MICHIO KAKU’S
GUIDE TO THE COMPLEX UNIVERSE
From working with the world’s most prestigious television shows to writing best-selling books, Kaku now untangles the more complex ideas of physics and future space travel, just for you
BIO
Dr Michio Kaku
Kaku is professor of theoretical physics at the City College of New York, where he has taught for over a quarter of a century. He is also a cofounder of string field theory, a sub-branch of the original string theory. Kaku’s inspiration was Einstein’s unanswered quest for the ‘theory of everything’. This would explain both the behaviour of particles and the behaviour of black holes. This inspiration has led him to an extensive career in popularising science, working on television, radio and New York bestselling books, including his recently released The Future of Humanity: Terraforming Mars, Interstellar Travel, Immortality and Our Destiny Beyond.
THERE ARE FOUR FUNDAMENTAL FORCES IN THE COSMOS. WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
The universe is ruled by four fundamental forces. We have the electromagnetic force, which lights up our cities. It’s responsible for light bulbs, televisions, radio and the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Then we have gravity, which holds the Sun together, holds the Solar System together and keeps your feet on the ground. Then we have the two nuclear forces – the weak force governs radioactive decay and the strong force holds the protons and nucleons together. Together they comprise all the forces known about the universe.
Weak
An incredibly small force, it causes the ejection of subatomic particles and transformation of an element.
Gravity
An attractive force with the farthest reach. Gravity is what keeps planets orbiting and keeps our feet planted firmly on Earth.
Electromagnetism
Controls the electromagnetic spectrum. This force ensures the interactions between electric forces.
Strong
The force that keeps neutrons and protons bound together; it’s considered to be the strongest among the four forces.