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Quantum Fields: The Real Building Blocks of the Universe - with David Tong

The Royal Institution · lecture · Watch on YouTube

Quantum physicsFundamental physics

What it is

David Tong, a Cambridge theoretical physicist, explains at the Royal Institution that the fundamental building blocks of nature are quantum fields rather than particles. He covers what we know about these fields and how they fit into the Standard Model.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Called a favorite and a masterpiece by commenters as the clearest accessible explanation that there are only waves in fields, and what physics still doesn't know.

  • 5 people recommended it
  • 6 different months
  • 3 strong recommendations
  • first 2019, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “David Tong's excellent video here”

    Tong's talk on quantum fields as the real building blocks.

    Eupraxias, 2022-08 · Strong recommendation · in “What is quantum field theory and why is it incomplete?”

  2. “my mind immediately goes to my favorite YT video, which is Dr Tong's talk at the Royal Institution.”

    Long talk explaining the Standard Model.

    thekevan, 2025-01 · Strong recommendation · in “A video tour of the Standard Model (2021)”

  3. “is a masterpiece. Some very interesting facts, mostly about what we don't know.”

    Lecture on quantum physics and what remains unknown.

    jaggs, 2025-04 · Strong recommendation · in “David Tong Lectures on Theoretical Physics”

  4. “made by the Royal Institution (which I really enjoy watching), discussing the possibility of different fundamental building blocks of nature.”

    Royal Institution talk on fundamental building blocks of nature.

    TheFiend7, 2019-12 · Recommendation · in “What Makes the Hardest Equations in Physics So Difficult? (2018)”

  5. “Check out David Tang's lecture on QFT: "there are no particles, only waves”

    Tong lecture arguing there are no particles, only waves.

    Agamus, 2022-07 · Recommendation · in “Why Read Fichte Today?”

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

Topics: quantum fields, standard model, particle physics, david tong, royal institution

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