The world is probably not discrete.

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"Quantum mechanics, with its Schrodinger equation, is often misunderstood to imply discreteness. However, in reality, nature is not discrete. The laws of physics are smooth, described by a wave equation. Discrete energy levels in an atom are a result of the specific setup and solutions to the Schrodinger equation. Quantum mechanics is not about discreteness."

Welcome to the September 2023 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by Patreon supporters (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number -- based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the questions themselves are good -- and sometimes group them together if they are about a similar topic. Enjoy!

Blog post with questions and transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2023/09/04/ama-september-2023/

And you can now pre-order The Biggest Ideas in the Universe Vol. 2: Quanta and Fields!

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