Content about “
The physics of observers

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Riding the pilot wave

Pilot wave theory is an extension of quantum mechanics that doesn't exhibit any of that weird randomness or fuzziness. But that doesn't mean it's totally sane. Here is a quick introduction.
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Watching the cosmos

When it comes to the entire cosmos, we humans are incredibly small and insignificant. But that's precisely why we need to take ourselves into account when thinking about the Universe. Find out why.
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Is it many worlds?

One way of making quantum mechanics independent of observers is to accept that we live in many parallel worlds.
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Is it the theory?

Since quantum mechanics predicts such strange things about the world, should we replace it by a better theory, or perhaps extend it?
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Is it us?

If observers can influence the outcomes of measurements, then do these observes need to be conscious? Does consciousness play a special role in physics at all?
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The patchwork multiverse

Cutting spacetime into patches could help explain the size of the universe—and provide the first ”experimental” evidence that string theory is on the right track.
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Birdwatching icon

Watch and learn

A brief introduction to the strange theory of quantum mechanics and how it appears to afford a special role to observers.
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Who's watching? The physics of observers

Traditionally, observers play no special role in physics. Like bird watchers in a perfect hide, we observe the outcome of experiments, or gaze at the stars through our telescopes, taking no part in the action. Modern physics, however, tells a different story ... find out more with these articles and videos.
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Watch and learn?

Can the very act of observing something change what's being observed? This series of articles and videos explores some basic questions about the role of the observers in physics.
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Quantum in context

An untapped resource could provide the magic needed for quantum computation — and perhaps even open the door to time travel.
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Constructive mathematics

If you like mathematics because things are either true or false, then you'll be worried to hear that in some quarters this basic concept is hotly disputed. In this article Phil Wilson looks at constructivist mathematics, which holds that some things are neither true, nor false, nor anything in between.