DeneGOLD- Free

WHY SCHRÖDINGER'S CAT IS STILL THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL THOUGHT EXPERIMENT IN SCIENCE
BBC Science Focus|June 2023
Nearly a century after its formulation, the paradox remains hotly debated among researchers
- DR KATIE MACK
WHY SCHRÖDINGER'S CAT IS STILL THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL THOUGHT EXPERIMENT IN SCIENCE

One of the most important tools in the theoretical physicist's kit is the thought experiment. If you study relativity, quantum mechanics or any area of physics applying to environments or situations in which you cannot (or should not) place yourself, you'll find that you spend a lot more time working through imaginary scenarios than setting up instruments and taking measurements.

Thought experiments pose an imaginary question and work through a logical, 'if/then' sequence to explore what the theory really means. Asking "what has to happen if the theory is true?" is vital for developing intuition and anticipating new applications. In some cases, a thought experiment can reveal the deep philosophical implications of a theory or even present what appears to be an unsolvable paradox.

Probably the most famous thought experiment is Schrödinger's Cat - because it involves (purely hypothetical) carnage and its implications for the nature of reality in a quantum world continue to challenge students and theorists everywhere.

The basic (again, purely hypothetical) setup is this. Imagine you have a radioactive atom that has a 50 per cent chance of nuclear decay in a certain time (let's say, an hour). You put this atom in a box along with a vial of poison and a device that will break the vial if the atom decays. Then, you put a live cat in the box, close the lid and wait an hour before opening it again.

Bu hikaye BBC Science Focus dergisinin June 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye BBC Science Focus dergisinin June 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

BBC SCIENCE FOCUS DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
THE WORST IDEAS OF THE 21ST CENTURY
BBC Science Focus

THE WORST IDEAS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

NOT ALL IDEAS CAN BE HITS. ALONGSIDE GROUND-BREAKING INNOVATIONS, 21ST-CENTURY SCIENTISTS HAVE HELMED THEIR SHARE OF WILD TECH FLOPS, DUBIOUS THEORIES AND OVERHYPED BREAKTHROUGHS. HERE ARE THE BIGGEST TO FORGET

time-read
6 dak  |
January 2025
10 IDEAS THAT WILL SHAPE YOUR NEXT 25 YEARS
BBC Science Focus

10 IDEAS THAT WILL SHAPE YOUR NEXT 25 YEARS

Predicting the future is considered a fool's game. But it's one many of us like to play.

time-read
3 dak  |
January 2025
THE BIGGEST BREAKTHROUGHS OF THE CENTURY
BBC Science Focus

THE BIGGEST BREAKTHROUGHS OF THE CENTURY

We're a quarter of the way into the new century. To mark this milestone, we asked the UK's top minds to highlight some of the game-changing scientific breakthroughs shaping our world since the year 2000

time-read
3 dak  |
January 2025
DO THE SCIENCE COGNITIVE SHUFFLE
BBC Science Focus

DO THE SCIENCE COGNITIVE SHUFFLE

Trouble sleeping? A lot on your mind? Use this trick and sedate your synapses

time-read
3 dak  |
January 2025
WHAT DETERMINES HOW MANY ABS I CAN GET?
BBC Science Focus

WHAT DETERMINES HOW MANY ABS I CAN GET?

Assuming you're a human being, you have exactly the same number of abs as everybody else: two.

time-read
2 dak  |
January 2025
HOW CAN I IDENTIFY MY PSYCHOLOGICAL BLIND SPOT?
BBC Science Focus

HOW CAN I IDENTIFY MY PSYCHOLOGICAL BLIND SPOT?

In the 1950s two American psychologists, Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham, proposed a way of thinking about psychological blind spots - things you don't know about yourself - that they called the 'Johari Window' (the term is a combination of their first names).

time-read
2 dak  |
January 2025
How can I change my personality?
BBC Science Focus

How can I change my personality?

Want to become more confident, extroverted or assertive? Science shows that with a few simple changes, you can unlock your best self

time-read
5 dak  |
January 2025
Could your cosmetics be harming your health?
BBC Science Focus

Could your cosmetics be harming your health?

Cosmetic companies are phasing out microplastics and so-called 'forever chemicals' to help protect consumers.

time-read
4 dak  |
January 2025
extraterrestrial US Congress is talking about activity again. Is the truth really out there?
BBC Science Focus

extraterrestrial US Congress is talking about activity again. Is the truth really out there?

Despite several testimonies, the question remains frustratingly unanswered

time-read
4 dak  |
January 2025
Map of 100 million human body cells revealed
BBC Science Focus

Map of 100 million human body cells revealed

Over three dozen new studies mark significant milestone towards complete Human Cell Atlas

time-read
1 min  |
January 2025

Hizmetlerimizi sunmak ve geliştirmek için çerezler kullanıyoruz. Sitemizi kullanarak çerezlere izin vermiş olursun. Learn more