Is it me, or is Michio Kaku a total buffoon?

[Ivan Seeking]

http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?db_key=AST&bibcode=1964SvA...8..217K&letter=.&classic=YES&defaultprint=YES&whole_paper=YES&page=217&epage=217&send=Send+PDF&filetype=.pdf may have coined this "Type I-IV civilizations" terminology.

Yes, post 16:

In a seminal paper published in 1964 in the Journal of Soviet Astronomy, Russian astrophysicist Nicolai Kardashev theorized that advanced civilizations must therefore be grouped according to three types: Type I, II, and III, which have mastered planetary, stellar and galactic forms of energy, respectively. He calculated that the energy consumption of these three types of civilization would be separated by a factor of many billions. But how long will it take to reach Type II and III status? [continued]

...though I'm not sure who first suggested type IV.

 

[humanino]

For those wanting a bit more meat on Dr. Kaku's work, here is a link you might find useful...

http://www.slac.stanford.edu/spires/find/hep/www?rawcmd=find+a+kaku&FORMAT=WWW&SEQUENCE=

Just to make it clear, I did not claim that Kaku does not understand what he is talking about, or even that he is a bad researcher. I read only three of his books, technical ones, and came to the conclusion that he tends to speak to much without enough substance. Having seen that in his technical books, I would definitely stay away from any kind of vulgarisation from him.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Speaking in general terms is what allows him to connect with the public. How many other physicists have the ear of the average person - Joe Sixpack?

If nothing else, the scientific community should be grateful for the interest in, and ultimately the support for tax dollars for science that people like Kaku help to stimulate.

 

[ZapperZ]

If nothing else, the scientific community should be grateful for the interest in, and ultimately the support for tax dollars for science that people like Kaku help to stimulate.

If this is the consequence of what he has done, then he's not doing a very good job, from looking at the funding to basic research this past 20 years.

Zz.

 

[Poop-Loops]

Yeah, but just imagine what it would be like if he wasn't helping out! The theories are enormous!

 

[humanino]

If nothing else, the scientific community should be grateful for the interest in, and ultimately the support for tax dollars for science that people like Kaku help to stimulate.

I am very sorry, but I do not fully agree with that point of view. Maybe I should not write this here, however I will try to make from the beginning that I am aware how much my own opinion is contreversial these days, and probably largely considered quite unfair.

Scientific research does not always benefit from too much communication. When you keep making promesses to people, you have to provide at some point otherwise they will not trust your words and fund you anymore. Scientists claiming for decades to the public that they will come up with a "theory of everything", or "the equation of God", or the "ultimate truth" may also harm the scientific community from this point of view on the long term. Are they really that naive ? Some might consider them selfish at the very least...

Yeah, but just imagine what it would be like if he wasn't helping out! The theories are enormous!

Maybe the situation would be far better without such people, how can we know ? You assume he helps. Far from clear to me.

 

[Tekno]

http://www.slac.stanford.edu/spires/find/hep/www?rawcmd=find+a+kaku&FORMAT=WWW&SEQUENCE=

Just to make it clear, I did not claim that Kaku does not understand what he is talking about, or even that he is a bad researcher. I read only three of his books, technical ones, and came to the conclusion that he tends to speak to much without enough substance. Having seen that in his technical books, I would definitely stay away from any kind of vulgarisation from him.

Thanks humanino!

He is more than a bit the opposite of many Theorists, most make me research so I can understand it all. I have multiple disabilities and they cause me to mix up words, not anywhere near as good at the advanced math since my accident either. So I tend to like the way Michio explains things... then I go dig for the meat... LOL

 

[Tekno]

If this is the consequence of what he has done, then he's not doing a very good job, from looking at the funding to basic research this past 20 years.

Zz.

LOL... no, but as Albert Einstein said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge" and Dr. Kaku does inspire that.

I am not usually into popularist things or people, I tend to be a bit of a skeptic and not one to follow the crowd. But Michio's appearances on places like the Science Channel awakened an old passion for physics. I love to mix it into many of my artworks.

 

[jhicks]

I have Michio Kaku's (latest edition) books on Quantum Field theory (1993) and both on String theory (1999) . They are not very satisfactory if you have a rigourous mind. To me, he does not talk about QFT or ST, to me he speaks around it. It is stimulating if you want to get the taste of it, but frustrating if you want to actually do it.

If you read the introduction to his QFT book he basically says "if you can't do the exercises based on what is presented here you aren't trying hard enough" . I honestly wonder if anyone has successfully self studied from his book, especially before the age of the internet.

 

[octelcogopod]

I watched a video series on the future, I took most of it as a cool sci-fi dream..
It didn't seem like a professional analysis, or theory on the future, it seemed more like dreams and cool predictions, and the show was presented that way as well.

Although I don't know anything about him, I liked his character on the show, I liked all the cool stuff he talked about, but ultimately I didn't take it as a credible analysis of what might come later. It seemed like just one of many many possibilities.

 

[humanino]

"if you can't do the exercises based on what is presented here you aren't trying hard enough"

Interesting indeed. The editions I have exactly says

Often, students complain that they understand the material but cannot do the problems. We feel that this is a contradiction in terms. If one cannot do the exercises, then one does not really fully understand the material.

And then, he goes on discussing on the fact the he purposedely avoided two extreme, too much or too little details. Maybe it is just a matter of taste in the end.

 

[jostpuur]

Interesting indeed. The editions I have exactly says

Often, students complain that they understand the material but cannot do the problems. We feel that this is a contradiction in terms. If one cannot do the exercises, then one does not really fully understand the material.

And then, he goes on discussing on the fact the he purposedely avoided two extreme, too much or too little details. Maybe it is just a matter of taste in the end.

I would complain, that I still have no understanding about what a fermion field is. I have, however, calculated amplitudes for some QED processes with Feynman rules very successfully. Perhaps my kind is not so common then?

 

[Tekno]

I would complain, that I still have no understanding about what a fermion field is. I have, however, calculated amplitudes for some QED processes with Feynman rules very successfully. Perhaps my kind is not so common then?

You've hit the nail on the head! Dr. Kaku is like I am to some degree personality wise. He will seek to awaken a thirst to understand but he will seldom hand you the answer. We often learn a lesson better when we are forced to take the journey and search for the solution! This is the path of enlightenment.

 

[tribdog]

You've hit the nail on the head! Dr. Kaku is like I am to some degree personality wise. He will seek to awaken a thirst to understand but he will seldom hand you the answer. We often learn a lesson better when we are forced to take the journey and search for the solution! This is the path of enlightenment.

you forgot to call him grasshopper

 

[Tekno]

you forgot to call him grasshopper

LOL... same type philosophy ;-)

 

[Schrodinger's Dog]

You've hit the nail on the head! Dr. Kaku is like I am to some degree personality wise. He will seek to awaken a thirst to understand but he will seldom hand you the answer. We often learn a lesson better when we are forced to take the journey and search for the solution! This is the path of enlightenment.

Well no one thinks string theory is a complete waste of time, well no one I've seen. Of course any sort of avenue whether it is wrong or not furthers understanding. But shouldn't String Theory be resigned to maths depts, and not researched in physics dept, until it has some verifiable experimental data?

I'm big fan of him as a person, as scientist, ie one who uses scientific method not so much.

 

[ranger]

I've had the opportunity to speak to him on several occasions and even got a few books signed. He holds a Chair at my college. Its just amazing to listen to him give lectures and talks. I don't know why there's so much animosity for him around here. I think people are confusing him as a theoretical physicists and futurist, then conveniently look at only one side and make judgments. For example calling him a sellout and so on.

 

[Math Is Hard]

Dr. Kaku is on Coast to Coast AM next Friday discussing his book Physics of the Impossible. Art Bell is hosting.

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2008/03/28.html

 

[George Jones]

An http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/media/2007-2008/mp3/qq-2008-03-22_01.mp3" with Kaku aired yesterday on the CBC programme Quirks and Quarks.

 

[Moonbear]

Dr. Kaku is on Coast to Coast AM next Friday discussing his book Physics of the Impossible. Art Bell is hosting.

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2008/03/28.html

I can't see that as helping his credibility at all.

 

[OmCheeto]

I can't see that as helping his credibility at all.

Well, given some of the guests and topics on that show, I have to agree. But I will be listening. His last show was kind of funny. Art asked one of those out of the world questions. I can't remember what it was. Perhaps; "Do you think Yeti's are alien invaders?" Prof. Kaku paused for a moment and went off on a totally different direction without ever acknowledging the question.

There are a few reviews out regarding his new book:

A fascinating exploration of the interface between science and science fiction, extremely well researched, lively, and tremendously entertaining. – Fritjof Capra

I have to admit, I've never read any of his books, but I do love listening to him.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I can't see that as helping his credibility at all.

Brian Greene makes occasional appearances, and I believe that Lisa Randall has been on as well.

...no better way to sell a book.

 

[Math Is Hard]

Brian Greene makes occasional appearances, and I believe that Lisa Randall has been on as well.

...no better way to sell a book.

When Lisa Randall was on, Art introduced her as a "female Michio Kaku". I seem to recall that didn't go over very well.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

When Lisa Randall was on, Art introduced her as a "female Michio Kaku". I seem to recall that didn't go over very well.

Maybe someone should have told her that Bell also labeled Kaku as the new Carl Sagan.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Not to derail the thread, but did I hear that Bell was getting divorced from his new child bride?

 

[cepheid]

An http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/media/2007-2008/mp3/qq-2008-03-22_01.mp3" with Kaku aired yesterday on the CBC programme Quirks and Quarks.

I just listened to this, and I see what people are saying. Btw, I don't like them comparing this guy to Sagan at all!

"In physics, there is a statement that anything that is not impossible is mandatory."

What does he mean? Is he just saying that if a claim is not falsifiable, then whatever is being claimed must, in principle, be possible?

He also states some things very confidently, such as the fact that it is possible to survive a trip through a black hole under certain conditions, or that a trip through a black hole definitely leads to a parallel universe, whatever that means. Not having studied GR, I am not in a position to evaluate his claims, but they seem sort of far-fetched. I didn't think that physicists were 100% sure that there even WERE parallel universes.

 

[Schrodinger's Dog]

Yeah he says a lot of things with confidence that turn out to be hypothetical rather than theoretical; that's Kaku though in my experience.

Since as far as I know no one has survived a trip through a black hole, I'd take that statement as being in the hypothetical camp, equally parallel Universes are hypothetical.

 

[Poop-Loops]

"In physics, there is a statement that anything that is not impossible is mandatory."

What does he mean? Is he just saying that if a claim is not falsifiable, then whatever is being claimed must, in principle, be possible?

No, he's saying that if you can't rule out something happening, then it WILL happen. For example there is nothing against flipping a coin so that it lands on its side rather than heads or tails, so eventually you'd expect it to happen. Something along those lines.

Not that if it's not falsifiable it has to happen, but if you've proven that it's not impossible, then it has to happen. Very vague statement.

He also states some things very confidently, such as the fact that it is possible to survive a trip through a black hole under certain conditions, or that a trip through a black hole definitely leads to a parallel universe, whatever that means. Not having studied GR, I am not in a position to evaluate his claims, but they seem sort of far-fetched. I didn't think that physicists were 100% sure that there even WERE parallel universes.

He's a string theorist. He HAS to be sure there are parallel universes or else his entire work would be meaningless. :p

 

[Schrodinger's Dog]

Sounds more like a belief than a science.

 

[Cyrus]

An http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/media/2007-2008/mp3/qq-2008-03-22_01.mp3" with Kaku aired yesterday on the CBC programme Quirks and Quarks.

Interesting, negative energy!

 

[cepheid]

Interesting, negative energy!

Right! That was the other thing that seemed crazy, although I haven't looked up the Kasimir effect that he alluded to.

 

[mikelepore]

Something bothers me. Once the scientific method began with observations. People said, "I wonder why this happens", "I wonder why it looks this way." Hypothesis. Experiment. But today, with some of the way-out ideas, like wormholes, the process begins with "I would be real cool if this were true." Nothing observed and wondered about. Just inspiration from sci-fi novels, and "it would be so cool" ... "so let's devote our careers, and the money of university benefactors, and sometimes taxpayer money, to modeling it."

Then the supposed "testing" of the idea is to check that it's not (yet) found to be mathematically inconsistent. I don't see how that achieves anything important. There are a lot of things that aren't true even though there are no self-contradictions in them. There would be no logical or mathematical self-contradictions in me being a rich and famous movie star, but that doesn't make it true, or even worthy of being suspected. How does the fact that the mathematics is self-consistent, when they consider wormholes, eleven dimensional space, or time running backwards, give some people any confidence in such ideas? The only thing logical consistency achieves is: "This idea hasn't yet been proven wrong."

 

[Schrodinger's Dog]

I've said that numerous times before, the last time was in relation to MWI. "You're theory is crazy but not crazy enough to be true!", to quote Bohr.

 

[Quincy]

Michio Kaku is indeed really smart - he built a particle accelerator at age 17, graduated at the top of his class from Harvard - and explains things really well but he is a sell-out...

 

[Cyrus]

I agree, he is smart. He's using his brain to make money. Why the HELL not? Is he supposed to please a bunch of people on a physics forum? Gimme a break folks.

Kudos to him for getting rich in the process of doing what you love. I hope I can do the same someday.

 

[cepheid]

but he is a sell-out...

Several people have said this in this thread. What does it MEAN? He's a scientist. How can a physicist "sell out" his colleagues?

The importance of promoting basic scientific literacy amongst the general populace, as well as inspiring the imaginations of the next generation of scientists cannot be underestimated.

Maybe Michio Kaku is not very effective at doing the former, but it sounds like he has done some of the latter.

I say this despite some of the reservations I had about what he was saying in the CBC interview.

 

[Tekno]

Several people have said this in this thread. What does it MEAN? He's a scientist. How can a physicist "sell out" his colleagues?

LOL... I'd like to hear their definition of sell out as well!

Let me defend Dr. Kaku as well, since he's not here to speak for himself. Dr. Kaku uses imagination and then sees if it can be ruled out mathematically & scientifically. He follows an example set by Einstein - "I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."

The concept E=mc2 didn't just pop into his head one day. Einstein himself had some pretty crazy theories that he eventually ruled out. He simply lived in a time with a culture that didn't really allow him to speak out on them.

I would say that Michio will best be known in the end not for his genius, certainly well Earned, but rather for the huge numbers of people he has inspired to seek out their imagination and thus a desire to understand and learn.

http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i1652454_WeavingaStarInspirational2.jpg

Is how I put it with an artistic touch... LOL

 

[Schrodinger's Dog]

He's no Feynman. But he's no http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Fleischmann either.

Agree with this. ^

 

[Mk]

Not to derail the thread, but did I hear that Bell was getting divorced from his new child bride?

Oh man, I don't want to hear about it.

Poor guy. Needs to settle down by himself a while.

 

[Mk]

Several people have said this in this thread. What does it MEAN? He's a scientist. How can a physicist "sell out" his colleagues?

Yeah, wait a second, I'm starting to get the cynical idea that this guy is kind of charismatic and is getting rich. Sure, he's selling popular science, but he does write papers and texts. Hawking has done both, and no body says he's a sell out.

 

[Poop-Loops]

You can't insult Hawking because he's a cripple. That would be mean. Kaku is fair game, though.

You become a sell out when you care more about being famous/rich than whatever got you there in the first place. In this case, the physics.

Is this true of Kaku?

 

[Tekno]

You can't insult Hawking because he's a cripple. That would be mean. Kaku is fair game, though.

You become a sell out when you care more about being famous/rich than whatever got you there in the first place. In this case, the physics.

Is this true of Kaku?

No its not true of Kaku, nor is Stephen Hawking being out of bounds because he' a cripple. I myself am disabled and I surprise folks all the time because they put too much emphasis on the disability and not the ability. Yes Stephen's condition causes him many problems but I suspect he looks at it much like I do - a fact of life, hurdles to overcome.

Just because someone makes lots of money does not mean they are a sell out. The same with being all over TV & the Radio waves. Part of their fame comes from the fact that they've earned their status. In Dr. Kaku's case, it is also because he is so personable and seeks to explain things in a way which non-science oriented people can grasp. This is why he is so sought after for shows and documentaries.

I would suggest anyone accusing him of being a sell-out go do some extensive research as to what Michio's full contributions are and what he does with a whole lot of that money. Your opinion might change drastically.

 

[Schrodinger's Dog]

No its not true of Kaku, nor is Stephen Hawking being out of bounds because he' a cripple. I myself am disabled and I surprise folks all the time because they put too much emphasis on the disability and not the ability. Yes Stephen's condition causes him many problems but I suspect he looks at it much like I do - a fact of life, hurdles to overcome.

Particularly well said. Stephen Hawking's disability has always been what has driven him. The fact that he was going to die soon, at least as said by his Dr's made him obsessive, but in a good way. He still is.

Just because someone makes lots of money does not mean they are a sell out. The same with being all over TV & the Radio waves. Part of their fame comes from the fact that they've earned their status. In Dr. Kaku's case, it is also because he is so personable and seeks to explain things in a way which non-science oriented people can grasp. This is why he is so sought after for shows and documentaries.

Well said

I would suggest anyone accusing him of being a sell-out go do some extensive research as to what Michio's full contributions are and what he does with a whole lot of that money. Your opinion might change drastically.

Also very well said.

 

[humanino]

You can't insult Hawking because he's a cripple. That would be mean. Kaku is fair game, though.

I find this thread fascinating. Hawking's papers are audacious, truly deep and beautifully written. His book with Penrose on the structure of space and time is a jewel. Reading technical papers from Hawking blesses one with deepest hindsights on the most baffling conceptual problems in physics. Comparing Hawking and Kaku is not only inappropriate, it is nonsense. http://www.slac.stanford.edu/spires/find/hep/www?rawcmd=find+a+hawking&FORMAT=WWW&SEQUENCE= . They just don't play at the same level. May I remind you that Hawking is sitting on Newton and Dirac same chair ?

Bringing the idea that one would not "dare" insulting Hawking because of his physical condition is not only insulting to Hawking as well as to people here, it also displays a very poor sens of humanity.

 

[Math Is Hard]

Not to derail the thread, but did I hear that Bell was getting divorced from his new child bride?

I haven't heard that. Hope it's not true. I was hoping he had found someone who would take care of him since he does seem to have health issues from time to time.

 

[Tekno]

I find this thread fascinating. Hawking's papers are audacious, truly deep and beautifully written. His book with Penrose on the structure of space and time is a jewel. Reading technical papers from Hawking blesses one with deepest hindsights on the most baffling conceptual problems in physics. Comparing Hawking and Kaku is not only inappropriate, it is nonsense.

LOL.. if you only wish to go by their papers, I would agree, however when you factor in their life as a whole, both are equally amazing men, just walking on slightly different paths. It is why you love Stephen's work and dislike Michio's, where I on the other hand love both, for each offers me different insights, knowledge and many new things to contemplate.

 

[binzing]

I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE to meet Hawking, he's AWESOME.

 

[Tekno]

I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE to meet Hawking, he's AWESOME.

Ditto! Would love to meet him as well, but other than to pay him a compliment once I don't even write him so as not to take up his time.

 

[Math Is Hard]

I figure he has a very good sense of humor.

Clowning around with Jim Carey:

 

[OmCheeto]

I figure he has a very good sense of humor.

When I hear of Schrödinger's cat, I reach for my gun...
... Stephen William Hawking.

I'm sorry, but when I saw that quote, I knew I not only admired him, but loved that man.