Jacob Barandes: The Mathematical Accident That Rewrites Quantum Theory

Jacob Barandes challenges a hidden assumption in quantum theory, linking classical probability to quantum mechanics through a so‑called mathematical accident. The episode explores how this view reshapes Bell’s theorem, the measurement problem, and offers a realist path forward for quantum physics.

0:00 Introduction
1:02 Non-locality & Local Realism
13:58 Quantum Theory
20:45 Copenhagen Interpretation
28:11 Many Worlds Interpretation
34:54 Creating Indivisible Stochastic Process
50:59 Indivisible Stochastic Process
1:01:46 Teaching Black Holes to Graduate Students
1:04:59 Coordinate Systems in Space-Time
1:06:58 Teaching Black Hole Coordinates
1:10:11 Insights from Nima
1:13:41 Nima's Course on Quantum Mechanics
1:16:22 Quantum Foundations and Cosmology
1:18:48 Transitioning to Quantum Gravity
1:23:10 Philosophy's Role in Physics
1:26:10 Leaving String Theory
1:33:39 Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics
1:37:02 Challenges of String Theory
1:42:49 Quantum Field Theory Insights
1:50:30 Foundations of Quantum Field Theory
1:53:47 Particle Existence Between Measurements
1:59:44 Speculations on Quantum Gravity
2:01:41 Legacy and Contributions

SPONSORS:

- I personally subscribe to The Economist. TOE listeners get 35% off the annual subscription. No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOE

RESOURCES:

- Press release of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics: https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2022/10/press-physicsprize2022-2.pdf
- Eddy Chen & Barry Loewer on TOE: https://youtu.be/xZnafO__IZ0
- Jacob Barandes on TOE (part 1): https://youtu.be/7oWip00iXbo
- Tim Maudlin on TOE: https://youtu.be/fU1bs5o3nss
- What Is Real? (book): https://www.amazon.com/What-Real-Unfinished-Meaning-Quantum/dp/0465096050
- David Wallace on TOE: https://youtu.be/4MjNuJK5RzM
- The Copenhagen Interpretation: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qm-copenhagen/
- Bohmian Mechanics: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qm-bohm/
- Everettian Quantum Mechanics: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qm-everett/
- Jacob Barandes on TOE (part 2): https://youtu.be/YaS1usLeXQM
- Jacob Barandes on TOE (part 3): https://youtu.be/wrUvtqr4wOs
- The sky is blue (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2205.00568
- The Emergent Universe (book): https://www.amazon.com/Emergent-Multiverse-Quantum-according-Interpretation/dp/0198707541
- Complex Coordinates and Quantum Mechanics (paper): https://journals.aps.org/rmp/abstract/10.1103/RevModPhys.38.36
- Kurt Vonnegut's lecture: https://youtu.be/4_RUgnC1lm8
- Max Born's memoir: https://archive.org/details/myliferecollecti0000born/page/n5/mode/2up
- Hugh Everett's unpublished dissertation: https://ia801909.us.archive.org/20/items/TheTheoryOfTheUniversalWaveFunction/The%20Theory%20of%20the%20Universal%20Wave%20Function.pdf
- La nouvelle cuisine (paper): https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/speakable-and-unspeakable-in-quantum-mechanics/la-nouvelle-cuisine/6FFC85D84585D9C41AA4A1185BF5290E
- https://curtjaimungal.org

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science.

FOLLOW: Substack | Spotify | YouTube | Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices