Greg Bernhardt
Dec20-04, 09:17 PM
'Classroom','CoryR','OK I think we are ready to get started.';
'Classroom','CoryR','Welcome to tonight's Q&A Chat Event with Theoretical Physicist Dr. Michio Kaku. We're glad to have you with us Dr. Kaku, how are you doing this evening?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Fine';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','I am ready.';
'Classroom','CoryR','Great. Let's get right to our first question.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','OK';
'Classroom','CoryR','catch.yossarian asks:
What do you think about the whole deal with the Hubble Space Telescope? Are you siding with leaving it up as long as it can (estimated at around 2012), or bringing down what many consider US culture and letting it burn up in the atmosphere? Would you want replacement for Hubble or do you think its fine to stick to ground-based observation?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','I think we should salvage it.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','There are many breakthroughs in land based telescopes';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','that make some aspects of the Hubble obsolete';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but one shuttle mission would be';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','sufficient to salvage it.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','A robotic mission might not work';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but humans can certainly repair it.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','It would be a shame to lose a';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','billion dollar work horse.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','But advances in laser/assisted telescopes,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but the new giant telescopes';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','make the Hubble less revolutionary than before/';
'Classroom','CoryR','REMINDER: Be sure to send in your questions to QuestionBot by double-clicking on the nickname to the right.';
'Classroom','CoryR','startdust asks: Hello Dr. Kaku: I have a basic understanding of particles but I am perplexed about how they form from the big bang. Why are they so small and keep getting smaller and smaller?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','No, the big bang produced a large';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','flux of particles,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and these particles keep on interacting, rather than getting smaller.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','For example,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','there was probably a matter/anti-matter';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','collision at the big bang';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','which createda huge flux of gamma rays';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and the particles we see in nature';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','including us';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','are a tiny remnant of that explosion/';
'Classroom','CoryR','chroot asks: Do you think that string theory will ever be testable? If so, how many years will it be?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Yes!';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Contrary to the critics';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','string theory can be tested.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','First, in 2011';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','LISA will be sent into orbit';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','It will have 3 satellites';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','connected by 3 laser beams';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','about 3 million miles across.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Any gravity wave which hits';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','LISA will cause an interference';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','which can be detected.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','LISA should be able to confirm or disprove';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','inflation and various string-type';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','cosmologies which have been proposed.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Also, in 2007';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','the LHC will be turned on';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','which may detect sparticles';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','or super particles';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','which are higher octaves';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','of the string.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Also, dark matter';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','which makes up 23%';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','of the universe';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','is probably made of sparticles.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Any day, someone may find dark matter in their';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','lab detector.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','LISA may give direct evidence for strings';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','while the LHC and dark matter';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','experiments may give';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','indirect proof of string theory.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','So the cynics do not understand how advanced';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','the experiments really are.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Plus, many groups are looking for experimental evidence of';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','higher dijmensions,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','such as at Unif. of Colorado.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','But so far, these experiments have not found';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','any definitive proof of the existence of higher dimensions/';
'Classroom','CoryR','REMINDER: Be sure to send in your questions to QuestionBot by double-clicking on the nickname to the right.';
'Classroom','CoryR','phreak asks: In the book "Visions", you were very optimistic about the future of science and technology. Firstly, have you lost this optimism about the future or are you still looking forward to the future? Secondly, are you disappointed with the current state of technology in the year 2004?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','In my o';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','book Visions';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','I made several predictions';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','all of which are being realized.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','So far, the predictions I made are all becoming true.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','The predictions are up to 2020, and some even to 2050';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','so I expect that some predictions will eventually';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','fail, but so far all the predictions are holding.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','This is because, for the book, I interviewed 150 top';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','scientists, who are inventing the';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','future, so it was, in some sense,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','easy to make correct predictions,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','because I was interviewing the people';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','who are making the future come true/';
'Classroom','CoryR','and what do you think of the current state of Technology in 2004?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Its hard to';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','predict year by year';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','so, in the book, I';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','made predictions every five years or so.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','At any particular year, its hard to show';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','that there are big breakthroughs.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','This month, for example,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','for the first time in history';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','doctors in Germany';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','took a 7 year old girls stem cells';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and grew 19 sq. inches of bone, enough to';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','cover a huge hole in her skull.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','She lacked large chunks of her skull due to';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','a big accident, and had to wear a helmet';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','even though her brain could be seen right';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','through all the large cracks in her skull.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','But human stem cells were grown that finally covered';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','her skull, which is a real breakthrough in stem';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','cell research/';
'Classroom','CoryR','Stars asks: When might the next big breakthrough in String Theory arrive?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Every 10 years or so, there is a huge breakthrough';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','in string theory.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','The theory was born in 1968';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but in 1984';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','it was shown to be';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','free of any inconsistencies.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Then in 1994';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','it was shown that there is a higher';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','11 dimensional theory called M';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','theory';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','so now, after 10 more years, we should be due for';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','another breakthrough, I hope.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','The theory is quite hard, and it is smarter than us.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','It is truly amazing that the theory has such deapth and';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','is so full of mathematical richness.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Unfortunately, we are still inthe process of';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','finding out where all these miracles come from.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Remember, wrong theories are usually';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','quite shallow and ultimately sterile';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','while string theory seems to be inexaustible/';
'Classroom','CoryR','rtharbaugh asks: Dr. Kaku, do you still believe that it is impossible for us to visualize in four or more dimensions? I am thinking of your statement on page ten of hyperspace.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','No. We';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','cannot visualize higher dimensional';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','objects';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','because';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','our brains only evolved';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','in three dimensions';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but computers';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','have no problem.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','As a child';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','I would try to';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','leap into hyperspace';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but always failed';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','This convinced me that our brains really';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','are not';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','developed';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','enough to manipulate';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','higher dimensions.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','When I write a paper in 10 or 11';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','dimensions,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','I try to keep the diagrams to a minimum';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and just use equations';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','because it takes too long';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','to try to use aids';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and tricks';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','to visualize 10';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','or 11 dimensions.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','/';
'Classroom','CoryR','REMINDER: Be sure to send in your questions to QuestionBot by double-clicking on the nickname to the right.';
'Classroom','CoryR','Stars asks: What is the difference between hyperspace and the multiverse, or are they one in the same?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','They are different.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Hyperspace simply means dimensions beyond our own 4 D space-time.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','The multiverse simply means parallel universe.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','They are related';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','in that a multiverse can exist within';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','hyperspace.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','We can have, for example,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','floating 4D bubbles';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','in a 11D multiverse.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Thus, the multiverse idea can be';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','embedded within';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','hyperspace.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','At present, there is';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','no experimental proof';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','of either concept, however/';
'Classroom','CoryR','courtrigrad asks: Dr Kaku, what is your advice to aspiring mathematicians and physicists?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','The most importnat';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','piece of advise';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','is to keep your';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','sense of wonderment';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','alive.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','You have to have a lot of math to become a physicist';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but the math is only a tool to visualize the physical';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','picture.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','That is the difference between';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','math and physics.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Physicis is based on a handful';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','of physical principles';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','such as relativity and the quantum';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','principle.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Thus, just a handful of principles';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','drive the entire universe.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','But';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','to describe these';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','principles and work out their details,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','we need math.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Hence, math is book keeping';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','to keep track of the principle.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','As a physicist, you have to keep that';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','picture or principle firmly in mind';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and share in the wonderment over';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','that principle';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and not be bogged';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','down in the algebra.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','In sum, we always have to keep that';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','wonderment alive, but not get';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','bogged down in the math';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','although we need plenty of it.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','As a child,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','I read a lot of science';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','fiction,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but I';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','realized that';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','sooner';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','or later I would become a crack pot';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','always talking about higher dimensions';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','or time travel,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','unless I seriously learned the math';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','I never regretted it.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Now, I get tons of emails';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','from people who are still';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','fascinated by science fiction.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but never had the opportunity';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','or dedication to learn the math.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','In other words, the language of';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','nature is math.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','We can share in the wonderment over';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','nature'';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','s beauty';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but eventually we have to speak';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','her language/';
'Classroom','CoryR','REMINDER: Be sure to send in your questions to QuestionBot by double-clicking on the nickname to the right.';
'Classroom','CoryR','rick1138 asks: Which sparticles would you hope to see in the LHC experiments?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','I hope we find dark matter.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Dark matter, which makes';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','up 23%';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','of the universe';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','is probably made of';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','photinos';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','which are a higher excitation of the photon.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','MOst of the universe';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','is made of dark matter and dark energy.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','The higher elements only';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','make up .03%';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','of the universe.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Hence, I hope the LHC discovers';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','the HIggs boson, the last';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','missing piece';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','of the standard model,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','plus dark matter sparticles.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','However, these particles are';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','neutral and hence leave';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','no tracks';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','in our instruments';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and hence we can';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','only find them';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','when they collide with charged';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','particles.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Remember, the LHC will be turned on in just a ffew';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','more years/';
'Classroom','CoryR','Stars asks: why is 2005 considered the 'World Year of Physics'?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Because';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','in 1905';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Einstein discovered special';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','relativity.
It was';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','a miracle year,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','like when Newton was 23 years old and';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','discovered calculus, the binomial theorem';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and the universal';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','law of gravity in one year.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','In 1905, Einstein';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','introduced the photon,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','got special relavitiy';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','proved the existence of atoms';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and got E = mc squared';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','all in one year';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','while he was';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','unemployed as a physicist';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','(He was working as a lowly';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','clerk in the Bern patent office)/';
'Classroom','CoryR','REMINDER: Be sure to send in your questions to QuestionBot by double-clicking on the nickname to the right.';
'Classroom','CoryR','CaptainOfTheDay asks: I find Physics fascinating, but my physics teacher is ridiculously boring. Do you have any advice on how I keep interested in my Physics class rather than just zoning out?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','My own physics teacher';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','was also boring';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Almost all physicists I know';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','maintained their';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','interest in';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','physics in spite of';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','their physics teacher.';
'Classroom','CoryR','Welcome to tonight's Q&A Chat Event with Theoretical Physicist Dr. Michio Kaku. We're glad to have you with us Dr. Kaku, how are you doing this evening?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Fine';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','I am ready.';
'Classroom','CoryR','Great. Let's get right to our first question.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','OK';
'Classroom','CoryR','catch.yossarian asks:
What do you think about the whole deal with the Hubble Space Telescope? Are you siding with leaving it up as long as it can (estimated at around 2012), or bringing down what many consider US culture and letting it burn up in the atmosphere? Would you want replacement for Hubble or do you think its fine to stick to ground-based observation?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','I think we should salvage it.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','There are many breakthroughs in land based telescopes';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','that make some aspects of the Hubble obsolete';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but one shuttle mission would be';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','sufficient to salvage it.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','A robotic mission might not work';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but humans can certainly repair it.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','It would be a shame to lose a';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','billion dollar work horse.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','But advances in laser/assisted telescopes,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but the new giant telescopes';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','make the Hubble less revolutionary than before/';
'Classroom','CoryR','REMINDER: Be sure to send in your questions to QuestionBot by double-clicking on the nickname to the right.';
'Classroom','CoryR','startdust asks: Hello Dr. Kaku: I have a basic understanding of particles but I am perplexed about how they form from the big bang. Why are they so small and keep getting smaller and smaller?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','No, the big bang produced a large';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','flux of particles,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and these particles keep on interacting, rather than getting smaller.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','For example,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','there was probably a matter/anti-matter';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','collision at the big bang';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','which createda huge flux of gamma rays';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and the particles we see in nature';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','including us';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','are a tiny remnant of that explosion/';
'Classroom','CoryR','chroot asks: Do you think that string theory will ever be testable? If so, how many years will it be?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Yes!';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Contrary to the critics';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','string theory can be tested.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','First, in 2011';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','LISA will be sent into orbit';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','It will have 3 satellites';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','connected by 3 laser beams';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','about 3 million miles across.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Any gravity wave which hits';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','LISA will cause an interference';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','which can be detected.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','LISA should be able to confirm or disprove';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','inflation and various string-type';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','cosmologies which have been proposed.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Also, in 2007';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','the LHC will be turned on';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','which may detect sparticles';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','or super particles';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','which are higher octaves';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','of the string.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Also, dark matter';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','which makes up 23%';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','of the universe';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','is probably made of sparticles.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Any day, someone may find dark matter in their';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','lab detector.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','LISA may give direct evidence for strings';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','while the LHC and dark matter';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','experiments may give';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','indirect proof of string theory.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','So the cynics do not understand how advanced';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','the experiments really are.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Plus, many groups are looking for experimental evidence of';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','higher dijmensions,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','such as at Unif. of Colorado.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','But so far, these experiments have not found';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','any definitive proof of the existence of higher dimensions/';
'Classroom','CoryR','REMINDER: Be sure to send in your questions to QuestionBot by double-clicking on the nickname to the right.';
'Classroom','CoryR','phreak asks: In the book "Visions", you were very optimistic about the future of science and technology. Firstly, have you lost this optimism about the future or are you still looking forward to the future? Secondly, are you disappointed with the current state of technology in the year 2004?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','In my o';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','book Visions';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','I made several predictions';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','all of which are being realized.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','So far, the predictions I made are all becoming true.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','The predictions are up to 2020, and some even to 2050';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','so I expect that some predictions will eventually';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','fail, but so far all the predictions are holding.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','This is because, for the book, I interviewed 150 top';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','scientists, who are inventing the';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','future, so it was, in some sense,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','easy to make correct predictions,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','because I was interviewing the people';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','who are making the future come true/';
'Classroom','CoryR','and what do you think of the current state of Technology in 2004?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Its hard to';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','predict year by year';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','so, in the book, I';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','made predictions every five years or so.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','At any particular year, its hard to show';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','that there are big breakthroughs.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','This month, for example,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','for the first time in history';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','doctors in Germany';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','took a 7 year old girls stem cells';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and grew 19 sq. inches of bone, enough to';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','cover a huge hole in her skull.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','She lacked large chunks of her skull due to';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','a big accident, and had to wear a helmet';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','even though her brain could be seen right';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','through all the large cracks in her skull.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','But human stem cells were grown that finally covered';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','her skull, which is a real breakthrough in stem';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','cell research/';
'Classroom','CoryR','Stars asks: When might the next big breakthrough in String Theory arrive?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Every 10 years or so, there is a huge breakthrough';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','in string theory.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','The theory was born in 1968';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but in 1984';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','it was shown to be';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','free of any inconsistencies.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Then in 1994';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','it was shown that there is a higher';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','11 dimensional theory called M';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','theory';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','so now, after 10 more years, we should be due for';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','another breakthrough, I hope.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','The theory is quite hard, and it is smarter than us.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','It is truly amazing that the theory has such deapth and';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','is so full of mathematical richness.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Unfortunately, we are still inthe process of';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','finding out where all these miracles come from.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Remember, wrong theories are usually';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','quite shallow and ultimately sterile';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','while string theory seems to be inexaustible/';
'Classroom','CoryR','rtharbaugh asks: Dr. Kaku, do you still believe that it is impossible for us to visualize in four or more dimensions? I am thinking of your statement on page ten of hyperspace.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','No. We';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','cannot visualize higher dimensional';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','objects';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','because';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','our brains only evolved';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','in three dimensions';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but computers';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','have no problem.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','As a child';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','I would try to';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','leap into hyperspace';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but always failed';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','This convinced me that our brains really';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','are not';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','developed';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','enough to manipulate';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','higher dimensions.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','When I write a paper in 10 or 11';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','dimensions,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','I try to keep the diagrams to a minimum';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and just use equations';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','because it takes too long';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','to try to use aids';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and tricks';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','to visualize 10';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','or 11 dimensions.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','/';
'Classroom','CoryR','REMINDER: Be sure to send in your questions to QuestionBot by double-clicking on the nickname to the right.';
'Classroom','CoryR','Stars asks: What is the difference between hyperspace and the multiverse, or are they one in the same?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','They are different.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Hyperspace simply means dimensions beyond our own 4 D space-time.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','The multiverse simply means parallel universe.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','They are related';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','in that a multiverse can exist within';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','hyperspace.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','We can have, for example,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','floating 4D bubbles';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','in a 11D multiverse.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Thus, the multiverse idea can be';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','embedded within';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','hyperspace.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','At present, there is';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','no experimental proof';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','of either concept, however/';
'Classroom','CoryR','courtrigrad asks: Dr Kaku, what is your advice to aspiring mathematicians and physicists?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','The most importnat';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','piece of advise';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','is to keep your';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','sense of wonderment';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','alive.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','You have to have a lot of math to become a physicist';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but the math is only a tool to visualize the physical';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','picture.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','That is the difference between';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','math and physics.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Physicis is based on a handful';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','of physical principles';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','such as relativity and the quantum';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','principle.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Thus, just a handful of principles';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','drive the entire universe.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','But';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','to describe these';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','principles and work out their details,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','we need math.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Hence, math is book keeping';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','to keep track of the principle.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','As a physicist, you have to keep that';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','picture or principle firmly in mind';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and share in the wonderment over';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','that principle';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and not be bogged';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','down in the algebra.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','In sum, we always have to keep that';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','wonderment alive, but not get';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','bogged down in the math';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','although we need plenty of it.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','As a child,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','I read a lot of science';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','fiction,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but I';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','realized that';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','sooner';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','or later I would become a crack pot';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','always talking about higher dimensions';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','or time travel,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','unless I seriously learned the math';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','I never regretted it.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Now, I get tons of emails';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','from people who are still';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','fascinated by science fiction.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but never had the opportunity';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','or dedication to learn the math.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','In other words, the language of';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','nature is math.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','We can share in the wonderment over';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','nature'';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','s beauty';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','but eventually we have to speak';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','her language/';
'Classroom','CoryR','REMINDER: Be sure to send in your questions to QuestionBot by double-clicking on the nickname to the right.';
'Classroom','CoryR','rick1138 asks: Which sparticles would you hope to see in the LHC experiments?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','I hope we find dark matter.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Dark matter, which makes';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','up 23%';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','of the universe';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','is probably made of';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','photinos';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','which are a higher excitation of the photon.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','MOst of the universe';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','is made of dark matter and dark energy.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','The higher elements only';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','make up .03%';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','of the universe.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Hence, I hope the LHC discovers';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','the HIggs boson, the last';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','missing piece';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','of the standard model,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','plus dark matter sparticles.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','However, these particles are';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','neutral and hence leave';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','no tracks';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','in our instruments';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and hence we can';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','only find them';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','when they collide with charged';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','particles.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Remember, the LHC will be turned on in just a ffew';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','more years/';
'Classroom','CoryR','Stars asks: why is 2005 considered the 'World Year of Physics'?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Because';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','in 1905';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Einstein discovered special';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','relativity.
It was';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','a miracle year,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','like when Newton was 23 years old and';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','discovered calculus, the binomial theorem';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and the universal';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','law of gravity in one year.';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','In 1905, Einstein';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','introduced the photon,';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','got special relavitiy';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','proved the existence of atoms';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','and got E = mc squared';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','all in one year';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','while he was';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','unemployed as a physicist';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','(He was working as a lowly';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','clerk in the Bern patent office)/';
'Classroom','CoryR','REMINDER: Be sure to send in your questions to QuestionBot by double-clicking on the nickname to the right.';
'Classroom','CoryR','CaptainOfTheDay asks: I find Physics fascinating, but my physics teacher is ridiculously boring. Do you have any advice on how I keep interested in my Physics class rather than just zoning out?';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','My own physics teacher';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','was also boring';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','Almost all physicists I know';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','maintained their';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','interest in';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','physics in spite of';
'Classroom','DrMichioKaku','their physics teacher.';