59: Quantum Physics & Gossip
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Rethinking Schrödinger's Cat in Quantum Physics Education
Exploring the pitfalls of using Schrödinger's cat as an introductory example in teaching quantum physics, and discussing the importance of starting with fundamental concepts to avoid confusion and misconceptions among learners.
Can Tom finally take on his science communication white whale: Quantum Physics?? And what is gossip, what did it mean in the past, and could it actually be... good?? Find out on a very special MaxFunDrive episode!
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Timestamps:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:06:29) Quantum Physics
(01:00:14) MaxFunDrive!
(01:09:08) Gossip
(01:44:14) Outro
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We also learn about:
One minute of self indulgence, another bit?? when bugs gossip, Moby Dick was warning about the perils of teaching quantum physics, the word quantum is boring, every grocery list is quantum (except Ella’ infinite and continuous grocery list), Ocean’s 11 is a quantum movie, quantum physics is 100 years old, why doesn’t my toaster blast me with radiation, Lord Rayleigh is literally the why is the sky blue guy, Planck really didn’t want to be right, “an act of desperation”, you’re taught quantum physics in high school chemistry, Heisenberg v Pauli v Schrodinger beef, fully just saying jackass, even smart people hate quantum physics, “nobody feels perfectly comfortable with it”, YOU ALREADY KNOW QUANTUM PHYSICS, Newton has been redeemed! we almost called photons “quantums”, some of quantum physics is bullshit but not all of it is, what has quantum physics ever done for us? we do actually have a quantum phone and quantum machines at the hospital, Quantum Nuclear MRI machines, sometimes it’s nice to remember that, Schrodinger's Cat is the worst first thing to learn, “not a real experiment, does not prove anything, does not match physical reality, and was intentionally designed to be absurd”, it’s like learning about vision through only optical illusions, “but where’s the weird?”, making peace with your whale, as long as you support us we will live forever, no Ella, there’s nothing wrong with you, “debrief”, gossip can be positive! GODSIB MEANT GOD SIBLING, you wouldn’t bang your godbrother, Tom you don’t have kids, in the 12th century you could leave your kids to watch Dune 2 whenever you wanted, a gossip is someone you can tell anything to, gossips were backup for lecherous men, gossip was a neutral term for an essential supportive community, gossiping about witches gossiping “that’s gossip as well babe”, spoiler for most social issues it’s about class and power, scold’s bridle, “I love idle talk, I’m a witch”, coffee houses are just gossip houses, “oooh yeah, evolution and gossip, this is good stuff”, we wouldn’t be humans if we weren’t sociable and idle talking, gossiping is like primate grooming, animals would LOVE to gossip if they had language, I don’t care what you think as long as it’s about me, work stopping gossip seems neutral but isn’t, I’m not gossiping I’m receiving evaluative information about a colleague, it’s good the science doesn’t show bullying is cool actually, most gossip is neutral gossip, I wouldn’t compliment my boss - only in gossip, you think it’s not gossip cause it’s about Tom Brady?? It is!! it’s all preamble for review corner.
Sources:
Melville's Book on Quantum Physics
Dan Styer's Amazing Brief History of Quantum Physics
Dan Styer's Textbook "The Strange World of Quantum Mechanics"
Futurama Quantum Joke
Chad Orzel on the Origin of Quantum Physics
Helge Kragh's History of Planck as "The Reluctant Revolutionary"
Heisenberg's Letter to Pauli (s/o to u/restricteddata)
Gilbert Lewis' Naming of the Photon
Chad Orzel "What Has Quantum Mechanics Ever Done For Us?"
Old Computers
Nobel Prize Committee on Bloch's Work
Dr. Baird's Great Analysis of Schrodinger's Cat
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Gossip and Resistance Among the Medieval Peasantry
From the Whisper Network to #MeToo—Framing Gender, Gossip and Sexual Harassment
Envy, Poison, and Death: Women on Trial in Classical Athens, Chapter 3.2
The Psychological Anatomy of Gossip
Tell Me the Gossip: The Self-Evaluative Function of Receiving Gossip About Others
BBC Worklife: The Surprising Benefits of Gossip
Gossip in Evolutionary Perspective
How the “Gossip” Became a Woman
Gossip and Gender Differences: a Content Analysis Approach
BBC Worklife: Why Gossiping at Work is Good For You
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