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Humans

QBism: Is quantum uncertainty all in the mind?

By Matthew Chalmers

7 May 2014

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

It’s not quantum theory that’s uncertain (Image: Matt Murphy)

The microscopic world described by quantum theory seems a strange, confusing place – but some physicists argue it’s just us who are uncertain

SNATCH a toy from the tiniest of infants, and the reaction is likely to disappoint you. Most seem to conclude that the object has simply ceased to exist. This rapidly changes. Within the first year or so, playing peekaboo also becomes fun. As babies, we soon grasp that stuff persists unchanged even when we are not looking at it.

Granted, at that age we know nothing of quantum theory…

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