Dr. Lawrence Krauss is a distinguished theoretical physicist renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to cosmology and fundamental physics. Born in New York City and raised in Toronto, Canada, he earned undergraduate degrees in mathematics and physics with first-class honors from Carleton University in 1977 before completing his Ph.D. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1982. His academic career includes prestigious appointments as a Fellow of the Harvard Society of Fellows, Assistant Professor at Yale University, and Professor and Chair of Physics at Case Western Reserve University, where he established one of the leading particle astrophysics programs in the United States. Since 2008, he has held prominent positions at Arizona State University, where he founded and directed the Origins Project, a national center dedicated to research and public outreach on fundamental questions of existence.
Dr. Krauss achieved international recognition for his pivotal 1995 proposal that most of the energy in the universe resides in empty space, a concept now central to modern cosmology known as dark energy. This theoretical prediction was verified in 1999 by observational teams whose work subsequently earned the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics, cementing his contribution as one of the most significant in contemporary theoretical physics. His research spans the critical intersection of elementary particle physics and cosmology, with influential work on dark matter, neutrino astrophysics, the early universe, and fundamental questions of existence. Through his extensive scientific publications and bestselling books including The Physics of Star Trek and A Universe from Nothing, he has made complex theoretical concepts accessible while advancing scholarly understanding of the cosmos.
As a dedicated science communicator, Dr. Krauss has received the National Science Board's Public Service Medal for his exceptional contributions to public education in science, becoming the only physicist to have earned top honors from all three major US physics societies. His leadership extends beyond research to include significant roles in promoting scientific skepticism, science education, and the science of morality through regular media appearances and thought leadership. Currently serving as President of the Origins Project Foundation and host of the Origins Podcast, he continues to explore profound questions about existence while advocating for evidence-based reasoning in public discourse. His ongoing work bridges the gap between cutting-edge theoretical physics and public understanding, ensuring that fundamental questions about the universe remain accessible and engaging for future generations.
