Say we have all the empirical evidence from 19th-century science prior to the observation of the wavelike diffraction of matter particles, plus 21st-century math and theory to construct an alternative explanation.
Say we have all the empirical evidence from 19th-century science prior to the observation of the wavelike diffraction of matter particles, plus 21st-century math and theory to construct an alternative explanation.
It would be pretty hard. There’s a reason quantum mechanics is the current explanation, and it doesn’t start with the Bell entanglement experiments.
Black body radiation would have some bizarre behavior without quantum mechanics.
The radiation spectrums of stars are also very dependent on quantum mechanics.
Some related phenomena such as transistors and phosphorescence are hard to explain without quantum mechanics.
A big one is chemistry is highly dependent on quantum mechanics. You could have a limited understanding of ionic compounds with just the Columbic force, but covalent bonds require quantum mechanics to explain.
Most of physics history is studying the edge cases and gaps in the current understanding, and filling those in. Quantum mechanics didn’t just appear suddenly; it was derived as an explanation for many previously unexplained phenomena in pieces my many different people over time.