Science Friday 100 Years Later, Quantum Science Is Still Weird
Oct 13, 2025
Dr. Chad Orzel, a physics professor and quantum science expert, delves into 100 years of quantum theory. He highlights Heisenberg's pivotal contributions and explores quantum entanglement, discussing its real-world implications and experimental validations. Orzel addresses the perplexing concept of wave-particle duality and shares insights on modern experiments, even touching upon Schrödinger's cat. He also speculates on future breakthroughs that may unlock the mysteries of dark matter and energy, all while emphasizing how quantum science remains intriguingly bizarre.
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Measurement Over Classical Orbits
- Quantum theory replaced classical orbits with a framework based on what can be measured rather than definite particle paths.
- Heisenberg's 1925 formulation provided the first complete mathematical quantum mechanics that reshaped atomic physics.
Particles Aren't Just Particles Or Waves
- Quantum objects show both particle-like and wave-like characteristics and behave as a third kind of thing with mixed properties.
- This dual character explains interference and localization yet feels counterintuitive because it has no classical analogue.
Entanglement Is Experimentally Real
- Entanglement produces correlations across space that defy classical intuition and have been repeatedly confirmed by experiments.
- Bell's theorem and experiments rule out Einstein's preferred local theories and validate quantum nonlocal correlations.