555
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world 33 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Not a kook. Legit scientist. He has a PhD in theoretical physics, not a theoretical PhD in physics. While he spends a lot of time as a science communicator, he has his bona fides.

Yes, it's all just theories and intuition like all nascent science.

[-] Brummbaer@pawb.social 17 points 2 weeks ago

A PhD is not a "get out of Jail" card for kookery.

He is definitely part of the "woo" people in his field.

[-] dalekcaan@feddit.nl 6 points 2 weeks ago

I read a book of his once about theoretical ways to make sci-fi technology a reality. It was interesting in a hard sci-fi kind of way, but what really annoyed me was that he kept presenting his ideas as how they would work rather than how they could work.

Just looking at what people 100 years ago thought life would be like today should be a good indication that while theorizing about the future is interesting and a good way to get ideas moving, future technology is never going to be exactly what you think it will. If we knew exactly how this stuff would work, we wouldn't be imagining it, we'd just make it.

[-] CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago
[-] Brummbaer@pawb.social 15 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

He has been on Coast to Coast AM he has been on Joe Rogan and other scientists in his and other fields are often not happy with his outreach.

For example

https://profmattstrassler.com/2013/03/19/why-professor-kaku-why/

[-] CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Thanks! Very helpful. Maybe he is a cook, or values his celebrity over his science. Wouldn't be the first sellout.

[-] roundup5381@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago

well thats disappointing, I just bought one of his books in an attempt to understand quantum better

[-] TachyonTele@piefed.social 2 points 2 weeks ago

String theory is a dead theory. Don't waste your time on it.

[-] Korval@lemmy.today 9 points 2 weeks ago

You can be both credentialed and a kook, can't you? I remember him from his regular guest appearances on Art Bell's radio show.

[-] CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world -1 points 2 weeks ago

Can be? Sure. But is he? No.

[-] okwhateverdude@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

He has a PhD in theoretical physics, not a theoretical PhD in physics.

lol, I just rolled through HELIOS One on this current play through of F:NV

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Fantastic#%3A%7E%3Atext=they+asked+me+how+well

[-] ZeroHora@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 weeks ago

I remember from a podcast with a guy in the same area of Kaku saying that he's not seem with good eyes in their community for saying things that doesn't make much sense.

[-] CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

That's a tad vague. Who said the quote?

"Never shall two scientists of the same trade meet, but the conversation ends in a fight over semantics and one-upmanship."

It was probably me, but I'm paraphrasing here.

[-] wholookshere@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

There are plenty of crazies who have their PhD in some branch of physics/math. One of the reasons I stopped at a bachelor's in physics.

Its almost a prerequisite. But from what I've read of him in the past, he's pretty far out there.

this post was submitted on 14 May 2026
555 points (95.1% liked)

Science Memes

20319 readers
885 users here now

Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!

A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.



Rules

  1. Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
  2. Keep it rooted (on topic).
  3. No spam.
  4. Infographics welcome, get schooled.

This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.



Research Committee

Other Mander Communities

Science and Research

Biology and Life Sciences

Physical Sciences

Humanities and Social Sciences

Practical and Applied Sciences

Memes

Miscellaneous

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS