Stephen Wolfram Livestreams

Science & Technology Q&A for Kids & Others (161 videos)

Weekly ask-me-anything about science & technology

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New episode streaming Friday, August 29, 2025 at 3:30pm ET. Submit your questions

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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Science & Technology Q&A for Kids & Others:
Science & Technology Q&A for Kids (and Others) [Episode 13] »

1 hour 11 minutes

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​Is the number 0 a natural or an integer number? ​How do you do calculus on round object like spheres or donuts? ​If you could change how we measure time, would you and to what? ​​Good morning all. I have a weird question about clouds of alcohol in space. Not sure if I asked it before though. Please forgive. Here goes. ​I've read that their is/are giant clouds of (methyl) alcohol in space. Can it be a possibility that those clouds of alcohol have to chance to potentially "sanitize" microbes that one day could lead to complex and or intelligent life? ​Speaking of the Romans, do you think Latin is a better language than English for science and mathematics? ​I mean we have hills on earth, how can we get the slope of hills when the earth is round and not flat picture of a curve. ​Hello I'm a kid and I have a question. How can one achieve file fragmentation in a filesystem designed for archive files? For example how can one append x number of sectors to a static list of Tar Posix Headers and file data sections. ​Do you have any ideas on how to solve protein folding? Would your math research help with this problem? ​​Is there a relation between the classification of finite simple groups and your physics theory? View Less »
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Science & Technology Q&A for Kids & Others:
Science & Technology Q&A for Kids (and Others) [Episode 12] »

1 hour 10 minutes

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​Why does matter and anti-matter annihilate when they come together? What is the mechanism behind an electron and a positron to convert to energy when they meet? Saying that they are of opposite charges doesn't really explain it. So entropy always tends towards the lowest energy state? What is the most "scientifically" interesting place you have visited? How long does the "virtual photon" live before it converts into a pair of particles? Why do humans have unique fingerprints, iris etc? and do other creatures also have these features? What is your favorite unsolved problem? If you could go back in time and help a legendary scientist solve a problem, who and what would it be? What is the oldest known and unknown civilization which had the notion of universe and mathematics? View Less »
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