Realm of Quantum Mechanics

Constructor Theory: Physics of Can and Can’t

May 24, 2026·26 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

What if the fundamental laws of the universe aren't about what does happen, but what can and cannot happen? In this episode, we explore Constructor Theory, a provocative new framework in physics developed by David Deutsch and Chiara Marletto.Traditional physics relies on starting conditions and dynamical laws to predict the future, but Constructor Theory flips the script. We dive into the world of "counterfactuals"—the powerful physical principles that define why some transformations are possible and others are forbidden. From the "universal constructor" that could revolutionize how we build technology to the quest for a new "theory of everything" that unifies information, life, and thermodynamics, join us as we explore a mode of explanation that challenges our deepest understanding of reality.

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