Episode Details

Art Bell welcomes physicist Janna Levin, professor of physics and astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University, for a wide-ranging exploration of whether the universe is finite or infinite. The evening begins with open lines as callers weigh in on the Virginia Tech tragedy, top conspiracies, and whether alien civilizations would contact humanity given its violent tendencies. Art reads from reports about mass shootings becoming more common since the 1960s and a Swedish physicist predicting peak global oil production between 2008 and 2018.

When Levin joins the program, the conversation shifts to fundamental questions about the shape and size of the cosmos. She discusses her research into the topology of space, explaining how the universe could be finite yet have no boundary or edge, much like the surface of a sphere. The discussion covers how cosmic microwave background radiation might reveal patterns suggesting a finite, wrapped geometry of space.

Art and Levin also explore the nature of infinity, black holes, the Big Bang, and what it means for the universe to be expanding. Callers contribute questions about whether atoms contain miniature universes and the practical implications of a finite cosmos for space exploration and the search for extraterrestrial life.