The Signal Says It All

A Conversation With DemystifySci

Aug 10, 2025

The crowdfund campaign for Fields & Energy Book I: Fundamentals and Origin of Electromagnetism, continues to roll along. Click through and back to be one of the first to get a copy, and pick up some SPQR accessories and some of my fiction, too!

I had a great time with Anastasia and Shilo, the dynamic duo of DemystifySci, discussing the subject matter of Fields & Energy in particular and electromagnetism and physics in general. Here’s their description.

Antennas Expose the Secrets of Light

From the copper spines of antennas to the invisible dance of light, our conversation with Dr. Hans Schantz traces the story of physics most students never hear about. Dr. Schantz, a theoretical physicist turned engineer who studied under John Wheeler, unpacks the forgotten role of physical mediators in electromagnetism and what modern antenna design can reveal about light itself. Along the way, we wander through the epic moments of the 20th century quest for understanding light, from aether theory to pilot waves, connecting lost ideas to cutting-edge engineering. This is a signal worth listening to.

What a conversation! Here’s an outline…

00:00 Go! Antenna Design and Light
00:06:02 Historical Context: The Development of Fields in Physics
00:11:30 The Evolution of Physics: From Newton to Abstract Principles
00:17:05 Induction vs. Deduction in Scientific Methodology
00:24:02 The Quest for Universal Understanding in Physics
00:28:34 The Shift from Ether to Relativity
00:34:05 The Conflict Between Theory and Observations
00:39:38 Historical Oversights in Physics
00:46:14 The Singular Nature of Electromagnetic Fields
00:48:03 History of Electromagnetism and Influential Figures
00:51:04 Einstein and the Concept of Ether
00:56:06 Quantum Mechanics and Debate with Einstein
01:00:45 The Impact of Positivism on Physics
01:09:01 Misguided Applications of Quantum Mechanics
01:11:44 Oppenheimer's Seminar and Pilot Wave Theory
01:18:06 Fundamental Crisis in Physics
01:21:21 Understanding Antennas and Light
01:30:05 Journey to Antenna Design
01:33:46 Near Field Electromagnetic Ranging
01:34:13 Signal Propagation and RF Fingerprinting
01:36:04 Electromagnetic Wave Properties
01:39:17 Q Factor and Energy Decoupling in Antennas
01:42:50 Effects of Medium on Transmission
01:46:45 Aether and Early 20th Century Experiments
01:50:33 Complexity of Electric and Magnetic Field Coupling
01:53:01 Phase Dynamics in Antenna Systems
01:56:54 Atomic Radiation as Antenna Behavior
01:57:36 Discussion of Quantum Mechanics and Atomic Behavior
01:59:12 Antenna Models and Radiation Mechanisms
02:01:24 Speculative Theories on Signal Transmission
02:04:47 Advancements in Understanding Electromagnetic Systems
02:10:31 Energy Dynamics in Electromagnetic Interference
02:14:38 Pilot Wave Theory and Its Connections
02:19:23 The Nature of Waves and the Concept of Medium
02:21:39 Discovery of Gamma Rays from the Earth
02:22:47 Opposition to Pilot Wave Theory
02:27:03 Understanding Radiation Reaction
02:30:11 Antenna Behavior and Radiation
02:32:03 Electromagnetic Fields and Energy Dynamics
02:34:44 Exploration of Fundamental Questions