So expert in string theory means he understands everything in the universe I suppose? Why do we care what he thinks about reaching out to aliens anymore than what the average schmuck thinks? At least the regular guy has no perverse incentives to tell the most controversial story in order to sell books!
He is not only expert in string theory, but, first and foremost, a theoretical physicist, professor and author of some very well-received popular science books. This suggests that he most likely understands much more about our world than "the average schmuck" does.
I strongly disagree. He wrote popular science books but I’d argue that they are not that good at all whenever he veers away from his expertise. His stuff on neuroscience is just out there. There is definitely room for scientists who must inspire and inform the public but no one has replaced the era of Feynman and Sagan. Maybe Bill Nye, he seems the most level-headed popular science guy this side of the pond. The likes of Neil and Michio are just lots of air and not much substance and it’s doing science education a great disservice in my opinion.
His books are not good overall? Not much substance? Well, based on relevant ratings on Amazon, the absolute majority of Michio's readers strongly disagree with you. Your mention of Feynman etc. is ridiculous, considering that you have previously talked about comparison with "the average schmuck". Why are you suddenly changing the topic of the conversation?
That's exactly my point. The OP's question was not about whether he's right or wrong. It was: "why do we care what he thinks ... anymore than what the average schmuck thinks?". The stellar review performance proves that, for the reasons I outlined above, we, average schmucks, do care what he thinks.
Kaku used to work with Bunji Sakita, who was the real deal and did a lot of stuff in what is today called hard condensed matter as well (sliding CDWs / phasons / manifestation of N-G bosons). This is real disrespect to the literature, and strongly disagreeing without having read it is pretty worthless.
You are reformulating the original statement and misinterpreting my argument. Do you really think that someone who has graduated from Harvard summa cum laude and earned a Ph.D. from Berkeley as well as having worked at the Institute for Advanced Study and as a multi-decade experience as a professor has the same level of overall understanding of the world around us (including intergalactic political theory, if you insist) as an average Joe or Jane?
Those Aliens wont be interested in humans or in this planet. US did more than 1200 nuclear tests, RU more than 900, FR hundreds others etc. Main thing climat change, animal extinction species die, 70% of forrests gone. This is aftermath of nuclear testing.
So what these aliens could do here? Planet is getting warm. Hummanity wont reach space travel only "maybe" but all world in 2050 will use electric cars. Sounds not so realistic.
Aliens will show up to kill humans and dig coil? Dig gold for chips? But wait.. he is right Aliens can bargue with China and those will build starships for aliens. They can do that all they need are blueprints. LoL
Legitimately the Dark Forest theory (a mystery that shouldn't be spoiled if you want to read the books) explains so much about our universe as to be extremely unsettling. I was out camping while reading his trilogy, and just looking up at the stars made me shiver. Cosmic horror indeed.
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[ 3.4 ms ] story [ 33.1 ms ] threadWould they know if he’s wrong?
How effective a strategy has ignore it and it will go away been throughout history?