A Cosmic Conversation with Kip Thorne
StarTalk Radio
Deep Dive
Why did Kip Thorne become involved in the movie 'Interstellar'?
Thorne's involvement began with a brainstorming session with Linda Ope, an ex-girlfriend and big producer of sci-fi films. They wrote a treatment for a movie called 'The Warped Side of the Universe,' which the Nolan brothers later adapted into 'Interstellar.' Thorne's role expanded from science advisor to executive producer as he collaborated closely with Christopher Nolan to ensure the film's science was accurate and compelling.
What was the main scientific guideline for 'Interstellar'?
The guideline was that nothing in the movie would violate well-established physical laws, and all wild elements would spring from science in some manner, adhering to the principles of good science fiction.
How did Kip Thorne respond to Neil deGrasse Tyson's issue with the tidal wave scene in 'Interstellar'?
Thorne explained that the wave was a solitary wave, discovered in the 1700s, which can travel long distances without changing shape. He acknowledged some exaggeration in the CGI wave for dramatic effect but provided a backstory that the planet had a subsurface island, making the wave's behavior plausible within the film's context.
What is the significance of the time dilation on Miller's planet in 'Interstellar'?
The extreme time dilation required the planet to orbit very close to the black hole, close enough to be in the unstable zone. Thorne's calculations showed that a black hole spinning extremely close to its maximum possible spin could produce the necessary time difference, allowing for the planet's existence within the film's narrative.
How did Kip Thorne justify the blight on Earth in 'Interstellar'?
Thorne consulted with Caltech biologists who identified two types of blights: generalized and specific. They couldn't rule out a lethal generalized blight that could attack multiple crops, leading to the scenario depicted in the film where humanity must find a new planet to survive.
What was the bet between Kip Thorne, Stephen Hawking, and John Preskill about?
The bet was about whether information is lost in black holes. Hawking initially believed information was lost, but later conceded to Preskill, who argued that information is preserved. Thorne, while not conceding, acknowledged an alternative formulation of quantum mechanics where information could be lost.
What is the current status of the marriage between general relativity and quantum physics?
The two theories are logically incompatible at extremely strong gravitational fields, such as near black holes or during the birth of the universe. String theory is one approach trying to reconcile them, but it has yet to achieve a definitive solution. Thorne believes string theory is likely to succeed but acknowledges it may take another generation of physicists to fully integrate the two.
What is Kip Thorne's current project after retiring from active scientific research?
Thorne is focusing on creative work at the interface between science and the arts, including a book of poetry and paintings about the warped side of the universe. He is also working on a history of the LIGO project, highlighting the technical, political, and sociological challenges that led to the discovery of gravitational waves.
- Kip Thorne's collaboration on the book "Gravitation", a graduate-level textbook on Einstein's theory of relativity.
- Thorne's role as executive producer and science advisor on the film Interstellar.
- The importance of scientific accuracy in science fiction films.
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