Radiolab Quantum Refuge
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Nov 14, 2025 
Qasem Waleed, a 28-year-old physicist from Gaza, shares his unique perspective on life amid conflict by framing his experiences with quantum mechanics. He reveals how concepts like superposition and quantum tunneling serve as metaphors for his reality. Qasem discusses the emotional weight of daily life under bombardment, grieving his professor's loss, and using writing to scream for help. He even likens his situation to Schrödinger's cat, feeling both alive and dead, while finding solace in the stars above amidst the chaos.
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Rooftop Nights Sparked A Physicist
- Qasem remembers nights on the rooftop as a teen, mesmerized by stars and pulsing lights that sparked his curiosity in physics.
- His father taught him and romanticized physics, shaping Qasem's early love for the subject.
A Professor Opened The Quantum Door
- Dr. Sufjan Taya taught quantum ideas poetically and opened Qasem to superposition and tunneling in class.
- Qasem felt captivated and began imagining himself escaping Gaza by thinking like subatomic particles.
Superposition Mirrors Uncertain Lives
- Superposition means particles exist in indeterminate states until measured, collapsing on observation.
- Qasem found this scientific ambiguity mirrored his lived uncertainty in Gaza.