A video performance by German physicist-turned-YouTuber Sabine Hossenfelder compares us (humans) to Schrödinger’s cat, stating that in the future, we will be dead and alive at the same time. At the end of the music video, Dr. Hossenfelder explains how the concept of Schrödinger’s cat being dead and alive simultaneously was nothing more than a thought experiment. In fact, Schrödinger is said to have come up with the idea to show how ludicrous it was to apply the principles of quantum mechanics to a living object like a cat.
Schrödinger’s thought experiment
I am no quantum physicist, but I have taken some interest in the field and listened to various explanations of Erwin Schrödinger’s cat experiment. Without going into too much detail, the idea stems from the fact that subatomic articles have been shown to behave in ways that seem counterintuitive and even “spooky” at times. For example, a quantum particle can be in two locations or two “states” at the same time, otherwise known as being in a “superposition.” It is when we decide to observe or measure it that it becomes – or at least appears to be – fixed in one location or state.
In the cat experiment, the cat is in a box with a radioactive material. There is a lever that sets off the radioactive material, which will kill the cat. The lever has a 50 % chance of going off, so at any point in time, the cat has a 50 % probability of being dead and an equal probability of being alive, and only when we open the box can we confirm its status. So theoretically, the cat is said to be both dead and alive at the same time, until the box is opened, at which point it assumes either state.
Of course, the idea of a cat being dead and alive is not realistic and this thought experiment confirms that we can’t apply the principles of quantum mechanics to large objects or living beings.
We are made of small particles, so why don’t we behave like the subatomic particles we are made of?
Quantum superpositions can survive longer with smaller particles which are easier to isolate. According to experts, quantum positions are fragile and easily destroyed, particularly in warm environments. A phenomenon known as decoherence causes quantum superpositions to get destroyed. At the end of the video referenced above, Dr Hossenfelder states that, “Thanks to decoherence, Schrödinger’s cat is either dead or alive, but not both.”
Another thought experiment
What if being dead and alive at the same time could refer to being physically dead (on earth) but alive (in heaven)?
Could the field of quantum mechanics possibly be the “missing” connection between the physical and spiritual worlds? Just as I’m not a quantum physicist, I’m not a theologian, either, but I do like to explore connections and think about possibilities. The things we are learning about the quantum world sound very plausible when applied to the spiritual realm, for anyone who believes in the latter. The fields of science and faith may have a lot more in common with each other than most people think, and I believe we can all learn from each other, even when we disagree.
Small cats or big cats? Hate them or love them?
Some people have questioned why Erwin Schrödinger used a cat for his experiment and some have suggested that he probably hated cats. As a reminder, this was simply a thought experiment. No cats were harmed in the process. Schrödinger may not have liked cats, but that’s OK – I’m not a cat person either, except for big cats. Bring on the lions and cheetahs – while we continue to explore the intersection of science and faith!
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