Physicist Lisa Randall on extra dimensions: "a word is worth a thousand pictures"

Using the Victorian novel "Flatland" to answer a question from Charlie Rose about how we can conceptualize the dimensions beyond the familiar three, theoretical physicist Lisa Randall sketches a scenario in which Flatlanders might infer the existence of a third dimension. Similarly, she says, we can use mathematics of relativity to arrive at conclusions about the true, if bizarre, nature of our own universe.

"When dealing with higher dimensions, a word is worth a thousand pictures." By that I think she means that math or langauge are transcendent human accomplishments, capable of not just representing nature, but of understanding it deeply.

Randall, who will speak at IdeaFestival 2012, was recently awarded the Andrew Gemant Award, which is given annually for significant contributions to the cultural, artistic, or humanistic dimension of physics.

She will speak at IdeaFestival 2012 on the truth-is-stranger-fiction nature of our own universe.

Stay curious.

Wayne

Forbes: "Listening" among top new jobs

Forbes lists 10 jobs that didn't exist so much as ten years ago, and among them is work such as mobile app development, user experience design and admissions counseling. Once my young live-in code warriors are done retooling the home network, I plan to tell them about the mobile app thing. Yeah, that sounds interesting.

But the job that really appealed was Chief Listening Officer. Most of the people in my life who fit that description have worn a cleric's collar - come on Forbes, the position is not that new - and the job unfortunately describes social data mining - gah! - but for someone who is made content at the sound of little feet scattering on the forest floor, or the rosined vibrato of nearby frogs on my small farm, for someone who enjoys the reedy breath of wind and the hushed stellar expanse on a truly dark night, it only made sense. In a world that can't seem to stop talking, listening is bound to be in demand.

Thanks for the link Ceci.

Wayne

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Stranded two inches from the World

Interviewed by The Economist, novelist and essayist Pico Iyer discusses the "importance of ambiguity" in this always-on age. This short paragraph describes the need (my words, not his) for the IdeaFestival perfectly.

The problem is that you can only make sense of the world by stepping out of it. More and more, in our age of acceleration and scrolling headlines and breaking news around the clock, we’re standing two inches away from the world, able to see what happened ten seconds ago but not able often to put it in a wider context or to see its long-term implications.

I changed one word for the post title.

Wayne

PBS examines blackness expert Baratunde Thurston, finds him "totally unpretentious, candid young man"

Some ledes just write themselves. Sorry PBS.

In addition to The Big Bang Theory's Mayim Bialik and one of the first ten employees of Facebook, Kevin Colleran, Baratunde, author of the best selling "How to Be Black" and digital editor of The Onion, will be part of a stellar IdeaFestival 2012 cast.

The full participant lineup will be released on May 15 when All-Access Passes for the festival, September 19 - 22, go on sale.

I hope to see you at the IdeaFestival!

Wayne

Kogan on Beethoven

Kogan on Beethoven:  Classically trained pianist and New York psychiatrist returns to the IF stage to delve into the life, personal struggles, music and creative genius of Ludwig von Beethoven. The New York Times has praised Kogan for his “eloquent, compelling and exquisite playing”.