Multiverse: One Universe or Many - World Science Festival 2013

The discussion starts at 15:00. Multiverse: One Universe or Many World Science Festival 2013 Saturday, June 1, 2013 - 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM The inflationary theory of cosmology, an enduring theory about our universe and how it was formed, explains that just after the Big Bang, the universe went through a period of rapid expansion. This theory has been critical to understanding what's going on in the cosmos today. But now, this long-held notion—which seems to suggest as-yet-unproven and perhaps unprovable features such as the multiverse—is under increasing attack. Through informed debate among architects of the inflationary theory and its prime competitors, this program will explore our best attempts to understand where we came from. This program is part of the Big Ideas Series. Panel: John Hockenberry (Moderator) John Hockenberry is an award-winning journalist with twenty-five years experience in radio, broadcast television and print. He is the host of WNYC and PRI's The Takeaway, a correspondent for PBS Frontline, and a noted presenter and moderator at conferences such as TED, Aspen Ideas, and the World Science Festival. Andreas Albrecht (Theoretical Cosmologist) Andreas Albrecht is a leading theoretical cosmologist. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1983 where, with Paul Steinhardt, he wrote one of the original papers on "new" or "slow roll" inflation. Alan Guth (Cosmologist) Alan Guth is a professor of physics at MIT, and world-renowned for his discovery of inflationary cosmology, the dominant cosmological paradigm for over two decades. Andrei Linde (Cosmologist) Andrei Linde is one of the authors of the inflationary universe scenario, which is gradually becoming the standard paradigm of modern cosmology. He invented its most popular versions: new inflation, chaotic inflation, and hybrid inflation. Neil Turok (Physicist) Neil Turok develops and tests fundamental theories of the cosmos. He pioneered the open inflation and cyclic universe models, as well as observational tests for dark energy and the nature of the relic perturbations using the microwave sky, both subsequently confirmed. Reproduced from the (now defunct) WSF Livestream page for educational purposes only and for no material gain. ©2013 Science Festival Foundation. All Rights Reserved.