Podcast Summary: The Peter McCormack Show

Episode #049 – Mike McCulloch: Quantised Inertia – The New Physics That Could Rewrite Reality

Release Date: February 10, 2025
Host: Peter McCormack
Guest: Dr. Mike McCulloch, physicist, theorist of Quantised Inertia

Overview

This episode dives deep into Quantised Inertia (QI), a radical alternative theory to dark matter and dark energy, as developed by physicist Dr. Mike McCulloch. The discussion centers on the problems with currently accepted physics (notably the invention of dark matter and energy to patch observational gaps), the lack of direct evidence for such constructs, and how QI could offer a more empirically grounded explanation for galactic rotation curves, inertia, and cosmic expansion. The episode further explores QI’s profound implications, including thrustless propulsion (like the controversial EmDrive), interstellar travel, and even the philosophical possibility that our universe behaves like a computer simulation.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Why Quantised Inertia? Challenging Dark Matter & Dark Energy

• The Problem: Conventional physics explains the anomalous rotation of galaxies and the accelerating expansion of the universe by positing dark matter and dark energy—entities with no direct observational evidence.
• Dr. McCulloch argues that these concepts are theoretical “fudge factors":
  • "It kind of sounds like they’re just making shit up." – Colin (Host) [67:59]
• QI proposes that inertia and galactic dynamics may be explained without such ad hoc entities, instead leveraging quantum field effects and horizons—a “quantum vacuum” explanation.

2. Core Concepts of Quantised Inertia

• Ocean Waves Analogy:
  McCulloch likens QI to a boat with a skirt dampening waves on one side, creating an imbalance that propels the boat—analogous to asymmetries in quantum fields. [03:27]
• Unruh Radiation:
  Accelerating objects see a thermal bath of radiation (Unruh effect). A “horizon” (akin to a black hole’s event horizon) blocks some of these waves, creating a push against acceleration and manifesting as inertia.
• Philosophy:
  If horizons prevent something from being observable (or detectable waves), then (in the spirit of Ernst Mach), it "doesn’t exist" for that object and has measurable consequences.
• “I’m predicting that inertia will disappear at very low accelerations, which explains why…” – Mike McCulloch [24:08]

3. Galaxy Rotation & Mass Discrepancy

• Problem: The outer stars in galaxies rotate too fast for the observed (visible) mass.
  • Conventional fix: postulate invisible “dark matter” surrounding galaxies.
• QI’s response: At galactic edges (where acceleration is very low), an object's inertia effectively vanishes, matching observed behaviors without needing dark matter.
  • “At the edge of galaxies where the accelerations are very low, inertial mass and the centrifugal force pushing out disappears. Just disappears. That’s what I’m proposing.” – Mike McCulloch [25:01]

4. Breaking and Extending Established Laws

• Relativity: QI minimally violates the equivalence principle (general relativity’s foundation) but in a way that’s undetectable in standard laboratory experiments.
  • “It violates the equivalence principle, which is the supposed equivalence of gravitational and inertial mass, which is the basis of general relativity.” – Mike McCulloch [26:03]
• Newtonian Physics: QI tweaks Newton’s laws at very low accelerations but keeps them valid at everyday (“laboratory”) scales.
  • “I’m correcting it for low accelerations because we’ve now looked into deep space and we’ve seen low acceleration things like galaxies which don’t fit. So we have to update again.” – Mike McCulloch [32:39]

5. Evidence, Critique, and the Scientific Community

• Empirical Support: Dr. McCulloch claims QI correctly predicts galaxy rotation curves (tested on the SPARC catalog, 153 galaxies) and anomalies like the Pioneer Anomaly.
• Criticisms:
  • Challenged by physicists (e.g., Brian Koberlein), who say QI breaks fundamental physics and is “too good to be true.”
  • QI lacks an “adjustable parameter,” unlike MOND, meaning predictions either work or don’t.
  • Hostility intensified when QI was invoked to explain “impossible” propulsion like the EmDrive, leading to McCulloch being “canceled” from some physics archives.
    • “My papers were banned from the archive…" – Mike McCulloch [39:23]
  • Some support from outlying researchers and DARPA (U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) funding.

6. EmDrive, Capacitor Thrusters, and Propellantless Propulsion

• EmDrive:
  • QI can explain positive thrust with no reaction mass, something standard physics denies as impossible.
  • Under QI, the asymmetric shape of the EmDrive cavity damps Unruh waves more at one end, creating a net force.
• Capacitor Thruster:
  • Proposed and tested with collaborators; electrons jumping across plates in a capacitor produce a measurable, propellantless thrust, predicted by QI.
  • Peer review is pending, but multiple experiments support the effect.
  • “This is an easier way to produce the EmDrive and propellantless propulsion.” – Mike McCulloch [93:51]

7. Broader Implications

• Interstellar Travel:
  • Spaceship designs using QI-based propulsion could, in theory, reach Proxima Centauri in 15 years, without the need for vast fuel reserves.
  • Floating buildings theoretically possible by embedding nanostructures that affect Unruh radiation gradients.
• Simulation Argument:
  • Universe behaves “as if it’s a simulation,” due to limits on processing and energy-information relations.
  • Analogous to computer games slowing down near complex environments (see Minecraft example [99:23]).
• Philosophy & Science Dogma:
  • Science advances by challenging the established, not by bending theories to fit unprovable, unseen entities.
    • “All physics is established until new physics comes along and disproves it.” – Colin (Host) [54:36]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Dark Matter:
  • “It’s starting to sound like bollocks, man, isn’t it? That’s the title of this show, Colin. It’s going to be ‘Dark Matter is Bollocks’.” – Colin [34:28]
• On Scientific Orthodoxy:
  • “Science is the opposite. The belief that one should always disbelieve experts and check facts for oneself.” – Mike McCulloch [60:08]
• On theoretical humility:
  • “At every point, physicists think that it’s fantastic, but there’s always a change coming…” – Mike McCulloch [55:01]
• On the physical universe as a simulation:
  • “I can derive special relativity and probably general relativity by assuming that it is a simulation… what gave me the idea was I was playing Minecraft with my son…” – Mike McCulloch [99:23]
• On future technology:
  • “This will sound crazy, but I think… you’ll be able to design buildings that float…” – Mike McCulloch [108:25]

Important Timestamps

• [02:46] – Simple explanation of QI and how inertia may arise from quantum field effects and horizons.
• [07:35] – Application of QI to the question of dark matter: galactic mass and rotation.
• [15:53] – Discovery of the Pioneer Anomaly and its link to QI.
• [24:08] – The prediction that inertia vanishes at low acceleration, explaining galactic rotation.
• [26:03] – Violation of the equivalence principle and relativity’s limitations.
• [33:48] – On the lack of adjustable parameters and testing QI.
• [39:23] – Hostility and cancellation within the scientific community.
• [44:27] – Support from DARPA and the practical experimentation of QI.
• [65:34] – Dark energy’s relation to QI, challenging the mainstream idea.
• [81:21] – Information theory, entropy, and energy – philosophical implications.
• [94:49] – Testing QI in capacitors; practical engineering results.
• [107:06] – QI and interstellar travel, implications for humanity’s future.

Sectional Breakdown With Speaker Attribution

Introduction:

• McCulloch introduces the cosmic acceleration problem, related anomalies, and his approach with QI [00:00]

What is Quantised Inertia?

• McCulloch explains inertia in terms of quantum field fluctuations and horizons, using vivid analogies [02:46-06:25]

Conventional Physics’ Shortcomings:

• Colin and McCulloch discuss the fudge-factor nature of dark matter and dark energy [06:25–10:04]
• “They haven’t found [dark matter]… and they’ve spent a lot of money doing it.” – Mike McCulloch [08:19]

The Science Community’s Attitude:

• Open secret among physicists that dark matter is problematic, but public/media resist alternatives [11:45–12:12]
• “In the community, people are not openly…” – Colin [11:55]
• “It never seems to get into the magazines and on the news.” – Mike McCulloch [12:02]

Deeper Dive into Galaxy Rotation:

• Explanation of why rotation curves don’t make sense under “visible” mass alone and how QI addresses this precisely [13:59–15:00, 24:08–25:14]

Pushing the Envelope: The Pioneer Anomaly and Beyond:

• The same acceleration anomaly emerges in vastly different domains, suggesting a common principle [15:53–17:33]

Unruh Radiation and Hawking Radiation:

• McCulloch connects quantum effects, Unruh radiation, and inertia, citing both theoretical development and recent experimental evidence [17:40–21:46]

Critiques and Scientific Resistance:

• Discussion of peer reception, critical papers, and academic resistance/cancellation [37:14–41:54]

Practical Consequences:

• EmDrive and capacitor experiments explained; engineering implications [39:54–94:02]
• Support from DARPA due to open-mindedness and innovation focus [43:24]

Broader Philosophical and Societal Context:

• Reflections on simulation theory, philosophical import of QI, and parallel to digital information [96:42–99:23]
• “The universe looks very much like a simulation…” – Mike McCulloch [96:42]

Futuristic Visions:

• Interstellar travel, floating buildings, and UAPs as possible real-life examples of QI at work [106:07–110:39]

Meta-Reflections on Science and Progress:

• Science advances not by defending the established at all costs but by challenging it when warranted by evidence and logic [110:53–end]
• “I hope you continue. I kind of want you to be right because we’ll be talking about you in centuries…” – Colin [112:02]

Conclusion

In this highly engaging episode, Dr. Mike McCulloch lays out a bold vision for physics—one that seeks to do away with unproven crutches (dark matter/energy), provide testable explanations for previously unsolved cosmic anomalies, and potentially revolutionize propulsion technology, all rooted in the interplay between quantum fields, horizons, and information. The conversation underscores both the entrenched conservatism of mainstream physics and the essential role of curiosity, open-mindedness, and rigorous challenge in scientific progress.

For more detailed exploration, see Dr. McCulloch’s published papers and books, or follow ongoing practical results with DARPA and other collaborators as mentioned in the episode.