Overview
Explore the fundamental questions about the nature of science and the search for objective reality in this thought-provoking lecture by renowned physicist P. J. E. Peebles. Delve into the concept of discovering reality through successive approximations and increasingly rigorous scrutiny. Examine how scientific theories evolve, addressing topics such as the speed of light, the expanding universe, thermal radiation, and acoustic oscillations in the early universe. Gain insights into the challenges posed by concepts like dark matter and dark energy in the quest for understanding objective reality. Learn about the inevitability of inventions and the exciting discoveries yet to be made in the field of cosmology. Drawing from a lifetime of experience as a leading physicist, Peebles offers a personal reflection on the meaning and pursuit of objective reality in science.
Syllabus
Introduction
Constructions in natural science
The objective reality of the speed of light
Is all of our physics technically wrong?
The inevitability of inventions
The expanding universe
Thermal radiation in the universe
Evidence for the evolution of the universe
Acoustic oscillations in the early universe
Exciting discoveries that haven't been discovered yet
Taught by
The Royal Institution