389: These Numbers Explain the Nature of Reality
“Quantum mechanics tells us that empty space is not really a dull and uninteresting place that you would imagine, it’s actually a sort of seething broth of virtual particles popping in and out of existence. And this bubbling extravaganza actually causes the universe to weigh a bit.”
This week we talk to theoretical physicist and cosmologist Antonio Padilla about his new book Fantastic Numbers and Where to Find Them: A Cosmic Quest from Zero to Infinity.
It’s a book about nine unusual numbers that, once understood, can help you grasp how the universe actually works—from black holes, to gravity, to the passing of time itself.
