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MATH: DOES IT EXPLAIN EXISTENCE, or is it really just a tool of the brain? This isn't a curiosity; it's a deep and powerful question. According to many astrophysics, math is at the heart of understanding our universe — and may even one day be the key to explaining our existence. But now neuroscientists are finding evidence that math may actually be a concept developed by the brain — a way for us to make sense of what we can. So which is the truth? Or is there a middle ground?

On Aug. 7, Noon-12:30 PDT, three leading scientists - two neuroscientists and one astrophysicist -– will answer your questions about this great debate. Join us for a special Google Hangout with neuroscientists Brian Butterworth (University College London) and Rafael Núñez (Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind at the University of California San Diego), and astrophysicist Max Tegmark (Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research at MIT in Cambridge). To submit your questions, email or post on Twitter with hashtag #KavliLive

A Roundtable Discussion with Brian Butterworth, Rafael Núñez, Max Tegmark and Simeon Hellerman

What are the origins of math? Is math an inherent part of our reality, or merely something the brain uses to cope with, and explain, our environment? Four scientists discuss (and debate) the merits of both viewpoints.

Image courtesy of the Kavli Foundation

About the Participants (left to right)

• BRIAN BUTTERWORTH — Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychology at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London;
• RAFAEL NÚÑEZ — Professor of Cognitive Science at the University of California, San Diego and member of UCSD’s Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind;
• MAX TEGMARK—Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and member of MIT’s Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research.
• BRUCE LIEBERMAN is a freelance journalist with more than 20 years of experience in the news business. He worked as a reporter at daily newspapers for many years before becoming an independent writer and editor in 2010. For The Kavli Foundation, Bruce has interviewed researchers about galaxy clusters, dark matter and dark energy, string theory, the emergence of the first stars and galaxies, exoplanets and other subjects. He has also written for Scientific American, Smithsonian Air & Space magazine, and Nature about a variety of science topics.