Carlo Rovelli: Cosmic Mysteries and the Politics of Wonder

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Feb 7, 2026

Carlo Rovelli, a theoretical physicist and bestselling author known for work on quantum gravity, reflects on LSD-altered perception, the “spectacular” beauty of general relativity and quantum mechanics, and his search for meaning. He traces political awakenings, pacifism, and why scientists should engage in public life. He also shares a provocative idea about the absence of ultimate reality.

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ANECDOTE

Hearing The Black Hole 'Chirp'

Carlo Rovelli described the moment gravitational waves from merging black holes were announced during his class and how the measured signal matched their theoretical 'chirp'.
He recalled the students' collective awe as science revealed a sound of the universe.

ANECDOTE

A Teen LSD Experience That Shifted Perception

Rovelli recounted his first powerful LSD experience at 16 that dissolved ordinary sense of self, space, and time in vivid colors and emotion.
He said those experiences expanded his sense that reality can be profoundly different from everyday perception.

ANECDOTE

Hitchhiking Into The Iron Curtain

At 16 Rovelli hitchhiked from Paris to Sofia, crossing into the Soviet world and discovering propaganda misrepresentations on both sides.
That journey made him highly sensitive to propaganda and motivated him to listen to varied international news.

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Carlo Rovelli’s quest to understand the nature of reality began not in a physics lab, but in youthful experiments with consciousness, political protest and a restless hunger for meaning—years before he “fell madly in love with physics.” Today, Rovelli is famous for his bestselling books, including "Seven Brief Lessons on Physics" and "Reality Is Not What It Seems," and his pioneering work on some of the biggest mysteries in physics, including black holes and quantum gravity.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Steve Paulson talks with Rovelli about his early, profound experiences with LSD; his discovery of the "spectacular" beauty of general relativity and quantum mechanics; his lifelong search for purpose in both the cosmos and his own life; and why scientists need to be politically engaged. Carlo also tells us about the big idea that he’d put in our own wonder cabinet.

This interview was recorded at the Island of Knowledge think tank in Tuscany, a project supported by Dartmouth College and the John Templeton Foundation. We also play a short excerpt from Anne Strainchamps’ earlier interview with Rovelli that originally aired on Wisconsin Public Radio’s To The Best Of Our Knowledge.

This Wonder Cabinet episode was not funded, endorsed or affiliated with Wisconsin Public Media or the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

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TTBOOK Interview — Deep time: Carlo Rovelli's white holes, where time dissolves
Carlo Rovelli's Website — Official research and publications

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00:00:00 Introduction & The Chirp of Black Holes

00:04:10 Early Years in Verona

00:10:00 Falling in Love with Physics

00:17:30 Search for Truth

00:25:05 Politics of Wonder

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Wonder Cabinet is hosted by Anne Strainchamps and Steve Paulson.

Find out more about the show at wondercabinetproductions.com, where you can subscribe to the podcast and our newsletter.

Wonder Cabinet is hosted by Anne Strainchamps and Steve Paulson. Find out more about the show at https://wondercabinetproductions.com, where you can subscribe to the podcast and our newsletter.