances Arnold: American chemist, Nobel Laureate
- Andrew Lange: Professor of Physics, Caltech
- Robert Scott: English explorer, Antarctic explorer
- Roald Amundsen: Norwegian explorer, first to reach South Pole
- Ernest Shackleton: Anglo-Irish explorer, Antarctic explorer
- Barbara Chapman: Professor of Neuroscience, University of California, Davis
- Christopher Columbus: Italian explorer, navigator
- John Harrison: British horologist, invented marine chronometer
- David Williams: Professor of Medical Optics, University of Rochester
- Andrea Ghez: American physicist, Nobel Laureate
About this Guest
Dr. Brian Keating
Brian Keating, Ph.D., is a cosmologist, a professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego, an author and a public science educator.
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