What is Schrödinger's Cat? | Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains...

What is Schrödinger's Cat? On this explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore Schrodinger's cat and quantum mechanics… Or do they?
Learn about famous physicist Erwin Schrödinger and his work with quantum mechanics. What is the Observer Effect? We debunk some misconceptions about the Observer Effect and break down what starts to go wrong when doing experiments with the really really small. Discover quantum cats in boxes and quantum computing. What is superposition? Can something be two things at once? What is a Qbit? Explore the mystery of the quantum realm with us…
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Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!
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0:00 - Introduction
0:50 - Origins of Schrödinger's Cat
1:25 - The Observer Effect
3:00 - The Albedo Effect
4:53 - Why Subatomic Particles ‘Change’ When Observed
6:53 - Schrödinger's Cat
8:33 - Cats on the Internet
9:37 - Chuck’s Se7en Analogy
10:54 - Quantum Computing
12:07 - The Quantum Head
14:23 - Quantum Probabilities
14:36 - Quantum Tunneling
15:08 - Quantum Entanglement
15:24 - The Watershed Decade In Physics
16:18 - Texas Instrument Calculators
17:29 - Closing Notes

[@StarTalk]

Should we do another episode on Quantum weirdness?

[@kuwarsing43]

Yeah.... Since both of you guys explaining such things, I'm in ✌🏻😎

[@sashsaeedi7963]

Yes please

[@rushfan1970]

Yeesss!!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼

[@DelfinoGarza77]

Maybe Gwyneth Paltrow's head is not in the box if Brad Pitt never looks inside. It is morbid and I hate it but I also know that movie SE7EN is just a story told by actors, and I could tell they did a good job because I didn't want to look in the box lol. Spacey was the evil villan, Freeman and Pitt are the good guys and Paltrow was Pitts wife. I saw it once and I will never see it again.

[@Ndoda71]

Yes please !!!

[@imnotmike]

What I've discovered is that I exist in a state where I both understand, and do not understand the concept of Schrödinger's Cat, simultaneously.

[@Larrymh07]

I like your joke, but there's a lot of truth in it. I think we all have that experience in understanding.

[@timapple6586]

Cats be damned, does a concept live or die? Sink or swim? What's the penalty for slaying an idea? [Ans: A job.]

[@abuelojoven8633]

😂 Yes buddy! I'm in that box too!

[@shahzadrajabdeen3215]

I really wanted to listen to this. But the other guy(Not ND Tyson) was wayyy too irritating to get through this.

[@frankcoverjr.-jz3ne]

“I am Schrödinger’s cat!”- Spartacus 😂😊

[@root0062]

Tyson is a rare teacher. You can laugh in tears and learn about complex physics at the same time.

[@quazar912]

Michio Kaku is best

[@teeellecee]

Watching these videos makes me feel like Jeff Spicoli: "Learning about [Schrödinger's Cat], and having some food." And not understanding much more than Spicoli would.

[@iyendeezont]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@quazar912no you’re wrong. Tyson is better than Michio Kaku

[@user-sz5dt9ih7f]

Chuck Nice has got to be one of the sharpest dudes on the planet. He just moves things along so seamlessly and with so much humor and insight. He's just wonderful!!!

[@robw3984]

Racist

[@user-sz5dt9ih7f]

@@robw3984 Grow up. I'm Hawaiian/Chinese/Irish/English. I don't have a racist bone in my body.

[@filoue2583]

​@@user-sz5dt9ih7fyou have not been racist, until now, you say that you're not racist by racism, wtf

[@user-sz5dt9ih7f]

@@filoue2583 You need to move out of your mother's basement and find a real job.

[@MyBuddyMobile]

​@@filoue2583​ he never said bc he's of those racists he cannot be racist, he's just stating that he is a product of inter-racial relation... we need a word for ppl like u that try to falsely accuse racism by technicality (its not a sport call). His comment was not racist to me as a black man and Chuck Nice is brilliant to not be a scientist...

[@GoogleUser-wf7bn]

Not enough has been said here about how good the chemistry is between Chuck and Neil - these two are so good together.

[@notmr.niceguy216]

If I had teachers like that growing up I would have definitely paid way more attention, keep it up guys!

[@StarTalk]

Thanks! Will do!

[@michael-4k4000]

So it's all about you NOT Mr. NICE GUY?

[@michaeltedder8345]

I second that statement

[@jorgecamachoalvarado]

QChuck is either a phisicist or not. Or any percentage in between.

[@JoseAndCode]

Yup I bet it was the teachers fault

[@3ricegr3at]

Nice to have a straight to the point explanation. The particles are so small that the light we use to observe them changes their existence.

[@backwardthoughts1022]

its a dishonest explanation to the point of being borderline psychotic. his answer assumes photons exist with preset characteristics eg. even being particle, let alone further functions. the entire point is they do not as is already incontrovertibly established experimentally by anton zeilinger etc

[@3ricegr3at]

@@backwardthoughts1022 wow thanks for giving me more to look into.

[@timapple6586]

You totally misunderstood... because NDT totally soaked you with misinformation. As always.

[@MelissaTimea]

Everyone always asks what is Schrödinger's Cat, but no one ever asks HOW is Schrödinger's Cat.

[@nigeljohn6676]

The man breaks down complicated subjects into pure simplicity. Wow wow.

[@covid19alpha2variantturboc7]

Tyson is just an açtor paid to recite scripted lines. just as the existence of his IMDB page suggests

[@alexh1524]

It's so simple that it is inaccurate and misleading.

[@TomCruz54321]

@@alexh1524 Like you would know chump.

[@alexh1524]

@@TomCruz54321 Well ignoring the ad hominem I would say it doesn't properly explain wave function collapse, and wave-particle duality. That's why its over simplistic and misleading.

[@vincentjohnflorio]

@@alexh1524 Baby steps

[@daniellugo3944]

I laughed so hard at Chuck's photon comment 😂 "Photons want to be part of this skin" 😂 I laughed so hard my nose bled.

[@darrenjones9359]

I would worry, laughing should not cause epistaxis.

[@iammar1159]

@@darrenjones9359 Plus, it wasn’t even that funny lol

[@conradsz]

No you don’t

[@orca536]

I love listening to you and learning. You strike me as a very intelligent and not conceited man. I grew up with my stepfather always responding to me "you writing a book" after I asked a question and most of the time never answering the question. Thank you for whom you are.

[@LionFo21]

This is by far the easiest and more insightful explanation about the principle of uncertainty, and without the use of any animations at all! Also we could say that chuck and Neil are like quantum entanglement souls maaaan 😂

[@SheyD78]

My brain was not built to handle learning quantum physics, but Neil makes me wish it was, and Chuck could keep me laughing all the while. Great episode.

[@daveg5857]

No brains were. And it's still a very incomplete description of what's going on.

[@TomCruz54321]

@@daveg5857 It's actually the best explanation of the "observer" I've heard.

[@daveg5857]

@@TomCruz54321 Maybe, but I'm left with a whole lot of questions, no fault of Neil. I'm not looking at this phenomenon and saying, "problem solved". Just like quantum entanglement. I get that it is, but I don't know what it implies. All points in space are somehow interconnected? Then I start thinking maybe we're in the Matrix...

[@efkagamescomputers6886]

@@daveg5857 you mean that Sci-Fi movie that debut 20+ years ago, that Matrix?

[@triplez5393]

Few are chosen, sorry

[@blackmage999]

Schrödinger's cat is not a quantum system itself but a normal cat that is affected by a quantum system. The original thought experiment places a toxin in the box that is released by the radioactive decay of a particle which is governed by the laws of quantum mechanics. In this setting you cannot know if the particle has decayed enough to release the toxin until you measure the particle (opening the box). This entangles the cat with the particle.

[@spectreskeptic3493]

I looked specifically for a comment that made this correction...well done. I think it's an important distinction.

[@juliocesar4442]

Yes. This whole video was in fact a bad description about Schrodinger's cat. There is a point where he basically says that the cat being alive and dead is a consequence of our lack of knowledge since we didn't open the box to make the measurement and that is nonsensical. In fact, Schrodinger's cat was elaborated by Erwin to elucidate what was, according to his thoughts, an incomplete description of reality provided by the quantum theory.

[@irinotecanhcl]

Also, as to the "why a dead/alive cat" question, as opposed to say a coin toss, Schrödinger at the time didn't believe that this was possible, so he came up with the most absurd analogy he could to show how ridiculous the idea of quantum superposition is.

[@Seeds-Of-The-Wayside]

That's what I thought but I was surprised when they didn't explain that in this video

[@bluceree7312]

You cannot argue one fact: Schrödinger was a major dork.

[@Mchinnock]

another episode on anything would be great. its just the perfect mix of you two with all the intellect and humor. absolutely great.

[@EskoBomb]

You two make a fantastic duo. Thank you for making these videos together

[@PlagueDoctorscp049]

I love these two, I wish they had this kind of education in school. We never had any of this! Great show guys truly love it

[@StarTalk]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@PlagueDoctorscp049]

@@StarTalk enjoying every single episode! Become a big fan of the show overtime

[@dreamer8973]

we can enjoy this kind of education now ;)

[@Earthad23]

There’s was nothing educational in this video.

[@davefx7949]

Learning can't always be fun and games. Sure when dealing with surface level stuff. But there is work involved when going deeper. But that's life...

[@ZootSuitJZ]

Chuck's reference to the movie SE7EN actually made the explanation much clearer. Well done!

[@2011e92M3]

It’s funny because I’ve watch countless videos explaining this paradox and although I thought I understood it, I could never explain it. Finally after watching their explanations and examples I finally get it. These guys really have a way of simplifying things for us non scientists.

[@Music--ng8cd]

@Pᴀᴡɴ S𝜏ᴀʀ𝕤 ✯🇫​ᴀɴ It was until Morgan opened the box

[@TheRealSkeletor]

@Pᴀᴡɴ S𝜏ᴀʀ𝕤 ✯🇫​ᴀɴ The box could have been empty, or it could have been anything else in the box. They didn't know until they opened it.

[@Music--ng8cd]

@Pᴀᴡɴ S𝜏ᴀʀ𝕤 ✯🇫​ᴀɴ We'll never know because they opened the box

[@Music--ng8cd]

@Pᴀᴡɴ S𝜏ᴀʀ𝕤 ✯🇫​ᴀɴ But if you watch it that will end the superposition

[@entropie138]

I’ve watched and read myriad pieces and videos trying to teach me Schrödinger’s Cat, and this is the very first time I’ve understood! Well done, guys!

[@nickmag6142]

Man you’ve hit the jackpot on this guy Niel, I don’t know if he’s been your good friend for decades or not but he provides such a good comedic effect and works so well with you

[@jimr9499]

Man...i am so thankful for StarTalk. Whenever I'm feeling down, I know that I always can rely on Chuck to lift my spirits right back up. Dr. Tyson is _always_ fascinating and illuminating. But both Chuck's jokes, and his genuine delight at learning things, never fails to bring a smile to my face. Thank you both for everything you do!!

[@rodney8078]

So true! Both of these Men are so so extremely interesting in their personal thoughts and free thoughtful liberations on what they think and admonish that it leaves a more hensile train of thought on the modern thesis of discovery! - Of course for only those who want to step a little further than the aforementioned typical way of standing above the goal, or train of thought!! Fascinating!!! Please keep up the enticing work!

[@ToniSkit]

Agree

[@rickevans3959]

You will find that Schodinger didn't really like cats. Think about it.

[@alexlearningspace5644]

Same here ❤

[@imthebadguy3225]

When a "scientist" thinks there are dozens of genders, NDT is an NPC!

[@Kantus42]

"Photons wanna be a part of this, baby." I grew up loving Neil, but honestly-how could you not love Chuck? Perfect informational science/comedy duo right here!

[@juanpablozucco9504]

That was hilarius

[@TfGamess]

They're great

[@thatsinteresting3415]

I never understood Schrodinger's Cat when it was brought up before. But when you explain that you have a cat in a box, but the cat is not a cat; the cat is a quantum particle, the idea of Schrodinger's cat makes much more sense.

[@jbs1992]

Neil is the best. My 7 yr old and I watch all these videos together. He loves to learn and he breaks it down so good for ppl

[@AlexandarHullRichter]

I want to take a moment to appreciate how easily and how deeply Neil laughs. That willingness to be so joyful is a significant part of why I enjoy watching him.

[@GOLVEL]

Ok. Take it.

[@davepeterschmidt5818]

@@HopDavid You don't know that. What did he get wrong?

[@bobbyblank6916]

I appreciate how he has the ability to laugh at "jokes" with negative humor value...nothing that dude said was remotely humorous.

[@Earthad23]

It’s easy to be joyful when you’ve made an entire career pretending to be a genius.

[@Earthad23]

@@HopDavid agreed, he simply thinks he’s smarter than everyone and he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Disappointing

[@Rhekon]

Chuck, that scene literally always made me think of the cat. You're not alone.

[@slipperysteev]

Chuck is HILARIOUS!! I thoroughly enjoy every episode he is in.

[@SuleymanAkhundov]

That was the funniest and least confusing explainer of quantum physics concepts. Good job, guys!

[@mysticalMELODY]

This was one of my favorites for myriad reasons but Chuck struggling to remember Brad Pitt’s name was classic, but his impersonation of Brad saying, what’s in the box was spot on. Thank you both for providing this amazing and fun way of learning.

[@jonathanmcadams-nx5zp]

A myriad of meanings...

[@teeellecee]

Our family quotes "What's in the box!?!" all the time whenever we don't know what's in a box or Amazon package, so Chuck using that example really worked better than a quantum cat for me 😸

[@markstone2138]

The ability to convey information while simultaneously entertaining in order to keep the students' attention is the mark of a real teacher. It's unfortunate that it is so rare.

[@user-vo4lf6pw5h]

Agreed!

[@CoachRobertMadole]

That would truly make us an advanced civilization

[@seriallikeer5956]

Whilst being racist

[@tudiecampagna5793]

I absolutely love, love, both of these guys!! So informative, and always funny!!!❤

[@woodstoney]

Chuck definitely got his 15 minutes of fame in this video!! He nailed it! ;) Word was that Schrödinger took his sick cat to the Vet. After examination, the Vet to him, "I've got some good news and some bad news..."

[@plutoplanet825]

Neil and Chuck you guys are my favorite teachers....everyday I understand more and more about our existence and experiences

[@buggjohnson1648]

Fr. I'm 35 and this is the first time I've heard this and it made any sense at all. Tbf, Oklahoma's education system is absolute garbage. It benefits those in power to keep us dumb.

[@PanchoPanteraUSC]

“I’m a tangent man myself…” Hilarious and educational! Thank you both for making thing accessible and entertaining. All love.

[@VoltisArt]

These guys are both tangent men, which is a big part of what makes this channel so fun.

[@jeffreybreitbart8578]

I can't tell you how much I enjoy every time NDT speaks. I really want to learn more about quantum mechanics.. Of course, I will never be able to understand it as well as he, but these interviews, commentaries, lectures are helping me get through a very dark period and I am not sure why. But please keep doing these. Thank you.

[@patrickfulford3460]

I love this show, I truly appreciate you all, including the behind the scenes folks.

[@ricardodealmeida27]

A behind the scenes video, would be awesome

[@StarTalk]

We truly appreciate fans like you!

[@Dannosuke25]

@@StarTalk is that you Sam?

[@chayanbosu3293]

Still they can not explain what is conciousness ?

[@gatopardos19]

@@StarTalk Speaking of that,could we have a blooper reel?

[@kikogarcia5136]

I was amazed that my 9 yold came to me telling that he wonders how a straight line is actually not straight if seen through a microscope, or that a table edge is not plane. I showed him your talk right away about the measurements and he loved it. Love watching you, thank you so much!

[@Paislywalls4767]

You are a very cool parent!

[@kikogarcia5136]

@@Paislywalls4767 hahaha thank you, I try 😂

[@Hollyweed1]

You got a bright kid. Tell him the way to astrophysics.

[@stabgan]

Give him all the resources show him everything from computer science to physics to chemistry to maths. And then let him choose what he wants to pursue. Don't force astrophysics or any subject on him. He's a genius, he will find his own way in life. Just keep him on track

[@DumKump]

That's a genius in the making! BUT don't tell him that. Telling your child they're special sounds like a good idea but from personal experience, it can absolutely ruin their life

[@GallifreyanGunner]

Other comments have added information and context NDT left out of the description of the experiment. Most people forget, however, that the thought experiment was actually Schrödinger's critique of quantum theory and not an explanation of it.

[@user-po5le7fz6n]

Great episode. You guys are perfect together. Thank you.

[@Eremon1]

This is why Cats are obsessed with boxes. They've been trying to figure this super position stuff out since they first heard about it.

[@officialjerm9122]

Im in disbelief right now! I saw a video yesterday that mentioned the term "Schrodinger's cat". I thought to myself I've never heard that before, i should look it up. And of course i never did 🙄 lol. Yet here you are today to teach me all about it! You hit the nail on the head today guys! Thanks 🤙

[@StarTalk]

Glad we're able to answer those burning questions!

[@JimmyKnax]

You watch the video about Schrodinger's cat? And then another video about Schrodinger's cat shows up? Coincidence? I think not. Just another victim of tracking cookies I'm afraid. I once did a search for tickets for a rock concert and immediately started getting advertisements for drug rehab.

[@reallymysterious4520]

I take it you didn't watch the comedy show Big Bang Theory where Sheldon explained Schrodingers cat to Penny ?

[@jnmwtkns]

Oh the KZbin algorithm !

[@Morpheux1]

@@JimmyKnax well, this video was uploaded 5 hours ago, didn't exist when she saw the other one, and suddenly came into existence 🤣🤣🤣

[@user-it8vd2wk1c]

I'm an avid consumer of all Neil deGrasse Tyson videos, but in this one I loved not only the way he teaches us but also the fact that there is a Lego space shuttle in the back! He is a genius, but also have the nerd little kid inside that some of us still have.

[@valeriebolejack5957]

I would love more on quantum show. Im sad, im 63 and i can't become a quantum physics major.. but still am fascinated. I was just born too late. But i still enjoy learning.

[@ronaldtorbert133]

Such a huge fan, Dr. Tyson!! Physicists like yourself has brought my love for math and science back, in turm changing my career path to pursue my Masters in Science. Thank you for all the knowledge!!

[@kurtkyre]

Fun fact: Even though it was never shown, there was a special effects prop head of Gwyneth Paltrow in the box. That special effects prop was the same prop made for and used onscreen in the film Contagion.

[@robertlang4955]

I would absolutely love to sit and discuss things with these two gentlemen. Listening to them makes me want to learn.

[@squarehead6c1]

Schrödinger's cat seems to have become a meme in pop culture, quite detached from its original meaning and purpose. It is very rare that I hear a profound and meaningful explanation of the Schrödinger's cat thought experiment, which is frustrating as it seems meaningful and useful, rather than just a corny depiction of quantum properties. As far as I understand, the purpose of the thought experiment is to challenge the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, that is the idea that a quantum state is inherently uncertain until it has been observed, very much different from our everyday experience, and the Cat experiment emphasizes this. I think the approach of speaking of the cat as not a real cat but a "quantum cat" distorts the thought experiment. The point, I think, is that it is a very familiar object, that is a real cat, that gets entangled with a quantum event, and hence forces the cat into a superposition state. Although not being a researcher of physics, it seems to me that the cat experiment actually does manage to scale up quantum level phenomena to the macro scale. And it is a very interesting challenge to the Copenhagen interpretation, and discussing responses to the thought experiment should be more or less necessary for the thought experiment to make sense.

[@shawnredmond8402]

Stop being pretentious.

[@squarehead6c1]

I am serious, I am kind of fed up of this thought experiement analogy being misrepresented over and over again instead of actually being allowed to teach us something@@shawnredmond8402

[@jaycee7774]

I love the level of humor involved in these talks! Thank you for reducing the seriousness involved with the facts and truths revealed! I wish there were teachers like you guys in school growing up. Please keep the format the same!

[@emines01]

Chuck is actually super more intelligent than he gets credit for or put out himself. He is the essential piece to making science digestible to the general public

[@CHRIS-tg5cn]

At least he doesn't use the phrase "super more intelligent."

[@oftenlucid]

Is he????

[@user-wf7pe3zb8q]

"What is Schrödinger's Cat?" The cat that belongs to Schrödinger.....easy...

[@iandwyer6658]

I believe we were taught this concept using the double-slit test where observation causes decoherence of the quantum state for binary encoding. The quantum tech course at my school used optics and wave-phasing to manipulate the state before the observer causes decoherence. Im hoping I get a chance to build a FDTD numerical approximation for Schrodingers wave equations to get simulation of the embedded states. Super cool stuff with wave theory perspective that electircal engineers get, but also cool to get more of a quantum persepctive

[@raycruel1]

I love how the chemistry you guys have makes the subject of Quantum mechanics so much more palatable and fun!!!

[@johannesnoneoftheabove9957]

On the subject of Quantum mechanics; does this mean to imply that a Volkswagen Quantum can exist as a fully operational unit or operate at some percentage of ability, or even not run at all. This sounds like a job for a Quantum mechanic.

[@johannesnoneoftheabove9957]

As regards tunneling, that would explain why things go missing unexpectedly and reappear unexpectedly. Super-positioning would explain why things are some-wheres else. (Take an opening where you find it. Aut non. Thank you.)

[@henrickrw]

As a Mechanical Engineer with 25 years experience I can attest you're totally correct in saying that a black surface absorbs photons and electromagnetic waves without irradiating back out. Excellent heat transfer topic.... Following up on the Stefan-Boltzmann LAW. KEEP THIS CONTENT FLOWING...

[@robertlee4809]

Black also radiates heat more quickly than white...

[@albirtarsha5370]

​@@robertlee4809How does that work?

[@oscarmp80]

How do you measure the particle states, then? If not with light, can you observe or trace their changes via measuring the electro magnetic fields around them or something ?

[@MusikIsUniversal]

I think the reason why a cat was chosen versus a coin is because once in the Box, the coin's movement is theoretically static, however, a cat's movement is theoretically variable, at least for some time until the cat expires. So there is a an assumption of a contribution of additional randomness once the unobserved cat is in the Box versus the coin which is assumed to be predetermined once in. You could also say you don't need a box to run the experiment. If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there to hear it, does it make a sound? The observation theory and simulation Theory answers that question for me. Conservation and efficiency of resources dictate not only does the tree not make a sound, it hasn't fallen until the moment I observe it. That begs the question, if we are in a simulation, are we in it together or is everybody else simply a simulated projection? And if that is the case, why would the individual Observer of those projections be special? Would it be more likely that each projection, including our selves, are artificial intelligence Co-existing in the same simulation? Okay, I'm going into an existential wormhole so I better stop for now 😂

[@OtayBuckwheat]

"Go have another bowl and get back to me" Neil deGrasse Tyson. A quote that gave me inner peace

[@sonofkami]

Neil was just born to teach. I wish my science teachers would have taught like he does my life would have takin a different path if they did

[@mavis3916]

Doubt

[@Keith80027]

I got my master degrees in quantum physics in 1976 and you guys got it right about Schrodinger's wave equations. Thank God for the equations. I remember those calculators. I had to buy a HP35 to past my final in 4th year electrical circuits class. I still have my HP35. Love you guys in making things simpler.

[@stevenvanhulle7242]

I had the TI-57 in 1977, which IIRC was the first programmable pocket calculator. (I never understood what got in HP for choosing RPN; nobody writes their equations in that order!)

[@roblena7977]

I really love watching Chuck grow in this. Kind of curious to how he would do now with an aptitude test vs when he first started.

[@iansargent196]

I think the funniest part of the show is just how tickled Neil is at ALL of Chuck's jokes.

[@alexro2482]

Chuck a little too 🌽. Love NDT

[@Jay-cj7xu]

Chuck's imitation of Brad pit asking what's in the box was deaf on! Well done Sir!

[@darianthompson5975]

Such a good team 👏 👍🏾 I love it when they just let chuck be himself and "learning"

[@PaulSinnema]

I wish I had seen this explainer earlier. Now finally I understand a lot more about quantum science. Thank you Neil.

[@likebutton11]

This was a delightful quantum psychic lesson

[@samapade5645]

I would say, more like a PSYCHOTIC on!😷🤤🙂😅🤣😷😉🙃🥺😊😂👍 😎

[@apapz3245]

I don’t believe it, the cat is dying regardless it anyone is watching, use your brain

[@nofarDcohen]

Yessss this is such a trippy concept, I'm so happy you did an explainer video on it! Love this! I can listen to Neil explain stuff like this forever 🤣🤩 Thank you🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@StarTalk]

Glad you liked it!!

[@magentapierrot8409]

These guys are a perfect pairing. I think I understand Schroidenger’s cat a bit better. I love the idea of any number of possibilities at the same time. “Fun part of quantum.”

[@CharlesCharles-bb6qx]

One of the best videos on this topic, and entertaining as well.

[@DurbanFlyboi]

I've been listening to this show ( and looking up! ) for 10 years now. Neil - you are singularly responsible for expediting my curiosity and love of the cosmos. I consider you my generation's Carl Sagan. Chuck - you are the perfect wingman for Neil, and bring so much to the show, kudos brother. Thank you to all involved in StarTalk

[@123sokker123]

Chuck is the only podcast host that genuinely has me laughing out loud along with him

[@RixMusings]

Chuck Nice is completely in the way! I would like to learn! Don't need comedy or tangents!!!!

[@forrysc]

These are the science teachers we need. I didn't even realize I was learning!

[@hollyhartwick3832]

Quantum entanglement is one of my favourite parts of Quantum Theory, mainly because of it's application in science fiction. Using quantum entanglement for faster-than-light communication with no discernable limit to range in distance is a really fascinating and practical application of the concept. Among other media, this has been featured in the video game series Mass Effect, which I absolutely adore. So much so that I have the trilogy on two consoles (PS3 and PS4).

[@dutchray8880]

I remember when the first Bowmar calculator came out in the early to mid 1970s. It had only the 4 basic functions and cost $180, the monthly rent for my 3-bedroom apartment (split 3 ways). I was taking physics at the time, and I was jealous of those who could afford a calculator because I had to use a lousy slide rule. Today, I have a basic calculator sitting in front of me that cost less than $5, and it does square roots.

[@jenniferpatterson4964]

Cheers to the endless march of time and the progression of technology. Cin cin!

[@mcdonaldization]

@@jenniferpatterson4964 no there’s a reason civilians thousands of years old kept away from technology

[@jenniferpatterson4964]

@@mcdonaldization Um, what? What are you even talking about?

[@cymanca]

Ah yes, the Bowmar Brain

[@johnpetrakis379]

Was it a 15" Pickett or a 12 incher, or even a "cheeper" one like I had, plastic, and not aluminum. Computer geeks at Purdue extension learning Cobol and Fortran withe their 15" yellow Pickets dangling from their belts like Excalibur in leather scabbards Sneered at them, and they ended up running things

[@holygroove2]

Sometimes Chuck hits his stride and is more than just silly. This episode was excellent because Chuck was on fire and Tyson was his usual self. Very helpful, very informative! Thanks for this!

[@darylgholson4481]

The brief moment mentioning earth having reflective surfaces is so awesome. I wonder what happens at a solar panel farm. do we need to have more surface area collecting energy? Or reflecting it?

[@goczangabor24]

the best explanation of superposition i've ever heard was: flip a coin, until it's spinning in the air it's both heads and tails

[@jeffreyhunter4115]

Without question, this is my favorite of you two! Making science look easy AND a new movie to add to my playlist. Seriously though, thank you for sharing.

[@yesindeed3751]

You guys are an awesome duo. Very fun to watch and learn about complicated topics.

[@StarTalk]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed!

[@user-yo1pk4ky4k]

I have been waiting a long time to find an explanation of Schrodinger's Cat ... and I am still waiting!

[@stonefacedmedusa5542]

Now I’m confused. There was an episode of Cosmos where Dr. Tyson talks about how observation affects the behavior of particles in the two slit experiment. Is that a different case?

[@mslovelyshot]

🤣🤣🤣 I volunteer to go lay out in the sun in a white bathing suit too 🤣 You guys are great

[@leahmarieezra877]

PS - If you have not explained why atoms spin in opposite directions, even when separated by a wall, please do. Great videos. Thanks!

[@IndependentKnight]

Somebody wrote that in the wikipedia but it is not what "the cat" is about- the Psychological principal was to illustrate the state of mind that "some cat is in a box, we don't know whether it's alive or dead, we'll find out when we open it" because it encompasses the state where someone like a CEO is in charge of a company but can only delegate responsibilities hoping for the best they end up getting high blood pressure and if you just acknowledge that you have no control over what's going on in the box the CEO can relax...

[@sarnol8973]

Chuck trying to explain “what’s in the box” to NDT is my favorite thing so far this week

[@BIGREDDOG09]

You guys always have a way of making me think of things from a totally different angle than I have before! Thanks guys!

[@antialluvion5118]

The detail about the measurement effect provides significant clarification. Layperson information about things like the double slit experiment mislead by not being nuanced enough to clarify a passive observation outcome versus a measurement-based outcome where the measurement occurs by introducing new energy to the system. I'm guessing that with the double slit experiment, if a passive observation, The particles will remain as a wave as you look at the screen because you're not interacting with the particles other than passively seeing their reflection off of the screen. I have always been confused by demonstrations of this because they use the terminology that makes it appear that the act of just seeing it changes it. But the detail of passive viewing versus introducing energy to view is a very significant detail Is it possible to do these experiments where the "cat" is something giving off energy so that you don't have to introduce energy to get a measurement?

[@danatate8803]

I'm a retired registered nurse and a lifelong learner. I love this! More quantum physics, please 😊

[@JohnnyLeuthard]

I love these talks. I find all kinds of science fascinating. How things work, what makes them tick, all of it. I live how you break it up into a simpler way to think about it. The problem is I often listen to them on my personal laptop while I'm working on my work laptop and I focus too much on the video and now what i'm doing at work and I have to keep starting over with what i am doing. LOL

[@arethosemyfeet7144]

Loving the content fellas. There is something extra special about the dynamic you guys have going on

[@StarTalk]

Call it chemistry! 🧪

[@arethosemyfeet7144]

@@StarTalk I thought you had more of a ‘physic’al attraction going on

[@JohnSmith-vm8rx]

Brilliant way of explaining this topic! 👍

[@nr126]

This guy needs to follow you everywhere.

[@TheOpinionatedYouTuber]

I am a sign language interpreter, and I LOVE learning about STEM topics from you, NDT! You help me understand the topics at a much more comprehensible level, which translates into improving my ability to interpret between complex scientific topics in English and American Sign Language (ASL).

[@coralie9469]

These guys are the "Bomb", I so relate and appreciate their humor in these discussions. It's fun and somewhat easy to learn, as they say it's never too late to learn something new!! So enjoy this, keep up the great work!! Thanks so much!! Love you guys!!

[@wraystewart6528]

you guys are the best! which I had some of this when I was in school. Would have made it more interesting!!!

[@AlainHubert]

I think Neil has his facts a little bit mangled: Texas Instruments' first scientific calculator was the SR-50, not to be confused with Hewlett-Packard's HP-35, which was also their first scientific calculator that came out in 1972, a year earlier than the SR-50. BTW, the TI-35 from Texas Instruments came out in 1979, more than 6 years after the first model, the SR-50.

[@valentinbusuioc4054]

Hilarious! I've never seen a more enjoyable explanation of quantum physics. Excellent, gentlemen!

[@muzzammilpervaiz5296]

Truly, Neil Tyson is like a diamond of modern physics.

[@ericthomas4068]

Neil...diamond...I see what you did there.

[@woodrowboudreaux9951]

I’m sorry you hold this bloviating fool in such high regard.

[@questioneverything609]

Exactly he only talks about physics NOT QUANTUM PHYSICS…

[@MrKennyroger]

I swear Chuck is like Neil's grandson who loves to listen to his granddad talk science but also makes granddad laugh😂😂😂....its nice to see

[@jeffn9952]

When Chuck is explaining the plot to Seven, Neil has this look like "I don't need to know this" and "tell me more" at the same time

[@davepeterschmidt5818]

Chuck is hilarious! Neil made a great choice having him on the show.

[@sailorforlifebestti3366]

No. He gets on my nerves sometimes. He keeps diverting the topic

[@iainherridge6253]

I think they've been mates for years!