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Nov 4, 2026 26 min

How To Simulate The Universe With DFT

from PBS Space Time Hosted by PBS

PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateSPACEUploaded 12-01-22Take the Space Time Fan Survey Here: https://forms.gle/wS4bj9o3rvyhfKzUA*****Sign Up on Patreon to get access to the Space Time Discord!https://www.patreon.com/pbsspacetimeIf you used every particle in the observable universe to do a full quantum simulation, how big would that simulation be? At best a large molecule. That’s how insanely information dense the quantum wavefunction really is. And yet we routinely simulate systems with thousands, even millions of particles. How? By cheating. Using the ultimate compression algorithm: Density Functional Theory (DFT). Let’s learn how to cheat the universe.Check out the Space Time Merch Storehttps://www.pbsspacetime.com/shopSign up for the mailing list to get episode notifications and hear special announcements!https://mailchi.mp/1a6eb8f2717d/spacetimeHosted by Matt O'DowdWritten by Graeme Gossel and Matt O'Dowd Post Production by Leonardo Scholzer, Yago Ballarini, Pedro Osinski, Adriano Leal and Stephanie FariaGFX Visualizations: Ajay ManuelDirected by Andrew KornhaberAssistant Producer: Setare GholipourExecutive Producers: Eric Brown and Andrew KornhaberExecutives in Charge (PBS): Adam Dylewski, Maribel Lopez Director of Programming (PBS): Gabrielle Ewing Spacetime is produced by Kornhaber Brown for PBS Digital Studios.This program is produced by Kornhaber Brown, which is solely responsible for its content.© 2021 PBS. All rights reserved.End Credits Music by J.R.S. Schattenberg: https://www.youtube.com/user/MultiDroidekaSpecial Thanks to Our Patreon SupportersBig Bang SupportersDavid TaicletBen DimockDaniel AlexiucNenado763Pravin MansukhaniPeter BarrettNils AndersonDavid NeumannCharlieLeo KoguanSandy WuMatthew MillerAhmad JodehAlexander TamasMorgan HoughJuan BenetVinnie FalcoFabrice EapMark RosenthalDavid NicklasHenry Van StynQuasar SupportersAlex KinseyOnlineBookClub.orgAlex KernEthan CohenStephen WilcoxYogi BChristina OegrenMark HeisingHank SHypernova Supporterswilliam bryandrollereJoe MoreiraMarc ArmstrongScott GorlickNick BerardPaul Stehr-GreenAlexander PriceAdam WaltersRussell PopeBen DeloNicholas NewlinScott GrayАнтон КочковJohn R. SlavikMathewDonal BotkinJohn PollockEdmund FokschanerJoseph Salomonechuck zegarJordan Youngm0nkDaniel MuzquizGamma Ray Burst SupporterAvi YashchinMichael H Lev (SHS '78)Kory KirkTerje VoldAnatoliy NagornyycomboyBrett BakerJeremy SollerJonathan ConerlyAndre StechertRoss BohnerPaul WoodKent Durhamjim bartoshNubbleChris NavridesScott R CalkinsThe Mad MechanicEllis HallJohn H. Austin, Jr.Diana SBen CampbellLawrence Tholl, DVMFaraz KhanAlmog CohenAlex EdwardsÁdám KettingerMD3Endre PechDaniel JenningsCameron SampsonPratik MukherjeeGeoffrey ClarionNateDarren DuncanRuss CreechJeremy ReedEric WebsterDavid JohnstonJ.

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How To Simulate The Universe With DFT

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This episode was published on November 4, 2026.

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