Stephen Wolfram Livestreams

Science & Technology Q&A for Kids & Others (151 videos)

Weekly ask-me-anything about science & technology

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New episode streaming Friday, November 15, at 3:30pm ET. Submit your questions

Science & Technology Q&A for Kids & Others:
Science & Technology Q&A for Kids (and Others) [Episode 19] »

1 hour 29 minutes

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Do protons decay? Theoretically, If there was a ladder stretching from earth to a distant planet, say a light year away. Could you communicate with people there instantly by push and pulling, Morse code style? And is this related to quantum entanglement? Who do you think was the smartest person to ever live? Do you think that it is possible to make secret some big discovery related to let say AI by government, similar to Project Manhattan? Any stories about Roger Penrose? Would it be possible to have a stream in which we can see the output of the detector? Do you believe that there was an idea of technology before modern civilizations? View Less »
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Science & Technology Q&A for Kids & Others:
Science & Technology Q&A for Kids (and Others) [Episode 18] »

1 hour 6 minutes

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Do you think that neurons work more as a mechanical system or rather on quantum level? Is computational power done by the neural network or more by the microtubules? It has been argued that the majority of published research findings in science are false (i.e., overfitting). Since you have read 100s of research papers, has this been your experience? Are there fields where the academic research is generally of higher quality? Is it possible to slow climate change by creating like a layer of clouds to lower temperature by a bit? How do birds fly and why is it so hard to completely understand and mimic it? What does it mean when a paper is peer review. Who are the peers? I want to teach science for my 3 years old sister, what subjects do I teach? In Brazil we do not learn Wright Brothers invented the air plane, but Carlos Drummond, a Brazilian. Regarding climate change, if all of the glaciers melt, how will coastal cities keep the water back? Dr. Wolfram, how many hours of sleep you get?? I see you online all the time discussing all sorts of different things. View Less »
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Science & Technology Q&A for Kids & Others:
Science & Technology Q&A for Kids (and Others) [Episode 17] »

54 minutes

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Hi Stephen, you have said that you doubt whether quantum computers will ever work. Why do I read so often that another quantum computer was built with so and so many qbits? How do we know there are more than three dimensions? What is quantum tunneling? Why is the 3-body problem so hard to solve? Who is your favourite Manhattan Project Scientist? I was reading about Stanislaw Ulam did you ever meet him? ​Have you ever considered teaching other subjects besides math? What subjects? ​What do you know about Ettore Majorana? ​I'd be curious to hear what your thoughts are on Music Theory and Composition. Are you familiar with Dmitri Tymoczko at Princeton? Some of his work maps Orbifolds to harmonic structures. ​Can you explain Hurwitz's automorphisms theorem? ​Do you think that neurons work more as a mechanical system or rather on quantum level? Is computational power done by the neural network or more by the microtubules? View Less »
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Science & Technology Q&A for Kids & Others:
Science & Technology Q&A for Kids (and Others) [Episode 16] »

1 hour 12 minutes

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​Can data be sent via light wirelessly? ​How can there be different types of twilights and would you observe the same thing on Mars? ​Why is the sky not black? ​How do I become a scientist like you? How did you make it to create a business out of it? ​Is it possible to do a PhD research under your supervision? ​Can photons interact? I heard about light-by-light scattering; but aren't photons just the (independent) quantum activation of an electro-magnetic wave? ​How about post Doc? ​My supervisor says that I should do little progresses and publish lots even if shallow works, but I am more inclined to fewer deeper works. What should I do? ​Is there a hard lesson you learnt that has impacted you deeply? View Less »
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Science & Technology Q&A for Kids & Others:
Science & Technology Q&A for Kids (and Others) [Episode 15] »

1 hour 15 minutes

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​If humankind had evolved 12 fingers, and if we all used base 12 to count and do commerce, would this have made any difference to our scientific development? ​Do you think you could convince Dana Scott to expand his lecture "Looking Forward, Looking Backward" into a memoirs book similar to "idea makers"? ​As in your Physics Project, do you think the entire legal system could emerge from a few simple laws (rules)? ​Imaginary Numbers Are Real? What is present in real life? How can we implement quantum logic circuit? ​Is pi irrational because we use decimal system? Because in binary 0.1 can't be expressed properly. Do you think if we used something else for pi it would be rational? ​How much do you trust current methods of encryption (leaving quantum computers aside)? Are they really unbreakable? ​ What do you think about AI writing mathematical proofs? I read an article recently about an AI discovering the heliocentric principle by itself. ​ I recently started a new job with Texas Tech University - attempting to bring high end geospatial data analytics and mapping tools to the populous in non-conventional educational settings. In short: if you teach the people to map we will have better maps and better people. Your products excel at making complex technology user accessible - even for the layperson. Could you speak to what makes them so successful? ​ What's the best way to learn something for slow learners? View Less »
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Science & Technology Q&A for Kids & Others:
Science & Technology Q&A for Kids (and Others) [Episode 14] »

1 hour 14 minutes

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​What's your opinion of the usability and programmability of current computers in comparison to the ones you have used ind your live? Do you have any wish regarding future computers? ​How do you think we can fix the shortcomings of the current neural network architectures? ​Why does hitting a bucket of water on the side with a tennis ball make the water surface splash with plenty of tiny droplets which go very high, but hitting it with the same force with the foot make the water move as a big lump which don't splash. Is it analogous to the photoelectric effect? ​What sources do you use for keeping up with science news? ​I'm 12yrs old. How can I get my PhD in physics at age 20 like you? I can solve Differential equations with no difficulties now but I don't know how much I should master too early. Thank You. ​Were you involved with the SICP course over at MIT? or Dana Scotts work? ​Why computational science is not spreading among high schools? View Less »
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