Nobel Prize-winning physicist Kip Thorne recently visited China for a dialogue with "The Wandering Earth" director Guo Fan and Zhang Shuangnan, director of the Particle Astrophysics Center at the Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Thorne shared insights into his work in physics and art, stating that after spending 50 years as a traditional physics professor, he has now turned his focus to exploring new scientific frontiers and artistic endeavors.
Thorne is best known for his pioneering work with the LIGO project (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory), which first detected gravitational waves in 2015. These waves originated from the collision of two distant black holes, confirming a prediction made by Einstein's general theory of relativity in 1916. Thorne's involvement in the 2014 movie "Interstellar" as a scientific advisor spotlighted gravitational waves, making complex scientific concepts accessible to the general public.
At the Tencent Science WE Conference, Thorne used art to explain scientific laws and discussed the progress of LIGO, predicting the discovery of primordial gravitational waves from the Big Bang in the next few decades. He emphasized that these findings could unlock new insights into the birth of the universe and quantum gravity.
Thorne expressed his lifelong interest in science fiction, which has influenced his research. He worked as a consultant on "Contact," a film by Carl Sagan, and holds "The Three-Body Problem" by Chinese author Liu Cixin in high regard.
On the future of space travel, Thorne is optimistic, citing individuals like Elon Musk and innovations at SpaceX as accelerating humanity's progress in space exploration. He believes that unmanned missions to nearby star systems could happen within the lifetime of today's students.
Thorne has also ventured into the intersection of science and art, collaborating with artists and composers to create multimedia experiences that blend accurate scientific visuals with other artistic elements.
As an author and filmmaker, Thorne continues to explore the potential of science fiction to pose thought experiments that push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe. He is currently working on a second film project and remains hopeful about its completion despite the challenges in the film industry.
Throughout his career, Thorne has utilized mental imagery over mathematical equations to advance his understanding of complex scientific phenomena, a method he shared with his late friend, Stephen Hawking. His ongoing work reflects a unique blend of scientific precision and creative intuition.
