hi everybody hello um thank you very much for the invitation I’ll talk about
much for the invitation I’ll talk about
much for the invitation I’ll talk about two things today two of my former and
two things today two of my former and
two things today two of my former and current passions physics I promise
current passions physics I promise
current passions physics I promise no equations it’ll be easy and some
no equations it’ll be easy and some
no equations it’ll be easy and some technology of old that’s very current as
technology of old that’s very current as
technology of old that’s very current as well I entitled my talk back to the
well I entitled my talk back to the
well I entitled my talk back to the future
future
future you’ll see why I’ll go back to 25 years
you’ll see why I’ll go back to 25 years
you’ll see why I’ll go back to 25 years ago in 1993 it was a time of excitement
ago in 1993 it was a time of excitement
ago in 1993 it was a time of excitement I suppose there was the beginning of the
I suppose there was the beginning of the
I suppose there was the beginning of the web there was the beginning of
web there was the beginning of
web there was the beginning of technological breakthroughs it was the
technological breakthroughs it was the
technological breakthroughs it was the end of my college career and I was gonna
end of my college career and I was gonna
end of my college career and I was gonna go to grad school and I was gonna study
go to grad school and I was gonna study
go to grad school and I was gonna study physics in grad school I was very
physics in grad school I was very
physics in grad school I was very excited and it was also a time of
excited and it was also a time of
excited and it was also a time of tragedy if you will for science as a
tragedy if you will for science as a
tragedy if you will for science as a large project perhaps the largest
large project perhaps the largest
large project perhaps the largest experimental project that was ever going
experimental project that was ever going
experimental project that was ever going to be created by humankind was canceled
to be created by humankind was canceled
to be created by humankind was canceled I was crestfallen it was very sad my
I was crestfallen it was very sad my
I was crestfallen it was very sad my dreams were shattered
dreams were shattered
dreams were shattered everybody everybody thought this was the
everybody everybody thought this was the
everybody everybody thought this was the end of science it wasn’t of course they
end of science it wasn’t of course they
end of science it wasn’t of course they were so it was an exaggeration and this
were so it was an exaggeration and this
were so it was an exaggeration and this large accelerator that was going to be
large accelerator that was going to be
large accelerator that was going to be built somewhere near Dallas in Texas in
built somewhere near Dallas in Texas in
built somewhere near Dallas in Texas in the US was canceled so what turned out
the US was canceled so what turned out
the US was canceled so what turned out to be a tragedy for the US and its
to be a tragedy for the US and its
to be a tragedy for the US and its leadership in science in physics in
leadership in science in physics in
leadership in science in physics in particle physics to be more precise was
particle physics to be more precise was
particle physics to be more precise was a great opportunity for Europe and CERN
a great opportunity for Europe and CERN
a great opportunity for Europe and CERN CERN is a large large large accelerator
CERN is a large large large accelerator
CERN is a large large large accelerator complex it’s a large laboratory that is
complex it’s a large laboratory that is
complex it’s a large laboratory that is actually over two countries France in
actually over two countries France in
actually over two countries France in Switzerland and where it houses the most
Switzerland and where it houses the most
Switzerland and where it houses the most complex accelerators ever built by by
complex accelerators ever built by by
complex accelerators ever built by by humans and it’s a tremendous feat of
humans and it’s a tremendous feat of
humans and it’s a tremendous feat of engineering ingenuity creativity
engineering ingenuity creativity
engineering ingenuity creativity collaboration lots of people were
collaboration lots of people were
collaboration lots of people were there in a typical day you’ll probably
there in a typical day you’ll probably
there in a typical day you’ll probably find about 10,000 people and it’s truly
find about 10,000 people and it’s truly
find about 10,000 people and it’s truly an amazing achievement if you will this
an amazing achievement if you will this
an amazing achievement if you will this was done this was built the LHC the
was done this was built the LHC the
was done this was built the LHC the Large Hadron Collider was built with one
Large Hadron Collider was built with one
Large Hadron Collider was built with one purpose at least that’s what we think to
purpose at least that’s what we think to
purpose at least that’s what we think to find a particle called the Higgs boson
find a particle called the Higgs boson
find a particle called the Higgs boson the Higgs boson is very important it’s
the Higgs boson is very important it’s
the Higgs boson is very important it’s fundamental it’s central to modern
fundamental it’s central to modern
fundamental it’s central to modern physics to particle physics as it
physics to particle physics as it
physics to particle physics as it actually is responsible for giving mass
actually is responsible for giving mass
actually is responsible for giving mass to pretty much everything we know of
to pretty much everything we know of
to pretty much everything we know of today and after lots of hard work some
today and after lots of hard work some
today and after lots of hard work some hiccups some problems but also lots of
hiccups some problems but also lots of
hiccups some problems but also lots of ingenious efforts by experimentalists
ingenious efforts by experimentalists
ingenious efforts by experimentalists and theorists it actually worked and on
and theorists it actually worked and on
and theorists it actually worked and on July 4th of 2012 they announced the
July 4th of 2012 they announced the
July 4th of 2012 they announced the discovery of the Higgs boson it was a
discovery of the Higgs boson it was a
discovery of the Higgs boson it was a triumph for science it was fantastic and
triumph for science it was fantastic and
triumph for science it was fantastic and since we are very greedy we merely
since we are very greedy we merely
since we are very greedy we merely started asking questions well what’s
started asking questions well what’s
started asking questions well what’s next
next
next did we just spend 10 billion Swiss
did we just spend 10 billion Swiss
did we just spend 10 billion Swiss francs to find a single particle no we
francs to find a single particle no we
francs to find a single particle no we wanted to go beyond that and we still
wanted to go beyond that and we still
wanted to go beyond that and we still want to go beyond that we want to be
want to go beyond that we want to be
want to go beyond that we want to be able to find more exotic particles so
able to find more exotic particles so
able to find more exotic particles so you want to be able to go beyond this
you want to be able to go beyond this
you want to be able to go beyond this really nice chart find stuff that that’s
really nice chart find stuff that that’s
really nice chart find stuff that that’s been predicted not predicted theorized I
been predicted not predicted theorized I
been predicted not predicted theorized I should say many many years ago decades
should say many many years ago decades
should say many many years ago decades ago unfortunately since the 4th of July
ago unfortunately since the 4th of July
ago unfortunately since the 4th of July 2012 this hasn’t happened despite really
2012 this hasn’t happened despite really
2012 this hasn’t happened despite really really intense efforts lots of very
really intense efforts lots of very
really intense efforts lots of very complex experiments and lots of very
complex experiments and lots of very
complex experiments and lots of very smart people working on finding those
smart people working on finding those
smart people working on finding those those exotic particles that those
those exotic particles that those
those exotic particles that those new physic their new physics and we
new physic their new physics and we
new physic their new physics and we really want to find this hasn’t happened
it’s an enterprise physics particle
it’s an enterprise physics particle physics experimental physics physics in
physics experimental physics physics in
physics experimental physics physics in general it’s an interplay for enterprise
general it’s an interplay for enterprise
general it’s an interplay for enterprise that’s not instantaneous okay the
that’s not instantaneous okay the
that’s not instantaneous okay the results are not immediately seen it
results are not immediately seen it
results are not immediately seen it takes a long time for the Higgs boson
takes a long time for the Higgs boson
takes a long time for the Higgs boson took 48 years it’s very very bottom
took 48 years it’s very very bottom
took 48 years it’s very very bottom somebody a few people three people even
somebody a few people three people even
somebody a few people three people even actually wore probably about six people
actually wore probably about six people
actually wore probably about six people theorize about it in 1964 he was found
theorize about it in 1964 he was found
theorize about it in 1964 he was found in 2012 that’s 48 years that’s a very
in 2012 that’s 48 years that’s a very
in 2012 that’s 48 years that’s a very long time and by today’s standards
long time and by today’s standards
long time and by today’s standards that’s like incredibly long and it’s too
that’s like incredibly long and it’s too
that’s like incredibly long and it’s too much it’s many 10 it’s more than 110
much it’s many 10 it’s more than 110
much it’s many 10 it’s more than 110 it’s two generations of physicists
it’s two generations of physicists
it’s two generations of physicists waiting for results of their work and
waiting for results of their work and
waiting for results of their work and lots of people have started beginning to
lots of people have started beginning to
lots of people have started beginning to do to think outside of the traditional
do to think outside of the traditional
do to think outside of the traditional big accelerator huge experiment type of
big accelerator huge experiment type of
big accelerator huge experiment type of approach to more than physics and they
approach to more than physics and they
approach to more than physics and they started thinking about smaller
started thinking about smaller
started thinking about smaller experiments back to the basics where the
experiments back to the basics where the
experiments back to the basics where the way it used to be many many years ago
way it used to be many many years ago
way it used to be many many years ago when modern physics was at it’s very
when modern physics was at it’s very
when modern physics was at it’s very beginning and one of those people is a
beginning and one of those people is a
beginning and one of those people is a great physicist I’m Greek so I had to
great physicist I’m Greek so I had to
great physicist I’m Greek so I had to pick a Greek his name is Chavez
pick a Greek his name is Chavez
pick a Greek his name is Chavez Demopolis who has been encouraging many
Demopolis who has been encouraging many
Demopolis who has been encouraging many many a young physicist to start looking
many a young physicist to start looking
many a young physicist to start looking for more data new data in smaller more
for more data new data in smaller more
for more data new data in smaller more feasible if you will experiments now
feasible if you will experiments now
feasible if you will experiments now what are the benefits we’re talking
what are the benefits we’re talking
what are the benefits we’re talking about economy we’re talking about time
about economy we’re talking about time
about economy we’re talking about time the time scale already will go from 30
the time scale already will go from 30
the time scale already will go from 30 years which is the span of a typical
years which is the span of a typical
years which is the span of a typical academic year academic career to
academic year academic career to
academic year academic career to something like three years or five years
something like three years or five years
something like three years or five years perhaps which is much more attractive
perhaps which is much more attractive
perhaps which is much more attractive and much more motivational if you will
and much more motivational if you will
and much more motivational if you will to a
to a
to a physicist somebody like you maybe in a
physicist somebody like you maybe in a
physicist somebody like you maybe in a few years there are this is an important
development in the area of particle
development in the area of particle physics in the area of experimental
physics in the area of experimental
physics in the area of experimental physics because there it’s a shift it’s
physics because there it’s a shift it’s
physics because there it’s a shift it’s a paradigm shift from what people have
a paradigm shift from what people have
a paradigm shift from what people have been doing for the last 4050 years to
been doing for the last 4050 years to
been doing for the last 4050 years to what the future will hold for us there
what the future will hold for us there
what the future will hold for us there is already a first-of-its-kind center
is already a first-of-its-kind center
is already a first-of-its-kind center for fundamental physics people are now
for fundamental physics people are now
for fundamental physics people are now saying well let’s keep on working on the
saying well let’s keep on working on the
saying well let’s keep on working on the experiment on large experiments but
experiment on large experiments but
experiment on large experiments but let’s also try and do some physics on
let’s also try and do some physics on
let’s also try and do some physics on tabletops literally on small tables or
tabletops literally on small tables or
tabletops literally on small tables or on one perhaps but things are are easily
on one perhaps but things are are easily
on one perhaps but things are are easily funded money is an issue of course that
funded money is an issue of course that
funded money is an issue of course that are they have a definitive end and a
are they have a definitive end and a
are they have a definitive end and a beginning of course and a a
beginning of course and a a
beginning of course and a a short-duration and there are many things
short-duration and there are many things
short-duration and there are many things that can be discovered that way there
that can be discovered that way there
that can be discovered that way there are many things that can can be seen in
are many things that can can be seen in
are many things that can can be seen in such small scale low-energy experiments
such small scale low-energy experiments
such small scale low-energy experiments and that’s a very good thing it’s the
and that’s a very good thing it’s the
and that’s a very good thing it’s the way of the future I think I’ve been
way of the future I think I’ve been
way of the future I think I’ve been following this sort of shift for the
following this sort of shift for the
following this sort of shift for the last four or five years and I’m fairly
last four or five years and I’m fairly
last four or five years and I’m fairly convinced that that’s the future way of
convinced that that’s the future way of
convinced that that’s the future way of in the future direction of particle
in the future direction of particle
in the future direction of particle physics so so much for physics which
physics so so much for physics which
physics so so much for physics which takes forever and let’s go to some
takes forever and let’s go to some
takes forever and let’s go to some computers and let’s go to and talk to
computers and let’s go to and talk to
computers and let’s go to and talk to talk a little bit about some of
some development that took place many
some development that took place many years ago that are only seen right now
years ago that are only seen right now
years ago that are only seen right now this is the only part that I’m actually
this is the only part that I’m actually
this is the only part that I’m actually really involved I was involved many
really involved I was involved many
really involved I was involved many years ago it was 15 years ago I was
years ago it was 15 years ago I was
years ago it was 15 years ago I was involved in a large effort by a very
involved in a large effort by a very
involved in a large effort by a very small team we were about 10 people
small team we were about 10 people
small team we were about 10 people working in a private company in the US
working in a private company in the US
working in a private company in the US and we were trying to bring a very
and we were trying to bring a very
and we were trying to bring a very complex piece of software to the masses
complex piece of software to the masses
complex piece of software to the masses and the best way to do this and to avoid
and the best way to do this and to avoid
and the best way to do this and to avoid the so-called learning curve usually the
the so-called learning curve usually the
the so-called learning curve usually the software packages of that nature are
software packages of that nature are
software packages of that nature are very complex do you understand very
very complex do you understand very
very complex do you understand very complex to use it takes forever to learn
complex to use it takes forever to learn
complex to use it takes forever to learn a new language for programmers it was to
a new language for programmers it was to
a new language for programmers it was to bring we brought it to the web and it
bring we brought it to the web and it
bring we brought it to the web and it was this very important milestone in my
was this very important milestone in my
was this very important milestone in my career when on the 20th of May 2003 this
career when on the 20th of May 2003 this
career when on the 20th of May 2003 this software package was released it was
software package was released it was
software package was released it was called web Mathematica it was done by a
called web Mathematica it was done by a
called web Mathematica it was done by a small number of people and it was my
small number of people and it was my
small number of people and it was my discovery of the Higgs particle and it
discovery of the Higgs particle and it
discovery of the Higgs particle and it was something that to my mind was a big
was something that to my mind was a big
was something that to my mind was a big thing but to the company founders the
thing but to the company founders the
thing but to the company founders the company owners was only a step stone for
company owners was only a step stone for
company owners was only a step stone for a much bigger enterprise it was really a
a much bigger enterprise it was really a
a much bigger enterprise it was really a proof of concept and the proof of the
proof of concept and the proof of the
proof of concept and the proof of the concept was that we’ll take a very
concept was that we’ll take a very
concept was that we’ll take a very complex piece of software and we’ll turn
complex piece of software and we’ll turn
complex piece of software and we’ll turn it into a computational search engine
it into a computational search engine
it into a computational search engine this was done unfortunately for me after
this was done unfortunately for me after
this was done unfortunately for me after I left the company but it turned out to
I left the company but it turned out to
I left the company but it turned out to be a great tool at the hands of many a
be a great tool at the hands of many a
be a great tool at the hands of many a student like yourselves in the US
student like yourselves in the US
student like yourselves in the US especially and I hope to see that
especially and I hope to see that
especially and I hope to see that happening in Europe as well it’s called
happening in Europe as well it’s called
happening in Europe as well it’s called Wolfram Alpha it’s a computational
Wolfram Alpha it’s a computational
Wolfram Alpha it’s a computational search engine it can it’s not Google it
search engine it can it’s not Google it
search engine it can it’s not Google it actually computes
actually computes
actually computes the answer that it gives you it doesn’t
the answer that it gives you it doesn’t
the answer that it gives you it doesn’t just give you a series of of hits it’s
just give you a series of of hits it’s
just give you a series of of hits it’s totally different totall different
totally different totall different
totally different totall different approach totally different concept and
approach totally different concept and
approach totally different concept and unbeknownst to me I was actually part of
unbeknownst to me I was actually part of
unbeknownst to me I was actually part of it many many years ago so for me the
it many many years ago so for me the
it many many years ago so for me the lesson here was that once you not always
lesson here was that once you not always
lesson here was that once you not always focus on the small picture there’s
focus on the small picture there’s
focus on the small picture there’s always a bigger picture that we may or
always a bigger picture that we may or
always a bigger picture that we may or may not be aware of and it’s good to
may not be aware of and it’s good to
may not be aware of and it’s good to keep our eyes open for larger
keep our eyes open for larger
keep our eyes open for larger opportunities and I want to finish my
opportunities and I want to finish my
opportunities and I want to finish my talk about small things and trips back
talk about small things and trips back
talk about small things and trips back in time and to the future with a an
in time and to the future with a an
in time and to the future with a an obscure article on a something that took
obscure article on a something that took
obscure article on a something that took place nearly 30 years ago this by the
place nearly 30 years ago this by the
place nearly 30 years ago this by the way the output of Wolfram Alpha tells us
way the output of Wolfram Alpha tells us
way the output of Wolfram Alpha tells us what the weather was in Brussels 30
what the weather was in Brussels 30
what the weather was in Brussels 30 years ago fantastic there was a contest
years ago fantastic there was a contest
years ago fantastic there was a contest 30 years ago nearly 30 years ago today
30 years ago nearly 30 years ago today
30 years ago nearly 30 years ago today sponsored by Apple and they asked
sponsored by Apple and they asked
sponsored by Apple and they asked students older than you college students
students older than you college students
students older than you college students to find to come up with what the
to find to come up with what the
to find to come up with what the computer of the Year the year 2000 would
computer of the Year the year 2000 would
computer of the Year the year 2000 would look like and one team came up with a
look like and one team came up with a
look like and one team came up with a concept called tablet the personal
concept called tablet the personal
concept called tablet the personal computer of the year 2000 and my former
computer of the year 2000 and my former
computer of the year 2000 and my former boss was part of the team he was
boss was part of the team he was
boss was part of the team he was actually the head of the team what’s so
actually the head of the team what’s so
actually the head of the team what’s so important about that it was actually
important about that it was actually
important about that it was actually exactly like the iPad as envisioned it
exactly like the iPad as envisioned it
exactly like the iPad as envisioned it in 1988 but for the year 2000 the iPad
in 1988 but for the year 2000 the iPad
in 1988 but for the year 2000 the iPad which you probably all use or have used
which you probably all use or have used
which you probably all use or have used or would like to use only came out in
or would like to use only came out in
or would like to use only came out in 2010 these guys came up with a
2010 these guys came up with a
2010 these guys came up with a tremendously similar concept in a very
tremendously similar concept in a very
tremendously similar concept in a very obscure article in a in a magazine for a
obscure article in a in a magazine for a
obscure article in a in a magazine for a unknown competition people have
unknown competition people have
unknown competition people have forgotten about it nobody really
forgotten about it nobody really
forgotten about it nobody really remembers about this
remembers about this
remembers about this thirty years ago today and to me this is
thirty years ago today and to me this is
thirty years ago today and to me this is a lesson for for now and for the future
a lesson for for now and for the future
a lesson for for now and for the future we should look for important ideas not
we should look for important ideas not
we should look for important ideas not always by looking at the big titles on
always by looking at the big titles on
always by looking at the big titles on the on the popular magazines and
the on the popular magazines and
the on the popular magazines and believing the hype there are very
believing the hype there are very
believing the hype there are very important things very important things
important things very important things
important things very important things that come in small packages and in very
that come in small packages and in very
that come in small packages and in very obscure places if we only look hard
obscure places if we only look hard
obscure places if we only look hard enough
enough
enough we’ll find something like that that will
we’ll find something like that that will
we’ll find something like that that will help us do homework while watching TV
help us do homework while watching TV
help us do homework while watching TV and that was 30 years ago
and that was 30 years ago
and that was 30 years ago so can we really predict the future I’m
so can we really predict the future I’m
so can we really predict the future I’m not so sure about that actually I don’t
not so sure about that actually I don’t
not so sure about that actually I don’t think we can it’s a very complicated
think we can it’s a very complicated
think we can it’s a very complicated task I don’t know what we’ll be talking
task I don’t know what we’ll be talking
task I don’t know what we’ll be talking about on February 7th on in 2048 nobody
about on February 7th on in 2048 nobody
about on February 7th on in 2048 nobody knows that if they tell you that they do
knows that if they tell you that they do
knows that if they tell you that they do they’re probably not telling you the
they’re probably not telling you the
they’re probably not telling you the truth the answer is no we can’t we have
truth the answer is no we can’t we have
truth the answer is no we can’t we have no idea
no idea
no idea we’ll probably hold a meeting like that
we’ll probably hold a meeting like that
we’ll probably hold a meeting like that and you will be in charge it’s up to you
and you will be in charge it’s up to you
and you will be in charge it’s up to you what we’ll be talking about in 2048
what we’ll be talking about in 2048
what we’ll be talking about in 2048 thank you for a much
thank you for a much
thank you for a much [Applause]
”
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