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Michio Kaku: Is God a Mathematician? | Big Think

Big Think | March 1, 2026



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OVERVIEW
In this Big Think video, Dr. Michio Kaku explains why he believes in a universal intelligence and describes “God” as a mathematician and as “cosmic music.” “I have concluded that we are in a world made by rules created by an intelligence,” Kaku says. “To me it is clear that we exist in a plan which is governed by rules that were created, shaped by a universal intelligence and not by chance.” “The final solution resolution could be that god is a mathematician,” says Kaku. “The mind of god, we believe, is cosmic music. The music of strings resonating through 11-dimensional hyperspace.”
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MICHIO KAKU
Dr. Michio Kaku is the co-founder of string field theory, and is one of the most widely recognized scientists in the world today. He has written 4 New York Times Best Sellers, is the science correspondent for CBS This Morning and has hosted numerous science specials for BBC-TV, the Discovery/Science Channel. His radio show broadcasts to 100 radio stations every week. Dr. Kaku holds the Henry Semat Chair and Professorship in theoretical physics at the City College of New York (CUNY), where he has taught for over 25 years. He has also been a visiting professor at the Institute for Advanced Study as well as New York University (NYU).
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Michio Kaku: Some people ask the question of what good is math? What is the relationship between math and physics? Well, sometimes math leads. Sometimes physics leads. Sometimes they come together because, of course, there’s a use for the mathematics. For example, in the 1600s Isaac Newton asked a simple question: if an apple falls then does the moon also fall? That is perhaps one of the greatest questions ever asked by a member of Homo sapiens since the six million years since we parted ways with the apes. If an apple falls, does the moon also fall?

Isaac Newton said yes, the moon falls because of the Inverse Square Law. So does an apple. He had a unified theory of the heavens, but he didn’t have the mathematics to solve the falling moon problem. So what did he do? He invented calculus. So calculus is a direct consequence of solving the falling moon problem. In fact, when you learn calculus for the first time, what is the first thing you do? The first thing you do with calculus is you calculate the motion of falling bodies, which is exactly how Newton calculated the falling moon, which opened up celestial mechanics.

So here is a situation where math and physics were almost conjoined like Siamese twins, born together for a very practical question, how do you calculate the motion of celestial bodies? Then here comes Einstein asking a different question and that is, what is the nature and origin of gravity? Einstein said that gravity is nothing but the byproduct of curved space. So why am I sitting in this chair? A normal person would say I’m sitting in this chair because gravity pulls me to the ground, but Einstein said no, no, no, there is no such thing as gravitational pull; the earth has curved the space over my head and around my body, so space is pushing me into my chair. So to summarize Einstein’s theory, gravity does not pull; space pushes. But, you see, the pushing of the fabric of space and time requires differential calculus. That is the language of curved surfaces, differential calculus, which you learn in fourth year calculus.

So again, here is a situation where math and physics were very closely combined, but this time math came first. The theory of curved surfaces came first. Einstein took that theory of curved surfaces and then imported it into physics.

Now we have string theory. It turns out that 100 years ago math and physics parted ways. In fact, when Einstein proposed special relativity in 1905, that was also around the time of the birth of topology, the topology of hyper-dimensional objects, spheres in 10, 11, 12, 26, whatever dimension you want, so physics and mathematics parted ways. Math went into hyperspace and mathematicians said to themselves, aha, finally we have found an area of mathematics that has no physical application whatsoever. Mathematicians pride themselves on being useless. They love being useless. It’s a badge of courage being useless, and they said the most useless thing of all is a theory of differential topology and higher dimensions.

Well, physics plotted along for many decades. We worked out atomic bombs.

Read more on: https://bigthink.com/videos/dr-michio-kaku-math-is-the-mind-of-god

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Comments

This post currently has 43 comments.

  5. @markkennedy4055

    March 1, 2026 at 4:57 pm

    Michio Kaku, are you aware your AI likeness and AI voice are being used on YouTube to spread Lies / Misinformation about the 3I ATLAS comet as if it's coming directly from you? YouTuber "Eonverse" channel is one of the main offenders. they need to be stopped now!

  7. @notscot6788

    March 1, 2026 at 4:57 pm

    Did you take a break right there at the end and smoke crack? What the fuk is this mind of god BS? Perhaps there is a series of bridge concepts you use to get from Newton to the mind of god, and those are solid in your mind, but the dolts who are out looking for god stuff will just read the title and your name and say whatever they want about what your said, but didn't. Without your considerable background. Whose god? Zeus? Thor? Apollo? Jupiter? The Flying Spaghetti Monster? The only god we seem to hear about these days is the one that shows up via rust stains and burnt toast. AND whose math says that answering prayer 0% of the time is good math. Ever see god cure an amputation? Un-do pregnancy? Make sure the Yankees win the series? I hereby dock you 100 points.

  8. @KpxUrz5745

    March 1, 2026 at 4:57 pm

    So we parted ways with the apes 6million years ago?? I can think of some members of Congress who offer contradictory evidence to that assumption.

  15. @monanauman9070

    March 1, 2026 at 4:57 pm

    Mathematics is. Mentioned like this in the Quran:

    Allah it is Who made the sun radiate a brilliant light and the moon reflect a luster, and ordained for it stages, that you might know the number of years, reckoning of time and mathematics. Allah has not created this but in truth. He details the Signs for a people who have knowledge. Indeed, in the alternation of night and day, and in all that Allah has created in the heavens and the earth there are Signs for a God-fearing people. (Al Quran 10:5-6)

  27. @nameless-yd6ko

    March 1, 2026 at 4:57 pm

    I find it hilarious that the fellow who pasted different words on the exterior of glasses of water and claimed that the words that he wrote on the glasses affected and changed the crystalline structure of the water is taken seriously by anyone capable of thought!! The word Love allegedly, made the crystals more pretty and symmetrical while the word 'hate' made them ugly and chaotic!
    Now I'm supposed to listen to this crackpot critique Einstein?
    It's amazing how the science of crackpot merchandising works! (See; Steven Hawking and his mediocre mind!)
    So very lol!

  28. @waynebynoe99

    March 1, 2026 at 4:57 pm

    HUUUM! I WOULD PREFER TO STOP THE PRETENCE OF KNOWLEDGE ASSOCIATION WITH [IQ] WHEN SUCH CLEARLY! ONLY! ESTABLISHES IT'S PRESENCE WITHIN THE ELEMENTS OF CREATIVITY!..

  31. @allannharu4176

    March 1, 2026 at 4:57 pm

    I have signed in…. just to say thank you. I know God is ultimate in all complex designs and creations, and in fact, all designs are super complex, even an atom is super duper complex, because HE MADE it ALL (read the bible with apocrypha God and Enoch in the high heaven discussed this issue, with angels in attendance), and nothing ever ever is random. God made it ALL! Everything works perfectly for its purpose because someone created it that WAY.

    We are merely discovering a tiny tiny portion of his mind and nature daily. It would do best to read the Bible with Apocrypha, for it speaks of the Big Bang. Search for how God made Adonai break up and disintegrate. there is lots more to God. Kudos to any scientists or celebrity who honors God.

    For to honor God in public before the millions who follow you, is a most most humble and truthful act, that shall echo through the ages after the kingdom has come, the kingdom of Christ the one true son of God and our savior. Thank you so much for using the little intelligence we have to honor God, than what some have done… using the little intelligence they have to dishonor him. Thank you brother.

  34. @gcph4230

    March 1, 2026 at 4:57 pm

    II CHRONICLES 5:13 (KJV)

    It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth forever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;

  36. @cac9926

    March 1, 2026 at 4:57 pm

    If you guys are into philosophy, check out the transcendental argument for the existence of God. It deals with the laws of physics, math, aesthetics and ethics things that transcend our material plane but seem to exist. Also, God created music he loves it. There is music constantly being sung in the high heavens, even the fallen angel was gifted with the most "beautiful pipes" in the kingdom. Also check out the Logos, the mind of God. Logos is a greek term and it is also the Son of God Jesus, from which all things are created.

  39. @melchiel4413

    March 1, 2026 at 4:57 pm

    If there is anything to be said scientifically by the Bible it is that there was a creation in Seven days, a flood and an exodus. I personally believe in all three. I accept that that is completely rejected by modern science, but I have my reasons, for instance I trust G-d over my current assumptions about my senses, along with things like the ringwoodite reservoir and a lot of thought as to how the universe began.

  40. @melchiel4413

    March 1, 2026 at 4:57 pm

    Actually according to traditional evolutionarily science there probably is a G-d. If the universe is cyclical or in infinite regress it has probably created a mind, since we know it can create minds like ours, that can control the entire universe. It is astounding that no one has thought of that yet.

Comments are closed.

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