Waves? Particles? Understanding Quantum Mechanics with Jim Al-Khalili

I recently pointed out that understanding has its limits:  We all USE quantum mechanics, for example, (like, now) but we do not really understand it.  

I understand how, for example, my Hex beam produces 17 meter waves.  But I do not understand how 17 meter particles are produced.  

In the above video, quantum physicist Jim Al-Khalili explores this gap in understanding.  He explains it all very well (within limits, of course).  Particularly good is his presentation on "The Ultraviolet Catastrophe." 

Check it out.  In follow-on videos Jim looks at various theories that have cropped up to explain the gap in understanding.  Here is his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UnbaffledScience

Shock and Awe: The Story of Electricity --- Wonderful Video by Jim Al-Khalili (sent to us by Ashish N6ASD)

From Ashish N6ASD -- Oil Lamps and Electronics

Here is the link to the video: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtp51eZkwoI

First, thanks to Ashish Derhwagen N6ASD for alerting me to this video.  You should all check out his blog. 

This is a really important video.  It is the best I have seen about the history of electricity and electronics.  It is from 2011, but it is still very good. Jim Al-Khalili travels through the world and displays the actual devices developed by the likes of Heinrick Herz,  Guglielmo Marconi, and Jagadish Chandra Bose.  There is great discussion of Benjamin Franklin, Volta and Galvani.  The role of electricity in The Enlightment is discussed.

  

Jim talks about the early transatlantic cables, and why some of them didn't work. 

We see Jagadish Chandra Bose developing early point-contact semiconductors (because the iron filings of coherers tended to rust in the humid climate of Calcutta!) 

There is a video of Oliver Lodge making a speech.   There is a flip card video of William Crookes (one of the inventors of the cathode ray tube and the originator of the Crooke's cross).  

We see actual coherers.  

There is simply too much in this video for me to adequately summarize here.  Watch the series.  Watch it in chunks if you must.  But watch it.  It is really great.  

Thanks Ashish.  And thanks to Jim Al-Khalili.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtp51eZkwoI