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prof-dr-iryesterday at 8:48 PM2 repliesview on HN

Among theoretical physicists there is little doubt that Edward Witten is currently the greatest living theoretical physicist. Here is an interview with him from a few weeks ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAbP0magTVY

I think it is a great watch for anyone with an interest in the field.


Replies

ekjhgkejhgkyesterday at 8:53 PM

Yeah Witten is unusual. He's not just a little bit better than everyone else, he's on a different league.

I knew a someone who was a temp visitor at the Institute for Advanced Studies who was given temp office next to Witten. And he said he wouldn't hear a noise, and the one day he starts typing and doesn't stop until 100 pages of paper are written, like he has it finished in his mind before he starts typing. Somehow I'm inclined to believe it can't be far from truth.

raffael_deyesterday at 9:27 PM

eric weinstein said that witten is the dark lord of string theory; scotching any advance in theoretical physics.

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