Double slit experiment.. what does this mean for reality?

[bobby rivers]

No, it is not set for good, but it seems that even a non-conscious measurement(a photograph) that is intended to be observed can also collapse the function. And yes, a cockroach's consciousness can also collapse it. The fact that Newtonian physics, as opposed to quantum, has such finite concrete rules and continuity that can be correlated between consciousnesses is pretty hard evidence. If I see a red box, I can ask you "what is that ?" you would reply "a red box". Both of us collapsed the wave function to the same point. Now I ask you to go bury the box where it cant be observed, still exist? Well you can tell me where to dig and sure enough, yup, red box.

So my main problem with the theory is when we claim it is our consciousness. I believe that our brains are tools to trap parts of universal consciousness into a this particular dimension filled with matter and forces. Much like how our cells have no idea they are not separate but individual parts of a whole. The question of why do we feel separate when we are not or where do we actually end and everything else begin. Because only in the perception of our mind does matter and 'reality' exist in this form, which is all that really matters. For the moment.

[James Steele]

In the slit experiment, how is the photon "observed" before it reaches the slit? Is it possible to observe or detect a photon without interacting with it? Is the method of detection causing the behaviour of the photon to change as a result? I always thought that it was only possible to know either what the particle is or where it is going, but not both.

[Matthias Sieber]

it's from the movie "What the BLEEP do we know"... great movie!

[bobby rivers]

It is impossible to impartially observe or measure anything without interacting with it. To quantum particles observing is the same as nailing a room full of flies everywhere to the wall with one fly.

It is measured with state of the art laser and infrared scopes, that the electrons somehow know will be viewed by consciousness, rendering them to a particle state as opposed to potential possibilities. Very murky water.

There are photographs of a particle in superposition. One particle in multiple position in space-time at the same time. Isnt that multiple particles? Nope, you cannot remove one. Its the same one.

[James Steele]

My brain hurts. Beer will help...

[bobby rivers]

it's from the movie "What the BLEEP do we know"... great movie!

Yes it is. Its kinda quantum mechanics 101 for dummies, which we all are on this subject. There are numerous studies going into way more depth though.

My brain hurts. Beer will help...

Yes it will. temporarily.

[Roach Clip [Mark Torres]]

They were showing this experiment on, I think it was Through the Wormhole. They talked on another episode about another theory that kind of ties in. The theory basically states that we could be in a massively complex computer simulation like in the Matrix movies. They were talking about how if something is not being viewed how it could vanish entirely. Just like the draw distance in a video game. If you're too far away from something or looking another way, a tree or a building or whatever can vanish because it's visual data is not needed since nothing and no one is interacting with it. As soon as someone looks at where that item should be it reappears instantaneously.

[Daniel Valdez]

This is deep. I need a documentary and I can watch it 5-10 times. Whats the best one?

[Tom Van]

Let's be clear here, "What the BLEEP..." is not Quantum Mechanics 101. It is bullshit pseudoscience. Physics implies no connection between "consciousness" and the universe. The universe can function just fine without consciousness, and does not give a crap about it (because it is not conscious).

In the double slit experiment, the photon does not need to be observed by "consciousness" for the interference pattern to collapse. The detector is not conscious. Point a detector at one of the slits, don't observe the output, and watch the interference pattern disappear anyway.

That is not my opinion. That is the scientific consensus.

[Harry Evans]

Here's my take on this. I studied astrophysics at UC: Berkeley, and this is definitely a subject that is not understood. But I think this is a result of one simple thing: humans perceive the universe from the fourth dimension (we can objectively see 3 dimensions, and we experience the fourth - time - in a linear way). But, the universe is not 4 dimensional. Our eyes, brains, and generally our sensors condense the world into these dimensions to make it palatable. So when you translate, things get lost, just like when you take a 3D picture and put it on a flat TV screen. Since the breaking point of what we can see is dimension #4, it's hard to imagine, but just like things can be moved between places, things can exist in different places at different times. When you consider Einstein's idea that all time is happening at once, but we merely experience it in from the viewpoint of time, what you are doing is locking the actual event into a 4D frame of reference, which screws it all up.

Here's something that can really screw with your head: If every "time" is happening at the same time, and we simply cannot visualize the fourth dimension, what does this mean about free will? Doesn't that mean that there is only one possible future, stemming from one single past? If so, doesn't that mean your decisions have already been determined, and that free will does not exist?