Unexplainable

When reality broke

Apr 13, 2022

Constance Grady, a Vox culture writer and host of the Vox Book Club, joins to discuss Benjamin Labatut’s thought-provoking book. They delve into the revolutionary ideas of Werner Heisenberg, exploring how quantum mechanics shattered traditional scientific beliefs. The conversation highlights how imaginative storytelling can illuminate the chaos of reality’s breakdown. They also reflect on the emotional weight of complex theories and the interplay of fiction and nonfiction in understanding our uncertain world.

26:38

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Episode guests

Constance Grady

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Episode notes

Intro

3min

Quantum Mechanics and the Shift in Reality

9min

A Rebellion Against Traditional Scientific Narrative

3min

Embracing the Uncertainty of Reality

8min

Embracing the Complexity of Reality

4min

In the 1920s, the scientist Werner Heisenberg came up with a wild idea that broke reality as Western science knew it. And it's still unsettling to think about. Benjamin Labatut's recent book, When We Cease to Understand the World, makes readers feel the aftershocks of the revelation, asking, "What's real?"

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