Dr. Michio Kaku—the physicist who should have a TV show
Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 12:19PM UPDATE (Nov. 13, 2009): Read our new article about Dr. Kaku's comments about the film, '2012.' He also comments on apocalyptic theories. See links to information about his new TV show.
Ed. Note: Fox News featured a video of the interview with Dr. Kaku. I've posted the video and another link to an article at the end of the original column. The article explains leaks in the Earth's magnetic field and how the solar cycle can affect that.
Dr. Michio Kaku (Dr. Kaku website photo]Dr. Michio Kaku doesn’t come across as a tedious physicist—you know what I mean. Scientific experts usually affect me like an income tax audit. Kaku renders a very complicated subject interesting and understandable for those of us challenged by quantum mechanics and relativity. Kaku talked about the solar cycle on Fox News on Thursday. “We made a mistake,” he said, speaking about industry calculations about solar flares. Kaku believes the cycle will peak around 2012, possibly playing havoc with Earthling gadgets like Blackberries.
NASA agrees, predicting the next solar maximum should be a “doozy.” Some experts like Kaku project Solar Max for 2012. But 2 years ago, others predicted it will arrive sooner, in 2010 or 2011.
Two large solar prominences in extreme ultraviolet light (ionized helium at 304) roughly the same size but quite different in structure appeared on the Sun on March 18, 2003. The observation of two large prominences in one image makes this one of the most spectacular images that SOHO [Solar and Heliospheric Observatory] has captured. Prominences are large clouds of relatively cool, dense plasma suspended in the Sun's hot, tenuous corona… [SOHO/NASA image]
The popular website Astronomy Now featured an article in March, 2008 after 3 large sunspots formed in a 24-hour period. The website said the eruption, “unleashed a coronal mass ejection into space, emitting radio bursts audible in shortwave receivers on Earth.” In November, 2000, NASA reported the STARDUST Spacecraft was "temporarily blinded" by a solar flare.
Kaku has a new book out, ‘Physics of the Impossible,’ currently a bestseller. The book is at the top of my Christmas wish list. Kaku’s official bio on his own website is short but powerful: “Dr. Michio Kaku is a theoretical physicist, best-selling author, and popularizer of science. He’s the co-founder of string field theory (a branch of string theory), and continues Einstein’s search to unite the four fundamental forces of nature into one unified theory.” Visiting his website is worthwhile, not only for the intriguing topics but for his creative methods of expression. He frequently uses analogies that encourage readers and listeners to engage with the topic at hand. He also has something lacking in many of his colleagues: common sense. Asked in an interview about SETI, Kaku notes it may not be a good idea to beam messages out to the universe instead of just listen to them. He told the website Daily Grail it’s an “awful idea to advertise our existence in space…” The interview is fascinating, covering a variety of topics such as the possibility of extraterrestrial life, human consciousness and the Large Hadron Collider. 
Dr. Kaku's new book is a best-seller. It's available at online booksellers and in stores.Kaku conveys impossibly complicated concepts to the layperson yet makes them comprehendible. He’s a frequent guest on TV shows. I think he needs his own. What he has to say is fascinating, and we can all use some help when it comes to understanding topics he’s an expert on. He draws interest with no effort—charisma is another gift he received in addition to his intellect. Somehow he is also fairly sexy. That alone is a completely alien concept when it comes to most physicists. While networks promote inane reality shows, experts like Kaku can teach us something valuable and manage to entertain at the same time.
It's tempting to tie in Kaku's predictions with the Maya calendar predictions for 2012 sensationlized by media, considering the Maya civilization was quite skilled in astronomy. To be honest, I'd love to ask Dr. Kaku whether ancient civilizations had any idea about the impact of solar flares. I can think of dozens of questions I'd like to ask him. Dr. Kaku is one of those experts who inspires creativity and curiosity, a rare scholar who'd be a singular asset to TV viewers around the globe.
Kay B. Day, Editor
Fox News added Dr. Kaku's video today. I've embedded it below. There's also another Fox News article about the impact of the solar cycle on Earth's magnetic field, featuring comments from NASA staffers.
Reader Comments (8)
Hi,
Interesting information.
What will happened in 2012?
I'm weak in science :(
Interesting information.
:-)
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Dr. Kaku I'm a great fan of yours.
1) I want to toss something to you. I believe that the universe is much simpler on the larger scale than most think. I believe that black holes only exist as a center of mass with an equal outer mass and the only reason a black hole expels energy is to balance out the galaxy.
2) I believe the universe is in a gravity well and each galaxy, solar system, sun or planet balances or neutralizes the space in between.
Gravity is much stronger on our planet than we realize in relation to the universe. I also believe that E=MC sq needs another Letter for Gravity.
Thank You
I don't know if I am alone to notice that but why does this Fox guy keep interrupting Michio Kaku when he is speaking. This is rudeness in its extreme for a man of Michio's stature. However, the Fox guy, in order to seem to be in control, looks like an idiot in doing so.
physics rules and Michio Kaku is it's dictionary.
;-)
Kaku knows what he is talking about and has few equals. I hope that people listen to his warnings.
"2012: Time for Change" projects a radical alternative to apocalyptic doom and gloom. Directed by Emmy Award nominee Joao Amorim, the film follows journalist Daniel Pinchbeck, author of the bestselling 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl, on a quest for a new paradigm that integrates the archaic wisdom of tribal cultures with the scientific method. As conscious agents of evolution, we can redesign post-industrial society on ecological principles to make a world that works for all. Rather than breakdown and barbarism, 2012 will herald the birth of a regenerative planetary culture, where collaboration replaces competition, where exploration of psyche and spirit becomes the new cutting edge, replacing the sterile materialism that has pushed our world to the brink.
Interviews with design scientists, anthropologists, physicists such as Dean Radin, Barbara Marx Hubbard, John Todd and Paul Stamets and celebrities such as Sting, Ellen Page and Gilberto Gil.
www.2012timeforchange.com
Visit Dr. Kaku's website @ www.mkaku.org
You may also become a Fan on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Dr-Michio-Kaku/184331976202
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what the fuck is he saying? he thinks that he is God