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Welcome
Welcome to "What Is Reality?", the site which investigates the very deepest and most profound questions about the nature of physical reality. A series of accessible articles incorporating the latest ideas from theoretical physics, mathematics, cosmology, and philosophy.
Each article may be read individually, though they do link together in sequence. The later pages are more demanding.
At the end of each article you can contribute your own comments, ideas, and theories.
I've also included examples of my artwork (below), each of which has a strong art/science element. Click on the thumbnails for the full image plus detailed explanation.
Andrew Thomas
Quantum Mechanics: An Introduction
Introducing the peculiar world of the quantum,
where a particle is a wave, and a wave is a particle. Considers the Heisenberg
Uncertainty Principle. (Part 1 of "An Introduction to Quantum
Reality")
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more
The Quantum Casino
At its most basic level, nature appears to be
fundamentally random. Are we all players in a game of chance at the Quantum
Casino?
(Part 2 of "An Introduction to Quantum Reality")
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more
Quantum Entanglement
Quantum states can become entangled in
astonishing ways. Welcome to the strange world of "qubits", faster-than-light
communication, and Einstein's first definition of reality.
(Part 3 of "An
Introduction to Quantum Reality")
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more
Quantum Decoherence
At last it would appear a solution has been found
to the riddle of the apparent collapse of the wavefunction. Includes an
interactive simulation of decoherence in an ensemble of particles.
(Part
4 of "An Introduction to Quantum Reality")
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more
Quantum Reality
A review of our study of quantum mechanics, the
Copenhagen Interpretation, and the first indications of a deeper "veiled"
reality.
(Part 5 of "An Introduction to Quantum Reality")
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more
It's a Small World
Introducing the Standard Model of particle
physics, and string theory. But are these theories truly fundamental, or do they
rest on a infinite tower of turtles?
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more
The Cosmic Universe
What happened at the start of the universe? Could
Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator arm hold the key? Also considers
quantum gravity and the "wavefunction of the universe".
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more
The Anthropic Principle
Some of the fundamental physical constants in the
universe appear to have been fine-tuned, otherwise life could not exist. Are
"multiverse" solutions the answer to this mystery?
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for more
The Mathematical Universe
The universe appears to have an uncanny
connection with the world of mathematics. Why is this? And do mathematical
structures have a reality all of their own?
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here for more
The Big Brother Universe
An examination of the evidence that our universe
is the product of an advanced civilisation. Are we all "housemates" in the
ultimate reality show?
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more