On The Shoulders of Giants

Explore the intersection of mathematics and physics in this 56-minute World Science Festival lecture by renowned string theorist Cumrun Vafa. Delve into fundamental concepts such as symmetry, conservation laws, and spontaneous symmetry breaking. Trace the historical roots of scientific thought from Greek philosophers to modern-day theories. Discover how simple mathematical principles and the power of continuity can lead to profound insights in physics. Examine real-world applications like gravitational lensing and explore abstract mathematical concepts including duality and reflections. Gain insight into Vafa's innovative teaching methods that use puzzles to convey complex physical concepts and inspire the next generation of scientists.

Intro
The connection between math and physics
Symmetry and conservation loss
Spontaneous symmetry
Greek philosophers
Simple math
Power of continuity
gravitational lensing
mathematical abstraction
duality
reflections