Lawrence Krauss facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lawrence Krauss
|
|
|---|---|
Krauss at Ghent University in 2013
|
|
| Born |
Lawrence Maxwell Krauss
May 27, 1954 New York City, U.S.
|
| Alma mater | |
| Known for |
|
| Spouse(s) |
|
| Awards |
|
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | |
| Institutions |
|
| Thesis | Gravitation and Phase Transitions in the Early Universe (1982) |
| Doctoral advisor | Roscoe Giles |
Lawrence Maxwell Krauss (born May 27, 1954) is a Canadian-American scientist. He is a theoretical physicist and cosmologist. This means he studies the basic laws of the universe and how the universe began and evolved. He taught at universities like Arizona State University (ASU), Yale University, and Case Western Reserve University.
In 2008, Krauss started ASU's Origins Project. This project aimed to explore big questions about the universe. He was the director of this project for a time.
Krauss is well-known for helping people understand science. He believes it is important for everyone to learn about scientific ideas. He has written several popular books. These include The Physics of Star Trek (1995) and A Universe from Nothing (2012). He also led the Board of Sponsors for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
Krauss left his leadership role at ASU's Origins Project in July 2018. He then retired as a professor from ASU in May 2019. Today, he is the President of The Origins Project Foundation, Inc. This is a new organization founded in 2019. He also hosts The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss and writes a blog called Critical Mass.
Contents
Discovering Lawrence Krauss: A Scientist's Journey
Early Life and Learning
Lawrence Krauss was born in New York City on May 27, 1954. He grew up in Toronto, Canada. His family was Jewish, but not very religious.
He studied mathematics and physics at Carleton University in Ottawa. He earned his degrees with high honors in 1977. Later, he received his Ph.D. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1982.
A Career in Science and Education
After his studies, Krauss worked at Harvard University. In 1985, he became an assistant professor at Yale University. He later moved to Case Western Reserve University in 1993. There, he became a professor of physics and astronomy. He also led the physics department until 2005.
Leading the Origins Project
In August 2008, Krauss joined Arizona State University. He became a professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration. He also directed the Origins Project. This university program explored fundamental questions about our origins. In 2009, he helped launch the Origins Symposium. Many scientists and thousands of people attended this event.
Sharing Science with Everyone
Krauss often appears in the media to share scientific knowledge. He has written articles for The New York Times. He also spoke to the state school board of Ohio in 2002. There, he supported teaching science in schools.
He participated in science discussions in 2006 and 2008. He also advised on science policy for Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2008. In 2011, he joined the New College of the Humanities in London. In 2013, he became a part-time professor at the Australian National University.
Exploring the Universe's Mysteries
Krauss has written many books about science. He discussed string theory in his 2005 book Hiding in the Mirror. String theory is a complex idea about tiny vibrating strings that make up everything. In his 2012 book A Universe from Nothing, he wondered if string theory truly describes the real world.
His book Quantum Man: Richard Feynman's Life in Science came out in 2011. A Universe from Nothing was released in January 2012. It quickly became a New York Times bestseller. This book explored how the universe might have begun. In 2017, his book The Greatest Story Ever Told—So Far: Why Are We Here? was published.
In July 2012, Krauss wrote an article for Newsweek. It explained how the Higgs particle helps us understand the Big Bang. He also wrote a longer article in The New York Times about this important particle.
In January 2019, Krauss became President of the Origins Project Foundation. This group hosts public discussions on science and culture. In June 2019, he launched The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss. He has interviewed many interesting people on his show.
In 2024, Krauss edited a book called The War on Science. This book includes essays from many academics. They discuss challenges to academic freedom and scientific progress. Krauss wrote an introduction and an ending for the book.
Scientific Discoveries and Ideas
Krauss focuses on theoretical physics. He has published research on many topics. In 1995, he suggested that the universe's energy might mostly come from empty space. This idea was confirmed in 1998. Scientists received the Nobel Prize in 2011 for this discovery.
Krauss developed a model where the Universe could have started from "nothing." He explained this in his 2012 book A Universe from Nothing. He suggests that certain quantum fields might explain the universe's existence. His ideas seem to match what we observe about the universe. Other scientists have different ideas about how the universe began.
Krauss was initially unsure about the Higgs boson. But after CERN detected it, he studied its effects. He explored how the Higgs field might relate to dark energy.
Advocating for Science
Krauss believes that science should play a bigger role in public discussions. He has spoken about the importance of scientific understanding. He has participated in many public discussions about science and reason.
He was featured in the 2013 documentary The Unbelievers. In this film, he and Richard Dawkins traveled to talk about science. They emphasized the importance of using reason to understand the world.
In his book A Universe from Nothing: Why There is Something Rather than Nothing (2012), Krauss discusses how things can appear from what seems like nothing. He argues that the laws of physics might allow the universe to be created without any supernatural help. He said, "The characteristics of the universe would be precisely those of the ones we live in." He also noted that science continues to explore these big questions.
Awards and Recognitions
Science writer Claudia Dreifus called Krauss "one of the few top physicists who is also known as a public intellectual." This means he is a smart scientist who also shares his ideas with the public.
Krauss has received awards from all three major American physics societies. These are the American Physical Society, the American Association of Physics Teachers, and the American Institute of Physics. In 2012, he received the National Science Board's Public Service Medal. This was for his work in educating the public about science and engineering.
Media Appearances
Krauss has appeared in several films and television shows.
Documentaries and TV Shows
- The Unbelievers (2013)
- The Principle (2014)
- Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World (2016)
- The Farthest (2017)
- How the Universe Works (2010–2018)
Films and Cameos
- London Fields (2015) (a small role)
- Salt and Fire (2016)
- Intersect (2020)
Special Honors
- Gravity Research Foundation First Prize Award in the 1984 Essay Competition
- American Association for the Advancement of Science's Award for the Public Understanding of Science and Technology (2000)
- Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Prize (2001)
- Andrew Gemant Award (2001)
- American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award (2002)
- Oersted Medal (2003)
- American Physical Society Joseph A. Burton Forum Award (2005)
- Center for Inquiry World Congress Science in the Public Interest Award (2009)
- Helen Sawyer Hogg Prize of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and the Astronomical Society of Canada (2009)
- Physics World Book of the Year, 2011
- National Science Board 2012 Public Service Award and Medal (2012)
- Elected as Laureate of the International Academy of Humanism (2013)
- Gravity Research Foundation First Prize Award in the 2014 Essay Competition
- Humanist of the Year, 2015, American Humanist Association
- Richard Dawkins Award 2016, Atheist Alliance of America
