Scott Aaronson: The Greatest Unsolved Problem in Math

Scott Aaronson (UT Austin) reveals the P vs NP problem and quantum computing's limits to consciousness The conversation weaves through topics such as Turing universality, the no‑cloning theorem, superdeterminism, and the challenges of defining consciousness.

- 00:00:00 - Introduction
- 00:02:27 - Turing universality & computational efficiency
- 00:12:35 - Prediction and free will
- 00:15:16 - Newcomb's paradox
- 00:23:05 - Quantum information & no‑cloning
- 00:33:42 - Chaos & computational irreducibility
- 00:38:33 - Brain duplication, AI & identity
- 00:46:43 - Many‑worlds, Copenhagen & Bohm interpretation
- 01:03:14 - Penrose on quantum gravity & consciousness
- 01:14:46 - Superposition explained
- 01:21:33 - Wolfram physics critique
- 01:31:37 - P vs NP explained
- 01:53:40 - Classical vs quantum computation
- 02:03:25 - The "pretty hard" problem of consciousness

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RESOURCES:

- YouTube link: https://youtu.be/1ZpGCQoL2Rk
- Scott's Blog: https://scottaaronson.blog/
- Newcomb's Paradox (Scott's Blog Post): https://scottaaronson.blog/?p=30
- A New Kind of Science (Stephen Wolfram): https://amzn.to/47BTiaf
- Jonathan Gorard's Papers: https://arxiv.org/search/gr-qc?searchtype=author&query=Gorard,+J
- Boson Sampling (Alex Arkhipov and Scott Aaronson): https://arxiv.org/abs/1011.3245
- Podcast w/ Tim Maudlin on TOE (Solo): https://youtu.be/fU1bs5o3nss
- Podcast w/ Tim Palmer on TOE: https://youtu.be/883R3JlZHXE

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science.

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