Lex Fridman · The most shocking discovery in physics: Speed of Light from Electricity and Magnetism | Don Lincoln

1. 1. Maxwell's equations, when applied to electricity and magnetism, revealed that electromagnetic waves oscillate and move at the speed of light.
2. 2. Electromagnetism is crucial to chemistry, providing the fundamental forces that bind atoms together.
3. 3. The practical application of understanding and controlling electromagnetism has shaped our entire technological society.
4. 4. Deep fundamental scientific inquiries, even those without immediate practical purpose, can lead to world-transforming innovations centuries later.
5. 5. Research into the structure and behavior of atomic nuclei, previously an abstract pursuit, directly led to the development of nuclear power.
6. 6. Nuclear power offers humanity an enormous and powerful energy source essential for the future, especially as we transition from fossil fuels.