Babbage from The Economist (subscriber edition) Unfinished business (part 2): fixing the “biggest problem” in physics
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Dec 10, 2025 
Vlatko Vedral, a Professor of quantum information science at the University of Oxford and author of "Portals to a New Reality," shares his insights on the perplexing boundary between quantum and classical physics. He critiques the Copenhagen Interpretation's arbitrary limits and emphasizes the need for a unified understanding. Vlatko explores how advances in quantum technology can probe the quantum-classical transition and even considers extending quantum mechanics to biological systems. He presents revolutionary ideas on measurement, proposing that it's a process of entanglement rather than collapse.
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Quantum/Classical Boundary Is Artificial
- Vlatko Vedral argues the apparent quantum/classical boundary is artificial and causes conceptual problems.
- Treating the classical world as fundamentally quantum removes many paradoxes and inconsistencies.
Tech Lets Quantum Reach The Macroscopic
- Technological advances let us probe quantum effects in much larger, more complex systems.
- Vedral says this progress forces us to revisit interpretations that place a strict classical limit.
Gravity Versus Quantum Is The Big Puzzle
- The clash between quantum mechanics and general relativity is the central unresolved problem in physics.
- Options include quantizing gravity, keeping gravity classical, or finding a deeper unifying theory.
