Quantum Mechanics

Quantum Mechanics

black hole baby universe
From the Big Bang to black holes, singularities are hard to avoid. The math definitely predicts them, but are they truly, physically real?
Nasa's finely-tuned image of a cluster of galaxies.
The question of why the Universe is the way it is is an ancient one, and none of the answers we have come up with are satisfying.
A QBism-inspired painting of a woman in blue and black.
The perfectly accessible, perfectly knowable Universe of classical physics is gone forever, no matter what interpretation you choose.
A blue background with a lot of blue lights is the worst prediction.
When it comes to predicting the energy of empty space, the two leading theories disagree by a factor of 100 googol quintillion.
universe bulk volume brane dimension
Three fundamental forces matter inside an atom, but gravity is mind-bogglingly weak on those scales. Could extra dimensions explain why?
A fractal image of an orange and yellow flower.
A relatively new interpretation of quantum mechanics asks us to reimagine the process of science itself.
Three Egginton men are shown in front of a blue background.
A new book envisions an encounter of minds between the Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges, the physicist Werner Heisenberg, and the philosopher Immanuel Kant.
bit vs qubit
Can quantum computers do things that standard, classical computers can't? No. But if they can calculate faster, that's quantum supremacy.
overview effect
When the average person has a "theory," they're just guessing. But for a scientist, a theory is the pinnacle of what we can achieve.
standard model structure
Some constants, like the speed of light, exist with no underlying explanation. How many "fundamental constants" does our Universe require?
A man exploring quantum computing in a room with red lights.
Nature may not allow us full access to the weirdness of quantum mechanics.
A metal railing supporting a white basket.
LK-99, almost certainly, isn't a room-temperature superconductor. The underlying physics of the phenomenon helps us understand why.
An artist's rendering of a neutron star in space.
Ultracold gases in the lab could help scientists better understand the universe.
pink floyd's dark side with a touch of light.
Invisible cloaks. Ghost imaging. Scientists are manipulating light in ways that were once only science fiction.
A woman utilizing her intuition examines the universe through a telescope against a pink backdrop.
Scientists can make substantial progress without fully understanding exactly what they're doing.
quantum tunneling instantaneous
Some processes, like quantum tunneling, have been shown to occur instantaneously. But the ultimate cosmic speed limit remains unavoidable.
A pi symbol is shown on a white background representing real mathematical concepts.
Is mathematics woven into the very fabric of reality? Or is it merely a product of the human mind?
proton internal structure
If we waited long enough, would even protons themselves decay? The far future stability of the Universe depends on it.
a blue circle surrounded by red lines on a white background.
Neuroscientist and author Bobby Azarian explores the idea that the Universe is a self-organizing system that evolves and learns.
zeeman splitting
If light can't be bent by electric or magnetic fields (and it can't), then how do the Zeeman and Stark effects split atomic energy levels?
warp field stars
The concept of ‘relativistic mass’ has been around almost as long as relativity has. But is it a reasonable way to make sense of things?
a black and white photo of stars in the sky.
Perhaps the whole Universe is the result of a vacuum fluctuation, originating from what we could call quantum nothingness. 
black hole
Einstein's relativity overthrew the notion of absolute space and time, replacing them with a spacetime fabric. But is spacetime truly real?
atom
Quantum uncertainty and wave-particle duality are big features of quantum physics. But without Pauli's rule, our Universe wouldn't exist.
a silhouette of a person with a rainbow in the background.
You are an energy field — but not the “chakras” or “auras” kind.
quantum superposition
With a massive, charged nucleus orbited by tiny electrons, atoms are such simple objects. Miraculously, they make up everything we know.
wormholes
Leading a scientific revolution is easy: you just have to succeed where the current theory fails while equaling its successes. Good luck!