What do the world’s top scientists think about the big questions of life and reality?
Physicist and astronomer Marcelo Gleiser tells us what he’s optimistic about, his favorite beautiful explanation in science, what big question keeps him up at night, and more.
Watch our interview with Gleiser on science and the human experience here.
1. What big question about our universe keeps you up at night?
Whether we are the only technological civilization in this galaxy.
2. What is your favorite scientific breakthrough of the last five years?
The new ability we have of analyzing the atmospheres of distant worlds in search for signs of life.
3. What is your favorite beautiful explanation?
From Einstein’s general theory of relativity, that gravitational effects, from planetary orbits to the bending of starlight and black holes, are due to the curvature of spacetime.
4. What is your favorite quote?
“All philosophy is but the product of two things only: curiosity and shortsightedness.” —Bernard LeBovier de Fontenelle
5. What are you optimistic about?
The young generation taking over the planet with a different mindset from ours, one of inclusivity and awareness of the natural environment as essential for our collective survival.
Marcelo Gleiser is the Appleton Professor of Natural Philosophy at Dartmouth, the 2019 Templeton Prize laureate, and co-author of The Blind Spot: Why Science Cannot Ignore Human Experience.