A Beautiful Universe

Theoretical physicist and mathematician, Nobel laureate and Templeton Prize winner FRANK WILCZEK says to NARAYANI GANESH, it is beauty that leads to discoveries in physicsAfter receiving the 2022 Templeton Prize, Frank Wilczek interacted with The Times of India at a reception at Times Center, New York City. “Conceptual perfection in equations governs the physical world. Beauty helps us know how the world works — it is not a coincidence,” he says. “Any mathematical equation that is beautiful is bound to be correct.”Does beauty also indicate our purpose in life? “Well,” he says, “the question of purpose is entirely different. I went in the scientific direction but never lost interest in the purpose of life.” Which is why he fulfils the criterion of the Templeton Foundation’s selection, for “harnessing the power of science to explore the deepest questions of the and humankind’s place and purpose within it.” Wilczek talks about the Threefold Way that could help us navigate the future(s) of humanity: What the world is, what it could be and what it should be — and here, science has an important role to play. “Turning what is, to what should be, is the purpose of life,” says Wilczek.Known for his boundary-pushing investigations into the fundamental laws of nature, Prof Wilczek has transformed our understanding of the forces that govern the universe by revealing a vision that embodies mathematical beauty “from the magnificently large to the unimaginably small”. That is, a universe that is inherently beautiful in all its parts. He says the journey from what is to what should be, may not be a logical one, but it can elevate the discourse — didn’t Einstein remark that imagination is more important than knowledge? Yogi Berra said it is tough to make predictions, especially about the future; yet, we need to imagine future scenarios to help make correct choices to turn what is and what could be into what should be, through understanding matter, life and mind.Quantum computers in decades to come will become better at quantum computing; our ‘silicon friends’ can help extend our knowledge of life, but a tough question to crack is: How does mind emerge from matter?When asked if mind is connected to soul — which is why karma is carried forward to the next birth — the professor looks thoughtful and says he is unsure if souls and rebirth are part of our reality but thinks that mind emerges from matter as mind seems to be part of the physical world. Computer networks are mimicking the human brain’s neural networks, and a computer’s ‘brain’ can beat a human brain in a game of chess, for instance. The more power we have via technology and advanced knowledge, the more responsible we need to be while making choices for our common future.What should we do with the wealth we create? While Dystopian futures are on offer, it is up to us to make Utopian choices that can conserve the beauty of the universe. Politics and economics play major roles in the choices we make. That is why the wealthy and powerful should be informed by the best ideas available, based on discipline and imagination with the intention of common good, for us to live a beautiful life.Pantheist PhysicistProf Frank Wilczek is Herman Feshbach professor of physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, chief scientist at the Wilczek Quantum Center, Shanghai, and professor, Stockholm University. He shared the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics with his mentor David Gross, and David Politzer for the discovery of asymptotic freedom in the theory of the strong interaction. That is, the closer quarks are to each other, the weaker the nuclear force between them so that they behave almost as free particles; but when the distance between them increases, they are more strongly attracted to each other. This theory is considered important for the development of quantum chromodynamics.Wilczek was raised as Catholic, turned agnostic and is now pantheist. As a child, he wanted to study magic but chose Physics instead. As member, Scientific Advisory Board for the Future of Life Institute, he examines ways to mitigate existential risks facing humanity, particularly from advanced Artificial Intelligence. What does he do to relax, rewind? “I am learning to juggle,” he says, “and go for long walks in nature.”■ganeshnarayani@yahoo.com