63 | Solo -- Finding Gravity Within Quantum Mechanics
whatshot 13 snips
Sep 9, 2019
Dive into the puzzling world of quantum mechanics as the discussion tackles the Many-Worlds Interpretation and its implications for space-time. Explore how classical mechanics emerges from quantum realities and the philosophical shifts that arise with this understanding. The podcast also delves into innovative perspectives on quantum gravity, emphasizing a novel approach that finds gravity within quantum mechanics instead of trying to quantize it. Wrap up with intriguing connections between quantum mechanics, cosmology, and the nature of space-time.
01:50:26
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Many-Worlds Interpretation
Many-worlds interpretation (MWI) explains quantum mechanics by branching universes.
MWI simplifies quantum mechanics by focusing on wave functions and the Schrödinger equation.
insights INSIGHT
Quantum vs. Classical Mechanics
Classical mechanics describes particle states with position and velocity, enabling future predictions.
Quantum mechanics uses wave functions, representing probability clouds, not fixed positions and velocities.
insights INSIGHT
Universal Wave Function
Many-worlds interpretation suggests there's one wave function for the entire universe.
This wave function branches into multiple realities upon observation, unlike classical mechanics.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In this book, Sean Carroll argues that the crisis in physics since 1927, stemming from the gaps in quantum mechanics, can be resolved by accepting the Many-Worlds theory. He explains that every quantum event results in the creation of multiple worlds, each with different outcomes. Carroll tackles major objections to this theory and provides a lucid explanation of how it reconciles quantum mechanics with Einstein’s theory of relativity. The book challenges conventional notions of reality and offers a new understanding of our place in the universe and the nature of spacetime.
The Emergent Multiverse
Quantum Theory according to the Everett Interpretation
David Wallace
The Emergent Multiverse presents a detailed and modern account of the Everett interpretation of quantum mechanics. David Wallace argues that by taking quantum theory literally, the apparent paradoxes and weirdness of quantum mechanics are mitigated, and the theory can be seen as describing a world that constantly branches into multiple universes. The book addresses key challenges such as the ontological and probability problems associated with the Everett interpretation and provides a clear and accessible survey of the work in both physics and philosophy of science[2][3][4].
I suspect most loyal Mindscape listeners have been exposed to the fact that I’ve written a new book, Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime. As I release this episode on Monday 9 September 2019, the book will officially be released tomorrow, in print, e-book, and audio versions. To get in the mood, we’ve had several podcast episodes on quantum mechanics, but the “emergence of spacetime” aspect has been neglected. So today we have a solo podcast in which I explain a bit about the challenges of quantum gravity, how Many-Worlds provides the best framework for thinking about quantum gravity, and how entanglement could be the key to showing how a curved spacetime could emerge from a quantum wave function. All of this stuff is extremely speculative, but I’m excited about the central theme that we shouldn’t be trying to “quantize gravity,” but instead looking for gravity within quantum mechanics. The ideas here go pretty far, but hopefully they should be accessible to everyone.
The end of this episode includes a bonus, a short snippet from the audio book, read by yours truly. Audio excerpted courtesy Penguin Random House Audio. And here are links to some of the technical papers mentioned in the podcast.
Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 
