Frontiers Lecture: Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe

penrose-lecture_body_largeHayden Planetarium Space Theater

What can fashionable ideas, blind faith, or pure fantasy possibly have to do with the scientific quest to understand the universe? Surely, theoretical physicists are immune to mere trends, dogmatic beliefs, and flights of fancy? In fact, acclaimed physicist and bestselling author Roger Penrose argues that researchers working at the extreme frontiers of physics are just as susceptible to these forces as anyone else. In this provocative book, he argues that fashion, faith, and fantasy, while sometimes productive and even essential in physics, may be leading today’s researchers astray in three of the field’s most important areas—string theory, quantum mechanics, and cosmology. A book signing will follow.











When: Mon., Sep. 19, 2016 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Where: American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street
212-769-5100
Price: $15 ($13.50 seniors, students); $12 Members
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penrose-lecture_body_largeHayden Planetarium Space Theater

What can fashionable ideas, blind faith, or pure fantasy possibly have to do with the scientific quest to understand the universe? Surely, theoretical physicists are immune to mere trends, dogmatic beliefs, and flights of fancy? In fact, acclaimed physicist and bestselling author Roger Penrose argues that researchers working at the extreme frontiers of physics are just as susceptible to these forces as anyone else. In this provocative book, he argues that fashion, faith, and fantasy, while sometimes productive and even essential in physics, may be leading today’s researchers astray in three of the field’s most important areas—string theory, quantum mechanics, and cosmology. A book signing will follow.

Buy tickets/get more info now