shimpsblog [uk]

Intelligence and consciousness are still topics in scientific research, involving a lot of unsolved questions. Roger Penrose tries to explain some aspects with one of Gödel's incompleteness theorems and noncomputability, where the latter might be connected to the collapse of the wave function in quantum mechanics. With this connection consciousness and human identity might be an epiphenomenon of quantum physics.

Roger Penrose – Why Intelligence Is Not a Computational Process: Breakthrough Discuss 2025

Breakthrough

May 23, 2025

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTVN6tFknCg
  • 31m11s

WP: Kurt Gödel
WP: Gödel's incompleteness theorems
WP: Computability theory
WP: Wave function collapse

Introducing the history and development of the quantum idea to describe reality:

The mind-bending reality of quantum mechanics - with Jim Al Khalili

The Royal Institution

Dec 16, 2025

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-0pky806Fo
  • 1h01m26s

WP: Jim Al-Khalili

Stephen Hawking warned years ago: artificial intelligence could spell the end for the human race.

Stephen Hawking: 'AI could spell end of the human race'

BBC News

Dec 2, 2014

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFLVyWBDTfo
  • 5m04s

String theory is questioned by Roger Penrose and Eric Weinstein (part II).

Why string theory isn't real physics | Roger Penrose, Brian Greene, and Eric Weinstein

The Institute of Art and Ideas

Dec 9, 2025

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GGGhI9ablQ
  • 24m54s

String theory is questioned by Roger Penrose and Eric Weinstein (part I).

Is string theory still worth exploring? | Roger Penrose and Eric Weinstein battle Brian Greene

The Institute of Art and Ideas

Jul 16, 2023

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNjckutR7BE
  • 10m28s

Janna Levin and Sir Roger Penrose talk about black holes, the universe and cosmology.

The 30th Hintze Lecture – Prof Sir Roger Penrose and Prof Janna Levin: 'A Universe of Black Holes'’

Department of Physics University of Oxford

Oct 21, 2025

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6r-ZhwGlWc
  • 1h10m01s

• Hintze Centre for Astrophysical Surveys

Roger Penrose talks with Brian Greene:

Roger Penrose: Time, Black Holes, and the Cosmos

World Science Festival

Sep 20, 2024

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMV2cphelx0
  • 1h09m22s

Roger Penrose questions and challenges the Big Bang as origin of our universe.

Roger Penrose: The Big Bang Was Not The Beginning

Curt Jaimungal

Nov 3, 2025

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO03t21xhdk
  • 1h56m13s

Update (2026-01-10): title changed

• "My Crazy Idea That Explains the Universe"

What is the state of science and what might be the future? Eric Weinstein gives some insights in his thoughts. He distinguishes between good science and great science.

We need a scientific revolution | Eric Weinstein full interview

The Institute of Art and Ideas

Dec 23, 2023

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHAl1PHcQyU
  • 17m31s

Tim Maudlin about The Problem of Non-Locality and essential questions of Quantum Theory.

Philosophy in Quantum Theory | Tim Maudlin

The Institute of Art and Ideas

Jul 26, 2020

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TXVhxm5oAU
  • 11m36s

Brian Cox explains how to understand nature with quantum theory.

Brian Cox: The quantum roots of reality | Full Interview

Big Think

May 16, 2025

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO41iURud9c
  • 1h19m41s

Richard Dawkins & Lawrence Krauss in a conversation about the habit of denying facts and prohibit free thoughts and free speech in academia and science:

The War on Science | Interviews | Richard Dawkins & Lawrence Krauss

The Origins Podcast

Jul 23, 2025

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPCzRWmSZTU
  • 1h01m46s

Roger Penrose is interviewed by Eric Weinstein on The Portal.

Roger Penrose on "The Portal" (w Eric Weinstein), Ep. #020 - Plotting the Twist of Einstein's Legacy

Eric Weinstein

Mar 1, 2020

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg93Dm-vYc8
  • 2h18m01s

How much reality is encoded in quantum mechanics? Is there room for unknowable things? Does there exist a kind of quantum magic? Or is our understanding of the microcosmos still incomplete? Are there fundamental limits to what we can ever know about the universe? Is there a conflict between the superposition principle from Quantum Mechanics and principle of equivalence from General Relativity?

Quantum and the unknowable universe | FULL DEBATE | Roger Penrose, Sabine Hossenfelder, Slavoj Žižek

The Institute of Art and Ideas

Apr 19, 2025

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdzXbIW9kxY
  • 45m42s

Timothy Gowers solves Question 1 of the 2025 International Mathematical Olympiad in real time.

IMO2025Q1

Timothy Gowers

Jul 18, 2025

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G1nySyVs2w
  • 1h03m36s

Timothy Gowers solves Question 5 of the 2025 International Mathematical Olympiad in real time. The questions can be downloaded in different langiages and are summarized on the IMO site (linked below). It is instructive (and entertaining) to follow the reasoning of an expert solving a mathematical problem. Of course, you can (and should) stop the video here and there and try to solve the problem yourself. Whenever you are stuck for a longer time, you may watch a little sneak preview. Mathematics is more of a marathon than of a sprint.

IMO2025Q5

Timothy Gowers

Jul 20, 2025

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLFc23tJRY4
  • 1h32m25s

International Mathematical Olympiad
International Mathematical Olympiad 2025
Problems
Timothy Gowers
WP: Timothy Gowers

Roger Penrose advocates a different approach to unify gravity and quantum mechanics.

We need to 'gravitise' quantum mechanics, not quantise gravity | Roger Penrose | Full interview

The Institute of Art and Ideas

Dec 26, 2024

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQM0OtxvZ-Y
  • 30m57s

WP: Quantum gravity

Brian Cox in an interview with Cleo Abram about black holes - this is a long version of another video (Journey Into A Black Hole).

What Bothers Physicists About Black Holes (Interview with Brian Cox)

Cleo Abram

May 3, 2025

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY1EQ6HD-ao
  • 1h13m43s

Second version of an older conversation about the origin of the universe (and more):

Richard Dawkins & Lawrence Krauss: Something from Nothing

ANU TV

Apr 19, 2012

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0mljE9K-gY
  • 1h32m16s

recorded at The Australian National University on 10 April 2012

Richard Dawkins presents Lawrence Krauss, who is an expert in nothing:

'A Universe From Nothing' by Lawrence Krauss, AAI 2009

Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science

Oct 22, 2009

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ImvlS8PLIo
  • 1h04m51s

Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science

An older conversation about the origin of the universe (and more):

Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss: Something From Nothing

JohnnyMellyFantastic

Apr 24, 2013

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3n-QzJWveA
  • 1h32m16s

Roger Penrose asks beyond usual physics questions: what is consciousness, what are computational things in physics and what has gravity got to do with this? Why is it difficult to bring gravity and quantum mechanics together, what do free fall, the principle of equivalence and a cubic time dependent phase factor have to do with it? Why is conformal cyclic cosmology an option as explanation of the universeß Why is the collapse of the wave function the most important problem?

From one universe to the next | Roger Penrose

The Institute of Art and Ideas

Jan 7, 2023

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf1jZU4r_MM
  • 31m07s

Is it possible to test quantum gravity in an experiment? Is it possible to verify limits of Einstein's theory of general relativity?

Testing Quantum Gravity & Reality with Prof. Vlatko Vedral | Quantum Foundations Podcast Ep5

Dr Maria Violaris

Jan 28, 2025

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqKVmst8Wwo
  • 1h41m43s

Related:
Falsifying General Gravity?

Brian Cox explains the ideas and basic concepts of quantum mechanics in less than half an hour.

Physicist Brian Cox explains quantum physics in 22 minutes

Big Think

Apr 3, 2025

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHEhxPuMmQI
  • 22m18s

The Official Website of Professor Brian Cox
WP: Brian Cox (physicist)

Are black holes the key to unlock the secrets of physics and reveal the mysteries of the universe?

Brian Cox on how black holes could unlock the mysteries of our universe

Big Think

Oct 27, 2023

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGsbEd6w7PI
  • 12m51s