This Simple Experiment Could Challenge Standard Quantum Theory

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October 21, 2021

Dear Reader, Consider this deceptively simple question: How long does it take a particle to travel from Point A to Point B? Surprisingly, standard quantum theory cannot provide a precise answer, but an alternative formulation known as "Bohmian mechanics" can. Our lead story this week details a new proposal for a remarkable experiment that could provide the best-yet test of this unorthodox theory. Is a "Bohmian rhapsody" right around the corner for quantum theorists? Read on to find out. Then explore our other fresh content this week, about the first-ever flight of disabled astronauts, the launch of NASA's LUCY mission, the universe's uncertain origins, new solutions for old, gnarly math problems and more.

Lee Billings, Senior Editor, Space & Physics @LeeBillings

Quantum Physics This Simple Experiment Could Challenge Standard Quantum Theory Measuring the time it takes particles to travel between two points may offer the best-yet test for Bohmian mechanics By Anil Ananthaswamy

Space Exploration Disabled Astronauts Blaze New Space Trails Efforts are underway to make space missions more accessible By Rachel Crowell

Planetary Science Meteorite Crashes into Woman's Bed in Canada The woman awoke to find the space rock laying next to her head By Mindy Weisberger,LiveScience

Cosmology Was Our Universe Created in a Laboratory? Developing quantum-gravity technologies may elevate us to a "class A" civilization, capable of creating a baby universe By Avi Loeb

Planetary Science Ancient Martian 'Lake' May Have Just Been Ephemeral Puddles One study suggests the Curiosity rover's landing site is not as it seems By Lee Billings

Mathematics Gnarly, Centuries-Old Mathematical Quandaries Get New Solutions A set of puzzles called Diophantine problems are often simple to state but hard to solve—though progress could have big implications for the future of mathematics By Rachel Crowell

Planetary Science Lucy, the First Mission to Jupiter's Asteroids, Could Reveal Solar System Origins The NASA spacecraft will loop past the never before explored Trojan asteroids during a 12-year journey By Alexandra Witze,Nature magazine

Quantum Computing 2-D Room-Temperature Magnets Could Unlock Quantum Computing A new magnetic material, just one atom thick, can manipulate electrons' spin for next-generation data storage By Joanna Thompson

Astrophysics The Solar System's Mysterious Magnetic Fields Most of our neighboring planets have magnetic fields, but scientists do not fully understand how they arise By Clara Moskowitz,Mark Belan

Cosmology The Kavli Prize Presents: Understanding the Universe [Sponsored] Ewine van Dishoeck received the Kavli Prize in Astrophysics in 2018 for elucidating the life cycle of interstellar clouds and the formation of stars and planets. What other mysteries of space are left to be uncovered? By Scientific American Custom Media | 06:19

FROM THE STORE Scientific American Space & Physics, Volume 4, Issue 5

QUOTE OF THE DAY "The fact that we've seen the same effect as our colleagues did in March certainly boosts the chances that we might genuinely be on the brink of discovering something new. It's great to shed a little more light on the puzzle." Harry Cliff, particle physicist

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FROM THE ARCHIVE Unexplained Results Intrigue Physicists at World's Largest Particle Collider Muons and electrons might not experience the same fundamental interactions, contrary to Standard Model predictions By Daniel Garisto | March 2021

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