5 simple explanations of the most advanced scientific theories, how many can you understand?

5 simple explanations of the most advanced scientific theories, how many can you understand?

One of the fundamental reasons why human beings cannot control their own destiny is that basic science is difficult. Many people don't understand, they just pretend that these things are not important. However, this is not the case. Any small breakthrough in basic science can have an earth-shaking impact on human social life. These effects are not only an impact on natural cognition, but also an impact on real life. Maybe you will say, "What does quantum mechanics do with me?" I don't understand that the world is still running as usual? In fact, it can make the "business as usual" you take for granted now become the "future as usual" that you cannot understand now. Now let us use the simplest and most common language to explain some complex scientific theories. Maybe after reading it, you will feel that science is not that difficult.

1. Schrodinger cat

Schrödinger is an important figure in the development of quantum mechanics. The famous Schrödinger equation describes the movement of particles in the microscopic world. The motion of objects in the macroscopic world that we take for granted becomes completely different in the microscopic particle world. The Schrödinger cat experiment is actually not a real experiment, but a thought experiment, but it is very important for understanding quantum mechanics. This experiment is like this, you put a cat in a box, and the box has a 50% probability of killing the cat. After you wait for a period of time, open the box and you will find that the cat is dead or alive, but before you open the box, the cat is neither alive nor dead, but at the same time dead and alive. Only when the box is opened, the two states will separate.

The basic principle that Schrödinger’s cat wants to describe is that a particle may be in multiple states at the same time, but only when you observe the particle will it collapse to a specific state.

2. The observer effect of particle behavior

Observation of microscopic particles will lead to different behaviors of microscopic particles. The observer effect in the quantum world can be proved by the following experiments. If you let some particles pass through two gaps, these particles will form two piles of particles (two particle strips) behind the gap. If you replace these particles with photons (light waves), then you will observe interference bands behind the double slits (many interphase bands, the famous double slit interference experiment). If you experiment with electrons, you will get the same results as photons. This shows that electrons also interfere with each other when they pass through the double slit.

So, here comes the problem. Scientists want to use a device to observe that an electron passes through the gap, but once they do so, the electrons no longer produce interference bands like photons, but become like classical particles. Strips. In other words, when being observed, the behavior of the electron changes. The question is, electronic classmates, what are you afraid of?

3. Quantum entanglement

Quantum entanglement theory says that no matter how far apart two particles are, they will affect each other's state. This theory is the theoretical foundation of many science fiction realizations of hyperspace communication. Because this distance can be very far, as far as the distance spanning the entire universe. When the state of one particle changes, an unknown force causes the state of the other particle to change accordingly, no matter how far away the two particles are.

The two particles are entangled and related by some unknown properties, so when information is transmitted, there is no need for information to move. This kind of entanglement seems to transcend the limits of time and space, but even though it is incredible, scientists are still trying to use this kind of quantum entanglement to create new computers or communication devices.

4. String Theory

General relativity explains the gravitational action between large celestial bodies, while quantum mechanics explains the interaction between particles in the supermicro world. There is no connection between the two, and string theory hopes to unify the two to explain the relationship between the four basic forces of nature: electromagnetic force, strong force, weak force and gravity. In the field of quantum mechanics, particles can be contacted at a single point in time and space, that is, contact at zero distance. Under the theory of relativity, gravitons cannot be contacted at zero distance, so they seem to be incompatible and compatible.

But string theory can unify them well. String theory does not regard space-time as a continuum, but rather small, one-dimensional vibrating strings. The frequency and mode of vibration of each string determine the behavior of this microscopic particle. The particles in the string are no longer the contact between points, but the fusion and expansion of the strings, thus forming a smooth space-time. This allows gravity and quantum particles to interact. But string theory itself has its own problems. It requires the existence of 11-dimensional space-time, which is 7 dimensions more than our current space-time. In any case, this is a good direction for exploration.

5. Membrane universe

The Big Bang theory is one of the most widely accepted theories about the origin of the universe. But there are many problems with this theory, one of which is how the Big Bang started. Some scientists believe that the Big Bang may have originated from the collision between membranes.

Membrane is a thing in string theory. We know that strings are one-dimensional objects, and high-dimensional strings form sheets (two-dimensional) or membranes (three-dimensional). Thermal universe theory believes that the collision between two three-dimensional membranes creates all matter and radiates into our universe. In this theory, two membranes collide together due to gravity and other reasons, and the force of the collision separates them from each other, but the energy at the collision point radiates and causes the two membranes to collide again, so the cyclical collision between the two membranes, It is the process of the cyclical formation and destruction of the universe.