Professor Brian Cox has ignited a debate by challenging a widely accepted belief regarding life after death. The renowned physicist, known for his work in popularizing science through documentaries and books, as well as his stint as a keyboardist for the 1990s rock band D:Ream, made waves with his comments on The Joe Rogan Experience.
In the recently resurfaced interview, Cox dismissed the idea of a soul residing in the body. He explained, “Here’s my arm. It’s made of electrons, protons, and neutrons. If there’s a soul, some unknown form of energy that interacts with matter, we would have detected it.” Drawing on his expertise in particle physics, Cox emphasized that scientists have only identified four fundamental forces—gravity, weak and strong nuclear forces, and electromagnetism—and there is no evidence of any additional forces interacting with matter.
Cox, who holds a PhD in particle physics and has worked on the ATLAS experiment at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, confidently stated, “If you suggest there’s something else interacting with matter, it’s been ruled out by experiments.” His comments sparked both admiration and criticism online.
Some viewers were deeply moved by his explanation, with one calling it “mindblowing and touching,” appreciating the idea that our existence is a fleeting chance to observe the universe. Another noted, “The meaning of life is just to be alive,” pointing to the beauty in the simplicity of existence.
On the other hand, critics pushed back, with one commenter saying, “I love physics and the sciences, but it’s amusing when science believes it’s responsible for our existence, forgetting that it’s merely a tool for observation.” Cox’s remarks have reignited a broader discussion about science, existence, and the mysteries beyond human understanding.