Sabine Hossenfelder's Blog, page 2

What is going on in Europe

In which I air my frustration about how much Europe has fallen behind.

New Experiment Explains Why We Don't See Quantum Effects Everywhere

We don’t see the effects of quantum physics outside the submicroscopic scale. That’s why your lunchbox can’t be in two places at once and cats aren’t dead and alive at the same time. But why, exactly, is this true? According to physicists who’ve recently published a paper on that question, the theory of Quantum Darwinism can answer it. Let’s take a look.

Are We Causing a Mass Extinction?

You’ve probably heard that human industrialization is actually a mass extinction event that’s killed off hundreds of thousands of different animal species, I certainly did. But is that actually true? Recently, a group of ecologists published a paper comparing human-related extinctions to mass extinction events of the past. Let’s take a look at the numbers.

Physicists Prove That Universe is not a Simulation

The Simulation Hypothesis is the idea that our universe is actually an algorithm being run on a mysterious supercomputer. In a recent paper, a group of physicists say they’ve disproved this theory by using Goedel’s theorem. Let’s take a look.

Nobel Prize for Dark Energy Awarded in Error?

The 2011 Nobel Prize in physics was awarded for the discovery that the expansion of the universe is accelerating. This conclusion rested on data from supernovae. A new analysis now looks at a larger set of supernovae data and finds that the Nobel Prize winning conclusion doesn't hold up.

This Simple Trick Solves Impossible Physics Problems

While physics is the branch of science that seeks to explain how the universe works, our understanding of the universe would be nothing without mathematics. Let’s take a look at one recent paper that caught my attention because it’s a lovely example of this relationship.

The Anti-AI Resistance Is Here

The AI resistance is building. Across social media, a growing number of people are expressing their frustration with the spread of AI technology, even as corporations and governments spend more and more money on AI development. But that’s not the only thing that’s going on. Let’s take a look at why humans are becoming increasingly anti-AI, and how the human-AI divide might change in the future.

Quantum Knots Created Matter, Physicists Say

In a recently published paper, a group of physicists outlined a new theory which might explain why our universe contains solid matter. According to the paper, the universe was at one point filled with tiny knots made up of pure energy. This sounds crazy, but the paper’s implications could rock the world of physics. Let’s take a look.

I was SO wrong about quantum computing.

Two years ago, I predicted that the hype around quantum computing would crash by 2024. With 2025 almost over, it’s clear that I was wrong. Let’s take a look at why quantum hype is still peaking, news about mass producing quantum computers, and the U.S. government’s role in all of this.

Finally, Real Battery Breakthroughs!

Our shift towards renewable energy relies on battery technology. Governments all over the world have poured money into battery research, which is why science press headlines are filled with new, eye-popping headlines promising a new revolution in battery technology each week. Most of that news is just hype, but science is actually bringing change to the world of batteries. Let’s take a look.