One Century of Quantum Mechanics: Interpretations, Gravity, and the Quantum Tech Frontier

New Scientist reflects on 100 years of quantum mechanics, showing how uncertainty and probability have become the fabric of nature rather than abstract ideas. The video surveys the historical shift from Newtonian physics to quantum descriptions, the major interpretations of the theory, and the persistent puzzle of how gravity fits into the quantum world. It features five physicists discussing universal applicability, the reality behind quantum phenomena, and experiments that could reveal gravity as a quantum mediator. It also looks ahead to quantum technologies such as quantum computing and sensing, and to the broader implications for chemistry, biology, astrophysics, and even art as a way to communicate the strange quantum world.

Overview

New Scientist presents a wide-ranging exploration of quantum mechanics a century after its emergence. The video highlights how uncertainty and probability shifted our understanding of reality, powering technological revolutions from semiconductors to quantum computers. It frames quantum physics as a global pursuit with hundreds of thousands of researchers and features five physicists offering perspectives on the theory's legacy and its future.

Foundations and Interpretations

The discussion surveys the competing interpretations that have shaped debates about reality at the quantum level. It contrasts the pragmatic shut-up-and-calculate view with spontaneous collapse models, the many-worlds interpretation, and ideas about a cubist or relational view of the wave function. The speakers note that, while experiments agree on predictions, ontology remains a topic for philosophical debate, not laboratory results.

Quantum Gravity and Unification

A major thread is the tension between quantum mechanics and gravity. The conversation covers whether gravity itself must be quantized, the idea of gravitons, and approaches that incorporate time into quantum descriptions. A proposed experiment aims to test whether gravity can act as a quantum mediator of entanglement, which, if detected, would challenge classical gravity and support quantum theories of spacetime.

Technology and the Quantum Frontier

In the near term, researchers are pursuing spacetime tests to determine if it is quantum or classical, along with the development of quantum computers that may become practical decades hence. The analogy of a macroscopic quantum computer emphasizes both the practical and conceptual novelty of quantum hardware.

Beyond Physics: Art, Mind and Cosmos

The discussion extends into cross-disciplinary terrain artists collaborating with physicists to communicate and explore quantum ideas. Exhibitions and installations illustrate how art can make the intangible tangible, while cosmology and the quantum vacuum are invoked to connect the infinitely large with the infinitely small, addressing dark energy and the fabric of the universe.

Outlook

The speakers imagine future theories that integrate gravity with quantum principles, and suggest that the coming decades will reveal new domains for quantum science possibly extending into chemistry, biology, and neuroscience. While the exact breakthrough timing remains uncertain, the dialogue signals a vibrant, evolving field where quantum concepts increasingly shape our worldview and technologies.