Sean Michael Carroll, born October 5, 1966, is an American theoretical physicist and philosopher specializing in quantum mechanics, cosmology, and the philosophy of science. Currently, he is the Homewood Professor of Natural Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University, holding a joint appointment in both the Department of Philosophy and the Department of Physics and Astronomy. He is also a Fractal Faculty member at the Santa Fe Institute.
Carroll is known for his work on foundational questions in physics, particularly those concerning quantum mechanics, spacetime, cosmology, emergence, and entropy. His research also touches on dark matter, dark energy, and the origin of the universe. He is a prolific author, having written textbooks such as "Spacetime and Geometry," as well as popular science books like "From Eternity to Here," "The Particle at the End of the Universe," "The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself," and "Something Deeply Hidden". He also hosts the "Mindscape" podcast, where he interviews experts from various disciplines. In addition, Carroll has a YouTube video series entitled "The Biggest Ideas in the Universe".
Carroll's recent projects include a new course for Wondrium called "The Many Hidden Worlds of Quantum Mechanics". The content of the course is similar to his book, "Something Deeply Hidden," with new additions and elaborations. Recent podcast episodes of Mindscape include interviews with Tom Griffiths on the Laws of Thought (February 9, 2026), Rachell Powell on Evolutionary Convergence, Morality, and Mind (January 26, 2026), and Stewart Brand on Maintenance as an Organizing Principle (January 19, 2026).
