Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

Why Physicists Say We Don't Understand Quantum Field Theory


Listen Later

As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe

In this episode, I speak with Professor Nikita Nekrasov, one of the most original minds in theoretical physics. We dive into why quantum field theory still isn’t fully understood, despite its experimental success and why a complete axiomatic foundation might not even be possible. Nikita walks us through his solution to the Cyberg-Witten puzzle, the birth of the Nekrasov partition function, and how exotic structures in four dimensions could underlie the chemistry of life. This conversation blends deep math, quantum weirdness, and personal stories from the front lines of discovery. If you’ve ever wondered what it really means to understand reality, this one’s for you.
Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:13 Understanding Quantum Field Theory
04:38 The Journey to Gauge Origami
06:53 The Story of the Microsoft Partition Function
19:12 Connecting Quantum Mechanics and Field Theory
36:43 The Nature of Instantons
45:05 Exotic R4 and Its Implications
49:01 Dealing with Non-Compactness
52:25 The Emergence of Non-Commutative Geometry
1:04:29 Lessons from Mentors
1:20:11 Language as a Dynamic System
1:22:35 The Concept of Gauge Origami
1:30:48 Insights from Collaboration with Peers
1:37:15 Aspirations for Future Work
1:38:15 Advice for Aspiring Researchers
Links Mentioned:
•⁠ ⁠Nikita’s Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=bKV59LwAAAAJ&hl=en
•⁠ ⁠Nikita’s Lecture: https://scgp.stonybrook.edu/archives/44062
•⁠ ⁠Two Dimensional Gauge Theories [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-th/9204083
•⁠ ⁠Richard Borcherds [TOE]: https://youtu.be/U3pQWkE2KqM
•⁠ ⁠Edward Frenkel [TOE]: https://youtu.be/n_oPMcvHbAc
•⁠ ⁠Edward Frenkel’s Presentation [TOE]: https://youtu.be/RX1tZv_Nv4Y
•⁠ ⁠Edward Frenkel’s Presentation [Part 2]: https://youtu.be/0AC-Ol1z5vI
•⁠ ⁠String Theory Iceberg [TOE]: https://youtu.be/X4PdPnQuwjY
•⁠ ⁠Roger Penrose [TOE]: https://youtu.be/sGm505TFMbU
•⁠ ⁠Cumrun Vafa [TOE]: https://youtu.be/kUHOoMX4Bqw
•⁠ ⁠Garrett Lisi [TOE]: https://youtu.be/z7ulJmfFvd8
•⁠ ⁠Chiara Marletto [TOE]: https://youtu.be/Uey_mUy1vN0
•⁠ ⁠Debunking “All Possible Paths” [TOE]: https://youtu.be/XcY3ZtgYis0
•⁠ ⁠Peter Woit [TOE]: https://youtu.be/TTSeqsCgxj8
•⁠ ⁠Leonard Susskind [TOE]: https://youtu.be/2p_Hlm6aCok
•⁠ ⁠Seiberg-Witten Prepotential from Instanton Counting [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-th/0206161
•⁠ ⁠Eva Miranda [TOE]: https://youtu.be/6XyMepn-AZo
•⁠ ⁠Leptons and Quarks [Book]: https://www.amazon.com/LEPTONS-QUARKS-SPECIAL-COMMEMORATING-DISCOVERY/dp/9814603007
•⁠ ⁠Brian Greene [TOE]: https://youtu.be/O2EtTE9Czzo
•⁠ ⁠David Wallace [TOE]: https://youtu.be/4MjNuJK5RzM
•⁠ ⁠Jenann Ismael [TOE]: https://youtu.be/7kvXihDAOi0
•⁠ ⁠Claudia de Rham [TOE]: https://youtu.be/hNPMKy6RxCE
•⁠ ⁠Yang-Mills [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2504.19097
SUPPORT:
- Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join
- Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
- Support me on Crypto: https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9
- Support me on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4
SOCIALS:
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
- Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs
#science

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

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Theories of Everything with Curt JaimungalBy Theories of Everything

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

12 ratings


More shows like Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

View all
Closer To Truth by Closer To Truth

Closer To Truth

248 Listeners

Making Sense with Sam Harris by Sam Harris

Making Sense with Sam Harris

26,333 Listeners

The Quanta Podcast by Quanta Magazine

The Quanta Podcast

506 Listeners

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating by Big Bang Productions Inc.

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

1,050 Listeners

The Michael Shermer Show by Michael Shermer

The Michael Shermer Show

914 Listeners

Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas by Sean Carroll | Wondery

Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

4,129 Listeners

Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe by iHeartPodcasts

Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

2,308 Listeners

The Numberphile Podcast by Brady Haran

The Numberphile Podcast

454 Listeners

Within Reason by Alex J O'Connor

Within Reason

1,560 Listeners

The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss by Lawrence M. Krauss

The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss

506 Listeners

The Jim Rutt Show by The Jim Rutt Show

The Jim Rutt Show

256 Listeners

Machine Learning Street Talk (MLST) by Machine Learning Street Talk (MLST)

Machine Learning Street Talk (MLST)

91 Listeners

Dwarkesh Podcast by Dwarkesh Patel

Dwarkesh Podcast

425 Listeners

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal by Theories of Everything

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

32 Listeners

The Joy of Why by Steven Strogatz, Janna Levin and Quanta Magazine

The Joy of Why

496 Listeners