Comments on: Forget Schrodinger’s Cat. Could We Make Schrodinger’s Virus? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/ 80beats is DISCOVER's news aggregator, weaving together the choicest tidbits from the best articles covering the day\'s most compelling topics. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:49:41 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: yellowdingo http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/comment-page-1/#comment-51814 yellowdingo Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:53:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/#comment-51814 Except you are not at superposition to the event when you do the experiment. The Universe is debris of change in possibility. Except you are not at superposition to the event when you do the experiment. The Universe is debris of change in possibility.

]]> By: asafum http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/comment-page-1/#comment-49935 asafum Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:36:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/#comment-49935 All the results of a test can be observed, which is how we know of superposition to begin with. When they noticed that light reacts as both a wave and a particle they used a method to record where the photons struck as they passed through space. If somehow they developed a similar indirect method of observing then i believe it may be possible to observe a result without disturbing the experiment. All the results of a test can be observed, which is how we know of superposition to begin with. When they noticed that light reacts as both a wave and a particle they used a method to record where the photons struck as they passed through space. If somehow they developed a similar indirect method of observing then i believe it may be possible to observe a result without disturbing the experiment.

]]> By: Blue Fire http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/comment-page-1/#comment-49817 Blue Fire Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:19:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/#comment-49817 Yup, I have to agree - the whole point of quantum uncertainty is that once you observe something it's probability wave function collapses - so just how exactly are we to observe the superposition? or even verify afterward whether it did or did not happen???? Yup, I have to agree – the whole point of quantum uncertainty is that once you observe something it’s probability wave function collapses – so just how exactly are we to observe the superposition? or even verify afterward whether it did or did not happen????

]]> By: I http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/comment-page-1/#comment-49761 I Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:41:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/#comment-49761 One more typo. Sorry, Eliza. First line, second paragraph. "the the feline". Great article. Interesting concept. But as with others here, I can't wrap my head around how any of this could be proved if you can't observe it. It's not impossible as we have found that some particles can, and do exist simultaneously in two places. But how do we prove it. One more typo. Sorry, Eliza. First line, second paragraph. “the the feline”.
Great article. Interesting concept. But as with others here, I can’t wrap my head around how any of this could be proved if you can’t observe it. It’s not impossible as we have found that some particles can, and do exist simultaneously in two places. But how do we prove it.

]]> By: Karla Meinberg http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/comment-page-1/#comment-49535 Karla Meinberg Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:56:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/#comment-49535 Your study is important but I question the fact of using cats as your outcome. Maybe more thought needs to be put into what excactly you will receive from using these mammmals. Karla Meinberg Your study is important but I question the fact of using cats as your outcome. Maybe more thought needs to be put into what excactly you will receive from using these mammmals.

Karla Meinberg

]]> By: YouRang http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/comment-page-1/#comment-49456 YouRang Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:09:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/#comment-49456 No one addressed the issue of autopsy. Because we are capable of performing autopsy, we ARE OBSERVING THE CAT CONSTANTLY. Schrodinger's cat is a crock. (And just because we may not be able to pin down the exact second, doesn't mean that we couldn't in principle determine the exact second.) Also this article didn't mention so what happens if you use a camera? Is the camera in a superposition of states? Analytic continuation is what makes Schrodinger's cat a crock. No one addressed the issue of autopsy. Because we are capable of performing autopsy, we ARE OBSERVING THE CAT CONSTANTLY. Schrodinger’s cat is a crock. (And just because we may not be able to pin down the exact second, doesn’t mean that we couldn’t in principle determine the exact second.) Also this article didn’t mention so what happens if you use a camera? Is the camera in a superposition of states? Analytic continuation is what makes Schrodinger’s cat a crock.

]]> By: hi http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/comment-page-1/#comment-49438 hi Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:32:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/#comment-49438 Got another typo to fix in the last line :): "... and the our macroscopic world begins" Got another typo to fix in the last line :):

“… and the our macroscopic world begins”

]]> By: scribbler http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/comment-page-1/#comment-49334 scribbler Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:56:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/#comment-49334 If the observation of the cat is enough to nix the experiment, how do we know that the observation of the virus will not? ;-) If the observation of the cat is enough to nix the experiment, how do we know that the observation of the virus will not?

;-)

]]> By: The Sine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/comment-page-1/#comment-49298 The Sine Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:16:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/#comment-49298 @3: A dead cat can't observe anything. You could argue that the cat would be aware of the smashing of the vial before it dies, but in any case, I don't think it's a matter of observation, just interaction, which observation involves. @3: A dead cat can’t observe anything. You could argue that the cat would be aware of the smashing of the vial before it dies, but in any case, I don’t think it’s a matter of observation, just interaction, which observation involves.

]]> By: James E. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/comment-page-1/#comment-49263 James E. Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:02:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/#comment-49263 Eliza has an excellent point. The superposition state is achieved, as far as we can tell, by its property of not being able to be observed by an "intelligence". Once it can be measured, it is no longer in superposition. So the question that arises is; is that cat\virus intelligent enough to observe? That could also be the answer as to why we don't find things in the macroscopic world in superposition, we are here to observe it. One question I have is how are they going to be able to determine if the virus is in superposition? Won't they have to observe it to tell? Eliza has an excellent point. The superposition state is achieved, as far as we can tell, by its property of not being able to be observed by an “intelligence”. Once it can be measured, it is no longer in superposition. So the question that arises is; is that cat\virus intelligent enough to observe? That could also be the answer as to why we don’t find things in the macroscopic world in superposition, we are here to observe it.

One question I have is how are they going to be able to determine if the virus is in superposition? Won’t they have to observe it to tell?

]]> By: Eliza Strickland http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/comment-page-1/#comment-49259 Eliza Strickland Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:46:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/#comment-49259 Thanks bigjohn756, typo is fixed. Thanks bigjohn756, typo is fixed.

]]> By: Tree Lobsters http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/comment-page-1/#comment-49251 Tree Lobsters Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:16:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/#comment-49251 It's always been my opinion that a cat is perfectly capable of observing whether or not it's alive, with or without the help of a physicist. The virus experiment, though, is a bit more ambiguous. It’s always been my opinion that a cat is perfectly capable of observing whether or not it’s alive, with or without the help of a physicist. The virus experiment, though, is a bit more ambiguous.

]]> By: bigjohn756 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/comment-page-1/#comment-49246 bigjohn756 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:54:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/#comment-49246 It's peeked not peaked. You're welcome. It’s peeked not peaked. You’re welcome.

]]> By: CW http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/comment-page-1/#comment-49241 CW Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:37:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/forget-schrodingers-cat-could-we-make-schrodingers-virus/#comment-49241 I think a virus may illustrate this concept better than a cat. I think a virus may illustrate this concept better than a cat.

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