Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 59 | Adam Becker on the Curious History of Quantum Mechanics
Aug 12, 2019
Adam Becker, a science writer and Visiting Scholar at UC Berkeley, dives into the perplexing history of quantum mechanics. He elaborates on why physicists remain divided on the foundational concepts of the theory, tracing historical roots from the Bohr-Einstein debates to present-day misunderstandings. Becker highlights the contributions of iconoclasts like David Bohm and discusses how political climates have shaped scientific inquiry. The conversation also touches on evolving educational approaches and ongoing philosophical debates surrounding quantum reality.
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Quantum Mechanics' Core Challenge
- Quantum mechanics excels at predicting outcomes but struggles to define reality.
- Interpreting its math is key to understanding the world, a point of ongoing debate.
1927 Solvay Conference
- The 1927 Solvay Conference was a pivotal moment for quantum mechanics.
- Born and Heisenberg presented their view, sparking debate with Einstein.
The Measurement Problem
- Quantum mechanics uses two contradictory rules: Schrodinger's equation and the Born rule.
- This contradiction, and when to apply each rule, constitutes the measurement problem.
