Exploring the Weirdest Concepts in Physics

How do you know what is real?

For example, how do you know that you’re not dreaming right now? Whether you’re awake or dreaming, what you experience is just a simulation constructed by your mind based on various stimuli received by your sensory organs.

As the field of physics evolves, our concept of reality keeps changing. Mere decades ago, we thought our entire universe consisted of the stars we could see within the Milky Way Galaxy, but large telescopes have revealed that our galaxy is just one of a trillion or more.

As we become able to look more closely at matter, it begins to act very strangely. The tiny particles that make up the objects we see are able to move in two directions at once or exist in two places simultaneously.

What are the smallest possible bits that matter can be broken into? We now know it’s not atoms. Is it quarks, or is it one-dimensional vibrating strings that exist within extra dimensions? There are many questions and very few definitive answers. The more we learn, the more questions we discover.

How deep does the rabbit hole go? Get ready to take a look at some of the weirdest concepts that scientists are struggling to understand.

What is quantum physics?

Before looking at the weird ideas that challenge today’s scientists, let’s review some of the basics. In short, quantum physics is the study of tiny particles such as atoms and subatomic particles. Quantum physics, also referred to as “quantum mechanics” and “quantum theory,” is the basis of modern physics.

The first quantum theory was developed by physicist Max Planck in the year 1900. He proposed that energy, rather than being a continuous wave, was composed of extremely tiny particles which he called “quanta.” This idea helped Planck develop equations that explained how objects change color as they rise or fall in temperature. In 1918, Planck received a Nobel Prize for his theory.

The discovery of quanta led to a new understanding of physics and the laws of nature. In 1905, Albert Einstein proposed that radiation was also composed of quanta. In 1924, the concept of particle-wave duality was proposed by Louis de Broglie.

Another groundbreaking idea soon followed in 1927 when Werner Heisenberg developed his “uncertainty principle.” This theory basically states that an observer can never measure both the precise position and momentum of a subatomic particle simultaneously. Einstein famously rebuked this theory by saying, “God does not play dice.”

The puzzling double slit experiment.

Our understanding of reality was shaken up by an experiment conducted in 1927 that had consistently weird results. A very simple procedure, the double slit experiment directs particles of energy or matter at a plate with two vertical slits. The particles pass through the slits, then form a pattern on a screen beyond the plate.

You might think that the screen would display two vertical lines, but under normal circumstances, it displays several lines of varying intensity. This is due to a phenomenon known as an “interference pattern” which occurs because of the wave-like nature of energy -- or so scientists thought.

Quantum theorists believe that energy and matter are composed of individual quanta, such as photons of light or electrons. When detectors are placed to observe the beam of particles, the screen no longer displays several lines, but only two – which would be the expected outcome from a stream of particles.

So the question still baffles scientists: Why does placing a detector change the nature of the energy to act like particles rather than a wave? A whole host of theories about the nature of reality have been proposed to try and explain this “particle-wave duality.” Scientists still have not found a definitive answer.

Superposition

The concept of superposition basically means that a quantum particle can be in two or more different places at the same time. It sounds like nonsense, but it is an accepted fact in modern physics. One example of this is in the double slit experiment.

When photons or other quantum particles pass through the slits and form several lines on the screen rather than only two, it’s because the particles are in more than one location at the same time. However, when particles are observed, they only appear to be in one place, which is why theory states that superposition can never be observed directly.

Quantum Teleportation

The term “teleportation” means an object instantaneously changes location without travelling the distance in-between. This seemingly impossible feat has been, scientists claim, accomplished in certain laboratory experiments involving quantum particles. In fact, Chinese scientists claim they’ve recently teleported a photon from Earth to an orbiting satellite using a strange phenomenon called “quantum entanglement.”

Quantum entanglement is a relationship between two quantum particles where they essentially become the same particle (in a way). No matter how far apart they are, their states will always mirror each other. Einstein famously described this as “spooky action at a distance.”

Because of this relationship, the state of one of the entangled pair can be teleported to the other. According to theory, if the other particle assumes the state of the first particle, it has in effect become that particle, thereby causing particle A to be teleported to the location of particle B.

Quantum tunneling

Another strange behavior of quantum particles occurs when they pass through a barrier that should be impossible for them to cross. They somehow do this via a weird phenomenon called “quantum tunneling.” Some scientists also postulate that our sense of smell depends on this strange behavior.

Quantum tunneling is used in a variety of high-tech applications that have been developed in recent years. One of these is the Scanning Tunneling Microscope, which is used to create images of individual atoms and even manipulate them into various patterns.

Stuff forming out of nothing

Scientists currently believe that an area of space can never really be empty. Even if there are no particles of matter or energy, there are “fields” and strange things called “virtual particles” that pop in and out of existence. Sometimes, these particles can combine to form into full-fledged particles that are completely “real.” This constitutes real matter being formed out of nothing.

In the words of Physicist Niels Bohr: “If quantum mechanics hasn’t profoundly shocked you, you haven’t understood it yet.” Scientists have a lot of strange concepts to try and wrap their minds around. There are many questions, but no definitive answers as of yet.