One of Keith Johnson’s final interviews: a brilliant mind on dark matter, water, and fusion.
Read about Keith’s legacy here: https://news.mit.edu/2025/keith-johnson-materials-scientist-independent-filmmaker-dies-0723
This episode is one of the final recorded conversations with MIT physicist Keith Johnson, who passed away just weeks after our interview. In this conversation, he unpacks his early research on the quantum structure of matter, his cold fusion theories, and how it all led to a screenplay about a young female physicist. Johnson also suggests a radical idea: water clusters in space might explain some aspects of dark matter. A one-of-a-kind interview that blends science, art, and speculation.
We’re honored to share this glimpse into Keith’s remarkable intellect, creativity, and curiosity. May his legacy continue to inspire.
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:03- Early Life and Education
03:27 - Graduate Studies and Research Funding
05:44 - Postdoctoral Work and Quantum Chemistry
09:45 - Starting at MIT and Collaborations
15:05 - Cold Fusion and Film Making
23:38 - Keith's First Screenplay
28:55 - Filming a Movie at MIT
43:50 - Water Clusters and Quantum Energy
53:54 - Is Cold Fusion Possible?
1:07:13 - Challenges in Fusion Energy
1:12:09 - Advice for Young Scientists
APPENDIX:
1:15:42 - Water Might Be Connected to Dark Matter
1:24:49 - Cosmic Dust and Supernovae
1:28:36 - The Role of Water in the Universe
1:38:32 - The Future of Dark Matter Research
1:51:27 - Water Might Have Been Created Sooner After the Big Bang
#KeithJohnson #MIT #ScienceAndStorytelling #QuantumPhysics #DarkMatter #Astrobiology #BreakingSymmetry