Something Weird Happens When E=−mc²

Ever wondered if negative energy is real? Derek Muller dives into how Paul Dirac’s famous equation forced physicists to rethink E=mc², revealing weird “holes” in the energy spectrum and predicting a mirror world of antiparticles—like the positron—that seem to zip backward through time. Along the way, he unravels the quirks of the Schrödinger and Klein–Gordon equations, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, and how Dirac’s correction led to the saddest chapter in physics and the birth of antimatter.

The video (sponsored by Hostinger) features insights from experts Graham Farmelo and Cumrun Vafa, archival digs at FSU and Caltech, and a handy chapter breakdown—from negative energy basics to the wild idea of an anti-world. For deep dives and visuals, Derek points you to references, digitized Dirac letters, and more in the show notes.

Watch on YouTube