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Sean Carroll: The Crisis in (Fundamental) Physics is Worse Than You Think...

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

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Embrace Correlation to Understand Entropy

The concept of entropy can be derived from statistical mechanics and molecular behavior, but it hinges on a critical assumption known as molecular chaos, which posits that molecules are uncorrelated prior to collisions. However, enforcing this assumption repeatedly leads to inaccuracies, particularly as it disregards the correlations created after molecules interact. Accepting that correlations arise from such interactions reveals a fundamental flaw in traditional approaches—specifically, they may imply a distinction between past and future, which contradicts the basis of entropy's definition. This challenge, highlighted by the reversibility paradox raised by Loe Schmitt, underscores the complexities in understanding entropy dynamics and raises questions about the validity of simplifying assumptions in statistical interpretations.

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