About

The International Year of Quantum Science and Technology is 2025, recognising the centenary of our most fundamental and successful theory of physics. Moreover, quantum technology, e.g., quantum computing, is now emerging with the promise of revolutionary changes to our society and economy. Yet, in many ways, quantum physics feels like a set of eerie and counterintuitive ideas of no direct relevance to our lives. Why is this? One reason is that we cannot perceive the strangeness (and astonishing beauty) of the quantum phenomena all around us by using our own senses.

In this conversation, we will survey the key concepts of quantum physics, focusing on quantum entanglement, a deeply mysterious yet highly productive resource of quantum physics. Then, we will explore and dismiss the ‘fake news’ concept that quantum physics only occurs at the atomic scale and never in the macroscopic world all around us. On that basis, we will consider and demonstrate how to create instruments that allow humans to perceive and quantify macroscopic quantum entanglement in human-scale objects and devices. Finally, we will listen to the acoustic signature of macroscopic quantum entanglement, emerging from objects you can hold in the palm of your hand.

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