Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This is the start of a new 11-episode discussion series with Chantal Roth (and myself) where we go through the big picture step by step - from the basic question of whether space has properties, all the way to GR, SR, light, matter, spin 1/2, charge, Maxwell, and quantum mechanics. These are presentations that Chantal already presented on the @Inductica channel but I thought it would be a good idea for Chantal to present them again on my channel since I have my own perspective and line of thinking that I thought would be useful.
In this first episode, we talk about why it is even worth asking these questions in the first place. Why we are not satisfied with just the equations? Why do we keep looking for a mechanical explanation? And why do we think it is reasonable to take the idea of an elastic medium seriously? We also talk about Einstein’s ether quote, the Michelson-Morley experiment, why it only ruled out certain naive ether models, and why a wave-based picture of matter changes the logic. Then we look at elasticity, transverse waves, the speed of light, and what kind of medium could in principle support such behavior. I also bring in my own perspective from ultrasound physics and wave propagation in real materials, and we briefly touch on different possibilities for what the deeper medium might be. So this episode is really about motivation, assumptions, and the first basic question: if space can curve, stretch, and support waves, what kind of thing might it be?
Here are some links to the simulations:
Michelson Morley: jsfiddle.net/Chenopdodium/ybadzkwf
Various elastic media:
Jello jsfiddle.net/Chenopdodium/6h8wme7s
FCC jsfiddle.net/Chenopdodium/tzdxLuer
Diamond: jsfiddle.net/Chenopdodium/9wov6dyc
Vortex Sponge: jsfiddle.net/Chenopdodium/q7rbexyt
Elasticity:
1D jsfiddle.net/Chenopdodium/pbzhdy5x
3D (springs): jsfiddle.net/Chenopdodium/rehu530t
FW
This is the start of a new 11-episode discussion series with Chantal Roth (and myself) where we go through the big picture step by step - from the basic question of whether space has properties, all the way to GR, SR, light, matter, spin 1/2, charge, Maxwell, and quantum mechanics. These are presentations that Chantal already presented on the @Inductica channel but I thought it would be a good idea for Chantal to present them again on my channel since I have my own perspective and line of thinking that I thought would be useful.
In this first episode, we talk about why it is even worth asking these questions in the first place. Why we are not satisfied with just the equations? Why do we keep looking for a mechanical explanation? And why do we think it is reasonable to take the idea of an elastic medium seriously? We also talk about Einstein’s ether quote, the Michelson-Morley experiment, why it only ruled out certain naive ether models, and why a wave-based picture of matter changes the logic. Then we look at elasticity, transverse waves, the speed of light, and what kind of medium could in principle support such behavior. I also bring in my own perspective from ultrasound physics and wave propagation in real materials, and we briefly touch on different possibilities for what the deeper medium might be. So this episode is really about motivation, assumptions, and the first basic question: if space can curve, stretch, and support waves, what kind of thing might it be?
Here are some links to the simulations:
Michelson Morley: jsfiddle.net/Chenopdodium/ybadzkwf
Various elastic media:
Jello jsfiddle.net/Chenopdodium/6h8wme7s
FCC jsfiddle.net/Chenopdodium/tzdxLuer
Diamond: jsfiddle.net/Chenopdodium/9wov6dyc
Vortex Sponge: jsfiddle.net/Chenopdodium/q7rbexyt
Elasticity:
1D jsfiddle.net/Chenopdodium/pbzhdy5x
3D (springs): jsfiddle.net/Chenopdodium/rehu530t
FW
