FacebookTwitterYoutubeInstagramGoogle Plus

Big Ideas
Cumrun Vafa: On the Shoulders of Giants

Acknowledging the scientists who blazed intellectual trails before him, Isaac Newton wrote: “If I have seen a little further it was by standing on the shoulders of giants.” In this special series, we invite our audience to stand on the shoulders of a modern day giant. We are honored to present an address by National Academy member Cumrun Vafa, Donner Professor of Science in the Department of Physics at Harvard University. Vafa’s primary area of research is string theory, which is at the center of efforts by theoretical physicists to find a unified fundamental theory of nature in a consistent quantum theory. Vafa’s address focuses on an innovative approach he has pioneered at Harvard, using mind-bending puzzles to teach subtle but essential concepts in physics and energize the next generation of giants to engage with forefront ideas.Learn More

View Additional Video Information

Big Ideas
Cumrun Vafa: On the Shoulders of Giants

Acknowledging the scientists who blazed intellectual trails before him, Isaac Newton wrote: “If I have seen a little further it was by standing on the shoulders of giants.” In this special series, we invite our audience to stand on the shoulders of a modern day giant. We are honored to present an address by National Academy member Cumrun Vafa, Donner Professor of Science in the Department of Physics at Harvard University. Vafa’s primary area of research is string theory, which is at the center of efforts by theoretical physicists to find a unified fundamental theory of nature in a consistent quantum theory. Vafa’s address focuses on an innovative approach he has pioneered at Harvard, using mind-bending puzzles to teach subtle but essential concepts in physics and energize the next generation of giants to engage with forefront ideas.Learn More

View Additional Video Information

Up Next

97,580 views |
95,657 views |
239,819 views |
104,441 views |
112,167 views |
96,521 views |
151,975 views |
287,632 views |
81,216 views |
216,054 views |
208,549 views |
98,108 views |
417,774 views |
249,397 views |
174,152 views |
53,674 views |
1,023,001 views |
65,836 views |
1,356,007 views |
265,852 views |
610,800 views |
488,217 views |
149,227 views |
2,138,569 views |
56,551 views |
153,241 views |
2,819,005 views |
75,220 views |
841,692 views |
1,613,061 views | 01:36:02
128,668 views | 00:57:27
1,267,707 views | 01:30:08
51,038 views | 01:27:46
55,389 views | 01:25:38
1,490,014 views |
2,544,291 views | 01:29:37
65,828 views | 01:24:01
01:12:02
1,245,088 views | 01:29:11
1,210,462 views | 0122:24
69,599 views | 00:32:32
1,435,545 views | 1:11:33
00:35:03
01:11:03
01:11:53
5,103,062 views | 01:24:38
2,412,172 views | 01:27:24
01:20:43
3,837,414 views | 1:17:46
1,463,869 views | 1:00:10
00:58:06
00:52:42
00:48:20
105,856 views | 00:57:28
00:57:18
1,539,084 views | 01:00:35
00:51:17
1,049,673 views | 01:02:39
83,794 views | 00:41:54
1,388,303 views | 00:59:56
01:02:05
01:17:53
63,886 views | 01:06:47
4,499,057 views | 01:39:21
730,402 views | 01:06:44
101,796 views | 01:07:13
111,568 views | 01:33:49
7,747,026 views | 1:32:48
00:58:53
951,416 views | 01:02:40
01:02:01
55,753 views | 00:59:50
104,818 views | 01:03:48
01:00:35
58,541 views | 00:59:31
548,600 views | 01:17:01
141,467 views | 00:57:13
59,047 views | 01:34:35
469,032 views | 01:33:30
524,156 views | 01:24:26
210,673 views | 01:38:53
1,225,244 views | 01:27:13
1,396,185 views | 01:25:32
477,794 views | 01:39:51
517,077 views | 01:23:44
161,897 views | 01:02:32
191,620 views | 01:19:33
140,503 views | 01:21:33
810,558 views | 01:22:23
1,187,115 views | 01:22:11
460,803 views | 01:23:39
01:13:31
7,392,211 views | 01:33:30
302,204 views | 01:23:57
3,768,088 views | 01:38:44
1,632,315 views | 01:23:57
969,799 views | 01:27:52
762,483 views | 01:28:48
51,383 views | 01:24:33
780,729 views | 01:26:02
01:03:39
3,441,383 views | 01:22:35
01:08:08
447,404 views | 01:30:42
158,324 views | 01:31:59
108,433 views | 01:24:28
371,914 views | 01:35:31
532,094 views | 01:30:32
691,053 views | 01:28:02
1,151,677 views | 01:44:14
819,465 views | 01:16:48
2,981,865 views | 01:30:10
1,654,132 views | 01:33:00
94,875 views | 01:41:19
369,032 views | 01:35:29
01:32:13
273,106 views | 01:25:28
01:18:33
1,028,247 views | 01:25:19
2,404,631 views | 01:43:58
858,934 views | 01:36:21
01:25:35
332,123 views | 01:46:12
240,548 views | 01:02:50
165,576 views | 01:17:21
4,826,829 views | 01:30:56
01:07:48
01:30:23
01:30:01
01:25:42
01:27:38
278,648 views | 01:25:57
01:32:11
01:27:47
01:32:53
01:08:05
50,173 views | 01:01:50
143,158 views | 01:02:03
287,225 views | 00:48:49
00:55:43
292,399 views | 01:26:50
103,012 views |
314,916 views |
230,227 views |
219,017 views |
718,655 views | 02:03:40
227,768 views | 01:51:22
1,320,632 views | 02:08:02
1,299,834 views | 02:53:44
128,013 views | 01:54:16
75,681 views | 02:06:58
86,400 views | 02:19:44
223,697 views | 02:10:10
216,753 views | 03:01:37
255,794 views | 02:33:02
913,031 views | 03:05:19
184,670 views | 01:45:24
128,869 views |

Playlists