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The Vacuum Catastrophe episode artwork

Nov 5, 2026 15 min

The Vacuum Catastrophe

from PBS Space Time Hosted by PBS

Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/DonateSPACEUploaded 02-11-17If vacuum energy really does have the enormous value predicted by quantum field theory then our gently expanding, geometrically flat universe shouldn’t exist. This is the vacuum catastrophe.You can further support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/pbsspacetimeGet your own Space Time t­shirt at http://bit.ly/1QlzoBiTweet at us! @pbsspacetimeFacebook: facebook.com/pbsspacetimeEmail us! pbsspacetime [at] gmail [dot] comComment on Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/pbsspacetimeHelp translate our videos!https://www.youtube.com/timedtext_cs_panel?tab=2&c=UC7_gcs09iThXybpVgjHZ_7gPrevious Episode:The Missing Mask Mystery | Space Timehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RchRrngfjQYLinks to Comments Response:Michaelhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5rAGfjPSWE&lc=z23swryzgkibc3atqacdp43a31ukx3xnflbaomxcwwlw03c010cJeremy Zambellihttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5rAGfjPSWE&lc=z23dhh04rtmeez1rb04t1aokgicw4o1gjiic2vmezi2fbk0h00410TS1336https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5rAGfjPSWE&lc=z22sux052luoih4xz04t1aokgu2halbv0cnkiqu4azyerk0h00410Eliran Cohenhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5rAGfjPSWE&lc=z22yzr5z3u3yvn2hs04t1aokgnid302xmdruho1qwzylbk0h00410 Let’s talk about vacuum energy from a theoretical standpoint. From the perspective of quantum field theory, every point in space is represented by a quantum oscillator; one for each elementary particle type. Higher energy oscillations represent the presence of real particles. However even the lowest possible energy oscillation – the one corresponding to the absence of particles – has some energy. Written and Hosted by Matt O'DowdProduced by Rusty WardGraphics by Kurt RossAssistant Editing and Sound Design by Mike PetrowMade by Kornhaber Brown (www.kornhaberbrown.com)Special thanks to our Patreon Big Bang, Quasar and Hypernova Supporters: Big BangBITISMCoolAsCatsDavid NicklasQuasarTambe BarsbayMayank M.

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The Vacuum Catastrophe

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This episode was published on November 5, 2026.

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