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Janna Levin

Janna Levin

@janna-levin · 24 positions · On ppll ↗

Theoretical cosmologist, professor of physics and astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University, and chief science officer of Pioneer Works.

Janna Levin did not write this page.

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2 of Janna Levin's claims fit 2 mental models. Most often: Emergence, First principles.

Models we see in what they say

Our reading: their claim applies the idea without naming it. The claim is theirs; filing it here is ours.

Emergence

Whole systems do things none of their parts do, and nobody has to design that order for it to appear.

Used by 22 others

There may be no theory of quantum gravity to find, because gravity is not fundamental — it emerges at large scales out of quantum phenomena.

  1. Janna Levin Theoretical cosmologist I think that this is suggesting that there might not be a theory of quantum gravity, that gravity will emerge at a macroscopic level, out of quantum phenomena. Now, we don’t know how to do that yet, but these are all hints. Janna Levin: Black Holes, Wormholes, Aliens, Paradoxes & Extra Dimensions | Lex Fridman Podcast #468youtube.com · 5 May 2025 · 1:33:20 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    I think that this is suggesting that there might not be a theory of quantum gravity, that gravity will emerge at a macroscopic level, out of quantum phenomena. Now, we don’t know how to do that yet, but these are all hints.

First principles

Reason up from what is known to be true, not from what is usually done or said.

Used by 20 others

The best scientists ask the simplest questions, because they never lie to themselves that they understand something they do not.

  1. Janna Levin Theoretical cosmologist The best scientists I know often ask the simplest questions. First of all, there’s probably some confidence there, but also they’re never going to lie to themselves that they understand something that they don’t understand. Janna Levin: Black Holes, Wormholes, Aliens, Paradoxes & Extra Dimensions | Lex Fridman Podcast #468youtube.com · 5 May 2025 · 1:05:03 into the videoAll korrents from this video
    The best scientists I know often ask the simplest questions. First of all, there’s probably some confidence there, but also they’re never going to lie to themselves that they understand something that they don’t understand.