Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

Latest Episodes:

Erik Verlinde: Gravity Is Not Fundamental, It Is Entropic Feb 16, 2026

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What if gravity is just entropy in disguise? Professor Erik Verlinde joins me to argue that gravity isn't a fundamental force—it's thermodynamic, emerging from quantum information the way gas pressure emerges from molecules bouncing around. We explore why spacetime may be stitched together by entanglement, and how dark energy and dark matter both pop out automatically without extra particles or parameters. Verlinde explains why the cosmological constant problem is a red herring, and why there may be no final theory of physics. When asked where the universe comes from, his answer is one word: chaos.
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LISTEN ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
TIMESTAMPS:
- 00:00:00 - Thermodynamic Gravity and Information
- 00:06:35 - Beyond Effective Field Theory
- 00:13:08 - Turtles All The Way Down
- 00:25:41 - Entropy as a Force
- 00:36:31 - Entanglement and Spatial Connectivity
- 00:47:31 - Deriving Inertia and F=ma
- 00:56:41 - De Sitter Space Challenges
- 01:02:01 - Dark Matter and Milgram
- 01:11:51 - The Emergence of Time
- 01:21:01 - Statistical Gravity Fluctuations
- 01:27:01 - Quantum Computational Complexity
- 01:36:01 - Physics Intuition and Mentorship
- 01:47:31 - Beauty, Garbage, and Chaos
LINKS MENTIONED:
Papers, books, websites:
- https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Tm64-J0AAAAJ
- https://journals.aps.org/prb/pdf/10.1103/PhysRevB.4.3174
- https://arxiv.org/abs/1001.0785
- https://arxiv.org/abs/1611.02269
- https://journals.aps.org/pr/pdf/10.1103/PhysRev.47.777
- https://amazon.com/dp/0486600688?tag=toe08-20
- https://www.nature.com/articles/248030a0
- https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Translation:The_Field_Equations_of_Gravitation
- https://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/9504004
- https://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0603001
- https://arxiv.org/abs/1005.3035
- https://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0106112
- https://arxiv.org/pdf/1408.3203
- https://arxiv.org/abs/1911.02087
- https://arxiv.org/abs/1905.08255
- https://www.ias.edu/sns/events/iaspctspgi-workshop-quantum-aspects-black-holes-and-spacetime
- https://amazon.com/dp/0262533413?tag=toe08-20
Videos:
- https://youtu.be/HIoviZe14pY
- https://youtu.be/X4PdPnQuwjY
- https://youtu.be/xZnafO__IZ0
- https://youtu.be/gEK4-XtMwro
- https://youtu.be/-BsHh3_vCMQ
- https://youtu.be/3mhctWlXyV8
- https://youtu.be/bprxrGaf0Os
- https://youtu.be/ZUp9x44N3uE
- https://youtu.be/2p_Hlm6aCok
- https://youtu.be/kUHOoMX4Bqw
- https://youtu.be/_yebLXsIdwo
- https://youtu.be/Ve_Mpd6dGv8
- https://youtu.be/0YRlQQw0d-4
- https://youtu.be/Bnh-UNrxYZg
- https://youtu.be/c8iFtaltX-s

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.

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Vitaly Vanchurin: The Universe Is a Neural Network That Learns Feb 09, 2026

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What if physics is the universe learning? Professor Vitaly Vanchurin argues the cosmos isn't merely modeled by neural networks, it literally is one. He calls to unify QM, GR, and observers.

Every episode days early, ad-free, plus my essays: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/subscribe

TIMESTAMPS:
- 00:00:00 - The Neural Network Universe
- 00:05:48 - Learning Dynamics as Physics
- 00:11:52 - Optimization and Variational Principles
- 00:21:17 - Deriving Fundamental Field Equations
- 00:28:47 - Fermions and Particle Emergence
- 00:37:17 - Geometry of Learning Algorithms
- 00:44:53 - Emergent Quantum Mechanics
- 00:50:01 - Renormalization and Interpretability
- 00:57:00 - Second Law of Learning
- 01:05:10 - Subatomic Natural Selection
- 01:15:40 - Consciousness and Learning Efficiency
- 01:24:09 - Unifying Physics and Observers
- 01:31:01 - Qualia and Hidden Variables
- 01:40:24 - Free Energy Principle Integration
- 01:46:04 - Epistemological Doubt and Advice
LINKS:
- Vitaly's Papers: https://inspirebeta.net/literature?q=find%20author%20vanchurin
- Vitaly's Lecture: https://youtu.be/TagDLiLb2VQ
- Vitaly's Website: https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/~vitaly/
- Towards A Theory Of Machine Learning: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2004.09280
- Autonomous Particles: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2301.10077
- Emergent Field Theories From Neural Networks: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2411.08138
- Covariant Gradient Descent: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2504.05279
- A Quantum-Classical Duality And Emergent Spacetime: https://arxiv.org/abs/1903.06083
- Emergent Quantumness In Neural Networks: https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.05082
- Predictability Crisis In Inflationary Cosmology: https://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/9905097
- Stationary Measure In The Multiverse: https://arxiv.org/abs/0812.0005
- The World As A Neural Network: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2008.01540
- Self-Organized Criticality In Neural Networks: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2107.03402v1
- One Hundred Authors Against Einstein: https://amazon.com/dp/B09PHH7KC8?tag=toe08-20
- Geocentric Cosmology: https://arxiv.org/abs/1006.4148
- Jacob Barandes [TOE]: https://youtu.be/gEK4-XtMwro
- Yang-Hui He [TOE]: https://youtu.be/spIquD_mBFk
- Eva Miranda [TOE]: https://youtu.be/6XyMepn-AZo
- Felix Finster [TOE]: https://youtu.be/fXzO_KAqrh0
- Stephen Wolfram [TOE]: https://youtu.be/FkYer0xP37E
- Stephen Wolfram 2 [TOE]: https://youtu.be/0YRlQQw0d-4
- Avshalom Elitzur [TOE]: https://youtu.be/pWRAaimQT1E
- Ted Jacobson [TOE]: https://youtu.be/3mhctWlXyV8
- Geoffrey Hinton [TOE]: https://youtu.be/b_DUft-BdIE
- Wayne Myrvold [TOE]: https://youtu.be/HIoviZe14pY
- Cumrun Vafa [TOE]: https://youtu.be/kUHOoMX4Bqw
- Claudia De Rham [TOE]: https://youtu.be/Ve_Mpd6dGv8
- Lee Smolin [TOE]: https://youtu.be/uOKOodQXjhc

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Rob Spekkens: Why the Quantum Wave Function Is Not Real Feb 02, 2026

Show notes

Perimeter Institute's Robert Spekkens on quantum foundations. His 2004 classical toy theory makes maximum knowledge always incomplete, and out pops no-cloning, teleportation, and interference Feynman deemed impossible classically. He likens our situation to hieroglyphs before Champollion: a category mistake treating quantum states as describing reality when they describe knowledge of it.

Every episode days early, ad-free, plus my essays: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/subscribe
SUPPORT:
- Crypto: https://nowpayments.io/donation/TOE
- PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE
- Substack: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com
TIMESTAMPS:
- 00:00:00 - Defining Quantum Innovation
- 00:06:40 - Realism vs. Empiricism
- 00:12:12 - Leibnizian Methodological Principle
- 00:23:40 - Causal Explanations of Correlations
- 00:30:24 - Epistemic Quantum States
- 00:41:00 - Foil Theory Methodology
- 00:54:00 - Causal Influence vs. Signaling
- 01:07:27 - Thermodynamics and Ignorance
- 01:15:00 - Conceptual Understanding in Physics
- 01:21:00 - Philosophy of Physics Utility
- 01:30:00 - Speckins' Toy Theory Origins
- 01:40:13 - Perimeter Institute's Ambitious DNA
- 01:52:00 - PBR Theorem Implications
- 02:05:40 - Ontic Separability Assumptions
- 02:17:40 - Hieroglyphs and Category Mistakes
- 02:29:00 - Revolutionizing Modern Physics
- 02:37:20 - Unscrambling Causation and Inference
LINKS:
https://www.rwspekkens.com
https://pirsa.org/speaker/Robert-Spekkens
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2507.01122
https://arxiv.org/pdf/quant-ph/0401052
https://arxiv.org/abs/0706.2661
https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0406166
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2207.11779
https://amazon.com/dp/1108066488?tag=toe08-20
https://www.jstor.org/stable/687269
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qm-copenhagen/
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/identity-indiscernible/
https://www.fourmilab.ch/etexts/einstein/specrel/specrel.pdf
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/spacetime-holearg/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/mathematics/hidden-variable-theory
https://www.nature.com/articles/299802a0
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2011.01286
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02058098
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.07161
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/maxwells-equation
https://www.einstein-online.info/en/spotlight/equivalence_principle/
https://perimeterinstitute.ca/
https://amazon.com/dp/9810241054?tag=toe08-20
https://journals.aps.org/pr/pdf/10.1103/PhysRev.47.777
https://arxiv.org/abs/1111.3328
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/rosetta-stone-hieroglyphs-champollion-decipherment-egypt-180980834/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0160932707000282
https://youtu.be/gEK4-XtMwro
https://youtu.be/YWbjI-QsH2E
https://youtu.be/fU1bs5o3nss
https://youtu.be/NKOd8imBa2s
https://youtu.be/6I2OhmVWLMs
https://youtu.be/Tghl6aS5A3M
https://youtu.be/HIoviZe14pY
https://youtu.be/bprxrGaf0Os
https://youtu.be/4MjNuJK5RzM
https://youtu.be/gsSJPLX-BTA

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Subir Sarkar: Why Dark Energy Is a Local Illusion Jan 26, 2026

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Hot off the press, Professor Subir Sarkar makes the case that dark energy doesn’t exist (and he’s not being provocative for its own sake). He’s the former head of Oxford’s particle theory group, serves on the Particle Data Group. Sarkar's group has found that the cosmic acceleration supposedly driving the universe's expansion is directional—not uniform as required by a cosmological constant—appearing only in the direction we're moving through space. He claims the 2011 Nobel Prize-winning discovery rests on a century-old assumption of cosmic isotropy that his data now falsifies at over 5 sigma. "We need to go back to square one."

SUPPORT:
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LINKS MENTIONED:
- https://inspirehep.net/literature/52370
- https://journals.aps.org/pr/abstract/10.1103/PhysRev.174.2168
- https://www.nature.com/articles/srep35596
- https://arxiv.org/abs/1610.08972
- https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1993ApJ...413L.105P/abstract
- https://arxiv.org/abs/1503.01229
- https://inference-review.com/article/heart-of-darkness
- https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/206/2/377/1024995
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235329300_The_NRAO_VLA_sky_survey
- https://arxiv.org/pdf/1304.3627
- https://arxiv.org/abs/1608.06483
- https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=hYPXSjkAAAAJ&citation_for_view=hYPXSjkAAAAJ:k_IJM867U9cC
- https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.03.18.533281v2.full
- https://amazon.com/dp/0486472051?tag=toe08-20
- https://youtu.be/xZnafO__IZ0
- https://youtu.be/kUHOoMX4Bqw
- https://youtu.be/5pOpcCT6AmY
- https://youtu.be/guQIkV6yCik
- https://youtu.be/6I2OhmVWLMs
- https://youtu.be/dG_uKJx6Lpg
- https://youtu.be/sGm505TFMbU
- https://youtu.be/Ve_Mpd6dGv8
- https://youtu.be/hF4SAketEHY
- https://youtu.be/X4PdPnQuwjY
- https://youtu.be/zNZCa1pVE20
- https://youtu.be/ZUp9x44N3uE
- https://youtu.be/fAaXk_WoQqQ
- https://arxiv.org/abs/1506.01354
- https://www.nature.com/articles/366029a0
- https://arxiv.org/pdf/1808.04597
- https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/pdf/2014/08/aa23413-14.pdf
- https://arxiv.org/pdf/2411.10838
- https://archive.org/details/generalprinciple0000paul/page/n1/mode/2up
- https://arxiv.org/pdf/1205.3365
- https://amazon.com/dp/0471925675?tag=toe08-20
- https://arxiv.org/abs/1112.3108
- https://arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/9506283
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/037026938491565X
- https://journals.aps.org/rmp/pdf/10.1103/RevModPhys.79.1349
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1140/epjs/s11734-021-00199-6
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10701-005-9042-8
- https://journals.aps.org/rmp/abstract/10.1103/9ygx-z2yq

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Stuart Kauffman: “If I’m Right, There Is No Theory of Everything” Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

Stuart Kauffman, one of the founders of complexity theory, invented random Boolean networks at 23 and helped establish the Santa Fe Institute. Now 86, he makes a striking claim: there is no theory of everything. Kauffman argues that biological evolution creates genuinely new possibilities that cannot be deduced from prior states—paralleling the ancient Chinese Tao more than Plato's Logos. He also believes he's found something new in quantum gravity (and, in his words, "genuinely huge"). He unveils it here for the first time.
Every episode days early, ad-free, plus my essays: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/subscribe
SUPPORT:
- Crypto: https://nowpayments.io/donation/TOE
- PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE
JOIN MY SUBSTACK (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com
LISTEN ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
LINKS MENTIONED:
- Investigations [Book]: https://amazon.com/dp/B00W0DHAH6?tag=toe08-20
- Stuart Kauffman's Books [Amazon]: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APT8XK
- A Third Transition In Science? [Article]: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsfs/article/13/3/20220063/89381/A-third-transition-in-science-A-third-transition
- Genetic Regulatory Mechanisms In Protein Synthesis [Paper]: https://www.gs.washington.edu/academics/courses/braun/55106/readings/jacob_and_monod.pdf
- Is Mind In Spacetime? [Paper]: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38969235/
- The World Is Not A Theorem [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2101.00284
- Origins Of Order [Book]: https://amazon.com/dp/0195079515?tag=toe08-20
- The Universal Constructor [Article]: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.157.3785.180.a
- Metabolic Stability And Epigenesis In Random Genetic Nets [Paper]: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0022519369900150
- Antichaos And Adaptation [Article]: https://www.jstor.org/stable/24938683
- The Selfish Gene [Book]: https://amazon.com/dp/0199291152?tag=toe08-20
- Biological Organization As Closure Of Constraints [Paper]: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022519315001009
- Physics And Philosophy [Book]: https://amazon.com/dp/0061209198?tag=toe08-20
- Combinatorial Chemistry: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/combinatorial-chemistry
- Connections [Series]: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.484e32c5-60bd-4493-a800-e44fd0940312
- Gonen Ashkenasy's Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=7kP7Fi4AAAAJ
- Michael Levin [TOE]: https://youtu.be/c8iFtaltX-s
- Anna Ciaunica & Michael Levin [TOE]: https://youtu.be/2aLhkm6QUgA
- Plato's Cave [TOE]: https://youtu.be/PurNlwnxwfY
- "Is God A Taoist?" [TOE]: https://youtu.be/P-jh6tRh3Jw
- Chiara Marletto [TOE]: https://youtu.be/40CB12cj_aM
- John Donoghue [TOE]: https://youtu.be/dG_uKJx6Lpg
- Yang-Hui He [TOE]: https://youtu.be/wbP0KjWm0pw
- Tim Palmer [TOE]: https://youtu.be/vlklA6jsS8A
- Tim Maudlin [TOE]: https://youtu.be/fU1bs5o3nss
- Richard Dawkins's Lecture: https://youtu.be/nfZMyJq6BBM

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Timothy Williamson: The Logician Who Says Vagueness Has Exact Answers Jan 13, 2026

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Timothy Williamson (Oxford) challenges modal logic, epistemic possibility, and the nature of philosophical knowledge.
Every episode days early, ad-free, plus my essays: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/subscribe
SUPPORT:
- Support me on Substack: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/subscribe
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JOIN MY SUBSTACK (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com
LISTEN ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
TIMESTAMPS:
- 00:00:00 - Vagueness & Sorites Paradox
- 00:07:12 - Identity, Physicalism, Non-Physicals
- 00:22:30 - Realism vs. Anti-Realism
- 00:29:50 - The Problem of Skepticism
- 00:35:40 - Cognitive Heuristics & Doubt
- 00:43:00 - Solipsism's Appeal & Pitfalls
- 00:50:00 - Solipsism: A Critique
- 00:57:30 - Pluralism & Consciousness
- 01:06:00 - AI, Mental States, Ontology
- 01:15:50 - Mind, Knowledge, Meaning
- 01:26:00 - Philosophical Heuristics
- 01:32:00 - Counterfactuals & Logic
- 01:38:00 - Personal Philosophy
LINKS MENTIONED:
- Overfitting and Heuristics in Philosophy [Book]: https://www.amazon.com/Overfitting-Heuristics-Philosophy-Rutgers-Lectures/dp/0197779212
- Timothy Williamson's Published Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=IH-44VwAAAAJ&hl=en
- Sorites Paradox: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/sorites-paradox/
- Philosophical Investigations [Book]: https://www.amazon.com/Philosophical-Investigations-Ludwig-Wittgenstein/dp/0631205691
- I Do Not Exist [Paper]: https://academic.oup.com/book/53296/chapter-abstract/422023005
- O'Shaughnessy Ventures: https://www.osv.llc/
- Barry Loewer & Eddy Chen [TOE]: https://youtu.be/xZnafO__IZ0
- Bas Van Fraassen [TOE]: https://youtu.be/lhpRAWxvY5s
- Matthew Segall [TOE]: https://youtu.be/DeTm4fSXpbM
- Jennifer Nagel [TOE]: https://youtu.be/CWZVMZ9Tm7Q
- Leo Gura [TOE]: https://youtu.be/YspFR9JAq3w
- Iain McGilchrist [TOE]: https://youtu.be/M-SgOwc6Pe4
- The Consciousness Iceberg [TOE]: https://youtu.be/65yjqIDghEk
- Karl Friston [TOE]: https://youtu.be/uk4NZorRjCo
- Geoffrey Hinton [TOE]: https://youtu.be/b_DUft-BdIE
- Elan Barenholtz [TOE]: https://youtu.be/A36OumnSrWY
- Ben Goertzel & Joscha Bach [TOE]: https://youtu.be/xw7omaQ8SgA
- Claudia de Rham [TOE]: https://youtu.be/Ve_Mpd6dGv8
- Stephen Wolfram [TOE]: https://youtu.be/0YRlQQw0d-4
- Elan Barenholtz & Will Hahn [TOE]: https://youtu.be/Ca_RbPXraDE
- Greg Kondrak [TOE]: https://youtu.be/FFW14zSYiFY
- Robert Sapolsky [TOE]: https://youtu.be/z0IqA1hYKY8
SOCIALS:
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
- Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs
Guests do not pay to appear. Theories of Everything receives revenue solely from viewer donations, platform ads, and clearly labelled sponsors; no guest or associated entity has ever given compensation, directly or through intermediaries.
#science

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I’m Giving Away $5,000 to Explain Hard Physics (and AI) Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

Host Curt Jaimungal launches #CORE1, a competition seeking high-level video explainers for physics, AI, and philosophy. If you're a researcher or student, you'll have a chance to win part of the $5,000 prize pool by sharing your technical expertise with the world.
For inquiries, email: core_toe@proton.me
TIMESTAMPS:
- 00:00 - Incentivizing Advanced Research Exposition
- 05:05 - Formalizing Pedagogical Evaluation Standards
LINKS:
- CORE1 FAQ: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/core
- CORE1 Submission Form: https://tally.so/r/xXrk1o
- CORE1 Discord Link: https://discord.com/invite/VdGFUYtPDS
- For Inquiries, email: core_toe@proton.me
- Constructive QFT: https://ncatlab.org/nlab/show/constructive+quantum+field+theory
- Coleman-Mandula Theorem: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coleman%E2%80%93Mandula_theorem
- Eva Miranda [TOE]: https://youtu.be/6XyMepn-AZo
- Emily Riehl [TOE]: https://youtu.be/mTwvecBthpQ
- Summer of Math Exposition: https://some.3b1b.co/
- Scaling Laws for Neural Language Models [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2001.08361
- Elan Barenholtz [TOE]: https://youtu.be/A36OumnSrWY
- Elan Barenholtz & William Hahn [TOE]: https://youtu.be/Ca_RbPXraDE
- Joscha Bach & Karl Friston [TOE]: https://youtu.be/CcQMYNi9a2w
- Double Descent Demystified [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2303.14151
- Ted Jacobson on Diffeomorphism Invariance: https://youtu.be/r6kdHge-NNY
- Jacob Barandes [TOE]: https://youtu.be/7oWip00iXbo
- Barry Loewer & Eddy Chen [TOE]: https://youtu.be/xZnafO__IZ0
- 3Blue1Brown's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/3blue1brown
- Bas van Fraassen [TOE]: https://youtu.be/lhpRAWxvY5s
- Can Physics Explain Its Own Laws? [TOE]: https://youtu.be/0_Px5gbs9i0
- Max Tegmark [TOE]: https://youtu.be/-gekVfUAS7c
- Geoffrey Hinton [TOE]: https://youtu.be/b_DUft-BdIE
- Sir Roger Penrose [TOE]: https://youtu.be/iO03t21xhdk
- Why I Don't Buy the Simulation Hypothesis [TOE]: https://youtu.be/3_lBPMc6JRY
- String Theory Iceberg [TOE]: https://youtu.be/X4PdPnQuwjY
SUPPORT:
- Support me on Substack: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/subscribe
- Crypto: https://nowpayments.io/donation/TOE
- Support me on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4
JOIN MY SUBSTACK (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com
LISTEN ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
SOCIALS:
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
- Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs
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Bas van Fraassen: Why Science Does Not Reveal the Truth Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

Bas van Fraassen argues science doesn't deliver literal truth, so unobservable physics is a model. The self isn't a thing, logic permits free will, and he keeps faith in God without metaphysics.

Every episode days early, ad-free, plus my essays: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/subscribe

TIMESTAMPS:
- 00:00 - Reality vs. Appearance
- 08:40 - Scientific Realism vs. Anti-Realism
- 16:30 - The "No Miracles" Argument
- 22:26 - Common Sense Realism
- 27:54 - Trusting Instruments vs. Theories
- 34:22 - Kierkegaard's Call to Decision
- 41:50 - Determinism is a Model
- 48:50 - Sartre on Free Will
- 56:47 - Causation Doesn't Exist in Physics
- 01:05:47 - Language of Human Action
- 01:15:54 - Tarski's Limitative Theorems
- 01:23:50 - "I Am Not a Thing"
- 01:34:20 - Rejecting Analytic Metaphysics
- 01:40:17 - Does God Exist?
- 01:50:50 - Disagreement on Monty Hall
- 01:56:15 - Conversion to Catholicism
LINKS MENTIONED:
- The Scientific Image: https://amzn.to/499SA72
- Bas's Blog: https://basvanfraassensblog.home.blog/about-me-2/
- The Empirical Stance: https://amzn.to/3MWbKEK
- Bas's Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=EBj6wCAAAAAJ
- Bas's Books: https://amzn.to/3L0njdw
- Reality Is Not What It Seems: https://amzn.to/3YseMDe
- Matthew Segall [TOE]: https://youtu.be/DeTm4fSXpbM
- "No Miracles" Argument: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scientific-realism/#MiraArgu
- Bas On Closer To Truth: https://youtu.be/nQnQ9ndlYi4
- The Most Terrifying Philosopher [TOE]: https://youtu.be/BWYxRM__TBU
- Curt Reads Plato's Cave [TOE]: https://youtu.be/PurNlwnxwfY
- Avshalom Elitzur [TOE]: https://youtu.be/pWRAaimQT1E
- Formal Philosophy: https://archive.org/details/formalphilosophy00mont/page/n5/mode/2up
- Robert Sapolsky [TOE]: https://youtu.be/z0IqA1hYKY8
- Time And Chance: https://amzn.to/4qb6tru
- Nancy Cartwright: https://www.profnancycartwright.com/publications/books/
- Einstein, Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies: https://sites.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/teaching/Einstein_graduate/pdfs/Einstein_STR_1905_English.pdf
- Putnam's 'Twin Earth': https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hilary-Putnam#ref1204773
- The Nonexistent Knight: https://amzn.to/3XWxfrs
- Tyson Doesn't Understand "Belief": https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/i-dont-use-the-word-belief-and-scientific
- Monty Hall Problem: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Hall_problem
- Michael Dummett: https://iep.utm.edu/michael-dummett/
- How To Define Theoretical Terms: https://www.princeton.edu/~hhalvors/teaching/phi520_f2012/lewis-theoretical-terms.pdf
- Model-Theoretic Argument: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/realism-sem-challenge/model-theory-completeness.html
- Remembering Hilary Putnam: https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/remembering-hilary-putnam-harvard-philosopher-and-religious-jew
- Hilary Lawson: https://www.hilarylawson.com/biography/
- Language Isn't Just Low Resolution: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/language-isnt-just-low-resolution

- Crypto: https://nowpayments.io/donation/TOE

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Roger Penrose and Ivette Fuentes: A Bold New Test of Gravity Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

Sir Roger Penrose and Professor Ivette Fuentes analyze the Ron Folman T-cubed experiment and whether the equivalence principle holds in quantum mechanics.
SPONSORS:
- Thank you Nolah for sponsoring! Click here https://nolahmattress.com/toe and use CODE: TOE to get an extra $50 off your mattress.
Every episode days early, ad-free, plus my essays: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/subscribe
SUPPORT:
- Crypto: https://nowpayments.io/donation/TOE
- Support me on PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE
JOIN MY SUBSTACK (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com
LISTEN ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
TIMESTAMPS:
- 00:00:00 - The Ron Folman Experiment
- 00:08:12 - Quantum Equivalence Principle
- 00:15:00 - Gravitational Wavefunction Collapse
- 00:25:14 - Active vs. Passive Gravity
- 00:33:40 - Bose-Einstein Condensate Tests
- 00:44:30 - Do Gravitons Exist?
- 00:56:02 - Evidence Before the Big Bang
- 01:04:11 - Testing Collapse Models
LINKS MENTIONED:
- Ivette’s Website: https://ivettefuentes.weebly.com/
- Ivette’s Published Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=W7-xksIAAAAJ
- Roger’s Published Papers: https://inspirehep.net/authors/993859
- Human Test: How Predictability, Creativity, And The Quantum Mind Will Redefine Life In The Age Of AI [Book]: https://amazon.com/dp/149308920X?tag=toe08-20
- The Equivalence Principle: https://www.britannica.com/science/equivalence-principle
- Nikita Nekrasov [TOE]: https://youtu.be/PH0CzN5qspI
- Exploring The Unification Of Quantum Theory And General Relativity With A Bose-Einstein Condensate [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1812.04630
- Jacob Barandes & Manolis Kellis [TOE]: https://youtu.be/MTD8xkbiGis
- Observation Of The Quantum Equivalence Principle For Matter-Waves [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2502.14535
- Claudia de Rham [TOE]: https://youtu.be/Ve_Mpd6dGv8
- Markus Aspelmeyer’s Published Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=DH7xfEgAAAAJ
- Hendrik Ulbricht Published Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=6d15M50AAAAJ
- Ron Folman’s Lecture: https://youtu.be/uVN7zapPtvw
- Ivette’s Solo Interview [TOE]: https://youtu.be/YWbjI-QsH2E
- Roger’s Solo Interview [TOE]: https://youtu.be/iO03t21xhdk
- Cumrun Vafa [TOE]: https://youtu.be/kUHOoMX4Bqw
- Ted Jacobson [TOE]: https://youtu.be/3mhctWlXyV8
- Jonathan Oppenheim [TOE]: https://youtu.be/6Z_p3viqW1g
- Alexia Lopez’s Published Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=PaPfR4sAAAAJ
- Alexia Lopez’s Lecture: https://youtu.be/-zkGk6EPMC8
- A Big Ring On The Sky [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2402.07591
- The DP Model: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-Diosi-Penrose-DP-model-of-gravity-related-wave-function-collapse-a-According-to_fig1_344161033
- Underground Test Of Gravity-Related Wave Function Collapse [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2111.13490
- Curt’s Talk With Roger On IAI: https://youtu.be/VQM0OtxvZ-Y
- Ron Folman’s T Cube Experiment: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1908.03879

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Curt Jaimungal: The Most Terrifying Philosopher I’ve Encountered Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

Curt Jaimungal dives into Kierkegaard’s three stages of life—aesthetic, ethical, and religious — showing how each promises freedom yet traps us in its own way. Through the lens of modern anxiety and constant choice, he explores why the “leap of faith” isn’t blind irrationality but a way of living with authenticity when reason hits its limits.
Every episode days early, ad-free, plus my essays: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/subscribe
Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
Timestamps:
- 00:00 - Kierkegaard and Faith
- 03:16 - The Three Stages
- 05:10 - Anti-Helegianism
- 10:52 - Self-Examination and "Knowing Thyself"
Links mentioned:
- The Most Terrifying Philosopher I’ve Encountered: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/the-most-terrifying-philosopher-ive
- Soren Kierkegaard: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kierkegaard/
- Either/Or [Book]: https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.504967/page/n125/mode/2up
- Michael Sugrue On Kierkegaard: https://youtu.be/SMJc9UMzFSE
- Hegelianism: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hegelianism
- Max Tegmark [TOE]: https://youtu.be/-gekVfUAS7c
- Sir Roger Penrose [TOE]: https://youtu.be/iO03t21xhdk
- Curt’s Presentation: https://youtu.be/3_lBPMc6JRY
SUPPORT:
- Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join
- Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
- Crypto: https://nowpayments.io/donation/TOE
- Support me on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4
SOCIALS:
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
- Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs
Guests do not pay to appear. Theories of Everything receives revenue solely from viewer donations, platform ads, and clearly labelled sponsors; no guest or associated entity has ever given compensation, directly or through intermediaries.
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