Marcelo Gleiser
Theoretical Physicist
Marcelo Gleiser is a professor of natural philosophy, physics, and astronomy at Dartmouth College. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a recipient of the Presidential Faculty Fellows Award from the White House and NSF, and was awarded the 2019 Templeton Prize. Gleiser has authored five books and is the co-founder of 13.8, where he writes about science and culture with physicist Adam Frank.
Enlightenment 2.0: We need another Age of Reason to save our civilization
A second Enlightenment would have a far bigger task: Saving civilization itself.
James Webb Space Telescope launches astronomy into a new era
Astronomy's roots rest in the very origins of humanity. We have always looked to the skies for answers. We are starting to get them.
The simulation hypothesis is a dangerous illusion
It is little more than a fancy excuse for escapist fantasizing.
What is the ultimate fate of the Universe?
Modern cosmology conjectures different possible fates for the Universe and thus for the end of time. Details depend on which model is right.
The dream of transhumanism: Are we merely human — or are we something more?
Humans are already so integrated with technology that the dream of transhumanism is a reality. Can we handle what comes next?
Google engineer claims his AI is sentient. It definitely is not
The engineer working on Google's AI, called LaMDA, suffers from what we could call Michelangelo Syndrome. Scientists must beware hubris.
How the Multiverse could break the scientific method
There is nothing more important to science than its ability to prove ideas wrong.
Are some things so taboo that science should never research them?
Science has come a long way since Mary Shelley penned "Frankenstein." But we still grapple with the same questions.
We are the only humans in the universe
All life forms, anywhere in our Universe, are chemically connected yet completely unique.
Do singularities exist in nature?
Singularities frustrate our understanding. But behind every singularity in physics hides a secret door to a new understanding of the world.
Quantum Steampunk: A new frontier in quantum physics
How efficiently could quantum engines operate?
Science vs. God: Understanding reality is not a battle between reason and faith
Many people perceive the struggle to understand our Universe as a battle between science and God. But this is a false dichotomy.
From astrology to astronomy, humans always look to the skies
From the tablets of the Babylonians to the telescopes of modern science, humans have always looked to the skies for fundamental answers.
Great minds don’t think alike: bringing sciences and the humanities together
Science and the humanities have been antagonistic for too long. Many of the big questions of our time require them to work closer than ever.
The joy and privilege of being a scientist
Most people have a distorted view of what being a scientist is like. Scientists need to make a greater effort to challenge stereotypes.
“More is different”: why reductionism fails at higher levels of complexity
We cannot deduce laws about a higher level of complexity by starting with a lower level of complexity. Here, reductionism meets a brick wall.
Tribalism and an urgency to act: what Ukraine and climate change have in common
The paradox of tribalism is that humans need a sense of belonging to be healthy and happy, but too much tribalism is deadly. We are one tribe.
We exist thanks to chirality and the asymmetry of life
Life is possible because of asymmetries, such as an imbalance between matter and antimatter and the "handedness" (chirality) of molecules.
Symmetry is beautiful, but asymmetry is why the Universe and life exist
The Universe has asymmetries, but that's a good thing. Imperfections are essential for the existence of stars and even life itself.
Isaac Newton’s life was one long search for God
From physics and alchemy to theology and eschatology, Isaac Newton’s research was rooted in a personal pursuit of the Divine.
Alien abductions: What are we to make of these bizarre stories?
From succubi to aliens, stories of abductions or other unsettling encounters have been with us for millennia. What explains them?
Alexander Friedmann: a pioneer of cosmic expansion
It is time to give the Russian cosmologist the credit he deserves.
From first stars to life: the James Webb story to be told
The James Webb Space Telescope finally could answer the age-old question of whether we are alone in the universe.
Throughout history, pandemics allowed geniuses to flourish
Centuries ago, the plague forced people into quarantine for years. Isaac Newton and Galileo used the time to revolutionize the world.
What is life like elsewhere in the Universe?
Whether or not life exists elsewhere in the Universe, we can be assured of one thing: We are the only human beings in the cosmos.