Can the entire universe be explained with a single, unifying theory? This is perhaps the most fundamental question in all of science, and it may also be the most controversial. Albert Einstein was among the first to envision a unified theory that could account for the behavior of all matter and energy in the cosmos, but a definitive solution has eluded physicists to this day. As the 21st century progresses, "string theory" remains the leading candidate to be the "theory of everything"—although some have come to question whether string theorists are on the right track. Still others doubt that a "theory of everything" exists at all—and consider the search for such a theory an outdated philosophy of our search for cosmic truths. Join Director of the Hayden Planetarium Neil deGrasse Tyson as he hosts and moderates six of the world's leading voices in this great scientific debate. #stringtheory #universe #universes #debates Panelists: Dr. Katherine Freese, professor of physics at the University of Michigan Dr. Jim Gates, professor of physics at the University of Maryland-College Park Dr. Janna Levin, professor of physics and astronomy at Barnard College Dr. Marcello Gleiser, professor of physics and astronomy at Dartmouth College Dr. Brian Greene, professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University Dr. Lee Smolin, theoretical physicist at Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics The talk was recorded at the American Museum of Natural History on March 7, 2011. 2017 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: De-Extinction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LnAtMeSVeY&index=1&list=PLrfcruGtplwGKzxDI_Ne06NlpOKt-yonZ 2016 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Is the Universe a Simulation? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgSZA3NPpBs&index=2&t=25s&list=PLrfcruGtplwGKzxDI_Ne06NlpOKt-yonZ 2015 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Water, Water https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSF79uS3t04&index=3&t=25s&list=PLrfcruGtplwGKzxDI_Ne06NlpOKt-yonZ 2014 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Selling Space https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbmFeEIKBFI&index=4&t=25s&list=PLrfcruGtplwGKzxDI_Ne06NlpOKt-yonZ 2013 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: The Existence of Nothing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OLz6uUuMp8&index=5&t=25s&list=PLrfcruGtplwGKzxDI_Ne06NlpOKt-yonZ 2012 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Faster Than the Speed of Light https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qlLW60wOjo&list=PLrfcruGtplwGKzxDI_Ne06NlpOKt-yonZ&index=6 2011 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: The Theory of Everything https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb8_3BUHcuw&list=PLrfcruGtplwGKzxDI_Ne06NlpOKt-yonZ&index=7 Rose Center Anniversary Isaac Asimov Debate: Is Earth Unique? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ji_GdAk9vU&index=8&list=PLrfcruGtplwGKzxDI_Ne06NlpOKt-yonZ&t=25s *** Subscribe to our channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=AMNHorg Check out our full video catalog: http://www.youtube.com/user/AMNHorg Facebook: http://fb.com/naturalhistory Twitter: http://twitter.com/amnh Tumblr: http://amnhnyc.tumblr.com/ Instagram: http://instagram.com/amnh This video and all media incorporated herein (including text, images, and audio) are the property of the American Museum of Natural History or its licensors, all rights reserved. The Museum has made this video available for your personal, educational use. You may not use this video, or any part of it, for commercial purposes, nor may you reproduce, distribute, publish, prepare derivative works from, or publicly display it without the prior written consent of the Museum. © American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY