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What really happened during the controversy over the discovery of Haumea? Why was Pluto actually demoted? And is there a hidden Planet Nine lurking in the outer solar system?

I’m joined today by none other than the Pluto Killer himself, Mike Brown. Mike is an astronomer and professor of planetary astronomy at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). His groundbreaking discoveries of dwarf planets like Eris, Haumea, and Makemake shook up the astronomy world and led to the controversial redefinition of what constitutes a planet.

In this gripping episode of Into the Impossible, Mike opens up about the ethical challenges he faced in his career, including the Haumea data theft that caused a massive controversy, the truth behind the demotion of Pluto, and the ongoing search for Planet Nine.

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Key Takeaways: 

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Additional resources: 

➡️ Learn more about Mike Brown:

💻 Website: https://mikebrown.caltech.edu/ 

📚 How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming: https://a.co/d/9jQp3nt 

➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 

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✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 

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Dick Bond is a theorist who has helped reshape our understanding of dark matter, entropy, and quantum mechanics. Dick is a renowned astrophysicist known for his significant contributions to cosmology and the study of the universe's large-scale structure. He has worked extensively on topics such as dark matter, dark energy, the cosmic microwave background (CMB), and quantum cosmology.

As a treat for all my members, Dick has graced us with a lecture titled Entropy in a Coherent Universe: Quantum Information Flows in the Cosmic SuperWeb. Don’t miss out!

Join my YouTube membership to watch the full 90-minute lecture recording: Join this channel

Additional resources:

➡️ Learn more about Dick Bond:

💻 Website: https://www.cita.utoronto.ca/~bond/

➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1

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✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

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Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

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Brian Keating explores the buzz around a possible sign of alien life on exoplanet K2-18 b, discussing the detection of dimethyl sulfide—a molecule that on Earth is linked only to biology. He urges caution, explaining that while the findings are exciting and headline-grabbing, the evidence is not yet conclusive and scientific skepticism is essential.

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Could entropy and coherence change everything we know about the universe? How does quantum information flow in the cosmic superweb? And will quantum mechanics reveal our universe’s deepest secrets? 

Today, I’m joined by the one and only Dick Bond, a theorist who has helped reshape our understanding of dark matter, entropy, and quantum mechanics, to discuss how every aspect of the universe could be a result of quantum mechanics. Dick is a renowned astrophysicist known for his significant contributions to cosmology and the study of the universe's large-scale structure. He has worked extensively on topics such as dark matter, dark energy, the cosmic microwave background (CMB), and quantum cosmology. 

We also have a treat for you at the end of the episode, as Dick will grace us with a lecture titled Entropy in a Coherent Universe: Quantum Information Flows in the Cosmic SuperWeb. Don’t miss out!

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Key Takeaways: 

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Additional resources: 

➡️ Learn more about Dick Bond: 

💻 Website: https://www.cita.utoronto.ca/~bond/

➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list 

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast 

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Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to follow so you never miss an episode!

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Andrew Huberman and Brian Keating dive deep into optimizing astronomical vision and the physiological challenges faced at high altitudes. Huberman shares insights on nose breathing, creatine supplementation, and adapting to extreme environments like the South Pole. The conversation also touches on eye health, offering practical advice for dealing with jet lag, light adaptation, and conditions like dry eyes and glaucoma.

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As a member of the Into the Impossible family, you get a special 20% discount on a subscription to The Economist. Visit their website at https://www.economist.com/Keating to get started.

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What is planetary computation, and why does it matter? Are humans and AI truly separate, or are we actually co-evolving? And how did we end up building a megastructure that’s quietly reshaping governance, knowledge, and power on a planetary scale?

Here to shed light on our evolving technological reality is Ben Bratton, philosopher of technology and professor at UCSD. Ben is the Director of Antikythera, a research program at the Berggruen Institute focused on the future of planetary computation. The program explores five core areas: planetary computation, synthetic intelligence, recursive simulations, hemispherical stacks, and planetary sapience. He is also the author of The Stack, a groundbreaking book that introduced the term “planetary computation” and mapped its political, social, and philosophical implications.

In our wide-ranging conversation, Ben explains how computation has evolved far beyond servers and algorithms to become an organizing force of the planet itself. We also dive into the future of AGI, the ethics of machine valence, terraforming Earth as a philosophical imperative, non-biological life, and how speculative design and planetary sapience might reframe humanity’s role in the cosmos.

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Key Takeaways: 

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Additional resources: 

➡️ Learn more about Ben Bratton: 

💻 Website: https://bratton.info/ 

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benjaminbratton 

✖️ X: https://x.com/bratton 

📚 The Stack: https://amzn.eu/d/j80ENZW

➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list 

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast 

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Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to follow so you never miss an episode!

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Prof. Brian Keating talks about the origins of the universe, the Big Bang, cosmic microwave background radiation, cosmic inflation, BICEP & POLARBEAR experiments, the Simons Array and the Nobel Prize!

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Is the Big Bang theory dead? 

Eric Lerner has been pushing plasma cosmology and denying the Big Bang theory for decades. His latest claim is that the Big Bang theory is dead because of an alleged discreptancy in the abundance of lithium in the universe. But are his arguments against the Big Bang credible? Does the lithium abundance discrepancy disprove the Big Bang theory? And how should we approach anomalies in scientific theories?

In this episode, I break down how his claims, particularly around lithium abundance, are based on a misunderstanding of science. Rather than debunking the Big Bang, these anomalies present an opportunity for further discovery. I also ​​discuss the broader implications of Lerner's arguments, placing them within the context of conspiracy theories in science, and make my case for the ongoing validity of the Big Bang theory.

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Key Takeaways: 

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Additional resources: 

Relevant sources: 

📝 Coc et al. (2014): BBN + Planck: https://arxiv.org/abs/1403.6694 

📚 Fields (2011): Lithium Problem: https://arxiv.org/abs/1203.3551 

📖 Prantzos (2012): Cosmic Rays: https://arxiv.org/abs/1203.5662 

🤓 Howk et al. (2012): SMC Li: https://arxiv.org/abs/1207.3081

➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list 

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast 

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Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

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Bob Kirshner and Brian Keating explore the future of the TMT and GMT telescopes in studying dark energy and exoplanets. They also consider recent controversies in cosmology regarding dark energy and the potential for astronomical measurements of neutrino mass.

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What is consciousness? Will we ever be able to create digital twins of ourselves that are conscious? And can artificial intelligence ever truly experience consciousness?

Here today to enlighten us on these elusive yet fascinating topics is Christof Koch! Christof is a renowned neuroscientist and one of the leading figures in the field of consciousness. He is best known for his work in exploring the neural bases of consciousness, particularly in relation to the brain's structure and function. A key proponent of Integrated Information Theory, Christof is also about to release his new book, Then I Am Myself the World, an essential read for anyone seeking to understand humankind and the future we are creating.

Join Christof and me as we delve into the mystical and mysterious world of consciousness.

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Key Takeaways: 

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Additional resources: 

➡️ Learn more about Christof Koch:

💻 Website: https://christofkoch.com/ 

📚 Then I Am Myself the World: https://a.co/d/agleHRB 

➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list 

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast 

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Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices