Posted on 05/03/2026 12:52:13 PM PDT by Red Badger
I still remember fondly the time I got an A- on my 8th grade earth science paper. It was one of my proudest moments as a student.
Meanwhile, as MIT boasts, some folks are, well, a bit beyond that.
Physics is riddled with paradoxes: Think of how information leaks from supposedly inescapable black holes or how the conventional laws of physics break down at the quantum scale. Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski '13 believes that within these apparent contradictions, new discoveries await.
Ah yes, "how the conventional laws of physics break down at the quantum scale." I think about that often!
Well, apparently Ms. Pasterski thinks about it quite a bit. In fact, her entire life story seems to be just one long exercise of thinking.
Born in Chicago, some of Pasterski's earliest accomplishments include:
Building her own Zenith aircraft starting from age 12.
Attending the prestigious Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Holding an internship at the space tech company Blue Origin at age 16.
Working as an aeronautical engineer at Boeing Phantom Works by 18.
Not a bad rap sheet for someone under 20!
She subsequently attended MIT, during which she did work at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (no biggie). She eventually graduated from the prestigious institution with "a 5.0 grade point average." (I was not aware GPAs went that high.)
These days Pasterski's engaged in a little light research, nothing too strenuous:
She and her colleagues are working to unite general relativity, which describes gravity and the macroscopic world, with quantum mechanics, which describes the behavior of subatomic particles. It's a field of physics research known as quantum gravity.
If Pasterski helps solve this problem that has vexed scientists for decades, the result will be the holy grail of physics: a fundamental theory of nature that characterizes pretty much everything. One day there may be engineering applications. "If you understand how things work," she says, "you can do things with that knowledge." But she's in this to solve an existential puzzle — to reveal what she calls "the source code of the universe."
If all of this makes you feel rather small, don't worry: Pasterski "estimates there are probably only a couple of thousand people in the world with whom she can meaningfully converse about her work in physics." It's a small club!
She has pushed back against the moniker of "the New Einstein," however, stating that in her hunt for the universal source code she is just "happy to be a part of this legacy that our field is building."
Okay but we're still gonna call you Einstein, lady!
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
SPACE PING!.................
She’s got a good last name.
By George, I think she’s got it.
Can’t recall a password. Can Sabrina help out?
if she figures out the source code of the universe, write an article about her. Until then—- good for her.
MIT and Harvard graduate!
Inventions in T cells, extracellular matrix, and their relationship to anticancer biology.
C-average in MIT math and physics.
Nowhere near the level of this lady-Einstein MIT physicist!
I’m wondering why they compare her to Einstein.
Doesn’t look like she’s published anything.
Einstein was late to publish, too!
1905 was his Wunderjahr!
Remember girl...you're starting on someone else's shoulders.
She appears mechanical...but I don't think she's Einstein caliber...not even close.
Who does she know??
Obviously an extremely gifted and accomplished young woman. Good for her!
Practical applications of her research? Who knows could be decades away. But we must start somewhere.
What did she ever do to you?
She can always get a job as host of Jeopardy!..............😎
The universe was spoken into existence.
More like the next Neil deGrasse Tyson.
CALL SHELDON COOPER
Nothing.....She’s a smart girl...but really...Einstein??
Laz, her search for the Big Bang may not be what you think it is.
The 5.0 at MIT is a weighted average...All As’s and/or special classes...
25 yo?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.