New Books in Science Vlatko Vedral, "Portals to a New Reality: Five Pathways to the Future of Physics" (Basic Books, 2025)
Oct 31, 2025
Vlatko Vedral, a Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford and expert in quantum information, delves into his groundbreaking book, 'Portals to a New Reality.' He discusses how physics is at a pivotal point, akin to the pre-Einstein era, where new experiments in quantum information could radically reshape our understanding of the universe. Topics include the measurement problem, the potential to entangle time and AI, and surprisingly, how life itself may leverage quantum effects. Prepare for a thrilling exploration of reality's fabric!
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Physics At A Revolutionary Junction
- Vedral argues physics is at a revolutionary junction similar to pre-1900s and a new theory may emerge within a decade.
- He attributes this to quantum information advances and growing experimental capability.
Superposition Is Quantum's Core Feature
- Superposition lets quantum systems occupy many states or locations simultaneously, even large molecules.
- Vedral emphasizes superposition as the core distinction between quantum and classical behavior.
Entanglement Connects Distant Outcomes
- Entanglement links outcomes of separated systems so measurement of one instantaneously correlates the other.
- Vedral notes experiments confirm entanglement regardless of distance.
