A Portal Special Presentation- Geometric Unity: A First Look

Now I understand how my cat feels when I talk to it.

Eric, I am a nano engineering student at UCSD and recently proposed a novel geometric lattice structure composed of orthogonal struts, oriented in a Chiral manner. Using this lattice I was able to reconfigure the Fano plane used to describe the algebraic structure of Octonions. This new Fano plane is composed of two chiral components that can act independently. I would love to share these ideas with you as I have struggled to find someone able to comprehend its importance. To the KZhead Community, I would sincerely appreciate all replies or favorites to this comment in order to hopefully bring this to the attention of Mr. Weinstein. Thank You -Alec

No real idea what's going on here, but it makes my KZhead history look better.

I was watching Bangbros and some how ended up here, it's amazing where life can take you !

I now know what a dog feels when it's owner leaves the radio on when they leave

I cannot believe I sat here and listened to this man speak for 3 HOURS while having absolutely ZERO clue what he is talking about 😂😂😂

There are many thousands of comments here, but I am not sure whether anyone has attempted to describe any historical background to this work. Weinstein mentions work at the Oxford Mathematical Institute from the 1970s here (and even mentions my supervisor there), so I will provide some (rough) history. In the 1950s physicists Yang and Mills developed a generalisation of the Equations of Maxwell (for electromagnetism) suitable for the new world of quantum fields and quantum particles. What they discovered was that there was a quantum geometric symmetry - a circle - within Electromagnetism, now known as a U(1) symmetry. Their Yang-Mills theory kept the idea of the EM equations and replaced the group U(1) with potentially any such symmetry group, called by physicists a "gauge group". Ignored for a few years, physicists found the ideas worked well for groups SU(2) and SU(3) in the 1960s. Many Nobel prizes were won on the basis of related theories. Physicists continued to try to see if these Yang-Mills ideas worked for other groups, like SU(5). However as these groups get bigger more particles are predicted and these particles or their properties failed to be validated by CERN type experiments. Now the various ingredients of Yang-Mills theory are mathematical, and even geometric: symmetry groups, gauge invariance, field equations, etc and at Oxford mathematicians like Atiyah developed very general mathematical theorems based on this geometric set of ideas. These ideas bring in topology, manifold theory, algebra into the picture. These abstract theorems seem to have inspired Eric Weinstein (although he was not researching in Oxford, I believe). The other major heavily geometric theory in Physics is General Relativity, based on Manifolds also. So there are similarities with the Quantum Field mathematics when expressed geometrically. However there are also differences - this is why "Quantum Gravity" has not happened or been easy. One difference is that GR uses a "metric" of a special form, but these Yang-Mills theories dont use any metric. So "Geometric Unification" would give them a metric. Going the other way abstract mathematics would introduce "Torsion" - but GR has set Torsion = 0. Overall there has to be a "uniform manifold" - which I think Weinstein has made 14 = 4 + 10 dimensional. We are all familiar with the challenges that String theory has to justify physically its 10 or 11 dimensions, so a 14 dimensional manifold requires some justification. Weinstein's theory also predicts a larger gauge group - I think it is Spin(10). Particle physicists will want to know whether it predicts the right particles and properties. This is a very special type of calculation done in particle physics labs rather than in geometric mathematical Institutes. So we probably don't know, unless such work is published.

The Gods worriedly looked at each other. That night they drank coffee and double checked the source code of the sandbox. "They can't break out!" said Thor whilst staring into the glowing screen. "What if Hell breaks loose?!" said a buzzed Mars tightly clutching a mug emblazoned with "I love Physics".

ok, let me explain how I go about this with one word that I don't understand: eric: bla bla bla... gauge theorie... me: googles gauge theorie wiki: In physics, a gauge theory is a type of field theory in which the Lagrangian does not change (is invariant) under local transformations from certain Lie groups. me: googles Lagrangian wiki: Lagrangian field theory is a formalism in classical field theory. me : googles formalism and classical field theory wiki: A classical field theory is a physical theory that predicts how one or more physical fields interact with matter through field equations me: googles Lie groups wiki: In mathematics, a Lie group (pronounced /liː/ "Lee") is a group whose elements are organized continuously and smoothly, as opposed to discrete groups, where the elements are separated-this makes Lie groups differentiable manifolds. me: "manifolds", yeah I heard that before... googles differentiable manifolds wiki: In mathematics, a differentiable manifold (also differential manifold) is a type of manifold that is locally similar enough to a linear space to allow one to do calculus... me: googles "where can I buy LSD?"

Who is here after the Joe Rogan episode??

As a five year old child in first grade I couldn’t understand who decided what speed was, why telephones worked faster than the speed of sound and why had we limited ourselves to these constraints I’m now 60 and my interest is alive again. I intend commencing a Physics degree next month. Thanks for igniting my brain again mate

Please bring back the Portal! We need this podcast and the truths it discusses.

I like how at one point he says "the simplest theory" then spits out a string of words that made my brain drip out of my nose.

i'm just waiting for him to scribble down 42 at the end of the lecture.

I've given up coffee and now just listen to this first thing in the morning to get my day started off right

I have watched this now a couple times and maybe understand about 1/4 of it, if that. But thank you EW for sharing this discussion and stretching out the scope of our understanding of the binding principles of the universe. Further I am in awe of EW's tenacity at building this complex theory of theories and then having the courage to put it out there and defend it. I'll run thru it a couple more times. Thank you, awesome, liked, subscribed and shared !

Is this gonna be on the test?

I wouldn't usually spend time listening to a lecture I will have little ability to intelligably follow. However, due to the copious amount of excess time our virus has provided, (and my respect for Eric and his ideas) I'll give it a shot.

Thanks for taking a shot and putting this out here for us Eric, I appreciate it!

45:49 Aww, that moment Eric is like, "Oh shit, how many t's did I just put in matter?"

While the conversations with your varied list of guests has been wonderful, THIS is the juice I've been waiting for. Thank you.

I just turned 50 years old, 49 minutes ago. Watching this lecture is the first thing I did for my birthday. Thanks, Eric for this sleepless night :-)!

Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU!!!!! I so relate to your life struggle and totally agree about the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune." I agree with being alone in discovery. It's not being anti-social, or that I couldn't find anyone "to play with." But, if it wasn't for my core center and my absolute refusal to do anything else but succeed in attempting to fulfill my vision, I wouldn't have succeeded in creating what I have thus far. I need to unpack your short hand so to be able to digest your presentation. I look forward to doing this. Thank you, again. Congratulations!

I bow to you sir- such an eloquent and succinct introduction

Eric is the most interesting voice in the world today. Very few people are brave enough to even ask the questions he is making a bold attempt to answer. Bravo to you, sir. What an inspiration to the world!

Well, I never thought I'd enjoy listening to nearly 3 hours of constant whooshing sounds coming from somewhere above my head... But I did!

It would be great to see a follow-up with any new developments, and what kind of feedback Eric is getting from people who matter.

Even if you're wrong you have beautiful methods, things we can try to test, and ideas we can attempt to change our perspectives with!

I have no idea why Im still watching this lol. I haven't understood a single word for the past hour and there's an hour to go but I'm not going anywhere.

Any mathematical idea that includes a cow and magic beans sounds about right to me.

Thank you so much for sharing this Mr. W. Gonna take a while for me to wrap my head around it :)

As someone working on my B.S. in physics and mathematics I find it very satisfying returning to this and understanding more and more over time.

Christ, I have a masters in theoretical physics and a PhD in statistics, and I have no idea what he's talking about here. Pretty humbling.

I have no idea if you are right or wrong, Eric. I do, however, know that your endeavours with this theory are properly inspiring.

A million thanks, for speaking so clearly to us, Sir!

We all NEED TO THANK YOU. I feel hope for the first time since 1992 UCLA that I can get a job and I am not part of America’s throw away class anymore :) Godspeed Dr. - we desperately need you.

Not only is this enjoyable, but it shows you that a man can wear MANY hats.

I don’t have the words deserving of how glad I am you a starting up your own podcast. We now don’t have to rely on others to invite you to their show, to listen to your ideas.

Thank you Eric and very elegantly said! I hope geometric unity acquires many more brilliant minds to work out the earth changing details!

Eric is so eloquent in utilizing his vocabulary, not a single boring moment !.

Nearly 2 hours in and I haven't understood a word so far, but I'm still here!

funny to think that in 100 years time this could be seen as the most important lecture of all time

Hello Eric, You have inspired me. From high school I have had a love and natural talent in physics I am 22 years old and have recently completed my undergraduate BA in Mathematics. You have inspired me to return to learning physics and attempt to as you say "go beneath Einstein" and unearth the source code of the universe. I want to be able to understand the lingo that you use when explaining your theory so that I can see what you see and help you change the scientific community to become more genuine and open to new ideas. Based on everything I have been presented I am inspired to continue higher education in order to obtain a clear understanding of the math and physics that you use in your theory. I am doing this because I believe that you are attempting to create a clear understanding of something that humans have been unable to clearly understand to this day. And I believe that there is a theory out there that will explain all the rules of the game. Now I am writing about this at 4 in the morning after not completely watching your video but I will keep on attempting to understand the picture your theory creates. and one day help accelerate the process and avoid getting bogged down by the ridged and harsh structure of our current scientific community.

I like what you are doing here, Eric. Thank you for providing us with some tools for which we may talk about the world in perhaps ways which have not yet been tried. About the general case of Geometry I feel that it will forever be connected as a word with Plato, who as you know said, whoever does not know Geometry cannot enter the doorway of his school, The Academy. Whatever must have been inside that Academy, in those rooms must have been very interesting constructively so as to call for a prior knowledge of Geometry by those who enter. You speak of much, I recall, of the outside, which is what is not measured but which contains data making for an asymmetry between that inside the Academy outside the Academy relationship disproportional. And, I like the case that with some of the interior walls of the Academy, you are trying to break down so that those in other rooms may communicate, and have something to talk about that can be shared, or unified even. And, the same goes for the wall of Plato’s Academy which separates the inside from the outside. Doing so would truly be a feat of inclusion! Aside from Plato, I read and reread much more Homer, especially the Iliad, where what separates the Greeks from the Trojans is not just the wall which surrounds the city of Troy, but another geological feature, a linear one, which happens to be the River Scamander, the very one Achilles fights as it represents one of the Gods, but he overcomes it and goes on to call out his foe, Hector from the walls to challenge him to death. If Greek Plato has the Academy as a border between knowledge and common opinion, and the landscape of Ilium of Homer has the River Scamander as a border between enemy and enemy, then the way to Unify Plato’s wall, and the way to Unite the opposing Armies of Greek and Troy, may look the same “geometrically” but in fact have a difference in compatibility. Perhaps those of the opinions for Plato represented the poets, those on the outside, whereas those who seek knowledge were the insiders within the Academy. Just as in Homer‘s story, there is a battle in Plato’s too where instead of the Greeks versus the Trojans, there was the poets versus the philosophers, Plato on the side of the philosophers, and Homer on the side of the poets. The only person I have ever seen try to unite successfully poetry with philosophy was the American pragmatist, Richard Rorty, a personal hero of mine, my Spiritual Brother. I have paused your lecture to give me a break to write this, but I am listening with enjoyment your ideas. Thank you again for your work. - Billy M.

I felt like Harry Potter staring into the Pensieve watching an old lecture from Albus Dumbeldore

I have a degree in theoretical physics, and I could not follow this -- simply because I do not know even a fraction of what he is talking about. That is my failure and not Eric's. But this sounds very very interesting. I implore you, Eric, to have the conviction to develop these awesome ideas in a 'rigorous way' . I'm no good at notation either, but I would say you need a completely unified notation system to tackle this potential path to a unified field theory! Don't let detractors squash you. You speak of the problems with academia and science -- problems I witnessed and experienced well enough while at the University, enough so to put me off ever wanting to persue a PhD (also, I am probably not smart or conscientious enough) -- and you suggest the action that will help alleviate the hostility any theorist faces when they are suggesting something so radical: pay them more. I agree. But until that happens neither you, nor I, nor any 1 person can make that change happen. It would have to be something we all come together for. Until then, don't let that system stop you. This is that. This video was you not letting them stop you. Carry on! You have my support, the support of your fans. You're a brilliant mathematician, theorist and scientist. Honestly. Even if this road leads to a dead end, it would be a glorious dead end. Godspeed man.

How many talented minds have been buried for being on the wrong side of others economic future?

One day a year we should be allowed to share any and all of the ideas in our head. Eric this is the internet, sharing crazy ideas every day of the year is what it is all about.

I was compelled to listen the whole lecture, fairly clueless. Phrases like, “pulling back on the cotangent bundle” gradually became deeply meaningful. Like jazz. I definitely think Eric is onto something. There’s no doubt about it. Now I need to take another mushroom.

Mr. Weinstein, I dont have a background in differential geometry, but in my quest for a Masters of Mech Engineering I have done quite a bit of linear algebra, differential equations, and dynamic systems modelling which apparently gives me enough of a vocabulary to read the wiki pages on these topics (plus my lifelong amateur interest in theoretical physics) and actually arrive at some level of understanding of what you're doing. So... though your theory might be flawed (I'm not expert enough to say), I would like to thank you for finally opening this world to me. This is a paradigmatic example of the portal. Just to give one example, I now believe I should have been told about metric spaces long before my high school physics class tried to teach time dilation. Things make much more sense now! I'm diving into your world and its very exciting! Thank you. Edit: I have to reiterate, it really is such a beautiful way you frame the question to say can everything come from almost nothing, and then begin with x 4 and a straight jacket. Seriously we need middle schools to be playing these games!

Eric - this is a masterwork ! thank you. Liked and shared.

You have my interest sparked!I follow alot of the phisist , quantum phisist and mathmatitions...but there's just something about you..I'm just gonna keep my ears eyes open and see where you go with this;) luv ya man..your a good human!

I have a graduate degree in physics. Here is a summary I made that gives some background and perspective to the level and type of math to understand Eric's ideas. I hope it helps some folks. Each level designates a major increase in complexity, and can roughly (though not necessarily intended to) correlate to: 0 elementary school, 1 high school, 2 undergraduate, 3 graduate, 4 PhD/post grad/professional. MATHEMATICS 0 Numbers, number line, arithmetic, circles, squares, triangles. 1 Variables, equations, algebra, exponents, quadratic equation. Functions and graphs. Simple vectors. Geometry (pi, area, volume, lines, graphs), trigonometry, log. 2 Calculus, differential equations including partial differential, linear algebra (systems, matrices, operators), Euclidian vector spaces and vector calculus. Complex analysis is useful. 3 Abstract algebra (mappings, groups, rings, fields, especially group theory and group representations). Lie groups (importantly the Poincare group). Basic differential geometry, in particular Riemannian geometry in conjunction with tensor calculus. (Affine geometry is useful too). Exterior algebra. 4 Topology (point-set, algebraic including cohomology, and differential), differentiable manifolds, differential forms. Fiber bundles: associated bundle, principle bundle, tangent and cotangent bundles. Category theory and functors. Vector-valued differential forms, specifically Lie algebra-valued forms and adjoint bundles. Killing fields, Clifford algebra, Weyl algebra, Hopf bialgebra are useful. PHYSICS 0 Motion, matter, basic concept of energy, atoms. Dimensions of space. Electricity. Magnets. 1 Newton's laws including gravity. Kinetic and potential energy and momentum. Elementary particle physics. Electric current, Ohm's law, electric and magnetic fields. Optics is useful. 2 Classical mechanics (coordinate systems, equations of motion, classical waves). Electromagnetism, potentials, Maxwell's equations. Quantum mechanics (Schrodinger equation, electronic structure of atom). Special relativity (Minkowski spacetime, 4-momentum). 3 Advanced mechanics: Lagrangian, Hamiltonian, variational principle, Noether's theorem. Quantum theory: Hilbert space, quantum harmonic oscillators, Dirac equation and Dirac spinors. Basic quantum field theory (i.e. canonical quantization), quantum electrodynamics. General relativity. 4 Gauge field theories, Yang-Mills equations, electroweak unification, quantum chromodynamics, standard model unification. Higgs mechanism. General theory of spinors. Modern formalism of general relativity. Note that M theory (supersymmetry, supergravity, superstrings) is good to be aware of but appears at odds with experimental evidence.

Thank you Eric! Thank you for the courage in posting this! I know this was a huge event to announce this. Full support!

.....Thank you brother....thank you!!Your courage and strenght is beyond conceptual construct

New to this channel. LOVE IT!!!!! WE MORE OF THIS ❤

To provide some context to non-physicists/mathematicians about the level of material in this lecture: I've recently finished my master's in physics at Oxford, where a lot of my lectures actually took place in the very lecture theatre Eric is standing in here. I'd say I was able to *somewhat* follow the flow of concepts being discussed, and I had to take most of the maths as a given. I would need time, probably on the scale of year(s), of studying - particularly around groups and gauge theory - to actually be able to follow the maths presented here.

I am very dumb when it comes to math but I get the same feeling of awe, inspiration, and beauty with this as I do with beautiful classical music. Thank you, Eric.

A math teacher at Purdue would often start a sentence with "Clearly,......" when he was about to say something completely incomprehensible.... Would teach in a class room with a blackboard on three walls and would point to different points like a conductor.

Wow!That is both terrifying and exciting. Congrats.

I watched the whole presentation. I have spent my career doing 2 things. Solving other people’s problems and doing what others say can’t be done. I was a design engineer at Intel, a project engineer at HP and I was a business owner building the things that others said couldn’t be done - like wifi and Bluetooth. Physics and Mathematics were both my favorite courses in college. Back in my high school days, I did a version of a ship in a bottle. Not once, but 3 times I put a garbage can on top of the schools flag pole - without using a ladder - without scaling the pole at all. My feet never left the ground. Just because a Mathematician or a Physicist hadn’t thought of it - doesn’t mean it can’t be done. "Everything is impossible until somebody does it" (Einstein)

00:00 Introduction 35:12 Lecture - Introduction (Marcus Du Sautoy) 37:48 Lecture - Main Presentation 2:13:25 Supplementary Explainer

I listened to this again. At around 42 minutes in, his description of what he is about to talk about and why is poetic.

i'm so happy i got to finally see this!!!!!!!!! geometry was my first love in mathematics it took my to Trig and finally landed me in electromagnetics and Logic control systems. Boolean expressions still make me giggle in how something so simple can creating VASTLY complicated logic!! Some of this makes perfect sense to me other parts are admittedly over my head.. but i believe with time and more reading could be learned. but most of all i feel like your so much more onto something with this than anyone in the past 40 years as even attempted most likely out of fear of being cast out for not agreeing with the almighty that is einstein and GR. THANK YOU for shedding your fears long enough to expose us all to this and letting us breath fresh air on the matter!!!

I was a mathmajor being in my third semester when I listen to you talk about gauge theory. Now almost a year , a bachelorsthesis on differential topology and a lot of home studying on differential geometry later you drop this gem. I feel so stoked about the process of understanding this. Might take another year until I understand what fully takes place here but I already know I'll come back to this again and again and again until I get it!

appreciate you makin' my quarantine much more enjoyable, Eric!

As an artist I think and feel that your closing statement summed up the rest of it for me. And God knows as hard as I tried I understood about less than 1%.

I‘d be interested in listening to the afterwards q&a as well, is there any footage of that too?

Listening to you is like finding a trancendental pirate treasuremap

Eric: Grab a work light and bounce it off a bed sheet; put that behind the camera; if you want to get fancy, grab a shower curtain and put that between you and the light/sheet (technically a "book light"). Throw a few blankets on the floor for the reverb. (great episode)

@Eric Weinstein: You are the first human on earth who made significant progress since 100 years. Thank you. Finally someone who tells that it's just the medium that make waves not the particle itself. The particle is causing it yes , but particle is a particle and not a wave period.

Thanks for sharing, impressive, well done !

i honestly don't know anywhere near enough to understand the lecture(s), but i''m very happy for you, and selfishly really glad that mr. thiel was able to recognize your brilliance.

Oh boy...I'm saving this for Friday night! Thank you Eric...you are a great man!

Thank you for making this public.

For the first time I see ToE built from ground up to the strange bundles and shiabs. Ouroboroish recursion is so fundamental in computation, I have wondered why anyone hasnt taken it further than Escher drawings in physics, but now it was. Hope to see more this sort of presentations.

This was amazing Eric. Somehow to the elgence and the beauty appears even though i don't understand one bit of the math. You truly are a great explainer. thank you.

I wish I had something material to add to this endeavor you're on Eric, but despite the fact I do not possess the tools needed to contribute directly, I would very much like to extend my gratitude and support for the fact you've held on and are stepping up. It takes strength and courage to do either, and I have a great deal of respect for your efforts. I wish you the very best of luck in this.

I feel like he comes up with the analogies first and the maths afterwards xD

I was there that evening, and I slipped 4 tabs of acid into his glass of water. Just watch, you’ll see as it hits him after his sips along the way.

Congratulations, Eric, you've finally sold the Turbo encabulator.

I love how this guy blows my mind. There is something about how he explains things. I hope he keeps up the good work.

This is a fascinating theory. I believe this will be the next “big” discovery, and the biggest discovery in my lifetime, thus far.

Thank you Eric W for your unbelievable courage

"Greatness looks like madness until it finds context." The portal collective rides with you, Eric, into the horizon not yet known. Thank you for everything; your life's work enriches us with hope.

I was told there would be no math.

I had a physics teacher that was a student of Paul Dirac. Like Eric, very few people could truly comprehend Dirac. Eric believes he took some insights to his grave that he could not adequately communicate.

I love this video, wish there was more of this. Would love to see you sit down with either a group, some supporters and some adversaries to go through this. As opposed to seeing them just try to fight the battle in the media you should challenge them, and if they will not accept to do it publicly, then just offer a donation or fundraiser.

Those chalk boards are so flimsy they are bending the space time continuum when he draws on them.

When you wrote MATER and added a T... And then did a table with crooked lines. And other similar things. I cried. Finally it's not only me. Thanks, you have no idea how much this showed me that it doesn't matter, only the content matters. - A fellow Teacher

Amazing, well-articulated and very poignant backstory that accompanies this brave presentation. I'm sure there are many people who, like me, are with you, Eric.

The tyrants are revealing leaders, and a special Thanks to JRE for talking to this guy. This dude has brains and balls. 💪🤘🏼👍.

Eric has spoken about 3 world view changing events in the last three years for me. For a contrarian anarchic capitalist...this is big. For the last 15~20 years I was only reviewing/refining my worldview...Eric has broken that 3 times in the last 3 years!!!! This is number 3.

Even though I'm mathematically illiterate, I enjoyed this from start to finish. I was still able to follow the general ideas without knowing every term, and was able to interpret it visually at times in my mind, which was a great experience in and of itself. Thank you for sharing this.

Genius equation🐢 of the universe ... in chalk. 😄😄😄 Erased by the janitor 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Keep imagining. Good work professor.❤

I hope that there are enough physicists watching this channel for this theory to make an effective ripple. Would be a shame if it was basically just all dudes like me who are interested in Erics point of view but barely know basic algebra.

What is it about this talk that I scarcely understand that made me listen to all of it; there is brilliance and light here, says my intuition.

This has aged incredibly well. Miss you Eric, please bring back the podcast

There are aspects of Eric's insight which are now undeniable. The first 10 min's are now spot on considering it was 3 years ago. No open dialog during the pandemic is now a sad reality.