From NPR's Fresh Air on January 24th, 2011
- (Host) Terry Gross: Now, you said something that really baffles me. You said: when we study [multiple] universes in mathematical detail - what do you mean by that? I mean, we don't even know those universes exist. So when you say we study them in mathematical detail, what are you talking about?
- Brian Greene: Well, that is a confusing idea, I think, for people who don't actually engage in the kind of research that I'm talking about, because what we do is we sit down with equations, equations that describe space and time, equations that describe how matter can move through space and time. And using those mathematical equations, we can get a sense of what it would be like to be in one of those other universes, even if we can't actually visit or see or interact with that universe in any real sense. That's the power of mathematics. And I have to say, underlying everything that we're talking about, in fact underlying everything I do with my entire life, pretty much, is a firm belief that mathematics is a sure-footed guide to how reality works. If that's wrong, then all bets are off.
