"Explain it to me like I'm five..." okie dokie

You’ve heard the phrase: “If you can’t explain it to a 5-year-old, you don’t understand it.” But what if that idea is not only false but harmful? In this video, we dismantle one of the most repeated myths in science communication, explore why some truths resist simplification, and reveal what real understanding actually looks like. If you care about learning deeply, or teaching well, this is a must-watch. As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com Listen on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyTOE Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join Links Mentioned: •⁠ ⁠Algebraic Topology (book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521795400 •⁠ ⁠Topology and Geometry (book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0387979263 •⁠ ⁠Language isn’t just “low resolution communication” (Substack): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/language-isnt-just-low-resolution •⁠ ⁠Non-analytic smooth function: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-analytic_smooth_function •⁠ ⁠Emily Riehl on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTwvecBthpQ •⁠ ⁠Neil deGrasse Tyson on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhWWlJFwTqs •⁠ ⁠Curt debunking the “all possible paths” myth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcY3ZtgYis0 •⁠ ⁠What does it mean to explore the “ill-defined”? (Substack): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/what-does-it-mean-to-explore-the Support TOE on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs #science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices