Prof. Gabriele Carcassi is a University of Michigan Physicists who became obsessed with a simple question during his training. Where do the mathematics of physics actually come from? They are handed down to us as students as if they were immutable laws of nature… but are they? Or are they simply mathematical transformations that have long ago left the realm of reality and made their home in the spheres of theory? It turns out that we really don’t know where the line between pure theory and physical reality can be drawn! Luckily, Carcassi and his research partner Prof. Christine Aidala have dedicated their time to deciphering what they call the “Assumptions of Physics,” a project which they hope will let them take apart the basic principles of the foundational science and put the whole thing back together again in a way that makes much more sense. Sign up for our Patreon and get episodes early + join our weekly Patron Chat https://bit.ly/3lcAasB AND rock some Demystify Gear to spread the word! https://demystifysci.myspreadshop.com/ Check out Carcassi's Assumptions of Physics project: https://assumptionsofphysics.org/ Check out Carcassi's Youtube Page: @gcarcassi Check out the Assumptions of Physics YouTube page: @AssumptionsofPhysicsResearch 00:00 Go! 00:06:00 Reverse physics 00:07:07 Standard physics approach 00:09:36 Lagrangian rulers 00:19:15 What is a physical dimension? 00:27:51 What is an electron, really? 00:34:30 Physical objects as informational bins 00:48:45 Math & intuition 01:00:57 Begging for money in basic science 01:21:48 Physics envy 01:36:47 Reverse physics undermines standard approach? 01:48:38 Constants of nature 02:05:52 Empiricists v. rationalists 02:35:36 Interpreting quantum spin 02:53:22 Michael Levin #sciencepodcast #longformpodcast #physics, #scienceeducation, #quantumphysics, #physicsresearch, #assumptionsofphysics, #physicsdimensions, #electron, #physicsintuition, #empiricism, #rationalism Check our short-films channel, @DemystifySci: https://www.youtube.com/c/DemystifyingScience AND our material science investigations of atomics, @MaterialAtomics https://www.youtube.com/@MaterialAtomics Join our mailing list https://bit.ly/3v3kz2S PODCAST INFO: Anastasia completed her PhD studying bioelectricity at Columbia University. When not talking to brilliant people or making movies, she spends her time painting, reading, and guiding backcountry excursions. Shilo also did his PhD at Columbia studying the elastic properties of molecular water. When he's not in the film studio, he's exploring sound in music. They are both freelance professors at various universities. - Blog: http://DemystifySci.com/blog - RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/2be66934/podcast/rss - Donate: https://bit.ly/3wkPqaD - Swag: https://bit.ly/2PXdC2y SOCIAL: - Discord: https://discord.gg/MJzKT8CQub - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DemystifySci - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DemystifySci/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemystifySci MUSIC: -Shilo Delay: https://g.co/kgs/oty671