Carlo Rovelli: From Dante to White Holes

Lawrence Krauss introduces Carlo Rovelli, a renowned physicist known for his popular science writing, including his book 'Seven Brief Lessons on Physics.' They discuss Rovelli's background, his interest in combining physics with literature and art, and his work on loop quantum gravity as an alternative to string theory. The conversation also teases the topic of white holes, which Rovelli explores in his new book.

Carlo Rovelli shares his early life experiences, including his birth in Verona, Italy, and his parents' professions. He discusses how his interest in science was piqued later in life, during his university studies, and how his initial focus on humanities and literature influenced his scientific pursuits. The paragraph also touches on Rovelli's political interests and his first book, which was about a student revolt in Italy.

Rovelli describes his transition from humanities to physics and how he became engrossed in modern physics during his graduate studies. He also talks about his writing journey, which began as a form of personal expression and later turned into a career of writing for newspapers and books. His writing often includes references to Dante and other literary figures.

The conversation delves into the specifics of loop quantum gravity, a theory Rovelli has contributed to, which attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics with general relativity. Rovelli discusses his academic journey, including his time in Italy and the United States, and the evolution of his ideas in the field of quantum gravity.

Rovelli and Krauss explore the concept of black holes and the information paradox, where information appears to be lost when objects fall into black holes, contradicting quantum mechanics. Rovelli introduces his idea that black holes might transform into white holes via quantum processes, potentially resolving the information paradox and offering a new perspective on the nature of space and time.

The discussion addresses the theoretical and practical challenges in applying loop quantum gravity to real-world phenomena such as the Big Bang and black holes. Rovelli acknowledges the difficulties in testing the theory and the need for further research to connect the theory to observable reality.

Carlo Rovelli reflects on the concept of time, its perception, and its role in physics. He discusses how time is a composite notion with different attributes in everyday life versus in physics, where it behaves differently, especially in quantum gravity. Rovelli suggests that time is not a fundamental concept in quantum gravity equations, indicating a complex and layered understanding of temporality.

Rovelli elaborates on the idea that the distinction between past and future arises from thermodynamics and departures from equilibrium. He argues that without such departures, there would be no memory or experience of events, and thus no sense of time's arrow. The conversation touches on the relationship between entropy, time, and the possibility of lower entropy in the future.

The dialogue explores the concept of free will, with Rovelli suggesting that while we may have an illusion of free will at macroscopic scales, at the microscopic level, determinism prevails. The discussion also includes a critique of the concept of free will, aligning with the philosophical stance that free will may not exist.

Carlo Rovelli and Lawrence Krauss discuss the intersection of science with art and politics. Rovelli emphasizes the importance of being an outsider and the role of rebellion in science and education. They also address the intrusion of politics into science and the importance of maintaining freedom of speech and inquiry in academic and scientific communities.