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The Biggest Misconception in Physics

Veritasium · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Fundamental physicsScientific method & science communication

What it is

Veritasium explores why energy is not conserved in general relativity, using Emmy Noether's theorem linking symmetries to conservation laws. Physicists interviewed explain energy loss in an expanding universe.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Recommended as high-quality physics communication and as an introduction to Noether and energy non-conservation in cosmology.

  • 3 people recommended it
  • 3 different months
  • 1 strong recommendations
  • first 2025, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “thought wow this is good. Much better than the physics lectures I had at Cambridge Uni.”

    Example of high-quality physics content online.

    tim333, 2025-08 · Strong recommendation · in “Why the Internet Is Turning to Shit”

  2. “this video was the first time I had even heard of her.”

    Introduces Noether's work and why she deserves fame.

    cultofmetatron, 2025-04 · Recommendation · in “You Can Be a Great Designer and Be Completely Unknown”

  3. “See this excellent Veritasium video [0].”

    Energy non-conservation in an expanding universe.

    qnleigh, 2025-12 · Recommendation · in “Lie groups are crucial to some of the most fundamental theories in physics”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: emmy noether, general relativity, conservation of energy, symmetry, veritasium

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