Adam Forrest Kay is the author of Escape From Shadow Physics (https://amzn.to/3GhRaLU), a rip-roaring tour through the history of physics that suggests the quantum world might be a lot more legible than anyone realizes. Much of his work is informed by the logic of Hydrodynamic Quantum Analogs, which are classical systems whose behavior can be described by same mathematics that’s used for quantum mechanics. Kay makes the case that if a classical system, made of materials and substances, can be described by the same statistical mathematics, that it’s possible the quantum intuition that reality dissolves into a sea of probabilities and wave functions is just straight up wrong. We explore how the mechanics of droplets bouncing on surfaces recapitulates the mathematics of quantum mechanics, what it means for a classical system to behave like a quantum one, how pilot wave theory fits into the story, and why this isn’t front page news for every science magazine in the world. MAKE HISTORY WITH US THIS SUMMER: https://demystifysci.com/demysticon-2025 PATREON https://www.patreon.com/c/demystifysci PARADIGM DRIFT https://demystifysci.com/paradigm-drift-show Quantum Hydrodynamic video: Dr. John W.M. Bush: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqD2iCZS-ik 00:00 Go! 00:06:20 Adam Kay's Journey 00:10:17 The Complexity of Innovation 00:12:26 Hydrodynamic Quantum Analogies 00:20:20 Philosophy and Positivism in Physics 00:23:21 Skepticism in Physics 00:24:35 Transition in Scientific Thought 00:26:10 Positivism and Knowledge 00:28:40 Auguste Comte's Positivism and its Paradoxes 00:34:50 Historical Context from Philosophy to Physics 00:41:10 The Clash in Intellectual Circles 00:46:00 Continued Influence of Early Physicists 00:47:02 Historical Scientific Perspectives 00:49:07 The Philosophy of Science and Positivism 00:51:50 Einstein’s Influence on Physical Theories 00:56:05 Einstein vs. Quantum Mechanics 01:00:02 Parallels Between Thermodynamics and Quantum Mechanics 01:07:00 Reevaluating Physical Paradigms 01:12:07 Evolution of Physical Theories 01:14:09 Modern Reflections and Quantum Theory 01:18:07 Book Review and Chapter Structure 01:19:04 Introduction to Pilot Wave Theory 01:25:35 Hydrodynamic Quantum Analogies 01:35:08 Interpretation of Positive Atomism 01:36:46 Uncertainty Principle and Quantum Mechanics 01:39:28 Sound, Sampling, and Uncertainty in Physics 01:44:41 The Role of Fourier Analysis in Various Domains 01:49:10 Quantum Mechanics and Reality's Mystical Interpretation 01:54:09 Physics and Its Intellectual Dominance 01:58:55 Intersection of Physics and Metaphysics 02:01:10 Mysticism in Physics 02:05:27 The Sokal Hoax and Scientific Discourse 02:09:10 Importance of Diverse Viewpoints 02:14:23 Writing and Future Endeavors #quantummechanics, #philosophyofscience, #einstein, #bohr, #quantumphysics, #pilotwave, #positivism, #quantumreality, #scienceandphilosophy, #sciencehistory, #waveparticleduality, #quantumtheory, #physicscommunity #philosophypodcast, #sciencepodcast, #longformpodcast ABOUS US: 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. PATREON: get episodes early + join our weekly Patron Chat https://bit.ly/3lcAasB MERCH: Rock some DemystifySci gear : https://demystifysci.myspreadshop.com/all AMAZON: Do your shopping through this link: https://amzn.to/3YyoT98 DONATE: https://bit.ly/3wkPqaD SUBSTACK: https://substack.com/@UCqV4_7i9h1_V7hY48eZZSLw@demystifysci BLOG: http://DemystifySci.com/blog RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/2be66934/podcast/rss MAILING LIST: https://bit.ly/3v3kz2S 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