New method to detect quantum mechanical effects in ordinary objects

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/f4a99f258585.jpg[/atsimg]

At the quantum level, the atoms that make up matter and the photons that make up light behave in a number of seemingly bizarre ways. Particles can exist in "superposition," in more than one state at the same time (as long as we don't look), a situation that permitted Schrödinger's famed cat to be simultaneously alive and dead; matter can be "entangled" -- Albert Einstein called it "spooky action at a distance" -- such that one thing influences another thing, regardless of how far apart the two are.

"It'd be weird to think of ordinary matter behaving in a quantum way, but there's no reason it shouldn't," says Keith Schwab, an associate professor of applied physics at Caltech, and a collaborator of Roukes and LaHaye. "If single particles are quantum mechanical, then collections of particles should also be quantum mechanical. And if that's not the case--if the quantum mechanical behavior breaks down--that means there's some kind of new physics going on that we don't understand."

www.physorg.com...

Just about everyday "science" is surprised by new findings that squash old theories and previously held beliefs. It must be a pain to have to rewrite all those textbooks for the schools.



[edit on 22-6-2009 by warrenb]

I'd blame it on Tesla's ether which is an insulative fluid containing
electrical carriers.

All we know about are - electrons and + helium nucleus from
isotopes and about 100 ions per cu cm so small quantum sized
objects will find plenty of strange things happening.

Also Cosmic high speed particles.

In their experiment, the Caltech scientists used microfabrication techniques to create a very tiny nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) resonator, a silicon-nitride beam—just 2 micrometers long, 0.2 micrometers wide, and weighing 40 billionths of a milligram—that can resonate, or flex back and forth, at a high frequency when a voltage is applied.

Pretty cool stuff Warren Thanks for the info!

it can be said that humankind is constantly trying to reproduce nature, two quick examples are through our innate instincts towards art as interpretation of life and the world, or through computer technology as an interpretation and ever-evolving replication of the brain and neural processes. this article blew my mind and got me thinking about what aspect of reality is humankind possibly replicating in our search to probe and understand this aspect of quantum mechanics.
For instance; if we are creating nanotechnology to test this resonance and explore the very fabric of reality, then what we seem to be recreating is another aspect of of whatever force it is we have dubbed "God"; the end result of the "purpose" for having all particles linked and resonating, the logic behind it that exists behind everything. possibly the force that takes all this information from every single connected particle in creation and performs its grand function, that which we can merely perceive as "circumstance" from our particular individual awareness of our universe.


bah im sure that didnt make the most sense, but im not in the state to try further

[edit on 23-6-2009 by kidney thief]

haha the threadkiller strikes again
yessssssssss.

Originally posted by kidney thief
haha the threadkiller strikes again
yessssssssss.

Wait.
What happened to all the folks that throw quantum around like
they know something.
Perhaps we can pin down this strange hold the quantum has on us.
The quantum has taken over as 'its relative' was top in the 30s.

reply to post by TeslaandLyne


they are busy watching What The Bleep Do We Know so they can quote some crazy "facts" to their friends! Its crazy how easy it would be to start a cult around quantum theory.

Originally posted by kidney thief
Its crazy how easy it would be to start a cult around quantum theory.

It's already happened - that's exactly what What the Bleep... is about.

We have quite a few quantum cultists on ATS, actually. They're all over the board, spreading their New Age tomfoolery and calling it science.

Originally posted by Astyanax

Originally posted by kidney thief
Its crazy how easy it would be to start a cult around quantum theory.

It's already happened - that's exactly what What the Bleep... is about.

We have quite a few quantum cultists on ATS, actually. They're all over the board, spreading their New Age tomfoolery and calling it science.

Hey Astyanax it's very nice to see you again. I always know there will be a good discussion where you are involved.

You're right about what the bleep, but there where some interesting points in that movie even if a lot of it was total utter bs. For example the section about the brain and how our biochemistry influences our perspective was pretty cool and very accurate scientifically. I absolutely love the water experiment. The theory of the ultimate observer and outlook on superposition was pretty interesting (even though unproven and therefore invalid as of now). Quantum mechanics is the Grey area of physics which in my opinion makes it more fun and interesting. Am I a quantum cultist? No.. Do I think they might be on to something in certain aspects of quantum mechanics? Maybe.. Can't rule anything out in a not fully understood aspect of science.



[edit on 24-6-2009 by DaMod]

reply to post by DaMod


Know that one liners aren't accepted but (as this is a quantum arena - it's really three...or maybe four line long depending....) but spot on.

Perhaps String Theory is BS but quantum mechanics is still being explored and has been proven in it's results to an extremely high accuracy - unfortunately - we don't yet comprhend it.....

Peace!



[edit on 24-6-2009 by The Wave]