11/09/2019: Stringy Predictions for Our Universe (Simons Foundation Lecture)
11/09/2019: G2 Structure and Physical Interpretation of Taubes Construction of SW Invariants

September 11, 2019
TITLE: Stringy Predictions for Our Universe (Simons Foundation Lecture)

ABSTRACT:  Over the last few decades, string theory has emerged as a consistent, unified quantum theory of all the particles and forces. This development has led to a sharper understanding of the geometry of space and time as well as the basic physical laws that govern that geometry. String theory has also resulted in surprising predictions about our universe.

Solutions to string theory involve spaces with special mathematical properties. The study of these spaces has led to a ‘landscape’ of potentially consistent universes. The work has also led to the unexpected result that some consistent-looking universes cannot possibly exist and belong to the ’swampland.’ In this talk, Cumrun Vafa reviews some of the predictions to which this picture leads, both for the fundamental constituents of our universe as well as the ultimate fate of the cosmos.

September 11, 2019
TITLE: G2 Structure and Physical Interpretation of Taubes Construction of SW Invariants

ABSTRACT:  In this talk I review a joint recent work with Sergio Cecotti, where we use the structure to shed light on Taubes reformulation of invariant for symplectic 4-manifolds in terms of Gromov invariants.