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Mathematics, Purpose, and Truth: An Interview with Astrophysicist Janna Levin
Originally posted on sciy.org by Ron Anastasia on Fri 11 Jan 2008 03:48 PM PST
Thanks to RY Deshpande for recommending this article. ~ rj
Mathematics, Purpose, and Truth: An Interview with Astrophysicist Janna Levin
January 10, 2007
As
a theoretical physicist, Janna Levin probes whether the universe is
finite or infinite. As a novelist, she explored the separate but
parallel lives of two influential 20th-century scientists: Kurt Gödel
and Alan Turing. Their work laid the foundations for computer
intelligence while challenging fundamental notions about how we can
know what is true. |
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About the Image
Located
in the Bolivian Andes, Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat.
The irregular, hexagonal cells are a naturally occuring phenomena
called Bénard cells. Scientists are trying to understand why these
convective cells adhere to deterministic laws at the microscopic level
but result in a non-deterministic arrangement, as you see here. (photo: Cristian V/Flickr) |
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Unheard Cuts
» Complete, Unedited Interview (mp3, 1:15.32)
We
knew as soon as the interview with Janna Levin was finished that it was
definitely a show. The issue was "Where do we cut it?" After a series
of expansions and contractions, we produced a finely honed hour of
audio. Download the entire, unedited conversation and let us know what
you think. |
SoundSeen: Video
"On Truth and Beauty" (Flash, 7:30)
The science magazine Seed
held a salon with acclaimed fiction writer Jonathan Lethem and
physicist and novelist Janna Levin in March 2007. They discuss the
importance of truth in their art and the impurity of metaphor — and
therein lies elegance and beauty. |
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Voice on the Radio
Janna Levin
Levin
is an assistant professor of Astrophysics at Columbia University's
Barnard College. She's also the author of two books, including A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines. |
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