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Is This What Quantum Mechanics Looks Like?

92 videos recommended on HN
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4 HN users recommended this explainer4 months2016–2025 score 4
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026

HN recommends it as a short, intuitive introduction to the pilot wave (de Broglie-Bohm) interpretation of quantum mechanics.

Veritasium shows silicone oil droplets bouncing on a vibrating bath, a physical analogue of pilot wave theory that reproduces quantum-like behavior such as double-slit patterns.

“an excellent pilot wave (de Broglie-Bohm) theory video by Veritasium[1]” (HN, 2018)

4 recommendations · 4 citations · Explainers

8 Hacker News comments

From the HN archive; up to 20 kept per video, favoring different commenters. Recommendations first.

@DiThi Dec 2016 Recommends
on HN thread The “dead and alive” cat myth
A bit unrelated, but there's a possibility that quantum mechanics are not exactly probabilistic and that they're actually deterministic, while still being compatible with observed quantum phenomena. This video explains it well [this video]
Explains deterministic interpretation of quantum mechanics.
@rimher Jul 2018 Recommends
on HN thread David Bohm, Quantum Mechanics and Enlightenment
Great video that showcases the Pilot Wave idea: [this video] I really do hope that we can find a way to make sense of everything in Physics, but Bohm's description of the infinite in the article is rather fascinating. Maybe there's no way out after all
Showcases the pilot wave idea.
@garfieldnate Oct 2018 Recommends
on HN thread Interpretations of quantum mechanics
I found this while following up on an excellent pilot wave (de Broglie-Bohm) theory video by Veritasium[1]. I never knew there were so many interpretations! 1. [this video]
Excellent pilot wave theory video prompting interest in interpretations.

Citations, criticism and jokes

@joantune Dec 2016 Cites it
on HN thread First real evidence of a strange quantum distortion in empty space
Read more
"In the classical physics of Newton and Einstein, the vacuum of space is entirely empty, but the theory of quantum mechanics assumes something very different. According to quantum electrodynamics (QED) - a quantum theory that describes how light and matter interact - it’s predicted that space is actually full of 'virtual particles' that pop in and out of existence and mess with the activity of light particles (photons) as they zip around the Universe." So, does this mean that this explanation for Quantum mechanics [this video] has been vindicated? i.e. the double slit with the fields being the cause of the oddity instead of... something that is hard to explain.. including the observer effect
Pilot wave explanation questioned against new virtual particle evidence.
@contravariant Dec 2016 Cites it
on HN thread First real evidence of a strange quantum distortion in empty space
>So, does this mean that this explanation for Quantum mechanics [this video] has been vindicated? If anything the virtual particles are an alternative to the pilot wave theory. Instead of having quantum effects mediated by virtual particles the pilot wave theory uses a 'pilot wave'. Now as far as I know most phenomena caused by virtual particles can be explained by the pilot wave, but I'm not sure how easily. Either way, results like these which seem to be in favour of the existence of virtual particles are weak evidence against the pilot wave theory.
Pilot wave theory discussed against virtual particles.
@goatlover Jan 2017 Cites it
on HN thread The Trouble with Quantum Mechanics
There is the silicone oil droplet phenomena which is a classical version of the pilot wave, and it does reproduce some quantum behavior, including the double slit. That a pilot wave has been discovered (granted at macro scale) does make one reconsider. [this video]
Oil droplets as a classical analogue of the pilot wave.

Video list and Hacker News comment labels from HackerTube (prompted by @karpathy), released under ODC-By 1.0, built on the open-index/hacker-news archive. Hacker News data is provided by Y Combinator; comments remain the work of their authors. Video titles, channel names and thumbnails belong to their creators and are shown via YouTube. HackerTube Watch is an unofficial edition. Data export of 2026-10-31.

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