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Einstein's "spooky action at a distance" refers to the phenomenon of quantum entanglement. This is a concept in quantum mechanics where, regardless of the distance between two particles, two (or more) particles become linked intrinsically. Their bond is so strong that the state of one of the particles immediately affects the state of the other. This posed serious challenges for Einstein, as quantum entanglement challenges the principle of locality in relativity.
How can we use the concept of "spooky action at a distance" to think about our everyday experiences, such as our relationships with others? That's what we explore in this gallery. Click through to find out more.
In 2022, the Nobel Prize recognized the work of three scientists who contributed to understanding the mysterious concept of quantum entanglement. Pictured is one of the prize winners, Alain Aspect.
Quantum entanglement has long puzzled scientists. The fascinating phenomenon means, in simple terms, that a particle of an “entangled pair” can be affected by the state of another particle, no matter the distance or what exists between them.
The entanglement is so extensive that by measuring one thing about one particle, you can gain information about another particle. This is the case “even if they are millions of light years apart.”
Why is quantum entanglement such a racking subject for scientists? Well, Einstein called it “spooky action at a distance” for a reason. In fact, until the 1970s, scientists even questioned if it was real.
To explain what makes the concept peculiar, we would have to understand the concept of quantum superposition, a key concept in quantum mechanics.
Particles exist in multiple states at once, that is, until they're measured. In quantum superposition, a particle chooses “one of the states that is in the superposition.”
What does this look like? Science Exchange provides a good example we can consider: Imagine a pond. We can touch two different points of the pond’s surface at the same time.
Waves would extend from each of the two points. Eventually, those waves would overlap, superpose, and form a more intricate pattern.
In quantum science, particles have mathematical, wave-like properties and they, too, become superposed. These waves are expressed as equations that provide information about a given object, such as the speed or location of an electron.
So when an object like an electron is in superposition, all of its states can be considered possibilities of outcomes. Each possibility has a probability attributed to it.
If that sounds complicated to understand, think of the famous Schrödinger’s cat experiment. A cat is put in a closed box with poison. There’s a 50% chance that the cat will die within an hour. Which means there’s a 50% chance that the cat will not die.
How does this relate to quantum superposition? After an hour, Schrödinger argued that the cat could be both dead and alive. For Schrödinger, it is the act of observation that determines if the cat is or is not alive.
This doesn’t mean that the cat is literally in both states, but it is the uncertainty of an object’s state that is undetermined until something is measured or verified.
This is like a spinning coin. While it’s spinning, it is both tails up and heads up at the same time. Similarly, particles that are spinning are both up and down, that is, until they are measured. There is a probability attached to each 'state.'
So what makes quantum entanglement “spooky?” As Space magazine describes, if we were to discover an alien life form that lives 10 light-years away, it would take 10 years for a message to arrive to them, and another 10 to receive their response.
According to Einstein, the maximum speed is the speed of light. It’s not a velocity that can increase. That’s where the spooky part comes in.
The observation of quantum entanglement means that particles exchange information instantly, no matter how far they are from each other or what exists between them, essentially defying the limitation of the speed of light.
Space Magazine helps us understand this concept better by using the analogy of a coin. The probability of a coin landing on either side is generally considered 50%.
Imagine two people have two coins. They are both flipping the coins, but instead of the probability being 50% each time they flip, the outcome of one of the coins influences the other.
This means that the more the two coins flip, the less likely they are to have a differentiating outcome from each other.
While the theory is in itself fascinating and a key feature of quantum science, it also offers a lens that we can use to look at our lives and relationships with others.
There are inexplicable, meaningful coincidences that can occur between people. Although there are no scientific experiments that can go much past speculation, it does make for an interesting reflection.
Psychologist Carl Jung used the term “synchronicity” to refer to the interconnection of things that seemingly do not have a direct, causal relationship.
We can use the concept of quantum entanglement to think about synchronicity in our daily lives in relationships with others. For example, have you ever called a friend and when they pick up your call, they tell you they were just thinking about you?
There are a number of studies that are investigating whether quantum entanglement can actually explain interpersonal connections; a neurological structure that engages quantum processes.
This theory, while still empirically slim, argues that it is through quantum entanglement that individual neurons create a coherent experience among individuals.
Until more research is conducted, this speculative application of quantum entanglements remains largely metaphorical, but it does offer an interesting way to think about the interconnected nature of individuals.
What if synchronicity, empathy, or even intuition can be explained through a mathematical framework within scientific boundaries? Although still a philosophical interpretation, quantum mechanics allows us to look at the world, our experiences, and ourselves in mysterious ways.
In fact, researchers at the University of California’s Information Sciences Institute (ISI) are using methods derived from quantum physics to further develop algorithms for online dating sites.
These researchers believe that “love is quantifiable,” and therefore, that by identifying and sharpening particular patterns, algorithms can match compatible people using some of the characteristics of “spooky actions at a distance.”
Sources: (Astronomy) (Science Exchange) (Space) (SnoQap) (Medium) (University of California’s School of Engineering) (Caltech)
See also: Robots can be used to track emotions via sweat, scientists say
Einstein's 'spooky action at a distance,' explained
The phenomenon of quantum entanglement and how it relates to human experiences
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Einstein's "spooky action at a distance" refers to the phenomenon of quantum entanglement. This is a concept in quantum mechanics where, regardless of the distance between two particles, two (or more) particles become linked intrinsically. Their bond is so strong that the state of one of the particles immediately affects the state of the other. This posed serious challenges for Einstein, as quantum entanglement challenges the principle of locality in relativity.
How can we use the concept of "spooky action at a distance" to think about our everyday experiences, such as our relationships with others? That's what we explore in this gallery. Click through to find out more.