Physicists Demonstrate How Time Can Seem To Run Backward, And The Future Can Affect The Past

[Brother Jeff]

http://secondnexus.com/technology-and-innovation/physicists-demonstrate-how-time-can-seem-to-run-backward-and-the-future-can-affect-the-past/

 

Glory!

[midniterider]

http://secondnexus.com/technology-and-innovation/physicists-demonstrate-how-time-can-seem-to-run-backward-and-the-future-can-affect-the-past/

 

Glory!

 

That's pretty cool, Jeff. It's almost like every atom is conscious. 

[yunea]

Very, very interesting! Thanks for sharing.

[mymistake]

What sorcery is this?

[RogueScholar]

I have a few problems with the article. Unfortunately, we really lack intuitive language to talk about quantum mechanics. However, I would caution folks to avoid interpreting language like "saw" or "measurement." We tend to be highly anthropomorphic in how we view theses kinds of words. This also opens a door for people to make rash assumptions about consciousness and how a person can effect "reality." The truth is, these experiments are completed in highly idealised environments under very specific and controlled settings. When we talk about "observing" or "seeing" something in this context, we need to be clear that this is not just looking with your eye or thinking about the system, but rather, we have to directly interact with the system to make a measurement. This measurement will perturb the system, even in the case of so called "weak" measurements. Furthermore, the conditions placed upon the system are highly specific. In the case of this article, we are talking about a single Helium atom that is reasonably isolated and cooled to a near absolute zero temperature.

 

In conclusion, when we talk about observation we really are talking about physically interacting with the system being examined. I think that this needs to be in the forefront of our mind as we think about these things. We also need to realise this is being done under highly controlled situations and to axiomatically apply what we do to an isolated Helium atom at near absolute zero to complex systems that strongly interact with each other may lead us to develop ideas that are not well reflected in these more complex systems. I found the example of a tree falling in a forest to be somewhat contrary to the study of a single atom under highly specified conditions.

 

Very interesting and progressive work is being done for sure, I just want to voice my concerns about making robust conclusions when these subjects are so specialised and quite frankly, not at all intuitive.

 

Forgive typographical errors, I'm rolling on my phone today.