Quantum Trickery - Einstein's Strangest Theory

breckinshire writes "The New York Times is running an interesting story on Einstein's strangest theory. The theory was brought to light this past fall when 'scientists announced that they had put a half dozen beryllium atoms into a "cat state." [...] These atoms were each spinning clockwise and counterclockwise at the same time.' It is an interesting writeup for even the uninitiated and also concentrates on Einsteins role as a 'founder and critic of quantum theory.'"

Comments

The Red Pill

[Anonymous Coward]

If you have the opportunity, go to Bali, Indonesia and get one of the locals to find you a bag of liquified mushrooms. Go to your hotel room and drink it. I kid you not, this is the red pill. You will not be dissapointed.

Yes, you are living in something very similar to the Matrix and there are signposts and clever little games designed in that will allow you to take a breather from the simulation and poke your head through to the other side. The primary rule of thumb is that the closer you get to the truth, the more confusing the alternate explanations start becoming. You do not have to be a zombie here, there are ways of finding the truth...

Think I'm kidding?

So if you shoot a box with a cat in it???

[Zantetsuken]

So if you put a cat in a box that you can't see in, take a gun, and shoot the box, is the cat dead? What proof can you provide me the cat might still actually be alive? (you know the saying "there's more than one way to skin a cat..." ask this physics question to the judge trying you with animal cruelty, and you're sure to get off the hook - it can't be proven right or wrong...)

Quantum computing

[jurt1235]

left spin=0
right spin=1
spin both ways=Microsoft windows is showing a blue screen?

Re:Einstein was right, these guys are still on cra

[vertinox]

The problem with believing that physical reality is independent from the mind is that it is neither dependant nor independent.

Do you know that there are not enough nerves in the retina to display 100% of all light rays that enter it? Most of what you see and feel is guestimation by your mind. This doesn't change what a physical objects properties, but you have to keep in mind (no pun intended) that the mind isn't 100% digital like a computer.

You need the mind to perceive reality and you need reality to have a psychical mind.

Secondly, what you perceive does affect the outcome because you are physical doing physical things in the universe. Even passively you are breathing, blinking, heart beating, neurons firing... You are affecting the universe in some way. If you perceive certain results you will even go further and interact with the physical universe such as moving locations or possible destroying the organization or creating organization of matter. You know... Like believing god told you throw a dish across the room and breaking it and then gluing it back together because you realized that was a crazy idea.

Lets go on to the existence part on how and if the mind actually causes physical reality...

Imagine to yourself that you don't exist. Either you were never born or you just spontaneously combusted a few seconds ago. Now answer me this... Does the rest of the universe still exist?

Wait! Wait! You can't answer that yes or no... You know why? Because you do not exist.

Existence is a matter of opinion or rather if you are able to observe something. If you observe it (or its affects). Then it exists. If you do not observe it. Then it does not exist. This doesn't mean it doesn't exist for other people... Just not to you.

I would like to expand saying that if you observe its affects on the physical universe then it exists. Don't forget, you don't have to understand it or its affects on the universe to observe it.

This means everything in the observable universe exist and everything outside does not. However, this is extremely broad. Since all matter emits gravity and various types of emissions of light, reflection of light, and various other properties we can generally assume that reality is not just something we can close our eyes and it goes away.

If we are dead (or just never existed) we aren't around to observe this and the point of whether the universe actually exists is a moot point. We could not simply agree or disagree on the matter.

But if you subscribe to Quantum Immortality then you cannot not exist, because once you cease to exist or have memories, you would instantaneously find yourself as either yourself (or another sentient being) somewhere in the universe with the ability to observe and record memories of your self existing even though this could be a trillion years in the future or in another universe where life is possible.

I think what these Quantum mechanics were trying to explain (or figure out) is what really happens or what causes the universe itself to exist and along the way they realized it had something to do with observation and existence itself (which rather bothered them because they didn't want to get into philosophy). I don't think we'll figure that part out anytime soon.